Enhancing learning outcomes and empowering teachers with Microsoft

On the outskirts of Brunei’s capital lies the Lambak Kanan Jalan 49 Primary School, a technology trailblazer in education. “We serve a diverse student population, including students with special needs, and we have been intentional about incorporating technology into our classrooms to enhance learning outcomes,” shares Hajah Noorliah, the school’s Headmistress. 

Setting the stage

In 2014, the Brunei Ministry of Education selected the school for its Whole School ICT Development (WSID) project. “This introduced us to information and communications technology (ICT) tools and methods and laid the groundwork for our digital transformation journey,” recalls Ms. Ruzanna Zainal Abidin, Deputy Headmistress at the school. The Ministry once again chose the school for the Digital Classroom initiative, enabling all of its 50 teachers to become certified as Microsoft Innovative Educators (MIE) in 2021. “This was an outstanding opportunity for me and the rest of the teachers to dive deeper into Microsoft products, integrate technology into our classrooms, and prepare mentally for our next steps.”

In 2022, the school was the first in the country to join the Microsoft Showcase Incubator Programme and gain access to resources, digital transformation guidance, and insights. “We received training sessions and unlimited support from Microsoft and Microsoft Education Partner, Edukinect Singapore. This has truly transformed the way things were done within the school and improved the assessment in teaching and learning,” shares Noorliah. Meanwhile, the school also started optimizing on other solutions like Microsoft 365, Sway for creating and sharing interactive reports, Microsoft Forms and Teams for administrative work, and OneNote Class Notebooks for organizing notes and ideas. The school also provided Windows devices to each teacher to enable remote teaching and engagement during training sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Empowered, supported teachers

Since then, four teachers have received certification in the more advanced program, which is the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE) program, while the rest are awaiting their results.   Five teachers have also validated their technology literacy competencies by achieving a Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification. “Our year in the Microsoft Incubator Programme has exceeded all expectations,” shares Noorliah. “Gone are the days of traditional teaching methods with chalkboards. Today, our teachers have a comprehensive and effective guide to navigating digital transformation, envisioning new possibilities, and developing strategies to achieve them. Microsoft has allowed our educators to build deeper learning relationships in an affordable, safe, and secure way, to provide personal, predictive learning that inspires and empowers students, and to enjoy a more effective and rewarding work experience.”

According to  Ms. Ruzanna, despite some initial challenges such as teachers’ skills at the start of the journey, teachers eventually have come a long way. “We are proud of our digitalization journey over the past few years. Microsoft products have enabled us to connect with our students in new ways. Tools like Microsoft Forms have saved educators’ valuable time through real-time grading and reporting. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have access to such vital resources.”

Inspired students

Undoubtedly, the group that has benefitted the most is the students themselves. “Just like our teachers, our students have become experts in digital products, building their awareness about the importance of 21st-century skills,” notes Noorliah. “Microsoft tools play a critical role in their learning process, increasing their motivation and career readiness.” To Ms. Ruzanna, bringing technology into the classroom never fails to excite students and enhance their performance. “Our pupils love coming to school because they know that their teacher will introduce them to a new piece of technology.”

Lambak Kanan Jalan 49 Primary School continues to advance teachers’ skills and competencies and improve educational outcomes with the help of technology. “We would be happy to have the chance to try Microsoft Dream Space, as it provides immersive, research-based STEM experiences for students, teachers, and communities, enabling them to enhance their STEM skills as well as empathy, creativity, ethical decision-making, and collaboration,” concludes Noorliah. “In 2023, we also hope to spread awareness on the Microsoft Showcase Incubator Programme, and we are happy to have inspired other schools to follow along. Change is not linear, but now that we have taken our first steps and ensured that everyone is on the same page, our transformation will be more meaningful.”