Project Work · JC 1 · Project Initiation and Proposal · 1.º Período

Formulating the Project Proposal

Groups narrow down their ideas to formulate a clear, actionable project proposal. They define the scope, objectives, and target audience of their project.

TL;DR:Once a potential topic is identified, students must move into preliminary research to validate the problem's existence and assess the feasibility of their project. This stage involves a 'litmus test' of the group's ideas against existing data, news reports, and academic journals. Students learn to distinguish between anecdotal evidence and substantiated facts, ensuring their project is grounded in reality rather than assumptions.

• MOE Syllabus Outcomes
• SEAB 8808 LO1: Knowledge Application
• SEAB 8808 LO2: Communication

About This Topic

Once a potential topic is identified, students must move into preliminary research to validate the problem's existence and assess the feasibility of their project. This stage involves a 'litmus test' of the group's ideas against existing data, news reports, and academic journals. Students learn to distinguish between anecdotal evidence and substantiated facts, ensuring their project is grounded in reality rather than assumptions.

Feasibility is a multi-dimensional concept in Project Work, covering time constraints, access to target participants, and the group's own technical capabilities. Students must be honest about what they can realistically achieve within the school year. This stage is most effective when students engage in collaborative investigations, where they divide research tasks and then synthesize their findings to make a 'go' or 'no-go' decision on their topic.

Key Questions

1. How do we define the scope of our project?
2. Who is our target audience?
3. What are our primary objectives?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Preliminary research is only about finding support for our idea.

What to Teach Instead

It is equally about finding counter-evidence or discovering that a problem has already been solved. Peer review sessions help students realize that finding a 'dead end' early is a success, not a failure, as it allows for a timely pivot.

Common Misconception

Feasibility only refers to whether the solution works.

What to Teach Instead

In PW, feasibility also includes whether students can actually finish the project. Hands-on timeline mapping helps students see that a brilliant idea is useless if they cannot access the necessary survey respondents in time.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle

Source Scavenger Hunt

Groups are given a topic and must find one government report, one news article, and one academic paper within a time limit, evaluating each for reliability and relevance.

50 min·Small Groups

Formal Debate

The Feasibility Face-off

One group presents their project idea and another group acts as 'critics,' questioning the feasibility of data collection and solution implementation to stress-test the proposal.

40 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk

Problem Validation Posters

Groups display a summary of their preliminary findings and a feasibility checklist. Peers walk around to leave sticky notes with suggestions for potential data sources or warnings about roadblocks.

45 min·Whole Class

Frequently Asked Questions

What sources are considered reliable for Singapore-based projects?

Prioritize official sources like SingStat, Ministry press releases, and reputable local news outlets like The Straits Times or CNA. Academic journals via NLB's e-resources are also excellent. Avoid using personal blogs or unverified social media posts as primary evidence for the existence of a problem.

How do we handle a situation where there is very little data on our topic?

A lack of data might mean the topic is too niche or that you are searching with the wrong keywords. Try broadening your search terms or looking for parallel issues in other countries. If data remains scarce after a week of intensive searching, it may be a sign to reconsider the topic's feasibility.

What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching feasibility?

Use a 'Pre-Mortem' exercise where students imagine their project has failed and work backward to identify the causes. This active simulation forces them to confront potential hurdles like gatekeepers, lack of survey responses, or technical limitations. By visualizing failure in a safe environment, they develop more robust and realistic project plans.

How much time should be spent on preliminary research?

Usually, two to three weeks is sufficient for this phase. The goal is not to write the final report but to gather enough evidence to justify the project proposal. If groups spend too long here, they risk falling behind on the actual data collection and analysis phases.