The Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Millennium Primary School wanted to enhance the learning experience of its students, so it joined the Education Bureau’s e-learning pilot scheme in 2011.
The school used the $2 million it received in funding to implement e-learning in its Primary One to Three English classes and was so impressed with the results, it decided to expand it.
The students use iPads to read iBooks and use different learning apps. During lessons they are able to try out different writing styles such as emails or postcards. They can even use the computer to practise their pronunciation skills at home.
The school has already produced 237 e-books and 54 sets of interactive learning apps and an interactive platform to enhance e-learning in different subjects. Teacher, Miss Poon Yee-man said it was a challenge for the students at first, but they have great fun during lessons.
Enhanced learning experience
The school received positive feedback about its e-learning efforts which encouraged it to expand the scheme to more subjects in this academic year: Chinese, English, Mathematics, General Studies, Computer Studies and Putonghua. All Primary Two to Four students now use electronic textbooks in these subjects in conjunction with an interactive learning platform in class.
E-learning may be popular, but the students still have to do their homework, assessments and exams using pen and paper.
In the Primary Two maths class, teachers use the new teaching method to discuss the nature of right angles. The students are able to take photos of right angled objects and input their answers which are then displayed on the electric whiteboard to allow for a group discussion. "E-learning enhances teacher-student and student-to-student interaction," Miss Poon noted.
The school’s headmaster Sin Kim-Wai said he wanted to expand the scale of e-learning to enhance the interactive experience for teachers as well as students.
“In recent years, we have placed an interactive whiteboard in all our classrooms, upgraded the wireless network and bought more than 150 tablet computers so that all students in all subjects can enjoy e-learning,” Mr Sin said.
But he admitted that more technical support staff were needed to deal with the inevitable technical glitches.
The Education Bureau plans to apply for funding from the Legislative Council to further promote e-learning.
