Educational Assessment in Singapore

Educational assessment in the Singapore context is shaped, to a large extent, by the country's educational policies and programmes, as well as the general principles and practices of assessment. This paper presents a profile of the assessment system in Singapore and how it complements the education system to realise the fullest potential of its precious human resources. National examinations and school-based assessments at each milestone in the education system are described so as to highlight the distinctive features of educational assessment in Singapore.     

Impacting the Positioning of Teaching as Life-long Career

This article attempts to provide an overview of relevant recent initiates undertaken in Singapore to attract and retain school teachers. A teaching track in the new career structure seeks to recognise and provide opportunities for teachers who prefer to serve life-long as teachers instead of being promoted to administrative positions. Coupled with this is the draw of financial incentive in the new recognition structure to reward the good ones who have the stamina to stay, and a competitive gross starting salary to entice new entrants into the profession. The author presents the thrust in education of the country as a means to an economic end and surfaces inherent contradictions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of NSE/PS2m-transgenic mice in the study of the protective effect of exercise on Alzheimer's disease

In its late stage, Alzheimer's disease results in progressive muscle weakness in the arms and legs. The aim of this study was to determine whether mice expressing the skeletal muscle-specific mutant PS2 gene (a model of Alzheimer's disease) are a useful experimental system to study the protective effect of exercise on A beta-42 reduction, improvement of behavioural function and changes in metabolic parameters. With this aim in mind, the transgenic mice were subjected to treadmill exercise for 3 months. The results showed that in transgenic mice, but not in normal mice, treadmill exercise resulted in a reduction of A beta-42 deposits and an improvement in behavioural function, thereby restoring normal concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. Thus, exercise may represent a practical therapeutic strategy for use with human patients with Alzheimer's disease.     

Confessions of a schoolman—On dyslexia and laterality

This paper relates the early work of Samuel Orton on cerebral dominance to the current neuropsychological concept of laterality as reciprocal functions of the two cerebral hemispheres. The genetic-cultural perspectives of laterality and functional asymmetry in relation to learning disorders are discussed. A balanced and integrative view of the cognitive contribution of the two hemispheres is needed. This is a modified version of an address given at the Spring Conference of the Upper Midwest Branch of The Orton Dyslexia Society in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, April, 1982.     

集自然历史、世界文化于一身的皇家安大略博物馆

皇家安大略博物馆融合自然历史和世界文化于一身,藏品超过1250万件,大量开展国际范围的研究。2017年参观人数超过130万人次。该馆设有27个永久的世界文化和自然历史展厅、2个儿童动手实践探索展厅和4个用于临时展览的展区。该馆收集了两只鲸鱼的骨架,将其中一只鲸鱼的心脏做塑化处理后在主展厅展出,将在加拿大各地和其他国家和地区进行巡回展出。