National Education and technology might seem like a bizarre combination but what was produced by Hayden and Russell of Yangzheng Primary School (YZPS) was far from odd. Their e-book entitled ‘Singapore’s Story from the Eyes for a Mouse’, based on the National Education theme ‘Rising above our challenges’ emerged as the champion for the primary category of the N.E.w Author e-Book Competition 2009. They beat over 500 teams and 2000 participants to clinch the top position.
Using KooBits, an interactive digital software, the pair was able to produce a creative and educational piece that brought us through the tumultuous years of early Singapore. Using the e-book software, users are able to employ various digital resources, such as image, video, animation and sound, and combine them into an interactive e-book. Students in Yangzheng Primary School are coached by trainers on how to insert digital resources like Youtube videos and flash animation. Upon acquiring the skills, students would be able to create their own e-books that can be uploaded onto an online platform to be shared among their peers and teachers.
Teachers in the school have also incorporated this e-book technology into their curriculum. For the mathematics department, theories on geometry were explained through the use of shapes, audio and flash animation that aided teachers in fully explaining to the students.
For the budding writers, KooBits also provides an avenue for them to showcase their stories. With the user-friendly technology, children will find it easy to translate their ideas into stories. Along with the extensive resource library, every e-book created will be a personalised piece.
As we have seen here in Yangzheng Primary School, the e-book technology provides opportunities and resources for the staff and students to continually develop their IT skills and knowledge to enhance the teaching and learning processes to move the school forward.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Fun Lessons in CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel through KooBits
For students in CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC), work assignments have never been more interesting. The school’s use of KooBits has made lessons more lively and engaging for them. This e-book technology enables students to create personalised books that can be shared and archived for future purposes.
With KooBits, students are able to create to combine an array of multimedia technology into one book. This means that a combination of flash, video, audio and visual can be presented on one book to provide an all dimensional learning experience. For instance, students in P6 have utilised the software in their Social Studies presentations to explain the history of Singapore. Together with Youtube videos and voice recordings, the result was an engaging walk of Singapore, from past to present.
Teachers in the CHIJ OLGC have also found the e-book software useful in creating lesson packages to suit the different abilities of students. With the wide range of resources available in this programme, they commented that it helps them in customizing their lesson plans to cater to the different learning pace of each class. The online platform also helped them in the collaboration and sharing of resources which enabled them to explore more angles.
Students have also brought KooBits beyond the classroom with their participation in various competitions and events. Teachers and parents were educated on National Education concepts on Total Defence Day by students using the e-book reader.
Mdm Catherine Woon, principal of the school commented that she has noticed greater student engagement. She says that the e-book software serves as an interesting and dynamic solution to helping students understand mundane topics.
Students in CHIJ OLGC have indeed shown that through the use of this e-book software, they have managed to acquire greater thinking, learning and communication skills.
With KooBits, students are able to create to combine an array of multimedia technology into one book. This means that a combination of flash, video, audio and visual can be presented on one book to provide an all dimensional learning experience. For instance, students in P6 have utilised the software in their Social Studies presentations to explain the history of Singapore. Together with Youtube videos and voice recordings, the result was an engaging walk of Singapore, from past to present.
Teachers in the CHIJ OLGC have also found the e-book software useful in creating lesson packages to suit the different abilities of students. With the wide range of resources available in this programme, they commented that it helps them in customizing their lesson plans to cater to the different learning pace of each class. The online platform also helped them in the collaboration and sharing of resources which enabled them to explore more angles.
Students have also brought KooBits beyond the classroom with their participation in various competitions and events. Teachers and parents were educated on National Education concepts on Total Defence Day by students using the e-book reader.
Mdm Catherine Woon, principal of the school commented that she has noticed greater student engagement. She says that the e-book software serves as an interesting and dynamic solution to helping students understand mundane topics.
Students in CHIJ OLGC have indeed shown that through the use of this e-book software, they have managed to acquire greater thinking, learning and communication skills.
KooBits Helps Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School Bring Lessons to Life
Driven by the government’s call for a “world-class “learning habitat, more schools are lapping up on the latest programmes to incorporate information technology (IT) into their syllabus. We take a look at how Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School has successfully melded technology and effective teaching together to create a fun yet educational environment for their students.
Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School, located in Yishun was introduced to the e-book software in 2007 and has never looked back since. Students in the school are taught how to create animated and interactive digital e-books using the KooBits software. With KooBits, students can easily use an assortment of multimedia tools in their work. This removes any technological barriers that previously hindered students from fully expressing their creativity. Besides that, students can choose from a myriad of resources to help them in illustrating their books. Upon completion, students can share the book among their classmates and archive it for future purposes.
