Transcript TEACHING STYLE

BIOLOGY
RAFFLES ACADEMIES
a.k.a. B.RA
REQUIREMENTS
 Secondary Two Results
 4.0 GP for Biology
 3.6 overall GPA
 Others: on a case-by-case basis
 Procedure
1. Selection Test
2. Interview (for some)
 Other Requirements
 Science Mentorship Project
 OM-Tech Problem
RP vs RA
 How is RA different from RP?
 More
depth and breadth in curriculum
 Discussion-based teaching style
 More opportunities for biology-related activities
 Varied RA assessments
SEC 3 CURRICULUM
RP Curriculum
Additional RA Topics
 Homeostasis
 Kidney
 Respiration
 Photosynthesis
 Photosystems I & II
 Ecology
 Man’s Impact on the
Environment
 Evolution
 Genetically Modified
Organisms
SEC 4 CURRICULUM
RP Curriculum
 Fertility
 Cellular Reproduction
 Genomic Biology
Additional RA Topics
Foetal screening (e.g.
amniocentisis)
 Cancer, Cell Signalling


 Genetic Biology
 Genetic Engineering
 Genetically Modified
Organisms
Statistical analysis (chi-square
test), Epistasis, Collaboration,
Complementary genes,
Pleiotropy, x inactivation
Regulation of gene expression of
lac operon
 Gene technology (DNA probes
and hybridisation, Northern,
Southern, Western,
Southwestern blotting)

TEACHING STYLE
 Accelerated learning
 RP syllabus covered
briefly in class to allow
more time for RA
 Additional handouts
which delve deeper into
topics covered
 More hands-on activities
TEACHING STYLE
 Discussion-based
and participation
 Lessons
are based on
students’ input
 Sharing of ideas and
opinions are strongly
encouraged
 Group research, then
sharing through class
presentations
TEACHING STYLE
 Self-motivated
learning
 Hardly
any
spoonfeeding
 More opportunities to
explore and research on
your own
 WHAT YOU TAKE
AWAY IS BASED ON
WHAT YOU PUT IN!
RA CURRICULUM
 Science Mentorship Programme (SMP)
 An
attachment programme under which students,
under the guidance of an expert-mentor (e.g.
professor, doctor) carry out scientific research and
investigation
 Expert-mentors from institutions e.g NUS, NTU
 Comprises 2 main sections: Mentorship/attachment
& project work, and participation in Youth Science
Conference (YSC) in September
RA CURRICULUM
 Science Mentorship Programme (SMP)
 Allows
students to gain exposure to scientific
research and investigation/experimentation
 Topics researched on in the course of doing the SMP
project will most likely be relevant to the RA
curriculum
 Students are given the opportunity to work in
laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art
technologies and equipment
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
 Odyssey of the Mind (OM) – Tech Prob
 An
international educational program that provides
creative problem-solving opportunities
 Team members apply their creativity to solve
problems that range from building mechanical
devices to structures
 Comprises 2 main sections: Long Term Problem and
Spontaneous Problem Solving
 2 levels of participation: National Finals (in
Singapore) & World Finals (in USA)
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
 Competitions
 National Youth Envirolympics Challenge (NYEC)
Organised in partnership with NEA
 An “amazing-race” around Singapore, centered around
encouraging youths to support the green cause

ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
 3-day attachment at Institute of
Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)
Learnt lab techniques (eg: Gel Electrophoresis,
Polymerase Chain Reaction)
 Worked in a state-of-the-art lab
 Got a feel of what a research scientist does

ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
State-ofthe-art lab
at IMCB
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
 Science Talks

Stem Cell Talk Series 2009 by Prof Lim Tit Meng
at the Science Centre
A
series of 4 talks about stem cells and nerve growth
factors, and its applications today

Evolution Talk by Dr Shawn Lum (from NIE)
 Enrichment

on Evolution from Secondary 3
Values in Science Seminar

Do Animal Rights End When Scientific Research
Begins?
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
 RA Class Project – Mosquito Breeding Sites




Collaboration with RI and NUS to study mosquito breeding
sites
Aim of the investigation was to find out which site in our
school best favours the breeding of mosquito
Placed mosquito larvae trap in different sites around the school
(Koi Pond, Eco Garden, J-Block Basketball Courts)
Every Tuesday and Thursday, the class will count the number
of larvae in each trap
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
Mosquito
Traps
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
Placing the
mosquito traps in
the Eco garden
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
Michelle and Michelle
placing the mosquito
traps near the
basketball courts
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
Julia transferring
mosquito larvae
into tubes
ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAMMES
Our mosquito larvae samples
RA ASSESSMENTS
 Creative assessment methods
 Have RP as well as RA assessments
 Nurture and develop your creative potential
 Encourages insightful thinking
RA ASSESMENTS
 Pen and Paper assessments
 Aunt Agony column response
 Standard pen and paper test
 Class presentation
 Lab report
 Making products
 Brochures
 Models
 Posters
RA ASSESMENTS
GM
Brochure
in S3
MORE ABOUT B.RA
(insert BRA photo here and photos of teachers :D)
The BioRA Teacher Speaks…
Thank you for your kind attention!
Any questions?