Sharing is caring! Building on eco-ideas together

21^st May marked an action-packed day for nine schools as they met over a Communities of Practice (CoP) event at the Marina Barrage – the prime venue for learning about sustainability given its innovative use of space (as a reservoir, educational and recreational facility). 

The stage was set for these schools to share as well as glean insights from one another and from an industrial partner – on how to inspire students to care for their environment.

All nine schools were active subscribers to the STEM Applied Learning Programme (ALP) – having hosted classes for years in the domains of Alternative Energy and Urban Design & Innovation. 

Sharing of Multi-Tiered ALP

In the first half of the CoP session, two of the schools - Loyang View Secondary and Punggol Secondary stepped up to share their multi-tiered ALP to help teachers understand how their programmes were structured.

Both the schools also displayed samples of their students’ products like an anemometer, solar car and water purification system – all positive examples of the experimental hands-on ALP activities in their schools. 

 

Industrial Insight

In the next half, Terra SG lent their voice on sustainability. Perfectly positioned as an environmental social enterprise (and industrial partner of STEM Inc), they shared how to inspire communities through eco education programmes, building eco environments and powering upcycling workshops. Teachers were entreated to an up-cycling activity where they took the opportunity to make wallets using cut-out materials from unwanted PVC banners! What a way to save the earth ‘with your wallet!’

Guided Tour of SSG

The final part of the CoP session ended with Terra SG navigating the teachers through the newly designed Sustainable Singapore Gallery to learn more about how to create a liveable and sustainable Singapore.

With a better understanding now of the gallery exhibits, teachers would be able to organise a similar learning journey for their students by signing up for the complimentary school programme offered by the Gallery.

All in all, the CoP proved memorable for the teachers who had gained new ideas to inspire their students to care for the environment. Below are some of the encouraging comments they had made at the end.

CoP events which are organised by STEM Inc in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Planning & Development Division, also serve to encourage the formation of communities that share knowledge and best practices in Applied Learning Programs (ALP).
These events aim to meet the professional learning and development needs of teachers which includes networking and sharing of knowledge and best practices as well as keeping up-to-date with the latest industry technologies and trends.

 

Sharing is caring! | Building on eco-ideas together 
By Tan Xing Yu (Education Officer)