It has been nearly a decade since Books & People first launched its Scan & Learn Series English Editing G3 title. Then, when we conducted workshops for teachers using our books, we had to explain to them how QR codes work and recommend QR code scanners for downloading. Fast forward to today, QR codes are unequivocally everywhere. We have witnessed over the years how the technology that connects us online has been gradually distributed evenly across society.
In Singapore, our students are also being exposed to technology at an ever younger age. Music, movies, and other creative content are now easily accessible online. Educational content is also widely available, and the internet has greatly democratised access to these resources. There was once no such thing as self-guided learning. Now, the Library of Alexandria is at our students’ fingertips; it is now possible to learn anything they need or read whatever they want.
However, at the same time, we are now more aware of how the same technology that can be so empowering is just as distracting for us and our students. Attention spans have become shorter and more fragmented today. How, then, should we shepherd our students through the fourth industrial revolution that is currently upon us and here to stay?
While there is no doubt that the computer is the most powerful tool for creativity and the most powerful force multiplier invented since the stone axe, it simply cannot replace schools and classrooms. The tools for learning are abundant and infinite today; however, it is the desire to learn that is scarce. It is in the classroom, with the mentorship of teachers and the companionship of their peers, that the desire to learn can be fanned into flame.
If teaching is the business of managing motivation, then as an educational publisher, we strive to craft resources and develop technologies that are educational, entertaining, and edifying, to support learning in and outside the classroom. We have always believed that whatever informs the mind must inspire the heart. And when we are successful in building depth into the lives of our students, we can be assured that the breadth of their works will naturally be taken care of.
We are also convinced that technology remains one of the crucial solutions to solving educational inequalities in society. Research has shown that socioeconomic status has a significant impact on educational outcomes and opportunities. It will definitely be a missed opportunity if technology is not sufficiently leveraged to address the problem of inequality in Singapore. While there can never be an equality of outcomes, we have, for the past decade, made it our mission to strive towards making our nation a home where equality of learning opportunities exists. The future is here, and we have made it our raison d’être to distribute it evenly so that the opportunities to learn are available to all students regardless of their socioeconomic background.
By the time this book is published, the nation will have celebrated her 60th birthday. These books are our love letters to Singapore and the future generations of young Singaporeans. And to all the teachers who have always believed in the work we do – thank you. I really hope that in the next decade, we can continue to craft more books that will impact more people.
