ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION • JOSEPHIAN ANNUAL 2014 LEARNING JOURNEY
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WORLD AND ME
World and Me is a unique home-grown Special Programme that all our Integrated Programme boys undertake .
As a multi-disciplinary programme that prepares students to confront 21st century challenges through a systemic and structured reflection , students study global issues in a process that hones their critical thinking skills , enabling them to arrive at a deeper and richer understanding of the underlying complexities and ambiguities that surround these global issues .
This year , our Secondary Twos explored the issues of Pandemics and our Secondary Threes explored issues of Food .
The boys during their walk in the “ medicinal ” garden at the Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution .
The boys during their herbs gathering stint at the “ medicinal ” room of the Singapore
Chung Hwa Medical Institution .
The boys spending one of their lessons in Bishan , Junction 8 , having a meal together and then investigating the sources of the ingredients in their food .
• Science ( Biology ): examine the biology of infectious diseases
• Math : math modelling of a pandemic / statistics involved
• History : past pandemics ( e . g . Spanish flu )
Pandemics The students became more conscious of their perception of infectious diseases and also on the susceptibility of the nature of our globalised world ( with increasingly porous borders ) to the risk of pandemic .
In addition , they adopted different subject lenses to view this theme , including but not exhaustive :
They also examined their own values and prejudices against people afflicted with infectious diseases . In this way , they were equipped with interdisciplinary skills of the 21st century to face more complex and multi-faceted problems in future .
Food Beginning with their individual and family food consumption habits , the boys proceeded to learn about the global nature of food production , supply , sale and safety . The boys also carried out their own investigations to test the authenticity of the food they consume every day . Taken from a student ’ s reflection on the task ;
“ After realising that fast food decomposes so much slower than fresh food , I will make an active effort to be more mindful of what I choose to eat .” – Isaac Khoo ( FN 301 )
The boys learning about rooftop farming at Siloso Beach Resort .
Beyond the classroom , our boys visited Siloso Beach Resort where they discovered how some businesses are able to develop eco-friendly practices that makes their business more environmentally sustainable , especially in terms of food production , supply and recycling .
Group shot of FN301 after their learning journey