Wallace Environmental Learning Laboratory
(WELL)
Singapore’s first and only learning laboratory in the forest,
Wallace Environmental Learning Laboratory (WELL) originated as a
simple reforestation project. The vision and efforts of a group
of educationists from Raffles Girls’ School, the Singapore
American School, Corporation Primary School, Jun Yuan Secondary
School, and the National Institute of Singapore brought about
the project’s evolution into a nature learning camp and now into
an advanced forest laboratory.
WELL was established by RGS and NParks with sponsorship from
GlaxoSmithKline and the support of the Economic Development
Board. It was officially opened by the Minister for National
Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, on 5 September 2009. Converted from
an old cowshed in Dairy Farm Nature Park, a natural environment
rich in biodiversity, history and geographical features, WELL
transports students from textbooks, pictures and websites to a
real ecological world, giving them a learning experience that
classrooms and computers can never simulate. WELL is developed
with the objective of promoting environmental education through
fieldwork; in parallel with environmental education, many other
interdisciplinary learning opportunities are also afforded
through WELL, which is a one-stop learning centre for scientific
research, national education, community service, teacher
training and international exchange.
Partnership with Schools and Institutions
WELL is available for partner participating schools to run their
own programmes. This will provide more opportunities for RGS and
partner schools to work closer together on programmes, community
service or other research projects.
WELL also provide professional development to equip educators
with competency in fieldwork, equipment handling and care for
the environment. Formal programme and on-site curriculum
development training is needed to equip educators in the proper
delivery of field studies and research programmes.
In May 2010, the WELL Community of Teachers (WELLCoT) was
officially launched. This is a community of interested educators
drawn from different primary and secondary schools, MOE HQ and
NIE for the purpose of meeting the outcome to ensure WELL can
fulfill its objective on a sustainable basis. Members come
together to design for students a range of programmes for an
authentic learning experience that only WELL’s location and
facilities can offer. At present, 53 organisations are members
of WELLCoT with a total of 104 members. The team comprises
educators both from the local and international schools in
various disciplines: Geography, History, Biology, Outdoor
Education, Art, Lower Secondary Science and Primary Science.
‘We believe the benefits of learning afforded
by WELL should be shared with all schools in Singapore. Hence,
WELL, its facilities and programmes, and membership for the WELL
Community of Teachers (WELLCoT) are open to all schools.’
Former Principal of RGS, Mrs Julie Hoo
Teachers and students from all schools in Singapore will be
able to take learning to real, new heights in the Wallace
Environmental Learning Laboratory (WELL).
More information is available at the official WELL website
http://well.sg or you could email directly to
wellcotinfo@gmail.com