The Applied Learning Programme is a nation-wide initiative implemented by the Ministry of Education in 2013.

The aims of the ALP are to:

• Develop innovative and critical thinking skills
• Connect knowledge across subject disciplines
• Stretch imagination
• Create opportunities to applyof skills and knowledge in authentic settings; relation to  real-life context
• Reinforce of academic skills and knowledge in a non-disciplinary context

 

Our Applied Learning Programme (ALP) at West Spring Secondary is focused on developing critical thinking and creative skills in Media Literacy. Using a skills-focused curriculum, our ALP is designed to cultivate a deeper understanding of media functions and their usage in the 21^st Century society. We aim to develop in our students the ability to critically appreciate the use of different media platforms as mode of communication and persuasion and therefore enhance their ability to use and apply such platforms in a more effective and ethical manner.

 

Our main objectives are:

To develop students with the ability to:

• access, interpret, analyse, evaluate and communicate information, including digital information on the internet,
• make values-based choices and decisions about information created and shared, and take responsibility for actions,
• convey specific desired messages to influence identified target audience through the creation of media products.

 

Students are also encouraged to discover new knowledge and understanding of different community, social and global issues affecting us as a nation and the world through research, ethno-graphic interviews and surveys. A key component of the ALP is the creative production of media products, such as newsletters, brochures, presentations and videos which integrate researched sources of information and capture pupils’ own ideas and solutions to specific problems. In Secondary Three, the pupils communicate their reasoned and evidenced perspectives and responses to selected social issues to the school population. The ALP also connects and coordinates with relevant CCAs such as Info-Communications Club and the Photography and Digital Media Club.

 

Tier One: School-wide / Cohort-wide Programme

ALP lessons are conducted weekly for all secondary 1 and 2 classes. This is integrated with the school’s overall Information-Communication Technology curriculum to allow students the opportunity to see connections between different areas of learning. ALP lessons are conducted by trained ALP teachers while technical media skills in Photography, Videography in Stop-Motion Animation as well as E-Book designing and publishing are conducted by a contracted vendor.

Tier Two: Talent Development