Schools give students lessons beyond the classroom
Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — To nurture an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Zhonghua Secondary School has been providing scientific research opportunities and service-learning projects within the learning process for pupils to apply their knowledge in real-life settings.
For instance, the school has created an Environment and Sustainability Education programme, getting pupils to brainstorm the environmental challenges the world faces from now to 2050, and to propose environmentally viable solutions for businesses.
Through service-learning projects, its pupils are collaborating with grassroots leaders in the nearby Braddell Heights estate to raise dengue awareness. Besides designing information brochures, the students visited 1,400 households to engage residents on dengue issues.
The pupils are then encouraged to chronicle their learning reflections in essays that will be posted on the school’s website.
Zhonghua Secondary is among 21 schools being recognised this year for Best Practices in five categories: Teaching and Learning, Character and Citizenship Education, Student All-Round Development, Staff Well-Being and Development, and Partnership.
Its principal Loh Leong Beng told TODAY: “These learning experiences allow students to learn beyond the textbooks, and work in ambiguous situations that stretch their imagination and question their assumptions about what’s really needed.”
While speaking to residents about environmental issues such as dengue, they learnt to think on their feet when residents posed questions, he added.
Another school commended for Best Practices in Teaching and Learning is Canberra Primary School, for developing pupils progressively in their learning of academic subjects, for instance, by introducing drama in English lessons to Primary One children to help them pick up speaking skills.
The school has also been infusing play into its curriculum, such as games used for digital learning scenarios that can be designed by teachers or pupils, and that allow several participants at a time.
Lower-primary pupils also tap mobile tablets to build their media literacy skills concurrently.
To provide pupils with learning experiences beyond the classroom, Canberra Primary organises subject-based trails and a financial literacy week, among other initiatives. These offer further platforms for them to hone their presentation skills and build their confidence.
“In today’s eco-system where students are surrounded by social media all the time, there’s a need to better engage students to let them know that learning can be fun and education is also something meaningful,” its principal Wong Poo Mun said.
All 21 schools will receive their awards at the Ministry of Education’s Work Plan Seminar tomorrow. Three other schools — CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent, Clementi Town Secondary and Serangoon Garden Secondary — will receive the Lee Hsien Loong Award for Innovations in the Normal Course.
