Project Work Programme @St Hilda’s Primary School 1. Introduction In St Hilda’s Primary, our Project Work Programme is a platform for students to harness their creativity and build innovative and critical thinking through a multi-disciplinary approach. It is carefully designed to provide opportunities for students to be engaged in self-directed and reflective learning. Character values and NE messages are carefully infused and emphasized within the project task. As a group, students embark on a 6-day project work journey, in which they are exposed to life skills such as teamwork, information gathering and oral presentation. Student participation is facilitated, monitored and assessed by teachers using customized rubrics. Active monitoring and facilitation are also done throughout this whole journey so as to scaffold students in their learning and thought processes. 2. Rationale and Objectives The Project Work Programme was introduced to equip students with the knowledge and skills essential for the 21st Century as we move forward in this period of rapid modernisation and globalisation. Such skills and knowledge are: v Problem-solving skills v Inter-personnel skills v Communication Skills v Innovation and Entrepreneurship 3. Pedagogical Processes The Programme adopts a time-tabled time structural approach. Time-tabled time is suspended for 6 days to provide students with uninterrupted and focused time to research, explore, plan and work on their projects. Integrated tasks and activities are specially designed and crafted to be developmentally appropriate and engaging to the hearts and minds. To illustrate the pedagogical processes and activities that take place within the time-tabled time structural approach, we make specific references to the Primary 5 project work task entitled ‘Kindness to the Environment’. In this project task, students embarked on a learning journey in which they understood better the importance of saving the environment and conserving resources. Students brainstormed on the different ways in which they can save their environment and presented their ideas in a form of a poster or any mode they preferred. Students also explored the use of recycled materials in coming up with their end product. Day 1: Experiential Learning Journey – Singapore River On the first day, students, as a team, embarked on a learning trail to the Singapore River. Question booklets with specially crafted questions involving English, Math and Social Studies were given to provide students with knowledge and conceptual understanding, and at the same time, an authentic learning experience. They went around in their teams investigating and solving problems and in the process, gained better understanding of their project task, surrounding and team members. Day 2: Life skills- Team Building and Oral Presentation Skills lesson On the second day, students received training on building a good team and resolving conflicts. They were also given tips to good presentational skills. Day 3: Planning and Brainstorming On the third day, students brainstormed possible creative and innovative ways to approach their project task. They also decided what they would like their end products to be. Day 4 & 5: Processing On the fourth and fifth day, students focused on producing their end products. Day 6: Oral Presentation On the last day, students presented their creative work to their friends. In return, feedback from fellow peers and their teacher was offered. Note: At the end of each day for three days, students reflected on their learning experiences. They were assessed on their collaboration, reflections and oral presentation by their teachers using customized rubrics. Students’ work and efforts were also shared with others in the school as part of service learning. Their projects are currently being exhibited in the school’s archive room for other students to view. 4. Aspects of I & E Elements of I & E are evident in the programme’s structure and approach. We provided opportunities for students to think creatively, put their work into actions and took risk in experimenting with ideas and providing them with the needed support and scaffolding. Project Tasks were innovatively crafted to allow for multi-subject integration and learning opportunities. Students were given the platform to translate their creative ideas into something concrete. Students also got a chance to experience authentic learning applicable in their everyday lives. 5. Learning Outcomes The learning outcomes of project work are reflected in the four domains, i.e. knowledge application, collaboration, communication and independent learning. The details of the expected outcomes in each domain are listed in the following table:
6. Final Words Each year, we review our project work programme to ensure its relevance and engagement level to our students. We are constantly evolving to ensure maximum learning in our pupils as we work towards “Teaching Less and Learning More.” 7. Picture Gallery
Pupils recycled product A robot? Learning Journey to Singapore River
Working on their project as a team Principal: Mrs Foo Sook Fong V Principal: Mr Danny Poh Contact Person: Zahira Bte Mohamed Sedik |
