FIVE schools have been selected to spearhead the use of technology such as blogs, video conferencing and podcasts in classrooms as part of a project that could eventually extend to all schools here.

The FutureSchools@Singapore programme will see students equipped with computers and tablet PCs, while teachers will use tools such as 3-D software, games and digital music players to teach subjects including English, Chinese, mathematics and science.

The five schools are Jurong Secondary, Crescent Girls', Hwa Chong Institution, Canberra Primary and Beacon Primary.

While computers are already commonplace tools in libraries and classrooms for research and project work, FutureSchools will go one step further, by introducing technology across all subjects.

At Canberra Primary, for example, classrooms are fitted with interactive touch screen whiteboards.

Student Jamie Chung, 10, said: 'We all like to use the whiteboard because it's fun...and our teacher lets us play very interesting games.'

With the use of these technologies, English, maths and science teacher Ang Yen Ling has been able to introduce more activities in class.

'The students are more engaged, and even the quieter ones participate more,' she said.

At Jurong Secondary, there are plans to extend learning beyond classrooms through forums, chatrooms and video-conferencing.

The school's principal, Ms Tham Yoke Chun, said: 'We hope to extend the study areas to our immediate community, and even globally.'

Students are already taking their physics projects out into the Jurong Lake Park, using their tablet PCs, global positioning devices and data loggers as tools for studying heat transfer.

Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew, who announced the programme on Monday, said: 'We want to equip students with the skills they will need for the future...and push for innovation and transformation of the educational experience in Singapore.'

Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui said the five schools were picked because they have already been using technology widely in classes.

They also represent a good mix of school types - independent, government, secondary, primary, single-sex and co-ed.

The ministry will use the schools as test beds and carry out studies on the impact of technology not only on teaching and learning, but also on the students' emotional and social development.

The aim is to develop 15 FutureSchools by 2015, which will then produce a set of best practices that can be adopted by other schools.

Some funding will come from the Government and industry partners, but no figures have been released.

The project will not be cheap. Canberra Primary, for example, has spent nearly $200,000 on equipment such as tablet PCs, interactive whiteboards and broadband Internet access.

Although the schools have not decided whether or not students will be required to buy their own laptops or tablet PCs, they said financial assistance schemes are available for those who need them.

FutureSchools is part of the Government's iN2015 IT masterplan vision to transform education through infocomm technology.

But RADM (NS) Lui said that they should not be seen as 'technology schools'.

'We don't want to see this as a total shift. Technology will not dominate the school scene. It will merely be the enabler to give teachers another tool,' he said.

yuenc@sph.com.sg