PATHLIGHT ITE BISHAN VISIT

Pathlight teachers and management staff visited ITE College Central –Bishan Campus on the 30th of November 2006.

ITE is one of the post-secondary institutions we can consider to enrol our students when they have completed their secondary education in Pathlight School. Since the bulk of their curriculum (70 per cent) focuses on the practical component, it will be more conducive for our students to adapt.

The visit gave us ideas on how to adopt some of their strategies into our curriculum.

During the debrief session, several interesting ideas and comments were raised by the teachers:

• The product design studio systematic step-by-step process from conceptualisation ---> sketching ---> 2D design ---> 3D modelling ---> prototype design of the products.


• Retail simulation room for service, retail and office skills students to practice the skills learnt in an environment similar to a retail outlet.


• Students go for attachment with industry partners to get first hand experience.


• Individual portfolio to document and show future employers the students’ work.


• Motivational posters around the school to encourage lecturers and students.


• Review of curriculum every 3 to 5 years to remain current.


• Showcasing students’ work and allowing students to sell their merchandise.


• Slogan: “Thinking Hands” has a powerful connotation about the importance of the brain and hands co-ordination.


• Lecturers came up with games specifically to cater to the students’ needs and involved them in focus groups to see if they attained their goal.


• ITE also sends teachers on attachments and courses to update themselves on what are the industries’ latest.


• Student councillors played host to guide visitors around the campus and to answer queries.

We learnt a lot during that visit. The ITE staff’s warm welcome put us at ease to ask questions.

An observation made by one of the staff was that Pathlight teachers constantly had smiles on our faces despite having to teach challenging students. Our rationale to that statement was: we are a force, driven by passion and take pride in knowing that we make a difference in our students and it is this intrinsic satisfaction that keeps us going each day. Just like the teachers in Pathlight, the lecturers at ITE share our sentiments in giving students a chance and platform to excel.

ITE has come a long way to revamp their image to be a renowned post-secondary education institution today, winning many prestigious awards including the Singapore Quality Class.

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