2016 GCP BUSAN 부산: chen ning

12th November Day 4 Reflections - Chiu Chen Ning

Posted by Anonymous at 2:11 am

2 words to describe today's experiences

Meaningful and eye-opening.

2 highlights of the day

I enjoyed the informative research presentations conducted during the farewell ceremony in Busan Science High School, as they gave new insight into the wide range of possible topics to investigate. The presentations given ranged from coral-growth technologies to robotics, covering many of the sciences in the process. I also enjoyed the visit to Gyeongju province, where we had the chance to visit many historical landmarks important to Korean history. These visits deepened my understanding of Korea's rich cultural history.

2 things you have learnt about Korea

I learnt that the students in Busan Science High School are very dedicated to their research projects, as seen from their passionate presentations. From their detailed explanations of new concepts to us and enthusiastic response to our questions, I could sense that the students were eager to share the work they had done. Additionally, I saw that Koreans are proud of their cultural history, as seen by their efforts to maintain and upkeep their surroundings while inside the temple. Some historical monuments are designated as UNESCO world heritage sites, reflecting the high regard Koreans give to their history.

2 things you have learnt about yourself

In my opinion, I feel that I have successfully forged a strong bond with my Busan Science High School buddy throughout these 3 days of interactions. Through this, I have gained fresh new perspectives on student life in other countries and how knowledge can be conveyed in the classroom. Also, I was asked to present on my research project during the closing ceremony. Through this experience, I have learned techniques to conduct an engaging presentation as well as how to respond to criticism without sounding rude or impolite.

2 things you didn't do so well

I feel that during the visit to Gyeongju province, I was too engrossed in admiring the scenery and taking pictures that I had forgotten about the trip's objectives of technology and industry in Busan. Thus, I did not visit these places of interest in the right frame of mind. As the trip draws to a close, I would like to keep my research scope and trip objectives in mind as I visit the final places of interest in order to gather relevant information. Also, I failed to notice the language barrier between myself and the students in Busan Science High School As such, my presentation included terms that may have been too complicated for them to understand. I will be mindful of my target audience's needs and limitations in future hosting sessions and presentations.

2 things you look forward to tomorrow

I look forward to tomorrow's trip to Busan National Museum and Busan Science Centre, where I hope to inquire more into the history of Busan and how it has influenced the city's current approach to the sciences and technology. I also look forward to the trip back to Singapore, where we can consolidate our learning throughout these 5 days in Busan. We can then use this information gathered and apply this to real-life problems in Singapore, ending this trip on a high note.

Connect
Through the research project presentations given during the farewell ceremony at Busan Science High School, some of the project content made use of previous knowledge already taught in SST lessons. For example, the Bio-Rock technology presentation utilised some basic metal ion chemical reactions that we had learned in SST but applied them to serve a different purpose of accelerating coral growth. Thus, the presentations allowed me to make connections to prior subject knowledge but apply them to real-life scenarios.

Extend
The research project presentations in Busan Science High School also extended upon information I had already gathered in SST lessons. An example of this was a presentation on the perpetual spinning top, which utilised electromagnets to wirelessly supply spinning forces to the top. Since we had already learnt about the electromagnets in Secondary 2 physics, this presentation extended my understanding of electromagnets and the various properties they exhibit on magnetic materials nearby.

Challenge

The overall trip to Gyeongju province challenged the way I associated technological advancement with a country's heritage. Initially, I thought that the more technologically-enabled a country became, it would begin to lose its connection with its cultural heritage. The many monuments I saw within Gyeongju province made me realise that Busan did not lose its cultural heritage despite its efforts to become a 'smart' city. Thus, I found that with careful management, a country can progress in the technological age without sacrificing its rich cultural history.

chen ning

11th November Day 3 Reflections - Chiu Chen Ning

Posted by Anonymous at 11:12 pm

Connect

The lessons conducted today in Busan Science High School gave me the opportunity to make connections between the new material taught and existing content in lessons back at SST. An example of this was during the Chemistry practical session, where we had to determine concentrations of ascorbic acid in common vitamin drinks with a spectrophotometer. Since I had already used the spectrophotometer in Biotechnology classes to determine protein concentrations, this practical session allowed me to leverage on my prior knowledge and apply it to more scenarios. Thus, I completed the experiment in a shorter timeframe and learnt of the different applications of familiar concepts in the real world.

