First Landmark MOU To Develop Online Learning Platform For Learners With Special Needs & Caregivers
Date: 20 Nov 2017
e-learning portal “Learn for life” will provide 24/7 access to important life skills and enrichment courses and extend learning beyond school hours and school years.
Singapore, 20 November 2017 – Autism Resource Centre (Singapore), or ARC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) today. The MoU signifies the continuation of a strategic partnership between the two organisations started since 2014 to collaborate on activities that will enhance the quality of learning and teaching not just for individuals with special needs but also the community-at-large.
The first-of-its-kind collaboration is a significant one especially in a time when technology has changed the nature of learning and teaching. It seeks to develop an online platform called the “Learn for Life e-Campus”, to enable special needs-learners to acquire important life skills. The platform aims to extend learning beyond school hours and formal school years. It also intends to equip caregivers with resources to better support their children and reinforce learning at home.
Ms Denise Phua, President of ARC said, “We are pleased to partner SUSS, a seasoned front-runner in developing e-learning resources since its early years as a tertiary education provider under UniSIM. SUSS will lend its expertise and experience in building an e-Campus, whilst ARC will provide both content and delivery expertise acquired through its years of autism training and consultancy in Singapore and the region. These efforts will complement and support the curriculum efforts currently provided by the Ministry of Education.”
Professor Cheong Hee Kiat, President of SUSS, said, “SUSS is a forerunner in using e-learning to empower students for self-directed learning at their convenience and pace. We are pleased to use our expertise to bring the benefits of e-learning to learners with special needs as well as their caregivers. E-learning will allow the learners and caregivers or facilitators to tailor the learning according to the needs of the learners. With such learners, the ability to learn anytime, anywhere and at their own pace is a big advantage, making learning more inclusive and effective.”
The vision of the collaboration is to develop a life-long learning platform with 24/7 access to courses that are critical to the quality of life of persons with special needs. The initial offerings under the “Learn for Life
e-Campus” cover life skills such as physical wellness and public transport; and enrichment modules covering information and communication technology (ICT), history and music. Depending on the learning profile
of the student and hence the degree of support required, learning can be more self-driven or facilitated by either their educators and/or family caregivers.
Empowering family caregivers
The proposed e-Campus also seeks to equip and empower family caregivers to encourage them to be joint partners with schools in raising their children with special needs. Caregivers will be trained and supported to facilitate the learning of their children. Teaching and learning need not be confined to the physical classroom and school hours anymore. Families can choose to take a more active role in preparing their children for life, helping them maximise their potential and quality of life.
Madam Tan Lie Ling,
Ms Phua added, “This is an age of disruption whether in school, at the workplace or in society. If the special needs community does not catch up in adopting more technologically savvy life-long learning, they will be left behind. They will be
disadvantaged not only by their special needs condition; they will lag further due to the digital divide.”
She continued, “The “Learn for Life e-Campus” is a modest effort to get the momentum going. Included in the initial offerings on the e-Campus, are ways to access important services like public transport that everyone needs to use,
but which, some of our special needs folks may find difficulty in navigating. In addition to SUSS, we are grateful to partners like SBS Transit who helped us to produce these videos. We need the support of the whole community to help us build
content and strengthen this life-long learning
Public e-learning courses on autism
To further support their shared vision of supporting inclusion, ARC(S) and SUSS experts will collaborate to deliver e-learning courses and resources on autism for the general public. SUSS students will also be encouraged to intern with special education (SPED) schools, such as Pathlight and Eden Schools, and other interested schools to understand more about special education needs and support.
For more information, please contact:
| Pathlight School Shae Hung Yee Senior Manager, Student & Corporate Affairs Mobile: 9181 4286 Email: [email protected] | Natalie Leung Corporate Communications Manager Telephone: 6592 0442 Mobile: 9690 9582 Email: [email protected] |
| Singapore University of Social Sciences Specialist | Media & Corporate Image Corporate Communications Telephone: 6248 9793 Email: [email protected] | |
About Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)
Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) or ARC(S) is a not-for-profit charity based in Singapore. Officially set up in 2000, it was started by professional and parent volunteers. ARC(S) is dedicated to serving children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), to help these individuals lead meaningful and independent lives in society.
ARC(S) offers a wide range of services: Early Intervention, Pathlight School, Autism Intervention, Training and Consultancy (AITC), Student Enrichment, Employability & Employment Centre, Library and Information Services.
About Pathlight School
Pathlight School is the first autism-focused school in Singapore. It provides a unique blend of mainstream academics and life-readiness skills for students with autism and related learning disorders, aged 7 to 18 years or up to 21 years. Invited by the Ministry of Education, the School began operations in January 2004 with just 41 students. Today, with close to 1,200 students, it is one of the fastest growing and progressive special schools in Singapore.
About Singapore University of Social Sciences
Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) is one of Singapore's six national universities and its mission is to provide lifelong education that equips learners to serve society. Home to more than 14,000 students, SUSS provides an applied education that targets both fresh school leavers and adult learners, with a focus on the social sciences. It adopts a flexible and practice-focused learning approach and offers more than 60 degree programmes in various disciplines. Eligible students taking SUSS's undergraduate programmes enjoy government subsidies and access to government bursaries, tuition fee loans and study loans.
GLOSSARY OF CHINESE NAMES
| Autism Resource Centre (ARC) | 新加坡自闭症资源中心 |
| Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) | 新跃社科大学 |
| Pathlight School | 新光学校 |
| Eden School | 忆恩学校 |
| Learn for Life e-Campus | 终身学习网络平台 |
| Ms Denise Phua President, ARC | 潘丽萍 |
| Professor Cheong Hee Kiat President, SUSS | 张起杰教授 新跃社科大学校长 |
| Madam Tan Lie Ling Mother of Secondary 4 Pathlight student | 陈莉玲 |