Ngee Ann Secondary
Ngee Ann Secondary has been selected to join in the Microsoft
Innovative Schools World Tour for being a showcase example of
the following Innovation Topics:
Overview
Country or Region: Singapore
Industry: Education
School Profile
Ngee Ann Secondary School is based in
Tampines, Singapore, and was the first
Microsoft Live Lab in 2010.
Number of Students: 1,500
Gender: Mixed
Age Range: 13-17
School Leader: Adrian Lim
School Website:
www.ngeeannsec.moe.edu.sg
1. 1:1 learning environments. Students work on their own
devices and can use technology at any time to access
educational tools.
2. Physical learning environments. Focus on physical
spaces, seating, and atmosphere to encourage
collaboration, creativity, and learning.
3. Professional learning communities. Technology and
programs that support collaboration among teachers and
their peer groups in other schools.
“Ngee Ann Secondary is
1:1 learning environments
anchored by the usual
Students at Ngee Ann Secondary purchase
their own Windows 7 tablets for use in
teaching and learning. The project to equip
all classrooms and other rooms (e.g. labs,
library, and special rooms) with wireless
Internet access is on-going to support the
1:1 program. Students use their devices to
search the Internet for resources, prepare
presentations, use online applications, or
work with special software.
fundamentals: supportive
leaders, capable teachers,
and good infrastructure.
Through the Partners in
Learning program and
Microsoft-initiated webinars,
we are able to expose our
teachers to a wide range of
resources and professional
development opportunities.
In the classroom, Microsoft
solutions support the
pedagogy used by our
teachers.”
Adrian Lim, Principal, Ngee Ann
Secondary School
To foster collaboration, Ngee
Ann constructed eight special
rooms for learning that are
different from the traditional
“silo” desk arrangements.
Key Technology
 Wireless Internet access in classrooms
 Individual Windows 7 tablets
 Microsoft Office, OneNote, and Office 365
Physical learning environments
To foster collaboration and change the
mindset of what learning should be, Ngee
Ann has constructed eight special rooms
for learning that are different from the
traditional “silo” desk arrangements. In all
the special rooms, students are seated in
groups to facilitate discussions. Most of the
rooms also have walls that double as a
whiteboard to allow space for articulating
ideas and thoughts. Students have access
to the Internet in all the rooms either
through their own devices or the school’s.
All the rooms are furnished either with
information or work (e.g. artwork, models)
that provides inspiration for students.
For Design and Technology, one of the
rooms is outfitted with a 3-D projector
for students to better visualize threedimensional objects.
 For English and Humanities, one of the
rooms is structured to look like a
parliament setting for the purposes of
debates.
 For Art, there are two special rooms that
double as a showcase venue for the
students’ artwork.

Key Technology
 Wireless-ready rooms for Internet access
 A 3-D projector for teaching in design and
technology
 Windows computers or laptops for a 1:1
environment
Professional learning
communities
Ngee Ann has established Professional
Learning Communities (PLCs) between
departments and between schools from
other countries. Every month, teachers
within each department will collaborate
either face-to-face or online to discuss
teaching strategies or collaborate on
developing a new lesson design. The
school’s Math Department also has close
ties with the AB Paterson College in
Australia, and they have web conferences
during two periods of the year to discuss
Math Modeling.
The Ngee Ann Secondary Vision
Key Technology
 Microsoft Web Apps and SkyDrive
facilitate discussions between
departments
 Microsoft Lync is used to facilitate web
discussions between schools across
different countries
Improving student outcomes
Empowering students with their own
devices and providing open learning spaces
to foster collaboration has improved the
students’ media literacy skills and cyberwellness. For example, students are able to
find and validate information and credit
their sources in their presentations. They
are also more comfortable working in
groups and in collaborative environments.
Driving leadership and a
culture of innovation
The culture of innovation started
opportunistically, with the identification of
key people who have the aptitude and
drive to carry out changes in teaching and
learning. This small start, careful
communication, and the celebration of
successes along the way has helped to
encourage more pockets of innovation
across different departments. With time,
the pockets of innovation appear
spontaneously to create a unique culture
for the school. Teachers are given the
opportunity to lead and drive projects in
their departments regardless of seniority.
This, coupled with proper mentoring by
more senior teachers, helps to develop
leadership across the spectrum.
For More Information
For more information about Microsoft in
Education, visit:
www.microsoft.com/education/ww/soluti
ons/Pages/index.aspx
For more information about Ngee Ann
Secondary, visit:
www.ngeeannsec.moe.edu.sg
This case study is for informational purposes only.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Document published December 2013
Technology Infrastructure