Geraldine's Lit reflection 3: Learning Journey

The learning journey offered me an opportunity to truly see the progression of Singapore over the years. For a country so small, what Singapore has achieved is tremendous.  

The URA exhibition gave great insight into the efforts made to rebuild Singapore into what it is today. I enjoyed the way the exhibition constantly compared the past, present and future of Singapore through images, games and videos. It allowed people to see how Singapore has truly evolved into a globally competitive country. Looking at the model-sized versions of Singapore made me realise that as developed as Singapore is, it is still a work in progress. The sections of Singapore which were still under construction presented a look towards the future, to bigger expectations and growth. 

Reading the poems in the various places of Singapore was a nice touch. It made you 'feel' the poet's words just from being in the exact place described in the poems. For example, looking at the river while reading Lee Tzu Pheng's 'Singapore River' really gave me a sense of why he had described the river as the heart of Singapore. The image of the river flowing continuously through the city area ,alongside the buildings and skyscrapers, certainly contributed to the river being an important symbol of progression for Singapore.

The learning journey  will be effective for any arts subject such as literature, history and geography. For literature and history, the focus may be on the way Singapore has changed from the past and having students develop personal opinions and reflective responses to these changes. Whereas for geography, perhaps a focus could be on the process of these developments and the reasons for these changes. I guess it depends on the purpose and objectives of the learning journey. The teacher could establish a clear objective for students depending on what the teacher thinks is the most important takeaway for this learning journey.

Before embarking on a learning journey with a secondary school class, I would probably have a lesson dedicated to introducing the places and their history. This way, before stepping into a place, students will be aware of the history and significance of that specific area. It could also help in the students' understanding of the poems. During the learning journey itself, I think it is important to bring in tasks which requires students to interact with the physical environment they are in. For example, perhaps a task which requires students to move around the place and survey the location for some kind of answer/response could help students see the relevance of having the learning journey. After the learning journey, instead of simply answering questions about the places, the creative task was good for having students reflect and build on what they had observed in their own personal way.

I think it will be useful for students to be allowed to venture out of their stress-filled classrooms once in awhile. Having learning journeys can help students to relax, have fun and even broaden their perspectives regarding issues related to Singapore.