Veggie Ventures
Done by: Eunice, Kiran,
Introduction | The Task |
| Evaluation | Conclusion
Melissa & Weiling
Resources | The Process
Introduction
You are members of the International Vegetables
Society (I.V.S.). Your assignment is to investigate if
I.V.S. should set up a company, Veggie Ventures, to
produce fresh vegetables in Singapore. Since
Singaporeans are getting more health conscious, I.V.S.
must consider the health benefits of the vegetables you grow.
You have to bear in mind that Singapore is a small country with a high population
density. So, your vegetable farm has to function within the constraints of a small
compound, and be able to produce high yield. As Singapore is a modern society,
this will apply to the farming methods you use. You should look for a method that
will supply the required vegetables in the shortest time.
To start you off, I.V.S. has been kind to offer a suggestion that you look into
“Hydroponics” as a possible method of cultivation. You will work as a team and
obtain information to help you decide whether hydroponics is indeed the best
farming method for the company.
The Task
The task ahead of you is to do some research in order to report to the executive
committee members in I.V.S. about Hydroponics and whether the company should
adopt the method. Of course, you must support your recommendations with good
arguments. Hence, you and your team members will have to do the necessary
research, experiment with hydroponics and interview people to find out as much as
you can about Hydroponics.
The process of doing the task can be divided into 7 phases. Each of you should
play a different role.
Phase 1: Research on Hydroponics method of growing vegetables.
Phase 2: Visit a Hydroponics farm.
Phase 3: Carry out an experiment growing vegetables with Hydroponics.
Phase 4: Keeping a log or diary.
Phase 5: Making a decision.
Phase 6: Prepare a powerpoint presentation.
Phase 7: Oral presentation.
Internet Resources
Examples of some vegetables that are grown indoor using Hydroponics
Here are some websites you should visit for information on Hydroponics.
However, you do not have to use all the information. You must choose
selectively.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroponics:
http://home.att.net/~mwhydroponics/introduction.html
Hydroponics: What is hydroponics, terms used in Hydroponics and its usefulness
http://www.simplyhydro.com/whatis.htm
How to cultivate with Hydroponics:
http://www.k12.hi.us/~ckuroda/hydroponics.html
Hydroponics as a hobby:
http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~vista/html_pubs/hydro/hydrotoc.html
Growing vegetables using Hydroponics in Singapore:
http://www.np.edu.sg/~dept-bio/sssc/hydro_h.html
The History of Hydroponics:
http://www.thelettucefarm.com/history.htm
The Process
Phase 1: Research on Hydroponics method of growing vegetables (You should
spend about 2weeks on this)
Work as a team. Here are some questions to help you in your research:
(1) What vegetables are suited to Hydroponics?
(2) What chemicals used in Hydroponics? Why are chemicals used?
(3) What conditions are needed for Hydroponics?
(4) How long does it take to grow a vegetable from a seed?
(5) How successful is Hydroponics cultivation in Singapore?
(6) Do people buy hydroponic vegetables, or do they prefer soil-grown vegetables?
You may also refer to books for more information about Hydroponics.
To answer question 6, you have to conduct a survey with the people around you,
e.g. housewives, students, children, working adults. A sample of 10-20 persons per
team will be ideal. You should prepare questions to ask e.g. Do you buy
hydroponic vegetables? Why? Why not? After that, present your data in a graph or
table.
Return to The Task
Phase 2: Visit a Hydroponics farm (This trip will be arranged by the teacher)
When you visit a Hydroponics farm in Singapore, find out by observing and asking
questions. Here are some things you might want to take note of:
(1) What types of vegetables are grown in the farm?
(2) What chemicals are used? Why are chemicals used?
(3) What are the phases in growing the vegetables? What special attention is
needed?
(4) What are some of the difficulties that hydroponics farmers face?
(5) How much do hydroponic vegetables cost?
Return to The Task
Phase 3: Carry out an experiment growing vegetables with Hydroponics (This
may take 3 – 4 weeks)
Now that you have read about Hydroponics and visited a farm, try to grow your
own Hydroponics vegetables.
(1) Each group will be given a packet of seeds and portions of the chemical needed
for use in your experiment. Your Hydroponics experiment must be conducted in
a styrofoam container, which will also be provided for you.
(2) One day will be chosen for the class to set up your experiment in the school lab.
During the experiment, you must carefully follow instructions on the factors
involved in the growing process e.g. water level, chemical proportions, height
of plant etc. You may write all these information in your log.
(3) Once the experiment is set up, place the containers in the school eco-garden, to
ensure there is enough sunlight for the vegetables to grow. You should visit the
eco-garden daily to check the growth of your vegetables. You must record in
your checklist, the water level, height of plant, presence of sunlight, number of
failures etc.
(4) If your vegetables succeed, present them to the Executive Committee of I.V.S.
