16 January 2017
Singapore polytechnics have taken creative teaching one step further through the use of interactive technology to make classroom learning more fun.
For example, in the game design and development classrooms at Temasek Polytechnic, when students respond to questions in class or successfully complete a set of e-learning material, they are awarded “compensation” in the form of tea breaks or a one-on-one session with their teachers through the use of gaming technology. This is part of a new teaching method which the school calls “gamification”.
“Gamification” was first tried out at Temasek Polytechnic in its Diploma in Game Design and Development classrooms two years ago. It will be officially re-launched this April.
Over at Republic Polytechnic, a Swivl robot, which has a round rotating base capable of propping up a tablet device, is used to help take video recordings of lecturers and student presenters in classrooms. The video recordings are then uploaded onto an online portal.
And at Nanyang Polytechnic, more diploma courses have been incorporating virtual reality technology into their curriculum, for instance, the use of 3D immersive virtual reality software.