Walking through the streets of CBD countless times before,
none of the experience I had was like that of our Learning Journey. It was not
any other field trip for me. It was special because it was the first ever
and also my last time having lessons out of the classroom in my four years at
NIE.
I enjoyed two aspects of the entire Learning Journey.
One of it is the visit to the URA building. It was an unexpected
experience. Seeing Singapore mapped out in moulds was delightful. While I
cannot help thinking how true it was when people say a single bomb can kill the
entire nation, I was also amazed at our infrastructure and its
interconnectedness. It was interesting to find my exact location on the 3-D
map, and compare distances with friends and other places. Then I thought, how
did such a small country grow to become what it is today, in merely 40 years? It
was hard to imagine, as anyone would say. But I think it was harder for me and anyone my age to imagine, given
that we have never seen the past long enough for us to make comparisons. What
we know about Singapore’s past were tales and stories from our parents. What it
was like, what it was then, was mostly from our imagination, movies, and rare
pieces of footages left behind. I could not imagine. Nonetheless, my queries
were mostly answered as we approached the second level. The exhibits were
mostly interactive, which is apt for a country which boasts its technology and
modernity.
The other part of the Learning Journey which I enjoyed the
most was when we sat by the river, working on our creative task. Mood sets our
tone, and tone affects our writing. Sitting on the steps of the UOB building
and looking at the landscape ahead was a luxury we don’t usually have or stop
to experience when walking along Singapore River on our own (unless of course if
we were dating but that is for an entirely different mood). I was able to
reflect on my Learning Journey and the whole idea of retaining and embracing
our heritage which seems to be slipping away. The idea about change and
progress—is it really such a bad thing? I cannot comprehend. I am thankful for
Singapore’s progress, because it means progress for all, or does it?
Yes, I do have old memories which I keep fondly in my heart,
but that is it. I do not think about bringing them back, because I know change
is inevitable. 40 years from now, today will be a yet another memory. It isn’t
about keeping or restoring old houses. I learnt that it is about the memories
that make you who you are today, and the memories of the future that will shape
you into becoming who you will be.
After experiencing Learning Journey for myself, it is easier
to think of the possibilities of conducting a Learning Journey for my students.
Tied in closely with history and social studies, we can bring our students to
places where they can reflect on their learning of these subjects (such as the
Singapore River where we had our Creative Task). Getting students to look, feel
and smell history through literature means that they do not learn these subjects
as independent entities but rather as interrelated subject areas. This would
make learning more meaningful for students as they see the connection between
subjects. Nonetheless, it is important to note that if even as teachers, we
feel a sense of estrangement from our history, then more needs to be done to
help students understand Singapore’s past, if not it might become a fruitless
endeavor if students still feel apathetic at the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment