STEM

STEM Innovator Programme

The STEM Innovator Programme is EFPS’s Applied Learning Programme (ALP), designed to nurture sustainability-minded innovators. It empowers students with 21st-century competencies—such as critical thinking, adaptability, and creativity—through authentic and impactful learning experiences.

Purpose

This programme is a key component of the EDGE Curriculum, offering students meaningful opportunities to explore sustainability challenges. Through real-world problem solving, students build essential innovation skills, take ownership of their learning, and develop the mindset to drive positive change. The journey fosters student agency, equipping learners to become confident changemakers aligned with EFPS’s vision of “Lives Empowered, Lives Touched.”

Programme Overview

Primary 4: Food Sustainability

All Primary 4 students investigate the issue of food waste in the school community. Using the Design Thinking framework, they explore the problem, empathise with stakeholders, generate ideas, and prototype tangible solutions. Their efforts support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger and 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

• Challenge: Conduct a school-wide food audit

• Outcome: Design and prototype sustainable solutions

• Skills Developed: Empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and presentation

Primary 5: Energy Conservation and Innovation

Tier 1 – Energy Conservation STEM Innovator (Mainstream)

Building on their Primary 4 experiences, Primary 5 students identify and address energy wastage at school and home. They use collaborative sketching and storyboarding techniques to propose practical solutions for energy conservation. Projects align with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and contribute to Singapore’s Green Plan 2030.

• Conduct energy audits

• Use creative techniques like storyboarding to present solutions

• Promote environmental responsibility and critical thinking

Tier 2 – Innovation Programme (HAL Students)

Students with strong inventive and adaptive thinking are invited to deepen their learning through an advanced innovation track supported by the Gifted Education Branch (GEB). They undertake complex challenges and receive mentorship from industry professionals and innovation experts.

• Access resources and guidance from our partners

• Collaborate with Innovation Mentors from industry

• Refine and test ideas for real-world application

• Participate at the prestigious Young Innovators’ Fair

Our Design Thinking Approach

At every level, students are guided by a structured Design Thinking process:

1. Empathise – Understand user needs through audits and interviews

2. Define – Frame clear, human-centered problem statements

3. Ideate – Generate solutions using brainstorming strategies like Crazy 8s and SCAMPER

4. Prototype – Build simple models to test and improve ideas

5. Test & Present – Share ideas and refine them through feedback

This process cultivates student resilience, creativity and a deep sense of purpose in solving real-world issues.

Impact

By the end of the programme, students demonstrate growth in key competencies:

• Critical, adaptive and inventive thinking

• Enhanced collaboration, communication, and reflection skills

• Stronger ownership towards the community