Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
StarSpecial
Your pick
A myriad of curricula colour strong education landscape.
F there is one thing that makes Malaysia remarkable it is its diversity. It is more than just the usual multi-cultural, multiethnic mix that everyone talks about, but a deeper blend of all that the world has to offer. One such example is Malaysias ability to offer its residents a host of different curricula from around the world. Currently, there are approximately 10 different primary and secondary school curricula available in Malaysia. The most popular is still the British curriculum in the form of the International General Certicate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) system, followed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) system. Besides these and, of course, Malaysias own national curriculum, there are the curricula of Australia, Canada, the United States, Japan, France, Germany and Taiwan, among others. While the IB system is truly international in the sense that it was not derived from a particular countrys curriculum, the other curricula in Malaysia are either international versions of the national education systems of their respective countries or they are the national systems without any changes made to them. An internationalised curriculum is one that has been through developments to make it more suitable for an international student body more global in its outlook as well as exible enough to be able to absorb cultural nuances in order to make it locally relevant. A national curriculum is naturally more inward-looking, though to what degree is dependent on the particular country. Schools such as the French
than 7,000 graduates to further their studies in more than 140 universities worldwide. This success led to increasing demand from parents for an earlier start with the curriculum, which led to SIS opening in 2008, says John Mackle, principal of SIS.
Global outlook
Another factor inuencing the demand for international curricula is the fact that most international curricula offer a wide breadth of knowledge and a holistic approach to education coupled with exposure to a global community and an international outlook, things that many national curricula, including Malaysias own, still do not offer. This factor is one of the main reasons international curricula continue to grow in popularity and why more and more international schools are opening in Malaysia. The unique emphasis on critical reasoning, creative thinking and a wholechild approach is what makes our curriculum popular, says Rami Madani, director of curriculum and professional development at the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), which offers the US curriculum. The curriculum was developed based on extensive and contemporary research that addresses the needs of 21st century learners. Madani says that the idea of a balanced education is very important. At the very least, the continued popularity of international curricula has shown this to be true. It seems then that Malaysians and expatriates living in the country can only continue to benet from this, and Malaysia may quickly reach its goal of becoming a regional education hub.
The Ontario Secondary School (OSS) curriculum is a good example of this. The personalised and inclusive nature of the curriculum results in a exible and comprehensive learning experience for students to grow according to their interests and capabilities, explains John Mackle, principal of Sunway International School, which offers the OSS. Alice Smith School, which offers the British international curriculum, echoes this sentiment. Every child is an individual and by treating them this way we nd out their gifts and help them develop these areas to make them the best they can be. This is the best possible education a child can have, says Alice Smiths director of school Valerie Thomas-Peter.
This does not mean that thorough and relevant education does not have to take place. Though value of education is heavily emphasised and we try to instil in our students the attributes that successful leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators should have, the Australian curriculum is still very rigorous, with an emphasis on traditional subjects, says Kilpatrick. Every school takes pride in the academic achievements of its students. But the balanced nature of an international curriculum is what makes it popular and, according to Rami Madani, director of curriculum and professional development at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, this creates highly successful, spirited and socially
responsible global citizens. The fact that international education is becoming increasingly attractive means that there is a lot of competition in the industry. The competition is not for students, though. Rather, it is for the best teachers, who now have a greater choice as to where they can go, says Thomas-Peter. We all want well-qualied and good international teachers, and Alice Smith makes a big effort to ensure we recruit the best teachers. This is going to be a continuing challenge for international schools, she says. But such healthy competition can only breed quality education, which, as Kilpatrick says, will contribute to the growth of Malaysia and the region.
STA
ay nd R Su
AD TG R
UAT
THE STAR
For bookings and further information, contact your advertising agency or the following:
12 January
2014
rf You
d lay We
n ow
the
n ptio
s fo
ou ry
s r fir
t se
to
fw
hee
ls.
to
jychia@thestar.com.my
kamariah@thestar.com.my
10
Rise of g Year the south Chinese New Unlockin e tential ring guid your po moto
ion > 5 the hottest educat rs in town and tionaloffe rna best The ble inte afforda Quality,
Direct Bookings
cars availabl
e this year.
