Oracle Education Foundation Helps 18 Malaysian Educators Prepare Students For Success in a Global Economy

Educators Attended 21st Century Learning Institute to Learn How to Introduce Project Learning and 21st Century Skills Development Into The Classroom


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 7, 2008 — The Oracle Education Foundation (OEF) recently launched its first Regional 21st Century Learning Institute in Asia Pacific to help educators successfully integrate project-based learning and 21st Century learning skills training into their curriculum. The four-day program, which was held in Singapore from February 26-29 at the Nanyang Technological University, brought together 55 educators from nine countries in Asia Pacific. Eighteen Malaysian educators were amongst the trainees who came from across the region, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore and Thailand.

The 21st Century Learning Institute is geared toward addressing a growing demand for a project approach to learning as more educational institutions, governments and ministries recognize how 21st Century skills are critical to students’ success in a knowledge-based economy. Teachers who take part in the institute are then able to share their knowledge with students and other teachers in their local countries, thus extending project learning skills to students across the region.

Throughout the program, the teachers learned how to design and implement online learning projects that will help students develop 21st century skills. The course also used the Oracle Education Foundation’s global technology programs, Think.com and ThinkQuest, to showcase exceptional project-learning examples and help teachers produce projects as a part of their training experience.In Malaysia, Think.com now involves over 800 schools and 4,065 teachers. The Oracle Education Foundation and the Ministry of Education is in the process of rolling out Think.com to another 4,000 Malaysian public schools in 2008.

“The 21st Century Learning Institute is designed to help educators around the globe successfully incorporate project learning into everyday curriculum, so that students walk out the school door with the skills needed for life and work in the 21st Century,” said Clare Dolan, Vice President, Oracle Education Initiatives. “These students will not only possess a firm knowledge of ‘basic’ skills like reading and math, they will also acquire the ‘applied’ skills needed to succeed in a global economy - critical thinking, creativity, cross-cultural understanding, and teamwork.”

OEF is a strong proponent and leader in the 21st Century skills development movement. From its innovative technology programs, Think.com and ThinkQuest, to its grant making philosophy, professional development programs and education partnerships, OEF’s mission is to help students gain vital skills needed for future academic and career success.

“Many primary and secondary teachers are challenged with how to implement technology- based project learning while still linking to curriculum and standards. The 21st Century Learning Institute provides a structured approach to preparing and implementing learning projects do just this,” Dolan continued.

Rigorous Training, Real-World Results
Teachers attending the event are required to complete three phases of training before successfully concluding the 60-hour professional development program. The three phases include four weeks of online, virtual training; four days of in-class training with project learning experts; and, the successful mentoring and implementation of a planned project in the participant’s school.

The Malaysian educators who had participated in program recently in Singapore gave positive feedback on the training:

“As a pioneer in this program, I am very keen to start implementing project-based learning skills to ensure that my students will be successful and well prepared for the 21st century,” said Ly Choo, teacher at SMK Dato' Sri Amar Diraja, Muar, Johor. “The 21st Century Learning Institute has provided a wonderful service to educators by mobilising its vast resources to train us in what will surely be the norm for learning strategies in the near future.”

“As Malaysia moves forward to keep pace with the advancements in technology and especially in ICT, communication and technology skills are now being integrated into more curricula in schools,” said Mokhtar bin Ismail, a teacher at SK Tumpat, Kelantan. “I don’t think I have ever experienced a medium quite as compelling and effective as Think.com which, together with its trained facilitators and teachers, will surely boost the project-based learning skills for students of the 21st century.

Ab Aziz bin Mamat, a teacher from Seri Puteri School, Cyberjaya, Selangor said, "The 21st century skills are highly relevant and can be used across global curricula and classrooms. I feel that educators like myself who are given the opportunity to upgrade their skill sets through programmes such as this will be able to directly benefit students under our care by imparting learning through contemporary best practices we are exposed to.”

“To excel in the workforce, students in Asia Pacific today require higher levels of reading, communication, math and problem-solving skills than ever before,” said K. Raman, managing director, Oracle Corporation Malaysia. “Oracle Education Foundation seeks to help teachers address the gap between how and what students are currently learning in the classroom and the skills they need to complete in the 21st century.”

The Oracle Education Foundation plans to introduce the 21st Century Institute across the nine participating countries in Asia Pacific by March 2009.