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List of Projects by Countryteaching and learning of mathematics and science through curriculum andinstructional innovation adopting a 'contextual learning' approach.Contextual learning involves using examples from everyday experiencesin personal, social and occupational life and providing concrete hands-onapplications of the materials to be learned.Teachers and officers from TED were trained in the contextual approachin Texas, USA. They prepared teacher guides and a modularised studenttext to guide teachers in implementing the contextual approach. Thesubjects targeted in the initial modules in 1997 were mathematics,physics, chemistry and biology, but it is intended to develop modules forall subjects by 1999. Full implementation at secondary technical schoolswill be in 2000.Preliminary results from piloting show that students improve theirunderstanding of the subject content of mathematics and science, andseem to derive greater enjoyment from their studies.ContactDirector, Technical Education Department, Ministry of Education, Level 3,Block F, Damansara Town Centre, 50604 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,Tel: 603-255-8655, Fax: 603-255-1170.17. Innovation of Pedagogy in Pre-service TeacherEducationThis Malaysian project takes the view that innovation in pedagogy aimsto generate and to develop the creativity of teacher educators and studentteachers. Innovative teaching and learning strategies can encourage selfdirected,self-paced and self-accessed learning and empower studentteachers to take responsibility for optimising their own learning. It caninculcate a culture of lifelong education. Such innovation providesopportunities to explore the various possibilities for making teaching andlearning enjoyable and more meaningful for learners. It also createsopportunities for teacher educators to work on a collaborative andcooperative basis.The project began in 1995. It is under the direction of the TeacherTraining Colleges and Curriculum Unit of the Teacher EducationDivision of the Ministry of Education, Malaysia. It is located in teachertraining colleges and aims to:• encourage innovative practices by teacher educators and studentteachers• produce a variety of teaching and learning techniques40 © Snapshots of Primary and Secondary Education in Asia-Pacific