Extend

The lessons also deepened our understanding of certain subjects taught in SST and built upon familiar concepts already covered in our lessons. One such example was during the Mathematics lesson I sat in on with my buddy. The questions tackled during the lesson seemed challenging at first and I was stuck, unable to solve them. However, the teacher explained the solution using the concepts of trigonometry and coordinate geometry. Through the lesson, I saw how things covered in Mathematics lessons in SST could be used in deeper concepts like 3-dimensional graphs and stereographic projections. Thus, this experience showed me how the relatively simple concepts taught in Secondary school now can act as gateways to other, more complex ideas and concepts in the future.

Challenge

The innovative teaching methods presented at Busan Science high school caused me to rethink the way concepts can be taught in the classroom to students. During the Mathematics lesson I sat in on with my buddy, I was surprised to find that the teacher was not talking throughout the lesson. Instead, he invited students up in front of the class to explain the solution to the questions given. Through this, I found that I was able to follow the students' explanations equally quickly, and eventually found the solution myself too. This experience challenged my notion that the teacher has to be the main information source in the classroom. Instead, I found that students and my peers also hold valuable information and experience that can be shared with everyone, leading to advancements in everyone's learning.

chen ning

10th November Day 2 Reflections - Chiu Chen Ning

Posted by Anonymous at 9:08 pm

3 words to describe today's experiences

Welcoming, warm and insightful.

3 highlights of the day

I enjoyed the lessons given to us at Busan Science High school, as the supervising teachers were informative in conveying new concepts to us. Since these lessons were related to our curriculum in school, my knowledge in various science subjects was strengthened as a result. An example of this was the wireless electricity experiment, where the concepts demonstrated were similar to what we learnt in electrical circuits back in school. Next, I found the interaction I had with my buddy in Busan Science high school to be very meaningful, as we shared about our school experience and bonded over similar interests. This gave me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and understand how life is like in a different country/background. Finally, the cultural experience at Choongreolsal was enjoyable as well. It gave me new insights into Korean history and the unique etiquette displayed at traditional events, such as the ceremonial bows.

3 things you have learnt about Korea

I learnt that respect for elders and seniors is a very important part of Korean society, as seen in the Choongreolsal memorial where the 93 graves of those who died during the historical invasion of Busan are visited and tended to till this day. Secondly, I was pleasantly surprised with the warm welcome from the students in Busan Science High School. They created an inviting atmosphere for us while they were hosting us, and made us feel at home in a foreign school, showing the friendliness of the Koreans when receiving foreign visitors. Finally, when I asked my buddy about his school schedule, he explained that lessons often extended till nighttime and students often study past midnight as well. This showed the dedication to their studies and high standards of personal excellence that students in Busan Science High School uphold, allowing me to reflect on my work ethic and progress so far back in SST.

3 things you have learnt about yourself

Through the cultural experience at Choongreosal, I was exposed to a variety of Korean customs like their traditional Hanbok wear and the different bows to show respect. From this, I have gained an appreciation for Korean culture . Secondly, I have made new acquaintances at Busan Science High school through the lessons and interacting sessions held there. Despite the language barrier, we managed to overcome our difficulties and have an insightful conversation. Lastly, I gained new skills such as time-management and keeping track of resources from the pinball machine challenge. This team project required careful management of our manpower and prior planning in order to create a successful machine.

3 things you didn't do so well

During some of the lessons at Busan Science High School, I felt that I may have been too absorbed in my work and ended up missing out on the knowledge the teachers shared. I hope to rectify this by listening attentively to information given during future visits to other places. The notes I took during the lessons were also rather sparse and quickly written, negatively impacting my long-term retainment of the information taught. Thus, I hope to be more strategic in taking notes from now onwards to aid myself in remembering information. Finally, my team did not complete our pinball machine by the time limit during the pinball machine challenge, forcing us to submit a faulty machine. Thus, I will pay greater attention to deadlines and schedules during future projects on this trip.