peterhoe@thestar.com.my
The new pulse of Johor Baru > 22
03-7966 8236
BA at An M
8
y weight g your bod Knowin
3 status >
>8
10
BRIGHT KIDS 3
before going to school while reading a story during dinner preparing homework at the morning break at lunch during exercise
at after-school snack
HAT you drink is just as important as what you eat. People can live for weeks without food but only three days without water. Water is an essential element for life and drinking plenty of water leads to good health. In fact, 60% of the average human body is made up of water. Most of the water in the human body is contained inside our cells. Water contains no calories or sugar. Drinking water is a simple solution to manage our daily calorie intake. This is why water is our main source of hydration. Water comes from lots of sources, including beverages, fruits and vegetables. Here is how water helps maintain many of our bodys vital functions: Cell life Water is a carrier that distributes essential nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and glucose to our cells. Chemical and metabolic reactions Water removes waste products, including toxins that the cells of our organs reject and removes it through our urine and faeces. Transports nutrients Water aids the biochemical breakdown of what we eat. Body temperature regulation Water allows our body to release heat when the temperature of our surroundings is higher than our body temperature. The body begins to sweat and evaporation of water from the skin surface cools down the body eciently.
Other beverages like tea (made from tea leaves), coffee and alcoholic beverages should be consumed in moderation as they dehydrate your body. You can determine if you have enough uids in your body by checking your urine. If your urine is pale and strawcoloured, you have enough uid in your body. If your urine is yellow and dark, then you need to drink more water.
Shock absorber Water is an effective lubricant around our joints. It also acts as a shock absorber for our eyes, brain and even a foetus through the wombs amniotic uid.
Dehydration
Dehydration happens when our body loses more water than it consumes. Dehydration can happen when a person does not drink enough water to meet the daily requirement of 1,500ml. Dehydration can also take place when a person experiences excessive uid loss, which can be caused by intense physical activity, a very hot climate or illnesses involving fever or diarrhoea. Mild dehydration can:
Diminish physical and cognition Increase constipation Cause moodiness When we feel thirsty, it means that dehydration has already set into a certain degree. So we should drink regularly throughout the day, even before we feel thirsty. It is important to choose your drinks wisely. Water is the best drink to quench your thirst. Other alternatives include milk, fruit juices, fruit teas, herbal teas and yoghurt drinks. Reduce your intake of concentrated and carbonated drinks as they are high in sugar and contribute to weight gain and tooth decay. Concentrated and carbonated drinks also increase the prevalence of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
A dragon dance held during the Chinese New Year celebration at Rafflesia International School.
School of choice
RAFFLESIA International & Private Schools (Raesia) was founded with the aim of becoming the school of choice with international recognition. Raesia has more than 25 years experience of providing tertiary education and is helmed by Tan Yew Sing (founder of INTI Education Group) and his team of dedicated academic staff. Located in Puchong and Kajang, Raesia opened its doors to provide quality and world-class international education focused on building the next generation of global thinkers and leaders. Raesia is a new generation international school, boasting state-of-theart, cutting-edge and eco-friendly facilities to support a progressive teaching and learning environment, as well as delivering an internationally minded curriculum. With the philosophy of providing a holistic and individualised education, Raesia teaches its students to realise their full potential through a stimulating and challenging international learning environment. Raesia aspires to develop an appreciation of cultural diversity and a willingness to embrace social and personal responsibility in its students. Raesia International Schools offer the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for nursery to Year 6 students, Cambridge Secondary blended with elements of the National Curriculum of England (NCE) for Year 7 to Year 9 students, and the Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum for Year 10 and Year 11 students. At Raesia, children are educated through an emphasis on traditional values within a global context. That is, to appreciate history and culture while preparing students to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Raesia students lives involve co-curricular activities to broaden their skills, talents and interests. They are also required to use mobile learning devices such as tablets in their daily learning. Raesia offers scholarships worth more than RM1mil to deserving students entering Year 7 in its September intake. Applicants are advised to submit their application before May 31. Raesia International & Private Schools will also host its Open Day on April 12 at its Kajang campus. n For more information call 03-8953 9088 or e-mail admissions@raesia.edu.my
BRIGHT KIDS 5
The Alice Smith School provides children with outstanding, well-rounded education. that Alice Smith is a bona de organisation with connections throughout the region and a school where their children can receive quality education. Alice Smith is also one of only two schools in Malaysia to be certied a British School Overseas (BSO) by the UKs Department of Education through OFSTED, the Oce for Standards in Education. In order to achieve this certication, the school underwent an inspection in 2011 that measured the schools performance. The Primary Campus was certied as Good while the Secondary Campus was Outstanding. Our vision statement is to provide students with outstanding British international education and that is what the inspection report shows we are doing. Being Outstanding means the students are getting the best possible education they can get anywhere in the world, says Thomas-Peter. Thomas-Peter says it was not too dicult a task for Alice Smith to meet the OFSTED standards as the schools strong foundations meant it was already halfway there. The
It was a great day for the students at the science fair, which focused on the three main sciences biology, physics and chemistry.
