Innova Junior College
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, 10:14 p.m.
Found this online while I was looking for info on the new JC behind my home:
"Innova Junior Collegeby Mellissa Tan
The bumper crop of dragon babies born in 1988 will sit for their O' levels this year and they've received some good news- they'll have one more junior college to choose from after getting their results. The Education Ministry announced that a new j-c will open its doors next January.
Named Innova J-C, it's located in Champions Way, in Woodlands. But being brand new, it doesn't have a rank or portfolio for students to decide if Innova could be their choice j-c. And so in today's Learning Trip, we welcome Principal designate of Innova J-C, Miss Yeo Hong Mui. She'll be revealing the blueprint of this brand new junior college and what it intends to pride itself in.
Innova as the name would suggest is short for innovation, and that's one of the selling points of the junior college. Heading a brand new school, Miss Yeo is all ears for innovative teaching and learning ideas and one avenue will be from its first batch of students who will set the foundation and shape the j-c's future.
the jc will start from day one encouraging students to be involved in whats going on. i think the new jc offers them this very rare opportunity given to students to be trailblazers in an environment in which they can help to set up.... i think like alot of jcs where the systems and rules are in place, this jc offers them a raw test bed for them to test new ideas... so its going to be a very precious two to three years for them to test out their new ideas.
Presently, Miss Yeo's the prinicipal of Pasir Ris Secondary School. Before then she was with the Education Ministry where she was involved in information technology training in schools. And so it's no surprise that I-T will be the core teaching tool at Innova.
i would expect every student to have a computing device each - be it a tablet pc or a pda. but they will have this computing device in an environment where there is wireless network for them to tap onto the internet. with this computing device, it will also provide a platform for them to express themselves to write about how they feel about certain things to summarise for the next presentation.
Instilling open discussions and spontaneity is in line with Miss Yeo's vision for the school. Especially since that is what universities are expecting of undergraduates.
the universities are telling us now that they want ... in particular, students with a broad base of interest, not just good A level results, but a strong passion for a particular interest area be it sports, music, asthetics.. in terms of character, in terms of having view points about what's going on in the world. they'd also like to have students who can communicate well, and who are able to articulate their view points on issues they take an interest in. so the college in terms of the academic focus will largely be influence by what's happening in the university
Sports is also high up in Innova's priority list. With the Singapore Sports School just a stone's throw away, Innova has a unique role to play. Innova J-C has agreed to offer a flexible curriculum to the Sports school's student athletes should they choose to attend the j-c.
The first batch of graduating student-athletes would only be entering j-c in 20-07. In meantime, Innova principal designate Miss Yeo says she's exploring the possibility of her students using the sports school's facilities.
this is one of the things i am currently discussing with the principal of the sports school where if there are good athletes around, and the facilities of the sports school are be avaliable for their use, i think the sports school will welcome that. just as we are in the position to offer for example tutoring services to the althletes in the sports school.
There's every possibility then that Innova could become a platform to talent spot national athletes. When asked which sporting event will Innova be taking pride in, Miss Yeo's reply again hinted this possibility.
strategically, we will want to excel in the sports that the sports school is excelling in. and that will be in areas like atheletics, swimming as well as table tennis and badminton.
Innova's Singapore's 17th j-c. It won't be up for ranking until its first batch of students sits for the 'A' level examination in 20-06. Until then, secondary school leavers may be hesitant to choose a j-c without a rank. Is Miss Yeo concern that her school will be a dumping ground for students who hadn't been able to get their choice j-c?
i dont think it will happen. next year we are expecting a large group of students because of the dragon year babies. and the interesting thing baout our education system is now we have a whole plate of different offerings we can give students across the board. so the idea is choice for the students. so the starting of this jc and its vision for student involvement in the learning process gives them that additional choice.
Choice is the key word here. And this is a j-c, being new, offers a world of learning possibilities, up-to-date technological gadgets and strategically located beside the Singapore Sports School."http://newsradio.mediacorpradio.com/learning_trip.htm