A

Coolies
Footprint
Group 4-01
Linus Chan 4O2 03
Fan Kaicheng 4O1 07
Sum Hung Yee 4A3 20
Long Ming Wei 3O2 12

AGENDA
Overview
Usefulness
Test Runs
Products
Our Trail
Future

OBJECTIVES

To enable participants to learn more about the life of the coolies,

Singapores pioneers, in the 1890s to 1900s
Promotes understanding of the struggles coolies faced by
emulating their hardships in a safe learning environment
Facilitate the understanding of our history through interesting
and engaging activities
To give participants a deeper understanding of the importance
of maritime development in Singapores growth as a nation

BACKGROUND INFO
Collaboration with Maritime Port Authority Singapore (MPA)
Liaised with MPA staff, updating them on the status of our project

Heritage trail cum Amazing Race activity based around the

Singapore River Area
Pre-determined route with total of 6 activity stations

Trail makes use of hard copy resources such as booklets, trail

maps and various information packages

TARGET AUDIENCE
Secondary 1 and 2 NCC students
The activities are in line with the lower secondary History
syllabus
NCC cadets are also familiar with the land defence of
Singapore and its army activities, the trail would therefore
be able to deepen their understanding of the importance
maritime development has had on our nations
development

NEEDS ANALYSIS
Survey conducted on 43 Sec 1 & 2 NCC cadets
2 main questions

Yes
8

Yes
11
No
32

Are you aware of the

history of the
landmarks around the
Singapore River?

No
35

Are you familiar

with the hardships
the coolies faced in
the 1900s

NEEDS ANALYSIS (CONTD)

As can be seen,
Our target audience only has a rough idea about the history of the
landmarks around the Singapore River area
Most also do not know about the tough life our pioneers faced
when they first settled in Singapore

Therefore, our project will be able to cover the history of these

landmarks as well as allow participants to gain a deeper
understanding of the life our pioneers led through hands-on
activities

METHODOLOGY
Brainstorm
New Ideas

Formulate
Feasibility
of Ideas
Planning

Execute
Conduct
Runs
Gather Info

Review
Evaluate
Runs
What went
wrong?

Revamp
Find
solutions
Changes
made

USEFULNESS

Compared to existing
National Heritage Board
Resources about River Trail
landmarks

USEFULNESS (CONTD)
As can be seen, these resources are word-heavy and
with few illustrations, weakening its effectiveness in
catering to the learning process of our target
audience
Our trail emphasises on hands-on learning which is
better able to capture the attention of our target
audience

USEFULNESS (CONTD)
Organised hands-on activities increased learning
and retention of technological concepts
(Journal of Tech.Ed, 1990, Anthony R.Korwin)

Competitive component (Amazing Race) will be engaging to

the students, also provides a motivation for them to complete
the activities and trail
Encourages participants to learn more about the history of
coolies and Singapores active involvement in maritime trade
through the various activities

PILOT TEST
HCINCC EOY Camp,
2015 December Holidays

PILOT TEST
Conducted during the HCINCC EOY camp during the 2015 December
holidays for Sec 1 & 2 cadets

Serves as an indicator of the feasibility of our trail

Conclusion:
Trail appeals to target audience and they willingly participated in
the activities and learn from it
Trail was adjusted to better suit target audience
Also, more explanation is required for each activity to draw parallels
between our activities and the hardships the coolies faced

PILOT TEST (CONTD)

Through this trial run, we observed a few shortcomings to our trail
Adjustments made to our trail
Shortened the length of the trail
Trail will now end earlier. Estimated timing of trail: ~ 2 hours
During the trial run, we found participants to be tired after walking
around too much, especially considering the distance between the
stations
Separate booklets for facilitators and participants
The two different groups should have a different focus
Facilitators booklet will be more instructive, while participants booklet
will focus more on the trail itself

FACILITATORS
TRAINING
2016 Term 2 Sabbaticals

FACILITATORS TRAINING
Held during the Term 1 Sabbaticals

Secondary 2 NCC cadets trained as the facilitators for

the trail
Training:
Full hands-on trial run
Instructions on how to manage the entire trail
Conducting each activity
Managing different groups
Problem solving

RESOURCES
Hard-copy booklets

RESOURCES

Main products are resource booklets for facilitators and

participants
2 separate booklets containing different information
For participants, more info regarding the background of the
various landmarks as well as details regarding the trail
For facilitators, focus will be shifted to how to carry out the
activities or manage the groups, with details on each activity as
well as routes of the trail
Both booklets will contain a custom made trail map of the
Singapore River Area

THE
TRAIL
Conducted with
Sec 1 NCC cadets

HERITAGE TRAIL
Conducted in Term 3 with the 2016 Sec 1 NCC cadets
Held during CCA training time, serves both to make their training
engaging for them and also allows them to learn more about our
maritime history
Sec 2 cadets served as facilitators

