Thursday, 28th March 2024

Thursday, 28th March 2024

Allied Educators Motivate Students in the Normal (Technical) Stream

15 Aug 2013

EXSA Star Award

Miss Nur Hidayah Binte Eser (left) and Miss Herma Ayuni Binte Hassan (right), Allied Educators (Teaching and Learning) at Serangoon Gardens Secondary School, were recipients of the Excellent Service Award (EXSA) Star Award 2012.

Meeting the diverse needs of students in a class is no easy feat for any teacher. To support teachers and raise the quality of interaction with students, Allied Educators work on innovative teaching methods and plan enrichment programmes to build students’ confidence.

For Miss Nur Hidayah Binte Eser and Miss Herma Ayuni Binte Hassan, Allied Educators (Teaching and Learning) at Serangoon Gardens Secondary School, being able to help students in the Normal (Technical) stream has made this a fulfilling career for both of them. Both AEDs received the Excellent Service Award (EXSA) Star Award 2012 last year. This is a national award that recognises individuals who have delivered quality service in their course of work.

“An AED’s role varies according to the needs of the school,” explained Miss Hidayah, “For us, we are focused on the needs of students in the Normal (Technical) stream and provide resources that would cater to their learning needs.”

Creating an Enjoyable School Experience

Creating a sense of anticipation and interest among the students in their school work is a large part of the work done by Miss Hidayah and Miss Ayuni, together with other N(T) teachers at the school. Together, they brainstorm and plan for programmes that would benefit their students.

EXSA Star Award

A trip to IKEA, a furniture store, provides students to the opportunity to practise what they learn in Elements of Business Studies and Mathematics.

To help students understand the relevance of what they study in school, AEDs and teachers plan for a trip to IKEA, a furniture store. Students are challenged to apply what they had learnt in Elements of Business Studies and Mathematics concurrently, as they learn about the company’s marketing strategy and also furnish a room using a budgeted amount.

“We help students to understand why they need to pick up these skills and how these skills can be used in the future,” said Miss Hidayah.

Students also put their skills to good use by painting pictures of iconic Singapore scenes during Art lessons and making spice boxes during Design and Technology lessons. They use these items as sensory stimulation aids while interacting with patients suffering from dementia at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). The project is part of the school’s Character and Citizenship Education programme. Through experiential learning, students see the practical application of what they do in class.

EXSA Star Award

Miss Nur Hidayah Binte Eser plans programmes for students in the Normal (Technical) stream, so they will find school relevant and interesting.

“Some of their grandparents also suffer from dementia, so there’s a connection. Some of them even continue to volunteer at IMH after the project has ended,” said Miss Hidayah, who believes that character is an important part of students’ development.

“Fridays with N(T)” is another programme initiated by the AEDs and N(T) teachers that aims to improve attendance rates, as absenteeism was an issue in previous years. Students would suggest things they would like to find out more about, and each Friday, they go on a learning journey. For example, they have learnt balloon sculpting, found out more about circus arts and even visited Awfully Chocolate to learn about the company’s packaging and branding strategy. Since the programme was implemented three years ago, school attendance rates have improved significantly.

“In the past, some students found it a chore to come to school. “Fridays with N(T)” makes school enjoyable for them,” said Miss Ayuni.

Being Approachable and Helpful

For Miss Ayuni, who helps students struggling with Mathematics, being innovative is key. She conducts small group lessons, so they can catch up with the rest of the class.

“Miss Ayuni is a caring teacher. If we don’t understand what is taught, she will use different methods to explain the topic,” said Nurul Nisha Bte Suranee, 15, “I had many questions on fractions and percentages, but after playing a card game that Miss Ayuni brought to class, I finally understood the concepts.”

Nisha is also one of the students who underwent the school’s Bridging Programme that helps students who took Foundation Mathematics in Primary School to catch up with their peers who took Standard Mathematics.

“I had the mentality that I could not do algebra, but when Miss Ayuni taught me using a step by step method, I began to understand how algebra works,” said Nisha, “I even teach my friends using her method.”

EXSA Star Award

Miss Herma Ayuni Binte Hassan helped Nisha to overcome her fear of Mathematics by using innovative teaching methods!

“Some students struggle with Mathematics for various reasons, so I try to motivate and encourage them to not fear studying this subject,” said Miss Ayuni, who would relate to students her personal experience of understanding the relevance of Mathematics when she did her diploma in engineering.

“I hope my students will learn good values at the same time, follow their dreams and contribute back to society,” said Miss Ayuni.