To make learning “as exciting as Disneyland”, schools are experimenting with new tools and approaches to engage their students. In a recent field trip to Fort Canning Park, students found themselves deeply engaged and chatting away with none other than Sir Stamford Raffles. This was one of many other initiatives aimed at making the school a leader for the innovative use of technology in teaching and learning.

Instant messaging (IM) in class sounds like a teacher’s nightmare but Shuqun Primary School, has found a way of making the immediate nature of IM work to their advantage. Working together with ACP, Edward Yeo, a teacher, created “Raffles”, a learning agent that can chat with students about Fort Canning Park, answering the students’ questions about the history of the park and the important role it played in the 18th Century.

This project made a huge improvement in helping students to learn using a self-directed learning tool on Microsoft’s MSN Messenger platform, called HOLA. Sir Stamford Raffles is brought back to life through a virtual persona whom students can interact with. Mrs Tan Pui Ling, HOD (ICT) of Shuqun Primary School, observed that many students found it difficult to identify why and how Fort Canning placed an important role in Singapore’s history. “During this learning trail to Fort Canning, we gently introduce the virtual character,Stamford Raffles, who chats on the modern and familiar MSN platform. Students now think that Raffles is ‘cool’ and agree that learning History is becoming easier.” she added.

Compared to the past, when lessons came to a quick close because of the lack of interaction, the students were so engaged in chatting enthusiastically with the dead statesman, who came “alive” as their new online friend. By reviewing the conversations between the students and Raffles, teachers can also better gauge a student’s level of understanding on the subject. The school plans to extend this to other learning trails as well in the near future.