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 Homeostasis Respiration Photosynthesis Ecology Man’s Impact on the Environment Evolution Additional RA Topics Kidney Photosystems I & II Genetically Modified Organisms

SEC 4 CURRICULUM RP Curriculum Fertility Cellular Reproduction Genomic Biology Genetic Biology Genetic Engineering Genetically Modified Organisms Additional RA Topics Foetal screening (e.g. amniocentisis) Cancer, Cell Signalling 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-of- the-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?