Learning Objectives

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. To discover the relationship between cultural influences and the architectural development in South Vietnam

2. To have a deeper understanding of urban planning issues and the interplay of the matrices of determinants involving physical attributes, commercial feasibility, social fabrics as well as political factors in particular relating to Generation Z (Those born between the early 1990s and the early 2000s).

3. To be aware of the impact of rapid urbanization on the environment and the need for sustainable development in the urban planning process.

4. To gain an insight of Singapore’s strengths in urban planning and sustainable environmental management skill-sets

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Lesson Preparation: Some papers for your readings

Here are three documents that you might find insightful as you prepare your lesson objectives for the trip, just like I did.



Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Confirmed Flight details...

For your information, the following flight details are already confirmed:

22 May 2011, Sun SQ 186 ETD SIN 1735H ETA SGN 1840H
28 May 2011, Sat SQ 173 ETD SGN 1310H ETA SIN 1605H



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The donation for the boy

Hi all

As you all have known, we all are encouraged to give some stationery to the small boy from the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve. Well, our group has came out with this plan of storing everything into one pencil case as I believe that it will be nicer to give the boy with a pencil case rather than giving to the boy separately. So I believe that if 3/4 of us bring pens, pencil, eraser, etc. and the remaining 1/4 of us brings some notebooks or something like that. Mr Irfan will have another meeting with you guys somewhere next week to tell you all more information. So see ya then :D

Si Yuan

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Vietnam GCP Briefing 1 (7th April): PDF copy of slides

Hi all,

In case you did not manage to get 100% of what I have presented earlier. Here are the downloadable PDF copy of the slides.



And here's the link to the Google Earth file: Download HERE


Tuesday, April 5, 2011

...of Essential Questions (EQ's) and Learning Objectives (LO)

This learning journey serves to help the students understand that:
  •  Culture plays an important role in the physical development of a country
  •  Environmental issues are systemic in nature
  •  The importance of developing human capital in resource-scarce Singapore

    Date
    Location
    Learning Experiences (Essential Questions (EQ) and Learning Outcomes (LO))
    Day 1
    Sun (22 May)
    Arrive Ho Chi Minh City. Check in hotel: Lavender Hotel

    Initial preparation and final briefing
    Day 2
    Mon (23 May)
    Ho Chi Minh (Full day tour to places of worship and key historical sites)
    -  EQ: How is culture an influencing element in the physical development of a country?
    -  LO: Students would learn about the interplay between culture and development and how these influence the growth of HCMC, through appreciating the different architecture.
    Day 3
    Tues (24 May)
    ·       Chu Chi tunnel
    ·       Cai Dai temple in Tay Ninh

    -  EQ: How is the design of the tunnel complex influenced by the varying needs over time?
    -  LO: Students would learn about the idea of designing with limited resources in mind, and how innovation can be applied to overcome resource and other constraints

    -  EQ: How is cultural integration reflected in design?
    -  LO: Students will discover the impact of cultural and religious integration and how this impacts the lives, practices and religious buildings of the locals.
    Day 4
    Wed (25 May)
    Can Gio Biosphere Reserve
    -  EQ: What are the primary considerations in the development of the Biosphere?
    -  LO: Students will learn about the systemic approaches needed for environmental sustainability in this mammoth project, and more specifically about the complexity to realize this Unesco-recognized endeavour to reality.
    Day 5
    Thurs (26 May)
    Ho Chi Minh City (Visit to retail outlets, both traditional and modern)
    -  EQ: How is the retail development in HCMC a reflection of the country’s development?
    -  LO: Students will learn about the interplay between a country’s development and its retail and marketing scene. The more pervasive use of media in advertisements is one such example.
    Day 6
    Fri (27 May)
    Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) 1 and 2
    -  EQ: Why is it important for Singapore and her citizens to venture out?
    -  LO: Students will learn about the need for Singapore to develop her human and other capital in order to ensure her (future) survival.
    Day 7
    Sat (28 May)
    Depart for Singapore
    Final reflections

