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The Pedagogical Affordances of Game-Based Learning: “Getting To Zero” And Pro-Environmental Action

Ong Zhiqing(National Institute of Education (Singapore)) Keywords Geography Junior College Secondary School In light of concerns over global warming, environmental education has been touted as a means of raising environmental consciousness and effecting transformative change. This paper evaluates the pedagogical affordances of gamification or game based learning in motivating pro-environmental action. In particular, this paper […]

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The Paradox of Progress: AI and the Challenge of Teaching Sustainability in Singapore

Abstract The rise of AI tools has transformed the educational landscape in Singapore, offering unprecedented efficiency and access to information. This study examines the integration of AI in Geography classrooms, a subject where inquiry-based learning and sustainability education form the core. Interviews with four Geography teachers revealed that while AI supports content mastery, information retrieval,

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The Effectiveness of Thinking Anchors in Enhancing Singapore Students’ Responses to Geography Data Response Questions

Abstract This article examines the impact of structured thinking anchors on Singapore students’ ability to respond effectively to data response questions (DRQs) in geography. Through a seven-week action research study using the OHLA (Overall, Highest, Lowest, Anomaly) thinking anchor with Secondary 1 Express (G3) and Normal (Academic) (G2) students in 2022, this research demonstrated significant

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The Intended, Enacted and Experienced Curriculum: Realising Sustainability Education through Singapore Secondary Geography

Abstract This paper examines the strengths and constraints of the Singapore Secondary Geography curriculum in advancing sustainability education and suggests that current approaches to sustainability can lead to simplified representations of climate solutions, limited engagement with social and ethical trade-offs, and insufficient attention to unequal impacts across places and communities, even within student-centred classroom contexts.Drawing

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A Fragmented Sustainability Education? Reconciling Geographical Philosophies for Student Learning and Practice

Abstract Geography occupies a distinctive position in educational curriculum, often being tasked with the role of educating and advancing student knowledge in sustainability. However, contrasting geographical traditions, particularly positivism and humanism, has shaped the framing of sustainability in Singapore’s secondary school geography syllabuses. A close examination of the syllabuses reveals that although sustainability exists as

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Teaching Sustainability through Geography: Why Teachers’ Underlying Assumptions about the Subject Matter

Abstract Geography education in Singapore has evolved alongside national priorities, shifting toward a concept-based curriculum centred on sustainable development. This paper argues that the effectiveness of sustainability education partly depends on teachers’ underlying philosophical assumptions about geographical knowledge. The current syllabus reflects an interplay of positivistic, humanistic and critical traditions, requiring educators to navigate multiple

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Towards Powerful Knowledge in the Singaporean History Classroom

Abstract This article examines how historical knowledge can be made “powerful” – to equip our students with knowledge that enables them to understand, engage meaningfully with, and act upon the world. By outlining the features of powerful knowledge—specialised, conceptual, epistemic, and ontological—and addressing key challenges in implementing a knowledge-rich curriculum, this article considers the avenues

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Rethinking History Education in the Age of AI

Abstract The rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has raised questions about the relevance of history education. In response, this paper examines the limitations of AI, particularly its large language models (LLMs), and highlights the enduring educational value of historical thinking. While AI can generate plausible narratives, it often lacks empirical accuracy, interpretive depth,

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The Power of Conceptual Teaching in the Everyday History Classroom

Abstract This paper discusses practical approaches that enable students to appreciate how individual historical events connect to form meaningful patterns and relationships. Through lesson examplesi and samples of student responses, this paper foregrounds the benefits of teaching for conceptual understanding and how it deepens historical understanding. While recognising challenges in adopting such pedagogy, the authors

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Playful Pedagogies for Future History Educators

Abstract How can play serve as a powerful pedagogical tool for fostering joy and engagement in Singapore’s history classrooms, especially given the high-stakes and examination-driven context? Through insights from a study trip to Denmark and conversations with Singaporean student-teachers, this article examines the possibilities and tensions of adopting Playful Learning in the classroom as a

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