Applied Learning & Learning for Life Programme - Bowen ChANgeMakers

Bowen ChANgeMakers Programme

Bowen ChANgeMakers is Bowen Secondary’s flagship programme that brings together our Applied Learning Programme (ALP) and Learning for Life Programme (LLP). Through our ChANgeMakers programme, Bowenians develop real-world knowledge, skills and experiences while learning to make a positive difference in their communities.

Applied Learning Programme

The key focus of the ALP component is Entrepreneurship. Through the ALP, Bowenians acquire and apply design and computational thinking skills, integrate knowledge across various disciplines, and stretch their imagination.

Learning for Life Programme

The LLP component emphasises Community and Youth Leadership, empowering Bowenians to contribute meaningfully to their school and community. The LLP provides Bowenians with real-life experiences to develop character and values, cultivate positive attitudes and self-expression, and strengthen their people skills.

An Innovative Integration

Through integrating the school’s ALP and LLP, the Bowen ChANgeMakers programme develops all Bowenians as creative thinkers and future innovators who embody the spirit of inclusion and use a spirit of enterprise to do good for others. Through the programme, Bowenians learn what it means to be empathetic, socially responsible and inventive 21st Century leaders who view challenges as opportunities to engineer positive change.

Secondary 1: ChANgeMakers in the School @ Bowen

Over two terms, Sec 1 students utilise the Design Thinking methodology to generate solutions that improve the school environment or community. By putting themselves in the shoes of a range of stakeholders such as students, school and contract staff, as well as canteen operators, they rise to the challenge to design and prototype solutions to tackle issues that affect these stakeholders, from sustainability concerns to infrastructural challenges.

This culminates in a project showcase where they have the opportunity to hone their communication skills by pitching their ideas to teachers and addressing questions. Select solutions are implemented to benefit stakeholders, helping Bowenians see the tangible outcomes of their creativity and critical thinking.

Bowenians presenting their ideas to peers and teachers

Secondary 2: ChANgeMakers in the Community

The Sec 2 programme broadens Bowenians’ perspectives beyond the school. They undergo a special 5-week programme which blends the twin processes of Service Learning and Design Thinking. Students get the chance to wear the hats of both community youth leader and social entrepreneur, as they develop solutions that serve the needs of the community.

Bowenians serve weekly at partner VWOs – MINDS, AWWA (School or Elderly) and Lions Befrienders. These significant and sustained interactions between Bowenians and these VWOs allow Bowenians to develop empathy, compassion, inclusivity and respect for those they serve over the course of their interaction. After each session of service, teachers facilitate student reflections to translate empathy into intentional action, supporting the development of a spirit of lifelong service in Bowenians.

Concurrently, they also undergo Design Thinking workshops which help them think deeper about their observations of the community they interacted with at the VWOs. Students are then empowered to identify gaps and solve real-life concerns faced by beneficiaries in the VWOs, and develop practical solutions inspired by their experiences. Selected teams then pitch promising ideas directly to teachers and staff from the respective VWOs — ensuring that inclusion is practised through real engagement, not just good intentions.

Upper Secondary: ChANgeAdvocates @ Bowen

The upper secondary ChANgeAdvocates program builds on students’ learning in lower secondary, and equips students with the application of needs-analysis skills and a problem-solving mindset, to champion a social cause of their choice.

As they embark on their projects, Bowenians learn to become confident individuals who champion their chosen community cause and serve a particular VWO or community. Students apply the DesignThinking methodology to initiate, plan, and implement their own service-learning project for their chosen social cause, and are given various avenues to advocate for their chosen causes, such as through assembly talks or recess time activities, to raise awareness for these causes in the school community.

Through this, Bowenians learn to become more thoughtful in their service to their chosen causes, and act as advocates to educate others on the importance of service and using entrepreneurial skills to do good for others.

ChANgeMakers Horizons Trip

Selected Secondary 2 and 3 students with a strong interest in Design Thinking, sustainability, and creating solutions for real-world issues have the opportunity to deepen their learning in an authentic overseas setting as part of the ChANgeMakers Horizons (internationalisation) Trip.

Working with local organisations and industry practitioners in Vietnam, students apply Design Thinking principles to understand community needs and develop practical solutions to sustainability challenges faced by a local primary school.

Across five days, students deepen their skills through ideation, prototyping, testing and refinement, while developing key 21CC competencies such as communication, adaptability, collaboration and problem-solving, all in an exciting, new environment.

Through this experience, Bowenians grow as confident and adaptable global citizens, who are able to work with diverse groups of individuals, respond positively to change, and use their creativity to make a meaningful difference to shared global challenges.