Many knowledge intensive, and high earning careers all rely on some use of ICT either in the design or usage parts of the job and this means that training in ICT skills at school and college level is a vital part of an education system today, shared Dr. Richard Clarkson, Principal, Highlands International Boarding School, Pahang, Malaysia in an exclusive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:
Highlands International Boarding School (HIBS) provides students with a wealth of options to study a wide range of subjects that will support their Tertiary Education. Would you like to elaborate on this, what are these subjects?
At HIBS, we follow a UK based IGCSE framework from Cambridge Assessment International Education. We have two main academic streams in years 10 and 11, to allow for students who wish to specialise in either pure science subjects, or in more vocational/business related subjects. There are core subjects that all students must take such as English, Maths and Science; then there are a long list of others, such as Chemistry, Biology, Physics, ICT, Accounting and Economics that enable students to tailor their educational experience towards any career interests they might have.
You have been catering to the education ecosystem for more than 28 years, How do you think career opportunities have evolved for students over the years?
Back in the mid-80’s computers and ICT in general were not mainstream choices for academic pursuit, at least not in the UK. I was one of the first to do a computer studies O Level and was largely self-taught. I have always felt that if I was a few years younger, I would have gone into computer programming as a line of work. I have kept up my interest over the years and dabbled in website design and javascript, with a view to making content delivery in my Chemistry lessons more exciting than just writing on a board.
Many knowledge intensive, and high earning careers all rely on some use of ICT either in the design or usage parts of the job and this means that training in ICT skills at school and college level is a vital part of an education system today.
The Curriculum at HIBS develops successful learners through a skill-based approach to teaching and assessing. Shed some light on the curriculum practised at HIBS and it is different from other schools in Malaysia.
As a science teacher, and being brought up on an academic diet of experiments in the classroom, I feel one of the best areas we can expand on is the education experience beyond the usual chalk and talk in a classroom. UK Science examinations stress the student’s need to have actually experienced what is talked about in books and be able to answer questions effectively in tests. But it is not just the sciences that can benefit from getting out of the classroom.
In South East Asia, there exists a multitude of both contemporary and ancient historical sites that hold immense appeal for visitors. Our school, nestled at a high altitude within dense jungle terrain, offers abundant opportunities for geographical exploration. Additionally, it provides a unique vantage point to observe the ongoing urbanization in the surrounding region. Our location boasts fascinating flora and fauna, including a few ape species that reside nearby, offering rich opportunities for biological studies.
Thinking skills are necessary to strive in next gen of education. According to the present scenario, AI is the next-gen in education. Do you think, it will have a positive or negative impact on student’s thinking skills?
I believe that AI, like previous advancements in computer technology, has the potential to create significant excitement and anticipation about how it will revolutionize the world, for better or worse. In a digital age where vast amounts of information are available on the internet, not all of it necessarily accurate, AI’s capacity to aggregate and summarize this data to answer specific questions is undeniably a valuable tool.
However, it’s essential for a diligent student to always approach information critically, cross-reference it with other sources, and engage in thoughtful analysis before placing trust in it.
If AI is excessively elevated and granted too much authority, there is a risk that critical thinking skills could deteriorate. AI should be viewed as a valuable tool, and its output should be carefully considered by the human mind before any action is taken based on it.
The World Education Summit has been consistently focused on driving innovation in education worldwide over the past several years. What are your thoughts on joining the most anticipated 27th Elets World Education Summit in Malaysia?
I am greatly looking forward to meeting all the other speakers and learning about everyone’s unique experience in the field of education. It is by talking with each other, and sharing our own ideas about how to improve the sphere of education, that meaningful advancements can be made.
