Friday, September 30, 2016

CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel

During my visit to NIE (see last post), I had an opportunity to sit down and chat for about an hour with Dr. Kok Siang Tan about Singapore's science education model.  He was very informative and subsequently invited me to accompany him on a visit to CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary (grades 1-6) convent school.  There is an actual convent on school grounds but none of the nuns teach as they are "convalescent".  The principal, Mrs. Seah, thinks that once these nuns are gone, the order will become extinct as young girls are no longer entering the convent.
Dr. Tan, Mrs. Seah, Dr. Buczynski
Mrs. Seah was very generous with her time providing me with the history of the school, strategic plan for the next few years, and information about the school's various programs.  She was especially proud of former girls who return to the school to support the school through various events. 
Library
 As we entered each classroom, the girls would stand up and say in chorus, "Good morning Mrs. Seah and teachers" and then bow slightly.


Because I was interested in the science program, we next went to the ECO GARDEN.  There were plants from various ecozones, so it was more than just a vegetable garden.


What school visit would be complete without lunch at the canteen???  What would you pick to eat???  See how the rice is shaped like little bears?

Love the cafeteria ladies!!  But we did not stop with lunch -- we also left campus to have a "Korean Dessert".  I've never tasted anything quite like this -- a very, very finely shaved ice (like powder) with slivered almonds & rice cake & sweetened milk to pour over it AND the healthier??? shave ice with mixed berries and coconut ICE CREAM!!!  I may dream about this dessert!

Great visit, wonderful principal, and a "to die for" dessert!

 Stayed tuned to see where we eat next!!

Monday, September 26, 2016

A Visit to the National Institute of Education

Located on the campus of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore is the National Institute of Education (NIE). This is the only teacher education university in Singapore and provides everything from initial teacher preparation to graduate and in-service programs. Right now there are about 5,500 full time students.
I had the privilege of observing Dr. Aik Ling Tan's science methods course. This class focuses on teaching Biology in secondary schools and consists of around 25 undergraduate students. On the day that I visited, Dr. Tan was demonstrating how to teach simulations as a pedagogy. She had prepared simulations for the concepts of predator/prey, camouflage, epidemiology, enzyme-substrate, and the action of motor/sensory neurons. The class was fast paced, energetic, and engaging. For the predator /prey activity, we went outside (this was at 8:30 a.m.).


Dr. Tan peppering the yard with different colored toothpicks


Students in groups of 4, selected "mouth parts" (a single chopstick, forceps, plastic spoon, or test tube holder) and received a "stomach" (plastic cup). They were the predators searching for prey (toothpicks).


Students searching for prey


The green toothpicks were difficult to spot on the grass and there was a bit of competition between "mouthparts"!! 
After each activity Dr. Tan would ask the pre-service teachers, what made it a good simulation?  How would they utilize the activity in their teaching?  What might they change about the activity to better fit their particular audience?
 
Back in the classroom, Dr. Tan rolled out a display board and asked students to count the number of different colored dots on each side of the board (black and white).

The trick was that white dots on white paper did not easily show up (likewise with black dots on black paper) and students overlooked counting those dots. She discussed how simulations could provide a way for students to experience camouflage rather than the teacher just providing a definition of camouflage. 

Next, students were given test tubes and eye droppers and asked to "mingle" and exchange the fluid in their test tube with three others in class.  Then the professor put a drop of "indicator" in everyone's tubes.  If your tube turned bright RED, then you were infected.  This was to simulate the spreading of germs from a single sneeze (patient 0).
Luckily, these two girls did NOT get infected!   
For the enzyme/substrate simulation, students were given three toothpicks (substrate) and 7 seconds to break each one in 1/2 using just one hand (enzyme).  Then, students were given 5 toothpicks to break in 7 seconds and finally 9.  Of course, 9 were too many for one hand to break in 7 seconds. This demonstrated the limiting factors on enzyme/substrate interactions. 

