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Does Seamless Learning Translate Seamlessly?: A Decade of Experiences in Adapting Seamless Learning Designs for Various Subjects, Levels and Technological Settings

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Scaling up ICT-based Innovations in Schools

Part of the book series: Studies in Singapore Education: Research, Innovation & Practice ((SSERIP,volume 3))

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Abstract

Seamless learning is “when a person experiences a continuity of learning, and consciously bridges the multifaceted learning efforts, across a combination of locations (such as in and out of classroom), times, technologies or social settings.” It is an opportunity for an integration model of learning to foster deeper connections between multiple learning programs and learning opportunities. The technology-enhanced seamless learning approach was introduced to Singapore schools around 2007. After the initial proof-of-concept on the feasibility of developing a school-based, national curriculum-aligned pedagogy, a series of translation and diffusion efforts ensued over the last decade. Nevertheless, there are still challenges for the learning approach to penetrate the macro layer while keeping the focus on the meso and microlayers of the ecology. Underpinned by the notion of implementation research, this chapter will trace the evolution of the seamless learning practices among participating schools. We discuss the motivations and rationales of developing various translated seamless pedagogical models during different periods of time. In some cases, new translated models were derived not only for the sake of diffusing and spreading the practice to more subjects and levels but also for overcoming the systemic, technological and human (teacher, student and parental) tensions or limitations identified in preceding studies. Lessons drawn from a decade’s worth of implementation research can be useful in informing future translational and scaling up efforts of innovative pedagogical and curricular innovations.

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Wong, LH., Looi, CK., Aw, G.P. (2021). Does Seamless Learning Translate Seamlessly?: A Decade of Experiences in Adapting Seamless Learning Designs for Various Subjects, Levels and Technological Settings. In: Koh, E.R., Hung, D.W.L. (eds) Scaling up ICT-based Innovations in Schools. Studies in Singapore Education: Research, Innovation & Practice, vol 3. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4469-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4469-6_14

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