Innovation HubTheInnovationHubcaterstotheacquisitionofcoredisciplinaryknowledgeanditsinterconnections,andpromotesdesignthinking,computationalthinkingandSTEMeducation.Thehubprovidesresourcesandopportunitiesfor(a)authenticlearningandapplication,(b)useoftechnologytosolveproblems,and(c)makeractivitiesthatencourageexperimentation,creativeproblem-solving,innovationandentrepreneurship.
Thehubisasix-storeyblockwhichhousesthespecialrooms.Level1consistsoftheDesignandTechnology(D&T)studioandtheKeppelSandbox.Level2holdsamakerspace,aprojectroomandartstudioswhileLevel3holdstheresearchlaboratory(whichincludesatissuecultureroom),theaudio-visualaidsroomandkitchens.Levels4,5,and6havefourBiology,PhysicsandChemistrylaboratories on each level. The rooms in the hub areequippeddifferentlytoservespecificneedsforlearning,explorationandcollaboration.Theproximityoftheseworkingspacesandfacilitiesencouragesinteractionamongstudentsandcross-fertilisationofideas.
Keppel SandboxTheKeppelSandboxisadigitalmakerspaceadjoiningtheD&Tstudio.Itisaspacewherestudents learn and use computer programming to solveauthenticproblemsandhavefunbuildinganddismantling,experimentingandrisk-taking.TheKeppelSandboxisfurnishedwithspecialequipmentlikeunmannedvehicles/drones,3Dprinters,Arduinos,sensorsandotherresourcesthatpiquestudents’imaginationandinspireideation.Alignedtoourschool’smissiontocontributeback
tosociety,theRGSdigitalcurriculumisguidedbythetheme,“TechnologyforGood”.Undertheguidanceofteachersandinstructors,studentswillturn their ideas into products that are useful to the community. The digital content is chosen based on itscurrentrelevance,rangeofpotentialapplicationsandfuturepossibilitiesthatimpactthewaywelive,workandplay.TheinfographicbelowshowstheprovisionsfordevelopingknowledgeandskillsinourstudentsacrosstheirfouryearsofstudyinRGS.Theprovisionsareofferedasenrichmentmodulesto students on an opt-in basis.
The Research LaboratoryTheResearchLaboratoryisequippedwithadvancedinstruments to support science research studies. It housesafluorescenceLEDmicroscope,anatomicabsorptionspectrometer,agel-imagingsystem,ultra-purewatersystems,arefrigeratedbenchtopcentrifuge,a-800deepfreezerandaplantgrowthchamber.Therangeofequipmentallowsstudentswho are passionate about science and are able toworkindependentlytoembarkonmoresophisticatedinvestigationsundertheguidanceoftheir teachers.
Design & Technology StudioTheD&Tcurriculumfirestheimaginationofstudents as they go through the process of conceptualisingandcreatingaproductthatisaestheticallypleasingandfunctional,inresponsetoanauthenticdesignsituation.TheD&Tstudioistheplacewherestudentsturntheirideasintoreality,beitininventingadevicetoremindtheelderlytotaketheirmedicationorprototypingawatchpoweredbybody heat.
Thestudioiswell-equippedwithconventionaltoolsaswellasdigitalfabricationtools,suchastheCNCRouterandrapidcuttingmachine.Thesetoolssupport the full prototyping process of a product.
Art StudiosThe Visual Arts curriculum is designed to develop students’aestheticsensitivityandcriticalthinkingskills.AkeyaspectofourartinstructionistheemphasisontheStudioHabitsofMind.Studentsareencouragedtoreflect,express,thinkcriticallyandcreatively.Theyapplycreativethinkingtoolstogenerateandrefineideasandlearntocommunicatetheir ideas through 2D and 3D forms using a variety of materials and processes.
The art studios are used for the Art and Design Programme,SpecialArtProgramme(SAP)andArtClub.Thestudiosareequippedwithaceramickiln,aprintingpress,studiophotographylightingsand digital drawing tablets to support students’ explorationofvariedartformsrangingfromanimation,film-making,ceramics-makingandinstallationtomixed-mediapresentation.TheartstudiosarealsousedasanexhibitionspaceforourbiennialArtShowcasebyourSAPandArtClubstudents.CuratingtheworksfortheexhibitionandtransformingthespaceintoanartgalleryprovideourstudentswithvaluableauthenticlearningexperienceswhichtheycanapplytootherplatformssuchasourannualjointRGS-RIartexhibitionforthepublic.
KitchensTheFoodandDesigncurriculumequipsstudentswithlife-skillstoleadahealthylife.Studentslearntopreparefoodthatisnutritious,tastyandvisuallyappealing.Theyalsoconductresearchandexercisecreativitytoprepareapersonaliseddishforaspecificconsumer.
Thekitchenshaveacomprehensiverangeofequipmenttoenablestudentexperimentationandfamiliarisationoffundamentalculinaryskills.Newtechnologies will be employed to enable greater efficiencyandinnovationinfoodpreparation.
Thekitchensarealsoaplaceforunderstandingscienceinarealworldcontextasscientificprinciplesandconceptsareintegratedintoculinaryskills.The table below shows how some of the concepts in science can be infused in Food and Design curriculum.
Food and Design Concepts
Science Concepts
CookingandHeatTransference
Conduction,ConvectionandRadiation
FoodSafetyandPreservation
Food-Borne Diseases
FoodFermentation BiotechnologyNutritionandHealth NutrientsandDiet-
Related Diseases
MakerspaceTheMakerspacehastoolsandequipmentthat
facilitate student agency indesigning,prototypingandcreatingproductsthathavereal-worldapplication.Whilst the formal curriculum provides disciplinary groundinginknowledgeandskills,theMakerspaceprovidesopportunitiesfor students to engage in engineeringandtinkeringwhilst applying what they have learned in the classroom.
Four Tiers of Talent Development based on Donald Treffinger’s Levels of Service Framework.
A view of the Innovation Hub.