Since the acquisition of the e-book software, students in the school have actively churned out many books for various subjects. For instance, these young authors deftly created e-books explaining various rules and theories in science and mathematics. With the help of KooBits, they were able to use a combination of audio, animation, flash and Youtube videos to construct an e-book that was dynamic, interactive and engaging.
Mdm Sim Siew Tin, principal of the school said that student experiences are now more interesting and multi-faceted. “We have noticed a spike in students’ interests and they are now able to concentrate and focus better. Using KooBits has facilitated our teachers in explaining the concepts better and wane away from textbooks. In addition, it has also served the purpose of equipping students with relevant InfoComm Technology (ICT) skills that will help prepare them for the future.”
In addition to using the software to create learning materials, the budding authors in Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School have also created award-winning entries for various competitions and exhibitions such as the National N.E. E-books Competition.
Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School, located in Yishun was introduced to the e-book software in 2007 and has never looked back since. Students in the school are taught how to create animated and interactive digital e-books using the KooBits software. With KooBits, students can easily use an assortment of multimedia tools in their work. This removes any technological barriers that previously hindered students from fully expressing their creativity. Besides that, students can choose from a myriad of resources to help them in illustrating their books. Upon completion, students can share the book among their classmates and archive it for future purposes.
Since the acquisition of the e-book software, students in the school have actively churned out many books for various subjects. For instance, these young authors deftly created e-books explaining various rules and theories in science and mathematics. With the help of KooBits, they were able to use a combination of audio, animation, flash and Youtube videos to construct an e-book that was dynamic, interactive and engaging.
Mdm Sim Siew Tin, principal of the school said that student experiences are now more interesting and multi-faceted. “We have noticed a spike in students’ interests and they are now able to concentrate and focus better. Using KooBits has facilitated our teachers in explaining the concepts better and wane away from textbooks. In addition, it has also served the purpose of equipping students with relevant InfoComm Technology (ICT) skills that will help prepare them for the future.”
In addition to using the software to create learning materials, the budding authors in Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School have also created award-winning entries for various competitions and exhibitions such as the National N.E. E-books Competition.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ebooks Competition – Damai Primary School Perspective
On the 16 Mar to 24 April 2009, a nation-wide digital writing competition called the “N.E.w Author Competition” was held for schools, primary, secondary and tertiary alike. The competition, which is open to all students in Singapore, is organized by Personal e-Motion Pte Ltd (PEM), the company behind the interactive digital media software for ebooks, KooBits.
Damai Primary School became one of our contestant schools for this competition. The objective of the N.E.w Author Competition was to create an interactive ebook using KooBits Author, an ebook software designed and developed by PEM.
Damai Primary School had an IT trainer from LEAD that took on the role as project facilitator for the contestants, who were from Primary 5 and 6. He helped the students learn the technology and features of KooBits and supervised them from the point they learn about the technology behind our ebooks software up to the point they finish creating their story into an ebook that contains many interactive digital media or elements that make their story come alive. However, they would have to follow the theme of National Education, and hence these students’ ebooks should center on that theme as much as possible.
With the trainer’s help, a team of Primary 6 students won a Merit Award with their interactive ebook titled “Rising Above Our Challenges”. It was commendable since there were more than 2000 entries from 80 schools! According to one of the participating students, Nor Arinah Samsudin, the training for KooBits was “fun and enriching” and the journey from Day 1 to Judging Day has enlightened her about Singapore and its history.
Damai Primary School is situated at 52 Bedok Reservoir Crescent, and was started in 1984 as one of the 1980s' "New Generation schools" with Miss Hazel Lange as the first Principal. Through the School had gone through 4 different Principals, the commitment to develop holistic students with a global outlook can be seen through some of the unique programmes started & the recognition she received over the years.
Damai Primary School became one of our contestant schools for this competition. The objective of the N.E.w Author Competition was to create an interactive ebook using KooBits Author, an ebook software designed and developed by PEM.
Damai Primary School had an IT trainer from LEAD that took on the role as project facilitator for the contestants, who were from Primary 5 and 6. He helped the students learn the technology and features of KooBits and supervised them from the point they learn about the technology behind our ebooks software up to the point they finish creating their story into an ebook that contains many interactive digital media or elements that make their story come alive. However, they would have to follow the theme of National Education, and hence these students’ ebooks should center on that theme as much as possible.
