Competency Based Learning SAIL into MOE

As early as 1999, a study team from the Ministry of Education went to the USA and returned with an exciting idea to improve the instructional strategy in our schools. This idea led to the development and subsequent launch of SAIL, the acronym fr Strategies for Active and Independent Learning in 2004.

The idea behind SAIL was to have a standards-based curriculum in our schools. In essence it meant that a typical lesson should comprise:

a. A statement of learning standard
b. A description of the learning task
c. An assessment rubric

MOE argue that SAIL would help the students better understand what they were learning, how they they were assessed and what their performance and grades meant. It would lead to an instructional approach that teachers can use to engage students in meaningful and thoughtful learning.

Unknowingly, MOE had SAILed into the realm of Competency Based Learning.

A statement of learning standard is in fact a statement of competency. Teachers have now to identify the Knowledge, Skill and Attitude (KSA) that their students need to demonstate. The learning outcome is therefore a recognizable performance standard.

The learning task is the evidence gathering plan. It comprises a series of tasks that provide the scope for the students to learn and demonstrate the KSA listed in the statement of learning standards.

Finally, the assessment rebric is an assessment plan. It serves as a channel to communicate the performance expectations to the students. It is drawn from the statement of learning standards.

So CBL is the way to go. MINDEF has been in CBL for over three decades. MOE came on board quite recently and now MOM is pushing it across all the industries. Bon voyage.