CCE · Secondary 2

Active learning ideas

Inter-Religious Harmony

Exploring inter-religious harmony benefits greatly from active learning. Methodologies like World Café and Experiential Learning encourage students to engage directly with diverse perspectives, moving beyond theoretical understanding to practical application. These approaches foster empathy and critical thinking essential for navigating complex social dynamics.

• MOE Syllabus Outcomes
• MOE: Social Cohesion - S2
• MOE: National Education - S2

• 45–75 min
• Small Groups
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 60 min · Small Groups

Role Play: Interfaith Dialogue Simulation

Students are assigned roles representing different religious groups and a neutral moderator. They engage in a simulated dialogue addressing a common community concern, practicing respectful communication and active listening.

Explain the importance of religious harmony in a diverse society.

Facilitation Tip

During the World Café, ensure each round builds upon the previous one by having groups summarize key takeaways on their tables before rotating.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Case Study Analysis
• 45 min · Small Groups

Case Study Analysis: MRHA in Action

Groups analyze anonymized case studies related to the MRHA, discussing the principles involved, the potential impact on religious harmony, and proposing solutions that align with the Act's spirit.

Analyze the mechanisms Singapore employs to maintain inter-religious peace.

Facilitation Tip

In Experiential Learning, prompt students to reflect on their actions and feelings during the role-play by asking specific questions about their assigned perspectives and interactions.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Inside-Outside Circle
• 75 min · Small Groups

Community Initiative Design

In teams, students brainstorm and outline a community project aimed at promoting interfaith understanding, considering target audience, activities, and desired outcomes.

Design a community initiative to promote greater interfaith understanding.

Facilitation Tip

For the Community Initiative Design, encourage teams to draw on insights generated from previous activities, such as the case studies or dialogue simulations, to inform their project planning.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teaching inter-religious harmony effectively requires moving beyond lectures to create opportunities for students to practice empathy and understanding. Focus on facilitating dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, allowing students to construct their own knowledge about coexistence. Avoid presenting a single 'correct' viewpoint; instead, guide students to analyze different perspectives and the complexities of maintaining harmony.

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of inter-religious harmony by actively participating in discussions and collaborative tasks. Success looks like students respectfully articulating different viewpoints, proposing practical solutions for community projects, and analyzing real-world scenarios with nuance.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Interfaith Dialogue Simulation, students might believe that religious harmony means agreeing on all points, potentially shutting down genuine discussion.

  During the Interfaith Dialogue Simulation, redirect students by emphasizing that the goal is respectful listening and understanding, not necessarily agreement. Encourage them to ask clarifying questions to better grasp differing viewpoints, even if they don't share them.

• When analyzing the MRHA in Action case studies, students may initially focus only on the restrictive aspects of the Act, overlooking its role in protecting all faiths.

  When analyzing the MRHA in Action case studies, guide students to identify how the Act's provisions are designed to prevent harm and maintain public order for everyone, not just to limit specific religious practices. Prompt them to consider the potential consequences if such protections were absent.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play
• Case Study Analysis
• Inside-Outside Circle