Bringing Authenticity to the Classroom

Sustainably Farmed Freshwater Shrimps: The student volunteer at the interactive Touch Pool explained to visitors how to distinguish the genders of the shrimps at the Republic Polytechnic Open House 2017. (Photo: Nurul Farahin bte Ramli)

The Republic Polytechnic (RP) Open House 2017 that took place between January 5 and 7, gave visitors a chance to experience what RP life is all about. The young tertiary instituition has plenty to boast when it comes to active participation in classrooms. This year, diploma students at the School of Applied Sciences stepped up their game by bringing the sea to the guests. Literally.

The Interactive Touch Pool at the three-year-old Diploma in Marine Science and Aquaculture booth allowed visitors to immerse themselves in marine life and further understand what the undergraduates do in the industry.

Program Chair Chan Wei Loong said: “This is not just a showcase but an education. We want to educate the stakeholders and the general public about what this course is all about and hopefully they will be more aware of the obligations they have in protecting the environment.”

Every year, the diploma attempts to bring out two main themes that describes the course perfectly – the marine science element and the aquaculture element. This year, the exhibition introduced shrimps to the ground to explain how they are sustainably farmed in Singapore. Besides learning the importance of coastal water conservation, visitors also got to interact with the sea stars and corals for an exciting, out-of-SEA-Aquarium experience.

“I really liked the idea of bringing real sea creatures so that we can actually touch or open them up. In my Biology class, we always learn about them through images, videos and diagrams. At most, we get to go for outdoor lessons and see them from behind the glass,” shared Nuwairah, 18, Shuqun Secondary School student. “This exhibition taught me plenty and I don’t even have to pay for such experience!”

Mr Chan believed that by preserving the authenticity of the course, it might be able to sway students into understanding that Science is not such a boring subject afterall. The diploma is the only marine science-related course in Singapore that offers a comprehensive programme that prepares their students for a career in marine conservation and aquaculture management.

Madam Sal, 49, who attended the open house with her daugher to learn more about the campus, trusts that such hands-on activities will attract and teach students to appreciate the diverese marine ecosystems. “I believe that bringing authentic materials into classrooms can help scaffold their learning. This generation needs more than just theories and books to succeed. I think my child will definitely benefit from this.”