The school’s vice-principal, Ms Rose Chen, said: “These activities (give) students opportunities to apply what they have learnt in the classroom to solve real-life problems that are of interest to them.”
Teachers, too, find value in such self-directed learning. Mr Eugene Lee, who heads the school’s Research Innovation & Design department, said students learn to be resourceful and resilient.
“Making emphasises self-directedness and choice, so their creative pursuits are driven by interest and passion … They also learn collaborative skills and the value of radical ideas,” said Mr Lee.
At Nanyang Girls’ High School, a similar space has been carved out at the school’s car park and furnished with a 3D printer, a soldering machine and a shelf with spanners, saws and cutters of various shapes and sizes.
About 40 girls hang out at the space on Monday afternoons as…
