National Education Web Design Competition (NEWDC) & National Education Video Competition (NEVC) are two concurrent events organised by Victoria School annually.
Other than 2007, where our video team clinched the most heart-warming award and was among the Top 10 finalists, we have returned empty-handed every year. I found out the reason that day.
In order to confirm my observation & conclusion, I re-visited their website to check on the objectives of their competition again.
The following is taken from the Victoria School IT Club website, and my response is in (green).
"The objective of the competition:
- To engage students in learning and understanding more about Singapore. This is inline with the National Education objectives.
(This objective is achieved. We have been to Singapore Flyer, Chomp Chomp, Botanic Garden, Changi Airport etc. Our pupils are also able to state the 6 NE messages, and I am sure so do the pupils from other schools.)
- To promote interest among primary school students to design web pages and create web content, as the Internet increasingly becomes an important mode of communication and a prominent resource for information, allowing them to learn more about technology in an IT oriented environment.
(I am not very sure how interested our pupils were, but I am very sure the pupils from the other winning schools were, when they went on stage to collect their trophies for the websites designed by their trainers, obviously, there's no denial about this.
This certainly sounds like sour grapes, but I doubt the P3-5 kiddos from most of these schools could design such professional websites. Even I couldn't when I was a student in NTU, not to say these kiddos.
It's a competition among the trainers from various schools, I realised, and I vaguely remembered our ex-trainer, Ms Lee, told me something similar too.
Our website may be simple, but 90% of it was done by our pupils, and I am proud of this. I was not overwhelmed by the amazingly amazing websites from the various schools around us, as I knew they were created by the trainers. Any sensible being would be able to tell.)
- To develop teamwork, co-operation and leadership together with communication skills among primary school students.
(This objective is achieved, as far as APS is concerned. Lydia is a potentially good leader. Andrea possesses the proficiency in the English Language. Jie Yi is cooperative and willing to contribute. Ryan & Ambrose entertained me.
Pupils from some other schools probably sat back and relaxed while waiting for the websites/videos to be ready, so that they could add their names to it.)
- To cultivate creativity and thinking skills in primary school students. "
(I doubt this objective is achieved. How can anyone cultivate or even display a tiny bit of creativity or thinking skills when the websites were done by the trainers?
Seriously, it should be named as a competition for the trainers, instead. But that would overturn all their objectives above. It is time they do some thinking, else this competition, to me, is totally meaningless. It is sad to know that we are participating every year just because many other schools are participating.
Nevertheless, we were among the Top 40 entries from the total of 72 submissions. Consolation? Maybe.
But all is not lost here. The concept of having various fringe activities such as free-flow of drinks, ice cream, candy floss, sandwiches, chocolate e-clair etc, and various game stalls, was a good idea. I needed my breakfast and the kids were well-occupied during that three hours.
Next year? Maybe. Only if we can secure a dedicated trainer to do the website for our pupils. Cheers! (",)
Other than 2007, where our video team clinched the most heart-warming award and was among the Top 10 finalists, we have returned empty-handed every year. I found out the reason that day.
In order to confirm my observation & conclusion, I re-visited their website to check on the objectives of their competition again.
The following is taken from the Victoria School IT Club website, and my response is in (green).
"The objective of the competition:
- To engage students in learning and understanding more about Singapore. This is inline with the National Education objectives.
(This objective is achieved. We have been to Singapore Flyer, Chomp Chomp, Botanic Garden, Changi Airport etc. Our pupils are also able to state the 6 NE messages, and I am sure so do the pupils from other schools.)
- To promote interest among primary school students to design web pages and create web content, as the Internet increasingly becomes an important mode of communication and a prominent resource for information, allowing them to learn more about technology in an IT oriented environment.
(I am not very sure how interested our pupils were, but I am very sure the pupils from the other winning schools were, when they went on stage to collect their trophies for the websites designed by their trainers, obviously, there's no denial about this.
This certainly sounds like sour grapes, but I doubt the P3-5 kiddos from most of these schools could design such professional websites. Even I couldn't when I was a student in NTU, not to say these kiddos.
It's a competition among the trainers from various schools, I realised, and I vaguely remembered our ex-trainer, Ms Lee, told me something similar too.
Our website may be simple, but 90% of it was done by our pupils, and I am proud of this. I was not overwhelmed by the amazingly amazing websites from the various schools around us, as I knew they were created by the trainers. Any sensible being would be able to tell.)
- To develop teamwork, co-operation and leadership together with communication skills among primary school students.
(This objective is achieved, as far as APS is concerned. Lydia is a potentially good leader. Andrea possesses the proficiency in the English Language. Jie Yi is cooperative and willing to contribute. Ryan & Ambrose entertained me.
Pupils from some other schools probably sat back and relaxed while waiting for the websites/videos to be ready, so that they could add their names to it.)
- To cultivate creativity and thinking skills in primary school students. "
(I doubt this objective is achieved. How can anyone cultivate or even display a tiny bit of creativity or thinking skills when the websites were done by the trainers?
Seriously, it should be named as a competition for the trainers, instead. But that would overturn all their objectives above. It is time they do some thinking, else this competition, to me, is totally meaningless. It is sad to know that we are participating every year just because many other schools are participating.
Nevertheless, we were among the Top 40 entries from the total of 72 submissions. Consolation? Maybe.
But all is not lost here. The concept of having various fringe activities such as free-flow of drinks, ice cream, candy floss, sandwiches, chocolate e-clair etc, and various game stalls, was a good idea. I needed my breakfast and the kids were well-occupied during that three hours.
Next year? Maybe. Only if we can secure a dedicated trainer to do the website for our pupils. Cheers! (",)
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