Victoria School
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15-year-olds primed to be movers and shakers in social innovation
8-3-2012
How do you ignite the imagination of teenagers to see the familiar with new eyes, think divergently and empathetically, and push the envelope of innovation with a deep sense of social purpose?
The Victoria-Cedar Alliance (VCA), comprising Victoria Junior College (VJC), Victoria School (VS) and Cedar Girls’ Secondary School (CGSS), is collaborating with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to develop and implement a six-year social innovation programme for the VCA Integrated Programme (IP) students. This programme, which adopts design thinking as the central approach to innovation, is a key component of the VCA’s signature Imagineering Programme to nurture social innovators – passionate people with the attitudes, skills and knowledge to imagine and engineer solutions to real-world problems.
“In light of the future needs of Singapore and the corresponding shifts that our educational landscape needs to make, nurturing students with the dispositions and skills required for social innovation becomes increasingly relevant. What we are trying to achieve here is to sow the seeds for a more creative workforce who can add value to our society in the years to come.”
Mr Chan Poh Meng, Principal of Victoria Junior College
Since February 2012, VCA and SUTD faculty have worked together to conceptualise the programme. In May and June, 20 Secondary Three students from the three schools participated in a pilot programme for a social innovation curriculum that will be launched full-scale in 2013. The pilot programme challenged these 15-year-olds to improve the quality of their home lives through an iterative process of empathising with the user, defining the problem, generating ideas, and prototyping and testing solutions. This culminated in a final presentation at the SUTD campus to faculty members from all four institutions. When the programme begins proper next year, all Year 3 VCA IP students will likewise learn design thinking processes and tools and apply them to social innovation projects, progressing on to a larger community or research focus in their upper years.
“I learnt how important the constant evaluation and synthesising of ideas is to the whole innovation process, and that the product must cater to the recipient’s needs. It was an enjoyable experience that was further enhanced by the presentations from the professors from SUTD who came down to share with us on the topic of innovation.”
Joel Lim, Victoria Integrated Programme, VJC
Every year, students will be guided in their social innovation projects by faculty from SUTD and the three schools; these are specially appointed for their area of expertise as the themes for each year’s projects will differ.
The VCA-SUTD Social Innovation Partnership was officially launched at VJC’s College Day on 28 July 2012. The event was graced by guest-of-honour, Mr Lawrence Wong (Old Victorian), Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, together with Professor Pey Kin Leong, Associate Provost of SUTD, and representatives of the schools’ advisory committees.
http://www.vjc.moe.edu.sg/website/15-year-olds-primed-to-be-movers-and-shakers-in-social-innovation.html -
Dear VS parents,
DS received a CO to VS. We would appreciate if someone could provide some information on how they find the school. For those on the IP track, any feedback on the programme? Thanks for sharing. -
yarna:
Hi Yarna, congrats for being successful to secure a CO to VS.Dear VS parents,
DS received a CO to VS. We would appreciate if someone could provide some information on how they find the school. For those on the IP track, any feedback on the programme? Thanks for sharing.
My ds2 is currently in the VCA IP1 program.
Overall, I should say the schedule is pretty tight as compared to some of his friends in the O level track. Most of the days lesson only end at 4pm. With projects discussion and CCA, he probably reach home around 6 plus.
Total 2012 IP cohort is around 80. IP classes are IH, 1I and 1J. 1A to 1G are O level track. IP classes are small with around less than 30 per class. Classroom tables also arrange differently to cater for open discussion and
better visibility. Some of the IP teachers are GEP trainers from MOE. Thus teaching concept will be different from the typical O level track.
Few of my DS2 classmates were from GEP when they were in the primary schools and with a PSLE score of high 260s and even 270. Thus standard is pretty high among the students.
Coming november, they will be going oversea under the beyond border
curriculum. That is the little thing I can provide. Hope your DS will enjoy his stay in VS next year. -
DS3 volunteered as a guide at the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpT_msazx9Q -
tutormum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-dfqApAM-IDS3 volunteered as a guide at the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpT_msazx9Q -
Teachers' Day Tribute (Gangnam Style Dance Victoria School Edition)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmeWCLGFIi0 -
rylee:
Rylee thanks for sharing.
My ds2 is currently in the VCA IP1 program.
Overall, I should say the schedule is pretty tight as compared to some of his friends in the O level track. Most of the days lesson only end at 4pm. With projects discussion and CCA, he probably reach home around 6 plus.
Please can you advise if the IP teachers there are nurturing and approachable?
In terms of teachings, do they provide proper detailed notes for each subject or touch and go expecting the students to research and study very independently?
Generally the IP kids have or do not have much tuition?
Thanks :please: -
Snow Crystal:
Hi snow crystal,
Rylee thanks for sharing.rylee:
My ds2 is currently in the VCA IP1 program.
Overall, I should say the schedule is pretty tight as compared to some of his friends in the O level track. Most of the days lesson only end at 4pm. With projects discussion and CCA, he probably reach home around 6 plus.
Please can you advise if the IP teachers there are nurturing and approachable?
In terms of teachings, do they provide proper detailed notes for each subject or touch and go expecting the students to research and study very independently?
Generally the IP kids have or do not have much tuition?
Thanks :please:
Let me try to answer your questions.
From the frequent emails sent from the form teacher updating some of the special events and additional studies provided by the program, I am quite sure they are.
There are a lot of notes in term of papers and also soft copy from the
IBook, I will say proper notes and guidance are provided. But of course in IP program, in order to train them to be independent in term of studies, they have also stressed a lot of own and group research.
For tuitions, it is all depends on individual progress. So far, my ds2 only has maths tuition though he did quite well in his previous maths exam. -
rylee:
Hi snow crystal,
Let me try to answer your questions.
From the frequent emails sent from the form teacher updating some of the special events and additional studies provided by the program, I am quite sure they are.
There are a lot of notes in term of papers and also soft copy from the
IBook, I will say proper notes and guidance are provided. But of course in IP program, in order to train them to be independent in term of studies, they have also stressed a lot of own and group research.
For tuitions, it is all depends on individual progress. So far, my ds2 only has maths tuition though he did quite well in his previous maths exam.
thanks so much for sharing again.
Looks like your DS is in good hands. Happy for you :celebrate:
As a parent, will be concerned if our kid is struggling and not much help is rendered by the school.
Personally feel that a supportive and nurturing secondary school environment is quite important. A teenage son is not going to be easy to manage. If the school and peers can provide him some positive direction and support, it will be a bonus. -
Hi. I m new here. Would like to know more of VS as i heard good comments.
Appreciate ya sharing n comments
1. How many express class are avail for 2013 sec one?
2. Are the express students graded into classes based on tscore?
3. Can we write in earlier for appeal cases and wat is diff range fr cop? DS hv maths,olympiad n nafa portfolio, hope it helps.
TIA
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