The Green Dot Academy

Singapore’s first independent pre-tertiary school with a green curriculum

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

http://www.greendot.uni.cc/

The Green Dot Academy

•Rationale & Principles•Curriculum•Programme•Supporting Structures•Group Learning•Acknowledgements•Q & A

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Overview of Presentation :

RationaleWhy a Green school?

Promote international perspectives, leadership, advocacy, research skills

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

• Environment as the organizing theme /vehicle• Environmental protection and sustainable growth.

• Emergence of the environment industry.

Resilience, Confidence, Graciousness and Integrity

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

•Curriculum and Programmes to develop:Bold and inspiring voices for environmentWorld / community leadersCaptains of industryGlobal citizens

Guiding Principles

Core philosophy

Our values

Curricular and Programme objectives

Curriculum and Programmes

• Based on the IB framework – rigour and recognition• 3 foci - PIE, achieving societal objectives and influencing

others

People•Lifestyle and societies•National and global perspectives•Advocacy and Leadership

Earth•Biodiversity and ecology•Water and energy•Climate and seas

Interaction•Environmental management•Conservation

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Core subjects

Inter-disciplinary and elective subjects

Projects

Core CCPs

Elective CCPs

Elective CCAs

Curriculum and Programmes

Green.Academy

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Curriculum: Taught Courses

Inter-disciplinary Subjects - core grounding on people and earth•Meet the Earth•Meet the People•Sustaining the Earth•Achieving Societal Ends•Role of People and Organisations•Role of Nations

Core Subjects - foundation of knowledge

2 LanguagesHumanities and the Arts

Mathematics and Sciences Technology and PE

Electives - bite-sized ‘hooks’ stimulate interest.

Examples:People: EcotropicsReduce, Reuse and RecycleInteraction: space-efficient farming Earth: renewable energy.

30 hours / year 1 per year

10-20 hours / year2-4 per year

Scope variable

Curriculum: Projects

3rd year

4th year

5th year

6th year

1st 3YP (1 wk) 2nd 3YP (2 wks)

1st 3YP (1 wk) 2nd 3YP (2 wks)

5YP (8 wks)

6YP (8 wks)

One Big Rock (2 wks)

One Big Rock (2 wks)

One Big Rock (2 wks)

One Big Rock (2 wks)

2nd year

1st year One Big Rock (2 wks)

One Big Rock (2 wks)

Real-life, less structured learning experiences

Ourworld Bound Sch

Outward Bound Sch

Attachments: Gov agenciesNGOsOther schoolsAt least 1 overseas

Mandate: Go MAD!Research / attachments

Research:Literature / Practice-based

Curriculum: Term Structure

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Core Inter-disc Subj + 2 Electives

Core Inter-disc Subj + 2 Electives

Core Inter-disc Subj + 2 Electives

Core OBR

8 wks 2 wks 8 wks 2 wks 8 wks 2 wks 8 wks 2 wks

Core* Inter-disc Subj + 1 Elective

5YP Inter-disc Subj + 5YP presentation

Core* Inter-disc Subj + 1 Elective

Core* OBR

8 wks 2 wks 8 wks 2 wks 8 wks 2 wks 8 wks 2 wks

Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4

“ 8 + 2 weeks ”

Programmes

• Based on Experiential Education and organised into 4 strands – Advocates, Earth, Leaders and World

• Arranged into 3 layers of programmes:

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Co-curricular Programmes (CCP) is to provide exposure to the broadest range of knowledge, skills and experience possible for all. Elective Co-curricular Programmes (Flagship) is premised on personal exploration in depth based on interest, talent and conviction.

Elective Co-curricular Activities (CCA) is based on outdoor education concept.

Programmes – CCP

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

CurrentAffairs

Earth

Leaders

World

Advocates

InboundInternational

ImmersionProgramme

One Big

Rock

FoundationalLeadership

Effective Communication

Planet Art

World Environment

Day

Basic Research

Service Learning

Annual OutdoorCamps

Programmes – Elective CCP

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Deep LearningIn Pursuit ofInterest and

Talent

Flagship Earth Researchers –

Research Mentorship

Flagship Earth Voices– Persuasive

Communications

Flagship World Leaders –

Environment Leaders

Flagship WorldTravellers –International Immersion

Programme

Programmes – Elective CCAs

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Advocates – EnvironmentAmbassador Club.

Leaders – Outdoor Adventure Club, Leadership Boards

Earth – Environment Technology Watch Society, Nature Watch Centre, Biodiversity Mapping Group, Diving Club.

World - Environment Entrepreneur Club.

Outdoor Education

Career Pathways

• Seamless integration• Includes

– Course work– Internships– Career counseling

• All teachers to be trained in Career Pathways model

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Partnerships

• Strategic Partnerships in:– Research– Career Pathways – Exchange and Immersion– Environmental Awareness– Community Involvement and Service Learning– Scholarships and Bursaries

• Partnership Office

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Staffing and Building

• Recruitment and Staff Development Unit

• Secondment from various environment players

• Like-minded, pedagogical expertise and research skills

• International Baccalaureate training

• Building will boast state-of-the-art facilities & green structures.

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Reflections …Group Learning

• Liberating, rich & fruitful learning opportunity

• Pleasant, fulfilling & satisfying journey

• Real and authentic marketing ‘exposure’

• Meaningful dialogue and exchange with potential partners

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Acknowledgements

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Non-Govt Orgn

(NGOs)

Singapore Environment Council (SEC)

Cicada Organisation

Education/Govt Orgn

Industry

•NParks

•Marsiling Sec Sch

•National Environment Agency (NEA)

•Professor Su Guaning (President, NTU)

•Ms Ho Peng (DCPD, MOE)

• Dr Amy Khor (SPS,MEWR)- Coming Soon…

Hyflux Ltd

Fellow LEP Classmates:•Frederick Yeo•Lim Ee Tuo•Pearly Ng•Soh Lai Leng

Green Dot Academy (GDA) website

http://www.greendot.uni.cc/

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Q & A

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

Members of the FS Team with Hyflux staff*

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World

(from left to right)

•Tang-Chim Lee Mai•Mr Chan Jin He*•Mr Freddy Soon*•Ms Lim Choon Noi* (*Hyflux Staff)• Phua Huat Chuan•Joseph Lim•Daphne Leong•Earnler Liu•Helen Tan-Lee Ching Guan

Thank you

Advocates for the Earth, Leaders for the World