With the trainer’s help, a team of Primary 6 students won a Merit Award with their interactive ebook titled “Rising Above Our Challenges”. It was commendable since there were more than 2000 entries from 80 schools! According to one of the participating students, Nor Arinah Samsudin, the training for KooBits was “fun and enriching” and the journey from Day 1 to Judging Day has enlightened her about Singapore and its history.
Damai Primary School is situated at 52 Bedok Reservoir Crescent, and was started in 1984 as one of the 1980s' "New Generation schools" with Miss Hazel Lange as the first Principal. Through the School had gone through 4 different Principals, the commitment to develop holistic students with a global outlook can be seen through some of the unique programmes started & the recognition she received over the years.
Nan Hua Primary School uses Ebooks
We are honoured to announce that we are now part of Nan Hua Primary School’s ICT Programme. The school, located in 30 Jalan Lempen, hopes to (empower teachers to experiment using different pedagogical approaches with IT to develop students to be strategic learners who actively explore problems independently and collaboratively and express their creative ideas through the creation of products. IT will be harnessed to facilitate the analysis of information, investigation, problem solving and independent learning.) All of which, KooBits can and will help them achieve.
KooBits is a multimedia platform where users, students and teachers alike, can take bits and pieces of digital media and put it into one single platform, as a creation that they can call their own. Many schools have started using KooBits as a ebook creation tool to facilitate learning amongst their students. KooBits is not only used to teach English, but other languages like Malay, Chinese and Tamil as well, as it is equipped with a Chinese and Tamil keyboard that recognizes the respective characters.
The students of Nan Hua Primary school found it easy to use as well, as compared to other multimedia and ebooks software tools in the market. This is because other tools are far more complicated to use and have a steeper learning curve. However, this is not true with KooBits, as we have made the latest technology in ebooks software work for the users, instead of the other way around.
Having KooBits as part of their ICT learning tool is actually in line with Nan Hua Primary School’s Vision of having a personalized educational experience for all, since every student is able to learn more and learn faster through the easiness of use of our ebooks platform.
KooBits is a multimedia platform where users, students and teachers alike, can take bits and pieces of digital media and put it into one single platform, as a creation that they can call their own. Many schools have started using KooBits as a ebook creation tool to facilitate learning amongst their students. KooBits is not only used to teach English, but other languages like Malay, Chinese and Tamil as well, as it is equipped with a Chinese and Tamil keyboard that recognizes the respective characters.
The students of Nan Hua Primary school found it easy to use as well, as compared to other multimedia and ebooks software tools in the market. This is because other tools are far more complicated to use and have a steeper learning curve. However, this is not true with KooBits, as we have made the latest technology in ebooks software work for the users, instead of the other way around.
Having KooBits as part of their ICT learning tool is actually in line with Nan Hua Primary School’s Vision of having a personalized educational experience for all, since every student is able to learn more and learn faster through the easiness of use of our ebooks platform.
Ebooks Helped Jurong Primary Students
Jurong Primary School was one of the earliest schools to be deploying KooBits as their choice of ebook software for their education. Mr Stanley Han, the CEO of Personal e-Motion Pte Ltd (PEM), the start-up company behind KooBits, said that with the KooBits Author software, anyone can create an interactive ebook in a breeze.
"We are able to blend a wide range of multimedia content you find in the market. This reduces the learning curve of creating a multimedia content. So, even a primary school student, without much IT background, can create fantastic multimedia content within a short period of time."
Some primary and lower secondary students feel that with the technology behind this ebook software is rather easy to learn, and has helped them in their journey through learning. Some of the teachers from Jurong Primary School have started to notice that the quieter students have started to write more, thanks to KooBits. KooBits brings the full potential of ebook technology into digital learning, publishing, social media and entertainment. KooBits editing tools allow users to intuitively create engaging digital content within a very short period of time, as compared to other tools. Here are some testimonials from the Head of ICT of Jurong Primary and some of its students.
"My favourite feature is the animation because I can move it anywhere I want," said a Jurong Primary School student.
"This software is interesting and I can use my imagination and write the composition in a different way," said another.
"In my school, KooBits is used by all the four language departments to enhance the pupils' composition writings skills. Pupils are now more motivated, interested and engaged in writing composition, especially with the multi-media features of the tool," said Mr Tamil Charleston,
Head of Department of IT.