Creating success
The science teachers spent a lot of time preparing for the event with students to make it a success. Students were given at least a month to come up with a proposal with the assistance of their teachers. All the projects were tested a week before the science fair. With support from all the departments of UCSI International School, Subang, the school is planning to organise an even bigger science fair for the next academic year. For the next event, parents will be accompanying students and students from other schools will also be invited to participate in the competition. SRI UCSI and UCSI International School, Subang, will also be hosting the Games Carnival together in USCI Schools, Subang, on April 26 (7.30am to noon). Schools from surrounding areas are also invited to participate. The purpose of this event is to build a good relationship with the schools neighbours, to host a competitive games tournament and bring together participants from a variety of schools. It will be the rst time SRI UCSI and UCSI International School, Subang, will be hosting the Games Carnival. UCSI Schools will also provide transport, breakfast and lunch for all students and teachers. The carnival will include many games such as basketball and football tournaments, a colouring and fancy dress competition and other fun activities. n Look out for the advertisement in this StarSpecial.
Giving opportunities
UCSI International School organised a Science Fair at its Subang campus in February. The science fair was a successful event and involved secondary level students who got the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice and showcase it to their peers. The science fair was headed by Koduvayar Kamal Venkitachalam, the head of the science department at UCSI International School, Subang, who was assisted by Adam Ishak, a science teacher of the school. Four science laboratories were used to exhibit the projects, which focused on three areas of science biology, physics and chemistry. According to Adam, the main purposes of holding such an event were: To provide secondary level pupils a chance to put their knowledge into practice and think like a scientist. To give teachers a better assessment of students talents, abilities and interests. To familiarise students interested in science with situations they may encounter at a higher education level. To encourage and highlight the use of the scientic process and fundamental principles of science. Students are guided in topic development, experiments and queries, all of which reect their
BRIGHT KIDS 7
Students of Epsom College in Malaysia with members of the Caterham F1 team. support, world-class facilities, and programmes to help nurture talent and encourage students to dare to dream. Ericsson, a former leading GP2 driver who has moved up to the upper echelons of motorsport racing by making his debut in F1 this season, shared his journey. He says, Ive been working towards this goal since I rst started racing karts back when I was nine years old. I am thankful to everyone who has made my F1 dream come true. Oliver adds, I believe what makes us unique is that we are here to support and encourage our students to innovate, excel and go beyond boundaries. Dare To Dream is a natural extension of our schools dynamic academic and co-curricular programme to provide wellrounded opportunities that help each student realise their full potential. The Dare To Dream programme is made possible in part through Epsoms extensive links with
EPSOM organised its Explore Epsom Day on March 22. About 60 families showed up at the Bandar Enstek Campus to meet the heads of school and were given a personalised tour of the campus. Visitors were impressed with the schools facilities and they look forward to its rst intake in September.
elc International School encourages its students to get involved in charity work.
Development of the whole child is our priority at the Alice Smith School - and the reason behind our excellent academic results. Students, from aged 3 to 18, are encouraged to become learners who are confident, creative and critical, yet compassionate. This is the true measure of their success.
www.alice-smith.edu.my
Sixteen-year-old Sofea Shahaniz Shaharul Farez, a student at elc International School, often volunteers with charities.
