A CLASS of 30 Primary 1 pupils sit quietly in their classroom, writing earnestly about their recent field trip to the zoo. Instead of using pencil and paper, they are using styluses to write directly on the screens of their tablet PCs.
As they craft their compositions, they are also learning how to use Microsoft's PowerPoint program by writing their stories on the slides - one sentence per slide.
Each pupil creates a mini digital story, complete with images taken at the zoo and colourful fonts, which they select themselves.
It does not end there. They still have to practise reading what they have written, so that they can do their own voice-overs for their stories, which may later be uploaded online.
It is a typical day at Beacon Primary, a five-month-old school in Bukit Panjang identified as one of five 'future schools', where technology spearheads learning.
The schools are tapping pioneering digital learning systems from major technology companies. If these technologies prove successful, they will be introduced to all schools here. Apart from Beacon, the others are Canberra Primary, Jurong Secondary, Crescent Girls' and Hwa Chong Institution.
Beacon has wireless access to the online world 'so seven-year- olds don't trip over the wires needed to plug into the Internet', said principal Lim Boon Cheng.
The pupils use the tablet PCs in a range of subjects, and even in the recent mid-year Chinese oral exam, where 'peer assessment' was used for the first time to grade them.
Pupils were paired up to record the reading of a passage, after which each took turns to play back and assess the other's reading for clarity, speed, accuracy and expression.
Chinese language teacher June Ng, 41, was pleased with how it turned out, saying that using technology came naturally to them. 'Even the weakest pupils were able to record and save their work after a few tries,' she said.
In fact, their reading has improved since these recordings were introduced. She added: 'They find it fun to record their reading. They try harder because they can't hide, unlike in a big group.'
Violet Liaw, seven, who speaks mainly English at home, said: 'It's difficult because I get words wrong - but it's still fun because I get to use the computer.'
Fidelia Chan, also seven, said she preferred using the tablet PC to traditional pencil and paper because 'I can change the font colour and erase my mistakes easily'.
Her mother, Madam Jess Ong, 31, a part-time quantity surveyor, said: 'It's quite amazing how much progress she's made in the last five months. I'm glad she's picking up these IT skills because they'll be useful in future.'
Both girls will encounter even more technology when their school's virtual learning environment is up by the end of the year.
Pupils, teachers and parents will have avatars - electronic images representing them which they can manipulate to do tasks or meet people online.
Besides interacting with one another, these avatars can go to a 'live arena' to engage in debates, public speeches or broadcasts.
Also in the pipeline: a virtual laboratory to simulate science experiments or places that cannot be visited physically - for example, the blood circulation system.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on June 6, 2008.