"We are able to blend a wide range of multimedia content you find in the market. This reduces the learning curve of creating a multimedia content. So, even a primary school student, without much IT background, can create fantastic multimedia content within a short period of time."
Some primary and lower secondary students feel that with the technology behind this ebook software is rather easy to learn, and has helped them in their journey through learning. Some of the teachers from Jurong Primary School have started to notice that the quieter students have started to write more, thanks to KooBits. KooBits brings the full potential of ebook technology into digital learning, publishing, social media and entertainment. KooBits editing tools allow users to intuitively create engaging digital content within a very short period of time, as compared to other tools. Here are some testimonials from the Head of ICT of Jurong Primary and some of its students.
"My favourite feature is the animation because I can move it anywhere I want," said a Jurong Primary School student.
"This software is interesting and I can use my imagination and write the composition in a different way," said another.
"In my school, KooBits is used by all the four language departments to enhance the pupils' composition writings skills. Pupils are now more motivated, interested and engaged in writing composition, especially with the multi-media features of the tool," said Mr Tamil Charleston,
Head of Department of IT.
Ebooks Training at Eunos Primary School
On Thursday, 19 February 2009, KooBits had the pleasure of conducting a training session with the students of Eunos Primary School. The school, located at 95 Jalan Eunos, has requested for two wonderful lady trainers, Serena and Xingying, to train their Primary 2 and 3 students about our latest ebook software.
At 12pm sharp, the Primary 2 students from the Malay class streamed into the computer lab and sat down at their respective seats, with gleeful expressions on their faces. Upon starting up their computer, Serena kicked start the class by welcoming the students into the magical land of KooBits, where students can create interactive e-books with different forms of multimedia. It consists of an authoring software and the publishing portal at koobits.com!
Later in the afternoon, it was Xingying’s turn to guide the Primary 3 students. One interesting fact is that Xingying can conduct trainings in Malay! That is because she is a Malaysian Chinese, and hence can speak Malay fluently. She amazed the class and the teacher, who was under the assumption that the KooBits Intelligent Tool can only be used in English, by showing them the dynamism of the multi-lingual feature in Malay.
The Eunos Primary students were very responsive and enthusiastic throughout the lessons. What was more amazing was the fact that the school has arranged for some Primary 5 and 6 students to join in the training to help with facilitating the learning of the younger students. It was a very thoughtful initiative by the school as they realize that there are some students, especially the younger ones who are more timid, and are shy to voice out their questions. So in an attempt to make the lessons more favourable for these students, Primary 5 and 6 students were assigned to help out, as the lower primary students will most likely have better rapport with their seniors.
Apart from learning about the technology and features of our ebooks software, it is also important that students also learn about teamwork and the kind act of helping one another. Friendships made in school will make a difference to the educational experience of these students.
The teachers from Eunos Primary School were very contented to see that their students are learning a new ebook technology. They were greatly interested in the software and agreed that it could be a useful publishing tool to supplement the kids’ education and learning.
At 12pm sharp, the Primary 2 students from the Malay class streamed into the computer lab and sat down at their respective seats, with gleeful expressions on their faces. Upon starting up their computer, Serena kicked start the class by welcoming the students into the magical land of KooBits, where students can create interactive e-books with different forms of multimedia. It consists of an authoring software and the publishing portal at koobits.com!
Later in the afternoon, it was Xingying’s turn to guide the Primary 3 students. One interesting fact is that Xingying can conduct trainings in Malay! That is because she is a Malaysian Chinese, and hence can speak Malay fluently. She amazed the class and the teacher, who was under the assumption that the KooBits Intelligent Tool can only be used in English, by showing them the dynamism of the multi-lingual feature in Malay.
The Eunos Primary students were very responsive and enthusiastic throughout the lessons. What was more amazing was the fact that the school has arranged for some Primary 5 and 6 students to join in the training to help with facilitating the learning of the younger students. It was a very thoughtful initiative by the school as they realize that there are some students, especially the younger ones who are more timid, and are shy to voice out their questions. So in an attempt to make the lessons more favourable for these students, Primary 5 and 6 students were assigned to help out, as the lower primary students will most likely have better rapport with their seniors.
Apart from learning about the technology and features of our ebooks software, it is also important that students also learn about teamwork and the kind act of helping one another. Friendships made in school will make a difference to the educational experience of these students.
The teachers from Eunos Primary School were very contented to see that their students are learning a new ebook technology. They were greatly interested in the software and agreed that it could be a useful publishing tool to supplement the kids’ education and learning.
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