16 LUMEN | PROGRAMMES
Lessons from the
Global Classroom
By Eugene Ong and Ng Soo Nee
SJI firmly believes that International Education is integral in today ’ s education so as to encourage students to be open-minded and generous in spirit , traits which are so vital in today ’ s borderless and interconnected world . When SJI began the IBDP in 2013 , the Global Education Programme ( GEP ) was to be a key transformative curriculum where Year 5 students would learn through direct community engagement and connections . These experiences are meant to nurture Josephians to be curious and passionate learners who create purposeful connections between learning and doing for effective leading and service .
Before COVID-19 , Josephians would travel abroad and collaborate with schools and organisations overseas under the GEP . Amid the travel constraints due to the pandemic this year , the Year 5 students experienced an adapted form of this programme : going global virtually while keeping to the aim of the programme in providing Josephians with global exposure and encouraging them to be Global Citizens and Persons for Others . For over six weeks , more than 270 students went on 16 virtual trips , collaborating with 30 schools or organisations from 10 countries across 5 different time zones . During these weekly sessions , students presented on pre-selected topics that aimed to facilitate the sharing of their own local culture and social perspectives . To bridge the lack of physical and social distance they faced , the students learnt to adapt and focused on the similarities they shared with their overseas peers in terms of food and culture , which narrowed the preconceived sense of foreignness and differences inherent at the start of this programme . Despite the scaled-down GEP experience and limited personal interactions that were largely confined to online Zoom meetings and group chat apps , our young Josephians have made new friends , honed their communication and social networking skills , and gained new perspectives of their partnering countries during the short stint .
Lasallian InterNational Experience ( LINE ) The GEP is a holistic programme that serves to broaden the horizons of every Josephian , enabling students to understand the needs and requirements of different communities around the world . In line with this principle , the Lasallian InterNational Experience ( LINE ) is a key project line within GEP that allows students within the Lasallian Community to better appreciate the life story and experiences of St . John Baptist de La Salle , as well as his key tenets of Service , Faith and Community . The LINE programme encourages interconnectedness in the global community , by providing a basis for interaction and bonding amongst students from different nations .
De La Salle High School - Jerusalem SJI collaborated with De La Salle High School ( DLSHS ) in Jerusalem , one of the oldest and most religious cities in the world , 8000km away from Singapore . The students from vastly different backgrounds interacted online to discuss their projects based on presentation topics such as “ Food ”, “ Festivals ”, “ Popular Cultures ”, “ A Day in Your Life ”, “ Attractions for Visitors ”, and “ How Did We Get Here ?”.
The DLSHS students attempted to make the Singaporean Roti Prata and learnt about the city-