Group 4 Project: Building an Efficient Greenhouse

Students of the batch of 2020 enthusiastically took part in the Group 4 project, which is a component of the IB Diploma Program. In this project, students who study different disciplines of science – Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Environmental Science and Design Technology – come together to conduct research, take action and reflect on a scientific endeavor that has practical applications. This year, along with the students of Business and Economics, the students worked collaboratively in an interdisciplinary project to design a cost-efficient and effective greenhouse, based profoundly in in-depth scientific research and action. To commence the project, the students were introduced to the various challenges of building an effective greenhouses through a workshop that was conducted by an expert on sustainable architecture. Then, students were divided into groups based on their subject, and they worked hard through two months to decide their research questions, conduct primary and secondary research and come up with solutions for building an efficient greenhouse design that could be implemented in the school premises.

Through this project, students acquired research skills as they had to formulate clear and relevant research questions whether that be about the effect of water on plant growth, or the mechanism of an automated irrigation system based on sensors. Students also learnt collaborative skills, as they not only engaged with their peers in their own group, but they also interacted meaningfully with students from other groups and shared their research findings to come to new conclusions. Furthermore, students developed critical thinking skills, because this project required them to use their classroom knowledge in real-world applications. Many students understood the relationship between science and technology, and evaluated their scientific solutions in the context of economic and social goals.

The final exhibition of the Group 4 Project on 22nd February, 2018 was a showcase of the above-mentioned skills that students developed. The aesthetically and neatly made display boards and creative methods of presentation were an excellent demonstration of student creativity and confidence. For instance, the students in the Chemistry group demonstrated their findings through a role-play, while the students of Physics presented their research through a rap. Besides this, all the groups conveyed their results to the audience through experiment demonstrations and prototypes. All the teachers, students and parents who came to visit the exhibition were amazed at the level of understanding, intelligence and hard work exhibited through the group projects. Impressed by the success of this project, the school administrators were hopeful that the greenhouse design formulated by the students could be converted into a real greenhouse right next to the school building