3 things you look forward to tomorrow

I am excited about the Samsung-Renault Motors trip conducted tomorrow. I hope the innovative solutions to transportation and vehicles presented there can further my understanding of how technology is implemented in many aspects of Busan. Secondly, I am looking forward to meeting my buddy again in Busan Science High school. During the food-sharing session, I hope to continue our conversations and forge stronger mutual understandings. Finally, I eagerly await the visit to the Busan City Education office with a meeting with the superintendent. This will provide me with opportunities to inquire about the Korean education system and how it aids Korea's advancement in the technological age.

chen ning

9th November Day 1 Reflections - Chiu Chen Ning

Posted by Anonymous at 10:16 pm

3 words to describe today's experiences

Informative, eye-opening and unique.

3 highlights of the day

I enjoyed the visit to the POSCO Museum and tour of its facilities as it gave me insight into the history of the Korean steel manufacturing industry, and how the production of steel was made more efficient with innovative technologies. I enjoyed our visit to the POSCO iron processing plant as I could see how iron slabs could be made into thin sheets using sophisticated machinery and computer monitoring systems, showing me how technology could be applied to industry. Finally, our Korean barbeque at Jagalchi Market gave me the experience of cooking for my schoolmates, allowing us to have a fun experience while filling our stomachs.

3 things you have learnt about Korea

I have learnt that steel manufacturing was an important cornerstone that marked Korea's transition into a modernised country via technological advances in the production process. Also, Korean society prides itself on hard work and dedication, as shown by the recognition given to historical figures like the POSCO founders for modernising their country. Additionally, stall vendors at Jalgachi market helped keep the economy afloat during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

3 things you have learnt about yourself

I have learned that great ingenuity and entrepreneurship is required to succeed in harsh conditions, as seen in the success of the POSCO founders in modernising Korea with their innovative solutions in manufacturing steel and persuasive reasoning with clients. Also, one needs to be proactive in asking questions to understand their surroundings better, such as at the POSCO plant where we could ask questions regarding the steel manufacturing process. Finally, the viewing of the POSCO blast furnaces allowed me to visualise the same concepts of blast furnaces taught in Chemistry lessons better, making me appreciate the real-life applications of my coursework.

3 things you didn't do so well

During the tour around POSCO, I failed to ask questions and thus could only gather information from observation of the plant and the tour guide's speech. As such, I would like to be more proactive in asking questions to further my understanding during future opportunities. I also did not utilise my time fully on the bus and instead took a nap halfway through my reflections. I will prioritise my time better in the future during periods of inactivity to ensure that I make the most out of my stay. Finally, I delayed the group for a short while at customs as I forgot to remove metal items from my bag. This incident taught me to be more careful when reading regulations so as not to break the rules unknowingly.

3 things you look forward to tomorrow

I look forward to the curricular activities at Busan Science High School and will do my best to ask questions to clarify my understanding of new concepts taught. Also, I hope to further my knowledge of Korean history from the POSCO Museum visit by attending the traditional tea ceremony. Lastly, I am excited about meeting new friends at Busan High School, furthering my horizons and strengthening my cross-culturing understanding of people from different backgrounds.

chen ning

Pre-Trip Reflection - Chiu Chen Ning

Posted by Anonymous at 6:36 pm

How do you feel about the upcoming trip?

I am feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation towards the upcoming trip, as I look forward to experiencing a brand new culture and it is my first time visiting a country during the winter season.

3 things that I am looking forward to

I look forward to attending the lessons at Busan Science High School to learn how their curriculum is like, experiencing authentic Korean cuisine, as well as observing the different technologies present in Busan.

3 things I hope to learn from Busan/South Korea

I hope to observe how technology has been successfully integrated into the lives of people is Busan, how various industries in Busan maintain their competitive edge and see what aspects of Busan can be adapted into Singapore society.

3 things I hope to learn from my friends

I hope that the students we meet in Busan will show us their culture from the perspective of a local, learn of the differences between Singaporean and Korean culture, and ultimately to forge strong bonds with them.

3 things I hope to learn about myself

I wish to acquire skills in socialising with people from different cultures, how to extract key information from our surroundings and to work better in a project team through our research project.

3 challenges I give myself

The personal goals I would set for this strip would be to immerse myself in Korean culture, gain a better understanding of how technology is present in the different facets of Busan and apply the skills I learn in Busan into my daily life.

What are my expectations of Korea?

I hope that Koreans and Korea itself to provide a host of learning opportunities for myself as a student, including some that I wish to apply to my daily life back in Singapore.