BRIGHT KIDS 9
LATO once said, You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. Over my years of teaching, both in early years and primary, parents often ask what they can do to help their young child at home. My answer is always the same let your child play and play with your child. As early years teachers at Garden International School, we are fully aware of our role to enhance and enrich play opportunities. A good proportion of our time is spent observing the children and interpreting the learning that is taking place to establish development steps. Scientic evidence has proven time and time again that play is the most powerful means by which children learn from a young age. The abilities to use and develop creativity, dexterity, imagination, physical and cognitive strength, to control their own
impulses and emotions (self-regulation), and to co-operate effectively are learned and practised by children during play. Children capable of managing their feelings and paying attention are able to learn better. Imaginative play helps children develop a critical cognitive skill called executive function, which is an indicator of success in school. My recommendation therefore is that parents allow children time to take part in uninterrupted play with toys such as blocks, dolls and cars, which allow for imaginative play and creative thinking rather than passive toys like computer and video games that require limited imagination. It is also important that parents take time to join in with games to nd out more about their child. n Sue Horne is the head of Early Years at Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, visit www.gardenschool.edu.my
R.E.A.L Schools is steadfast in its belief that preventative rather than remedial action is the key to maintaining good discipline and a bully-free environment in school. With that in mind, R.E.A.L Schools took a huge step forward in raising greater awareness of bullying by organising the Stand Up, Speak Out anti-bullying campaign at its Cheras campus last month. Present at this event were former Miss Malaysia Nadine Ann Thomas and lifestyle blogger Careen Tan. Also present to share his knowledge was Dr Edward Chan, principal consultant psychologist of the International Psychology Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Dr Chan spoke to his young audience about the various types of bullying and shared several severe, real-life cases and tips on how to cope with bullying. Thomas engaged everyone with her life story and personal experience with bullying during her early school years. She was previously involved with other
anti-bullying efforts and continues to be an active advocate of such campaigns. Tan spoke about cyber-bullying and how it is widespread in todays online realm such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Education is the key to preventing bullying in schools. This is why R.E.A.L Schools is a rm believer in character building as we incorporate character development in our daily curriculum. In fact, character building is one of the pillars of our schools educational philosophy, as we see the need and importance of educating our students from a young age on various pertinent issues such as bullying, says S.P. Lee, senior principal of R.E.A.L Schools, Suria Campus, Cheras. Despite coming from different professions and backgrounds, all three guests were united in their stand against bullying and unequivocal in their support towards spreading the antibullying message, particularly to the younger generation.
BRIGHT KIDS 11
AISMs Australian curriculum equips students with critical and creative thinking, ICT skills, intercultural and ethical understanding and social capabilities. been designed with children in mind and built for learning. Instead of constricting students to classrooms, we provide an environment for them to acquire knowledge independently and be creative, says Kilpatrick. The event included guided tours. Guests witnessed students enjoying the different learning spaces where they were conducting activities such as reading, learning how to use an iPad and working on projects. Students at AISM are given the opportunity to learn and discover independently, but under the guidance of teachers or in groups with their peers. The school has a wellestablished education programme for students with high cognitive capacity, who are taught using their own Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The integration of 21st Century learning spaces and technology to complement teaching and learning methods has become inevitable. Students do not just get access to computers once a week and information has become easily accessible. This drives us to reinvent and change our way of teaching. Technology has become an integral part of education and I believe international schools and private institutions are pioneering its use in the classroom, said Yap in her ociating speech. AISMs new junior school also boasts an entire oor dedicated to the performing arts, including rooms for dance, drama, music, orchestra and even black-box theatre. Guests were treated to a 15-minute drama production, which was written and directed by AISM students. The library was buzzing with activity, as a visiting British poet and illustrator was conducting workshops for students in the librarys mini-amphitheatre. The library is equipped with books, ICT resources and LCD screens for multimedia and music work. Other facilities in the new junior school include a junior art room, science and technology room, and soon, a food technology
Choosing a curriculum
Classes at NIS are also much smaller compared to nationalor vernacular-type schools. The average number of students in each class at NIS is between 15 and 20. This allows for closer interaction between teachers and students. Teachers can closely monitor the progress of each student as students cannot hide or remain anonymous.
By giving students open-ended tasks, they learn to think quickly and apply theory to unique problems.
Reid says that NIS students are shown how to find information on the Internet efficiently and responsibly. When choosing a school and curriculum, international qualications such as those offered by NIS are a good option to consider, especially for those intending to further their studies overseas. Parents should also consider their nances and whether or not they can sustain a childs education in an international school.