And finally, Dr. Tan provided her students with an opportunity to experience the relay of sensory input -->  to the brain -->to the motor neurons.  She paired students and asked for them to place one hand above the other as seen here.
The person with the hand the greatest distance from the paper was told to initiate picking up the paper.  Can you guess which student was successful in getting the paper?

Dr. Tan concluded with a powerpoint on the advantages and limitations of using simulations to teach secondary biology.  I couldn't believe that 3 hours had already passed -- I was so engaged with the simulations that time just flew by.

Dr. Tan and I exchanged syllabi for the science methods courses that we each teach.  She was very gracious hosting me and letting me observe her in action!

Afterwards, I walked over to Nanyang Technological University to meet Troy for lunch as he had just finished teaching HIS 8 a.m. lecture on linear algebra and office hours.
Imagine my surprise as I walked into the physical science and math building to find a giant poster of Dr. Troy Lee touting "curiosity" hanging in the foyer.
Proud Mom Moment!    






I will continue along my path of learning about science education in Singapore with a visit to Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School--stay tuned for the next blog post to see their "ECO GARDEN"!







Friday, September 23, 2016

A 16,000 Step Day on the Greenway

There is a "green corridor" in Singapore that connects many green spaces together (nature reserves, woodlands, reservoirs, etc.).  "In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy". – John C. Sawhill This corridor follows the path of a railroad that used to run from Singapore to Malaysia. Theoretically, we could walk this green corridor from Troy's house in Singapore to the border of Malaysia (ha!)--- but that would be significantly over 16,000 steps. Instead, we just walked from Troy's house to the Bukit Timah reservoir (and then took the BUS back to his house!).
A station on the old abandoned railroad line that ran from Singapore to Malaysia
Remnants of the railroad are still evident, every so often, in the Greenway.  
We used the tracks as balance beams to add another element to our training.
It's a race!  Guess who's winning? HINT:  not me!!
There is a lot of lush vegetation bordering the track's corridor.  I think you could use this Elephant Ear leaf as an umbrella.  We also saw climbing pothos ivy (a houseplant in the U.S., but grows wild in Singapore), dieffenbachia,  and lots of fern.

These Elephant Ears were taller than me!
As we veered away from the Greenway heading towards the Bukit Timah reservoir, we saw two signs warning us about mosquitos and monkeys.  YIKES, the mosquito that carries Dengue is a daytime biter -- I better get some insect repellant!



Apparently the monkeys can get aggressive -- best not to take any chances.  Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is home to around 40% of Singapore's flora and fauna.  The reservoir grounds are nicely maintained with bridges across the aqueducts and stone steps to help us with the uphill.


During the hike we observed some interesting monkey behavior:

A monkey sliding down a lamp post, as if using a fireman's pole

A couple of monkeys taking a break during a prison escape
There is a barbed wire fence around the actual reservoir to preserve the clean water that is piped to Singapore's 5.6 million thirsty residents.


Some of the large pipes transporting water from the reservoir

As promised here are the answers to the quiz from the last blog.




1.  OMG -- Do these particular animals actually live in singapore?


answer: Yes, Cobra snakes are found in Singapore but usually not in areas inhabited by humans ---THANK GOODNESS!!







2. What on Earth are THESE THINGS????


answer:     Horseshoe crabs  
There are two species found in Singaporean waters:  The mangrove  and coastal horseshoe crabs.  The National Park service has a project to map their populations in Singapore.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

3. How do you grow one of these little guys?

answer: With great care and attentive pruning. There is a very impressive display of Bonsai at the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Garden in Singapore.


4. Is this species Endangered?


answer: Yup, critically endangered. Although the sea turtles nest on Singaporean shores, more and more hatchlings go the "wrong direction" (away from the sea) as they mistake lights from parks, streets, & housing (urbanized shores) as moonlight, which would have directed them toward water. Disoriented, these baby turtles usually have a sad end.




5. What kind of sea creature could THIS be???

answer: ME!!! as a sotong (malay), Bā dàiyú (Chinese), or octopus (English)






So, what kind of score did YOU get?!!



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