Our Methodology
What is the Starmax Curriculum?
Our classes utilise a proprietary and unique pedagogical approach to solving examination questions in the O levels and A levels, imparting critical and higher order thinking skills (HOTS) to the students.
As students may have realised, the questions in the national examinations are geared towards being application based. Being a specialist in the field of educational psychology, and equipped with the teaching experience of more than 8 years, Mr Charles Chow developed the Starmax Curriculum, which is a unique proprietary learning framework, specially designed and involving the best learning practices based on thousands of years of research from the field of Educational Psychology.
Mr Charles Chow recognized that most students view solving questions as merely a tedious process where the final answer is the focus, and less thought is placed into how the question is approached, or the thought process which allows one to derive the correct answer. This will be detrimental to the child's academic development, as such an approach encourages rote learning and the random application of concepts, without any proper understanding as to which such concepts are used.
The Starmax Curriculum employs our SMCTM Problem Solving Learning Model and makes use of the Enhanced Formative Assessment Teaching Method.
The Starmax Curriculum is specially designed by our in - house curriculum specialists, led by our principal tutor, Mr Charles Chow. Every year, we refresh the curriculum in accordance to exam trends.
All lessons at the Centre will be formulated based on the Starmax Curriculum.
The SMCTM Problem Solving Learning Model
comprises of the following 3 steps:
1. Skills – based Conceptual Mastery
Concepts of each learning unit are reinforced and mastered at the start of every learning unit. The skills required for each concept will be thoroughly taught to the student. Our weekly checkpoint assessment helps to identify any conceptual weaknesses and allow the tutor to correct any flawed concepts instantly, allowing students to strengthen mastery of the learning unit. Often times, students may not be able to recall the specific concept required for a particular question. Through our learning model, we will expose the students to a variety of carefully selected questions, designed to stimulate the thinking process behind why a certain concept is used, and to impart the importance of every concept to each student. Students who are unable to master a concept will not be able to pass our checkpoint assessment, and this provides a checkpoint for us to monitor the progress of our students carefully.
2. Meta – Cognitive Approach
Students will be coached to be aware of their own thinking processes, and to identify factors that hinder their own performance. Students will also be taught heuristics skills and strategies that allow them to answer examination questions effectively and efficiently.
3. Critical Thinking
Students will be encouraged to think critically via our specially prepared worksheets. With the shift from a content-driven curriculum to a skills-driven and application – based curriculum, it will no longer be sufficient for students to plainly recall and apply concepts. Rather, MOE has been gradually shifting to a stance where students will be required to think critically to score well in the examinations. As such, our enhanced worksheets will help to stimulate critical thinking, allowing them to be able to think critically and do well in the examinations.
The Enhanced Formative Assessment
Teaching Method
The Enhanced Formative Assessment Teaching Method is developed by Mr Charles Chow and incorporated as part of the Starmax Curriculum. It is built upon the following guiding principles:
- Teachers conduct mastery checks while teaching, and this informs how they teach.
- They can know the learning pace and caliber of each individual student.
- This helps to promote a student – centered learning environment in the classroom
An example:
- After 30 minutes of teaching, teacher conducts a mastery check.
- Student A demonstrated excellent mastery –> Teacher assign more difficult questions to Student A.
- Student B demonstrated poor mastery –> Teacher reteach topic to Student B and assign drill questions.
Small Group Classes
The Enhanced Formative Assessment Teaching Method is made possible due to our Small Group Class size, where every class will be capped at a maximum of 4 students to 1 teacher ratio.
The student learns most effectively when the teacher is able to give sufficient amounts of attention and provide real - time feedback to every student.
Our Small Group Classes allow for Dynamic & Personalised tutoring, to allow students to learn at their own pace within a Small Group setting. As such, strong students are not held back, while weaker students are given time to learn.
The Enhanced Formative Assessment Teaching Method allows us to follow monitor the progress of every student closely, and allows us to provide Dynamic & Personalised tutoring. An example of our weekly lesson flow can be found below:
The StarMax Curriculum
Our unique curriculum has helped us to achieve the following in the past year (2022), with distinction rates way above national distinction rates.
Our Collective Achievements at a Glance (NA & O level 2022)
Our Collective Achievements at a Glance (A level 2022)
Our Curriculum Overview
A Commitment to Excellence
Starmax Learning Centre aims to provide all our students a complete and effective learning experience to be able to tackle even the most challenging school and national examinations.
We do not use assessment books in our teaching. Instead, the curriculum at Starmax Learning Centre is specially designed by team of curriculum specialists and led by our principal tutor.
Our Unique Curriculum
The curriculum at Starmax Learning Centre is specially designed by our in - house curriculum specialists, led by our principal tutor, Mr Charles Chow.
With years of experience in the field of Psychology, Mr Charles Chow ensures that the lessons delivered are most effective and comprises of various techniques such as mnemonics, subject retention techniques, etc to help you study in the most effective and efficient manner.
Our classes are specifically designed and involve the best learning practices based on thousands of years of research from the field of Educational Psychology. Every year, we refresh the curriculum in accordance to exam trends.
Specially Designed Materials
Our in – house worksheets are specially written and designed, aimed at captivating your child’s imagination and interest. More importantly, these worksheets impart the most effective and engaging exam tips and tricks so that your child experience the most effective learning not found anywhere else.
Small Group Classes
Small Group Classes tailored to each student's needs. The student learns most effectively when the teacher is able to give sufficient amounts of attention and provide real - time feedback to every student. Our Small Group Classes allow for Dynamic & Personalised tutoring, to allow students to learn at their own pace within a Small Group setting. As such, strong students are not held back, while weaker students are given time to learn.
The teaching team at Starmax Learning Centre is supported by our team of subject specialists, led by our founder.
Reviews by Students and Parents
“A very dedicated teacher.”
– Joyce, Nan Hua High School
Mr Chow is a very dedicated teacher. He has helped me greatly improve from a failing grade to a A grade in O level A Maths. His lessons include tips and tricks not taught in our usual school curriculum, and which I find very useful. Thank you Mr Chow!
— Joyce, Nan Hua High School
“Very effective.”
– Andrew, National Junior College
Mr Charles is very effective and his explanations are very clear and straight to the point. He is also very approachable and patient. Thank you for helping me with my JC physics and I have learnt a lot under your guidance.
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