Coding@HGP
Discover how Hougang Primary School builds coding, problem-solving, and robotics skills in students from P1 to P6 through Computational Computing, preparing them for a digital future.
Computational Thinking @ HGP focuses on equipping students with programming, inventing and equipping students with makers' mindset of programming, inventing and problem-solving skills. The skills identified are mapped to Bloom's Taxonomy on Cognitive Domain. This mapping involves computational skills at the application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and creating levels.
Anderson, L. W., & Krathwohl, D. R. (2001). A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing, Abridged Edition. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon
ICT and Innovation programmes mapped to R3ICH values and WPS messages
ICT & Innovation Department Programmes | R3ICH Values | WPS Messages | |||||
Care/ Harmony | Integrity | Resilience | Responsibility | JoL | ED | SSS | |
Computational Thinking (P1 to P6) | √ (being respectful to one another within their group, fostering good team spirit) | √ (acknowledging and respecting one another’s work) | √ (problem-solving skills) | √ (meeting deadline, ownership of own project) | √ (celebrating little successes such as moving the ‘Moway’ or when they are able to make the animation/ sprite move as desired, programming and flying the ‘Drone’ using Tynker or when they are able to animate their sprites creating a prototype using computing tools eg strawbees and quirkbot) | √ (cultivating the can-do spirit; perseverance and confident speakers) | √ (Towards SMART Nation – Digital Age skill) |
Cyber Wellness | √(being respectful to one another within their group, fostering good team spirit and creating awareness of cyber bullying and standing up for the right cause) | √ (being more aware of copyright issues and acknowledging credible sources) | √ (problem-solving skills) | √(meeting deadline, ownership of own project and to develop each child to be a responsible cyber citizen and creative thinker in the cyber world) | √ (Engaged learners, taking ownership of their own learning and passing it on to the rest of the school and the community at large) | √(CW Ambassadors presented to the P1 students during hour long PAL period - cultivating the can-do spirit; perseverance and confident speakers ) | √ (To develop each child to be a responsible cyber citizen and creative thinker in the cyber world) |
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WPS – Workplan Seminar
JoL – Joy of Learning
ED – Entrepreneurial Dare
SSS – Strengthening the Singapore Spirit
Activities / Projects
Creating the Strawbees prototype: adding the lights and sensors using a pre-programed Quirkbot
Post-exam computational thinking via coding using Drones with Tynker
Showcasing coded smart dustbins using MBots and Scratch
Robotics in Education (RE) @ HGP
In promoting an innovative spirit in both our teachers and students, the school initiates our Robotics in Education @ HGP by collaborating with the robotics team from Ngee Ann Polytechic (NP). We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NP, School of Engineering on Monday 22 October 2018 and is currently embarking on designing and producing in phases a set of humanoid educational robot with capabilities listed below.
Robotic Teaching Assistant - Story-telling for English, introduction or reinforcement of concepts for Science, Q&A on simple calculations for Math (addition, subtraction and multiplication tables)
Robotic Concierge - Prattles greetings and event information, Smart Tray Return (reminding students to keep the tables clean and return their cutleries and utensils at the correct stations)
Guided School Tour - Programmed to tour indoor areas for school events
Another objective of this partnership is to value add to not only the teaching and learning but administrative and operational processes as well.
By spearheading Robotics in Education, Hougang Primary is imbuing, nurturing and cultivating the 21st Century competencies in our students.
Critical and Inventive Thinking:
To be future-ready, our young need to be able to think critically, assess options and make sound decisions. They should have a desire to learn, explore and be prepared to think out of the box. They should not be afraid to make mistakes and face challenges that may at first appear daunting.
Communication, Collaboration and Information Skills:
With the Internet Revolution, information is often literally just a click away. It is important that our young know what questions to ask, how to sieve information and extract that which is relevant and useful. At the same time, they need to be discerning so that they can shield themselves from harm, while adopting ethical practices in cyberspace. The workplace of the 21st Century requires our young to be able to work together in a respectful manner to share responsibilities and make decisions with one another to meet group goals. Importantly, they should also be able to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.
Values at the Core of 21st Century Competencies (R3ICH):
Respect: Believes in his own self-worth and the intrinsic worth of all people.
Responsibility: Recognises that he has a duty to himself, his family, community, nation and the world, and fulfils his responsibilities with love and commitment.
Integrity: Upholds ethical principles and has the moral courage to stand up for what is right.
Care: Acts with kindness and compassion, and contributes to the betterment of the community and the world.
Resilience: Has emotional strength and perseveres in the face of challenges - manifesting courage, optimism, adaptability and resourcefulness.
Harmony: Seeks inner happiness and promotes social cohesion; appreciating the unity and diversity of a multicultural society.
As mentioned by Jeffrey Johnson in his article ‘Children, Robotics and Education’ in Artificial Life and Robotics’, robotics do support an innovative and creative approach to teaching and learning. Robotics supports all STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). There can also be connections to robotics across all of the curriculum. For example, students can build and use robots to help them understand the characters and plots of books they read.
Robotics provides students with opportunities to question, think about, and create technological tools, rather than just becoming passive uses of technology. It addresses key competencies such as: thinking; using language, symbols, and text; managing self; relating to others; and participating and contributing. Robotics can be fun and suitable for children with a range of abilities. A robot never gets tired, never gets frustrated, and is always consistent, which is important when teaching through repetition. A robot’s friendly demeanour and patience will encourage learners with special needs to step out of their shell and gives them the courage to interact with their environment.