Proposed Itinerary


22 May 2011 (Sun)
Arrive Ho Chi Minh City
SQ186 (1740H – 1845H) OR VN740 (1310H – 1410H)
Check in hotel
Lavender Hotel
Add: 208 – 210 Le Thanh Ton Street, Dist. 1, HCMC
Tel: 848. 2222 8888

23 May 2011 (Mon)
Ho Chi Minh Full Day City Tour with the objective of understanding the historical areas and enabling the participants to contrast the congested “old city” of Districts 1, 3, Chinatown in District 5 with the “new urban development areas of Districts 2, 7 and Thu Thiem.

In addition, participants will have the opportunities to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, Islamic Mosque, Hindu Temple and Chinese Temples plus the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office, which are classical beauties of the old architectures that have existed since French colony and compare with the modern skyscrapers such as Vincom Center and Bitexco Financial Towner which were developed in recent years.

24 May 2011 (Tue)
Visit Cu Chi Tunnel, which is one of the most famous and historical aspects of Vietnam War. Stretching over 200 km, the tunnel is like a maze with 3 levels deep and consists of innumerable trap doors, storage facilities, weapon factories, command centers and kitchens. This is an evidence of planning of a complex structure in difficult conditions during the war.

Visit Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh. Caodaiism is a syncretistic monotheistic religion which is unique to Vietnam. Built by the ingenious locals, the architecture of this temple is an exceptional structure that reflects its blended traditions.

25 May 2011 (Wed)
Full Day workshop at Can Gio Biosphere Reserve. Being recognized by UNESCO in 2000, Can Gio Biosphere Reserve plays an important role as a “Green Lung” of the Ho Chi Minh City, which helps in climate control and prevention from storms and erosion.  Participants will venture into the forest, communicate with the locals, undertake reforestation efforts and visit the local communities to have an insight of how they are involved in environmental protection in the midst of rapid urbanization.

26 May 2011 (Thu)
Full Day exposure to understand the retail evolution in Vietnam and appreciate the co-existence of tradition and modern trade, which makes Vietnam one of the fastest, growing retail market in the world. Participants will have the opportunities to compare and contrast traditional retail shops verses modern trade establishments. This will include visits to the traditional Ben Thanh Wet Market which was built in the beginning of 20th century and is a symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, An Tay Wholesale Market and contrast with Saigon Co-op, Big C, Lotteria which offer a wide spectrum of sale methods based on modern marketing techniques as well as the specialty shops at Vincom Center Shopping Mall and Hung Vung Plaza.

27 May 2011 (Fri)
Full day workshop to Binh Duong Province including visits to Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park 1 & 2 as well as Binh Duong New City. Participants will be guided through the primary considerations and the reconciliation of competing resources when undertaking urban planning of a new city. The influence of Singapore’s planning ideology in the vision of an urban area of a foreign country through the evolvement of self-stainable industrial parks and integrated townships where communities are able to work, play, live and grow will also be highlighted.

28 May 2011 (Sat)
Free & Easy till departure
Depart for Singapore
SQ 173 (1310 – 1610) OR VN 741(0920H -1210H)

Learning Objectives of the GCP trip

Learning Objectives:

1. To discover the relationship between cultural influences and the architectural development in South Vietnam, drawing particular references to religious structures, evolvement of commercial & retail buildings as well as urban centres.

2. To have a deeper understanding of urban planning issues and the interplay of the matrices of determinants involving physical attributes, commercial feasibility, social fabrics as well as political factors in particular relating to Generation Z (Those born between the early 1990s and the early 2000s).

3. To be aware of the impact of rapid urbanization has on the environment and the urgent need for sustainable development in the urban planning process.

4. To gain an insight of Singapore’s strengths in urban planning and sustainable environmental management skillsets being exported to a developing nation.