Trail:
All those involved were given their respective booklets, taking
instructions from the booklets
Following the booklets, participants visited all 6 stations
Gathered feedback from both participants and facilitators

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Example of activities:
Station 2 @ Fullerton Heritage Gallery
Goal: Complete a crossword puzzle using clues from
taken photos
One member will have to take the travelator and
snap photos of the various landmark information
boards along the travelator
They will then have to complete the puzzle based on
the photos they have taken

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Station 2 @ Fullerton Heritage Gallery
Motive: The photos they take will often be blurry, by
using these photos as clues, this indirectly allows them
to focus more on the information that is presented to
them, absorbing the info more effectively
Learning Outcome: Gain a deeper understanding of
the various landmarks in the Singapore River Area

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Example of activities:
Station 4 @ Fullerton Waterboat House
Goal: Link cups together using a set amount of
materials
Teams are given 8 cups and various materials (straws,
paper clips, tape, rubber bands, sticks etc.)
They will then have link all 8 cups together using at
least half of each material they are given (for 10
straws given, they have to use at least 5)

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Station 4 @ Fullerton Waterboat House
Motive: Participants would have to find the best way to
connect the cups with the materials they are provided.
Parallels can be drawn with how traders often have to
find the most suitable and efficient trade routes with
the limited resources they had on hand
Learning Outcome: Allow participants to understand the
difficulties sea farers faced in their maritime trade

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Post-trail Feedback
Hosted online on Google Forms
Given to both participants and facilitators
To gather general feedback about the trail and how it
can be improved
Check if our project has met its objectives

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Feedback: Facilitators
Not difficult to conduct
Effective in facilitating the learning of Singapores history
Simple and clear instructions from the booklets
Feasible to conduct

Although
More time should be allocated to the trail overall
Rewards for fastest group overall as motivation

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Feedback: Participants
Interesting and unique experience that provides insight into the
history of Singapore
Activities were manageable and had an interactive element in
learning the maritime history of Singapore

Although
More time can be given to complete the trail
Distance of the trail could also be shorter/ Too fast-paced
Facilitators can be more enthusiastic in explaining the activities

HERITAGE TRAIL (CONTD)

Therefore
Possible adjustments to consider:
Slow down the pace of the trail by
Lengthening trail duration
Reduce distance between stations
Cut number of stations
Make activities easier
Detailed directions to stations

Better explained activities

So participants can be more engaged and also learn more

TIMELINE
November 2015
Pilot Test during
NCC EOY camp

January 2016
Scouted out
trail area

December 2015
Based on pilot
test, adjusted trail

April 2016
Proposal evaluations
Making of booklets

February 2016
Sent invitations to
other schools to
participate

July 2016
Mid-term
evaluations

May 2016
Term 2 sabbaticals:
Facilitators training

August 2016
Trail with Sec 1s as
participants

June 2016
Updating of
resources

FUTURE PLANS

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singapore Customs & National Heritage Board. (2010). Customs Heritage preserved in Historic Building. Retrieved from
http://www.customs.gov.sg/~/media/cus/files/media-releases/2010/193_pressrelease_final_website3.pdf
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama. (2005). Fullerton Building. Retrieved from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/
SIP_523_2005-01-19.html
Tommy Koh. (2006). Singapore: The Encyclopaedia. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet in association with National Heritage
Board.
The Fullerton Heritage. (2014). Our Heritage. Retrieved from http://thefullertonheritage.com/our-heritage
National Heritage Board (2002). Singapores 100 Historic Places. Singapore. Archipelago Press.
Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003). Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names. Eastern Universities Press.
Yong Chun Yuan. (2004). Merlion Statue. Retrieved from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/
SIP_938_2004-12-27.html?s=merlion
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama. (2005). Singapore River: Historical Overview. Retrieved from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/
infopedia/articles/SIP_148_2005-02-02.html?s=Singapore%20River
Heirwin Mohd Nasir. (2005). The MICA Building (MITA Building). Retrieved from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/
articles/SIP_727_2005-01-13.html?s=mica%20building
Marsita Omar. (2006). Former Empress Place Building (Asian Civilisations Museum). Retrieved from http://
eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1132_2006-04-05.html?s=asian%20civilisations%20museum
National Heritage Board. (2015). Jubilee Walk. Retrieved from https://roots.sg/~/media/Roots/Images/landmarks/jubileewalk/jubilee-walk-resources/updated/06-jubilee-walk-family-time.png?la=en
National Heritage Board. (2004). Tides of Change. Retrieved from https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/publications/lifestyle-reads/
walking-maps-trails/central/singapore-river.aspx

THANK YOU