BRIGHT KIDS 13
Building blocks
DHA is one of the major building blocks of the brain and eye. It is also important in building nerve and cell structure. Decreased DHA levels due to insucient intake has been found to be associated with cognitive and visual decits. Thus, sucient supply of DHA for the body is vital for neurotransmitters to support the cognitive functions of the brain and also for optimal visual transduction and functioning. Research has conrmed the
Improving health
Studies show that DHA supplementation not only benets children with learning disorders such as dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD, but also benets healthy children with no learning disorders. In fact, young children who received DHA supplementation gain a range of advantages such as improved vision. A study carried out in 2012 showed
Essential nutrients
Children should increase the intake of marine Omega-3 fatty acids by eating more sh such as salmon, tuna and sardines or consuming supplements as an alternative. Although a balanced diet
Rajdip Singh.
Capturing attention
Matthew Ho joined the Eye Level Math programme in November last year when he was only three years old. Without any preschool experience, he had a hard time writing numbers. Though an active child, he
Logical choice
Nadia Alyas mother Amy Zaila Jamaludin always viewed starting school as laid-back and a pressurefree experience. Reality set in for her when Nadia started Year 1 last year. The syllabuses were more advanced and Amy was shocked when she realised Nadia Alya.
Back on track
Rajdip Singh experienced seizures when he was two years old and then was diagnosed with dyslexia at age six. His ability to read and write was affected. His parents, Kashminder Singh and Gurmit Kaur, enrolled him in a government school but switched to homeschooling with an international syllabus soon after as they were worried he would have seizures at school. His parents started looking for a tuition centre that could help him cope with his studies at home. >> From page 13
They found Eye Level a suitable choice in terms of environment, syllabus and fees. They liked the colourful concept of Eye Level and its international approach. Rajdip was enrolled in the English course at seven years old. After three months, his parents signed him in up for the mathematics programme as well because they noticed he was always excited to go to Eye Level classes and enjoyed the sessions there. He is now nine years old and has been with Eye Level for more than two years. Before joining Eye Level, he was pushed back one year in his homeschool programme. Thanks to Eye Level, he is now on track with the international syllabus and has caught up to the level for students his age. The family is thankful for the patience and guidance Rajdip received from the educators at Eye Level. n For more information about the Eye Level programme, visit www.myeyelevel.com
Tricks to try
l Try to get a few alarm clocks or even use the alarm application on your parents mobile phones the more the better. Set the clocks to ring at the same time and hide them around the house. If you want to be really mischievous, set them to ring in the wee hours of the morning. l Everybody loves Oreos. Remove the centre lling and ll it with toothpaste instead. Offer them to your parents with the most innocent smile you can summon. l Leave ambiguous notes around the house warning about a prank that is going to happen. Then do absolutely nothing all day. l Hard boil all the eggs in the fridge and put them back into the fridge. However, be prepared to eat all the eggs yourself when your parents nd out. l For a big scare, turn up the volume on their laptop, radio or even MP3 player and wait for them to play something. It would be even funnier if they are wearing headphones because they will be scrambling to remove them. l Take the television remote control and insert cellophane tape in between the batteries and the receptor. Naturally they will check the battery compartment. Whether or not they notice the cellophane tape, it will be a funny scene. l Before breakfast, switch the salt with sugar. Nobody ever takes the time to check if what they are using is actually salt or sugar. Watch as your parents pour generous amounts of salt into their coffee and sugar onto their eggs.
BRIGHT KIDS 15
Posing questions
M
EMORISING facts with little relevance neither leads to a deep understanding nor motivates students to learn. What good enquiry-based teachers know is to teach a child how to learn, how to discover and how learning is connected. These are the keys to intellectual engagement and developing a passion for learning. Enquiry-based learning encourages students to think logically and creatively. McLeod (pic), IGB International Schools elementary school principal, Enquiry classrooms contain multiple learning spaces and display students drafts and nished works. Resources are easily available and technology is embedded seamlessly. Enquiry teachers know that learning needs to be engaging, challenging and relevant. They work alongside their students, model different questioning techniques, guide students to research using multiple resources, present multiple perspectives and use a range of teaching strategies. IGBIS will open in August and will offer the enquiry-based International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) for children from three to 12 years old. IGBIS will be hosting school tours in May. n For more information, visit www.igbis.edu.my
How it works
An enquiry-based programme involves students asking questions that reect on the concepts of form, function, causation, change, connection, perspective, responsibility and reection. Students work in small or large groups, in pairs or individually. They work on different aspects of an enquiry and at differing levels of understanding and ability, followed by presenting what they have found out. The learning involves solving real life problems, where students will be encouraged to think logically and creatively, use time management skills and take responsibility for their learning. According to Claire
16 StarSpecial