Return to The Task
Phase 4: Keeping a log or diary
During the experiment, keep a record of the growth of your vegetables. If your
experiment succeeded, why? If not, Why? Add your comments on the difficulties
you faced in doing the experiment, e.g., the hardest part about growing the
vegetables. You do not have to write more than a page (A4 size writing paper).
Phase 5: Making a decision
Each team must now decide whether you will recommend that the company should
use Hydroponics to grow vegetables. You should use your research, observations
and experiment to decide.
Return to The Task
Phase 6:Prepare a powerpoint presentation (Spend about 2 weeks on this)
Work as a group to prepare a powerpoint presentation for the Executive Committee
Members of I.V.S. You presentation should include:
(1) A brief description of Hydroponics cultivation, its benefits and problems.
(2) A report on your experiment in growing the vegetable.
(3) Your arguments why your company should / should not use Hydroponics.
The presentation should not take more than 10 minutes. You are allowed to use
pictures, charts, posters or graphs to enhance your powerpoint presentation.
Return to The Task
Phase 7: Make an oral presentation to Executive Committee of I.V.S. (1 week)
This is the last phase in your project. Each group will have 10 minutes to present
your report orally. When you present your report, you must try to be persuasive
and convincing. Every team member should be involved in the presentation.
After the presentation, submit a folder containing:
(1) Your research notes and notes from the farm visit.
(2) The log of the development of your vegetable.
(3) Each team member’s individual diary.
(4) Your powerpoint presentation.
Return to The Task
Roles
In this assignment, each one of you will be assigned a specific role with its own
unique. They are:
Researcher
You are the person-in-charge when your team engages in
the research process. The research process includes Phases
1 and 2. You are responsible for assigning tasks to each
member in your team, including yourself, and making sure
that everyone carries out their tasks in the best effort that
they can. At the end of the research process, you have to
make sure that everyone in your team has a chance to go
through all the information being gathered. A good way of
doing this is to call for a meeting where all members are
present and everyone will take turns to share what they
have found. You will put together everything that your
team has found and pass it to the Administrative Executive
for filing.
Administrative
Executive
Your responsibility runs throughout the whole assignment.
You are the person who arranges meetings among your
team members and make notes on decisions made during
your meetings. You have to make sure that all documents
are in neat handwriting that allows for easy reading. At the
end of the assignment, you will make sure that all
components needed in the final folder to be submitted to
the Executive Committee Members of I.V.S. is complete
and in neat, legible handwriting.
Agricultural
Executive
You are the expert when it comes to the actual Hydroponics
process. You have to make sure that the experiment is
performed correctly according to the research that you and
your team members have done. You work in a systematic
manner and assign a responsibility to every member in your
team in the experiment. You will come up with a schedule
for your routine checks on the development of your
vegetable, and make sure that everyone follows it
diligently. You will make sure that all reports of the
development of the vegetables are being done correctly and
accurately. You will put together all the reports, arranging
them according to date and give it to the Administrative
Executive for filing.
Marketing
Executive
You will get the team to come up with a stand in the most
harmonious manner. You will make sure that you and your
team can present your work in the most convincing and
attractive manner. You have to assign responsibilities to
your team members in the process of preparing the
presentation and during the presentation itself. You have to
make sure that all components necessary in the presentation
are being covered. If necessary, you have to get your team
to design charts or graphs to aid your presentation. If time
allows, you might want to conduct a rehearsal of the
presentation for your team members so that everyone can
check their presentational skills according to the criteria
stated in the presentation rubrics stated below.
Evaluation
Individual assessment (based on oral and written work)
Below Average
Average
Very Good
1) Shows
understanding of
his role and
position
Little description of Shows
his involvement
understanding of
during the quest
his role by
describing his task
Shows clear
understanding of
his role by giving
clear descriptions
of what he did to
help in the project
2) Able to
describe
difficulties faced
and give
alternative
solutions
Insufficient
description of the
difficulties faced
and no elaboration
Able to describe
difficulties faced
and has attempted
to elaborate
Have described
difficulties and
have given action
and solution to
counteract the
difficulties. Good
elaboration
Attempted to
describe weakness
and strengths,
however needs
more elaboration
Excellent
description of
weaknesses and
strengths
3) Able to reflect Lack of description
how individually of weaknesses and
strengths
he can fulfil his
role and reflect
on his strengths
and weaknesses
Group Assessment
Below Average
Average
Very Good
1) Time Utilisation The group needed
continual reminder
to get on with
work
The group was
usually on task but
needed an
occasional
reminder to get
back to work
The group was
always on task and
did not need
reminder to get
back to work
2) Participation in
project
Team effort was
not visible. Group
demonstrated some
knowledge of their
roles
Team effort was
visible, knowledge
of their roles was
visible
Team effort
visible. Organised
presentation and
clear
demonstration of
their roles
3) Accuracy of
information in
their project
There was no
resource reference.
Group information
was lacking in
content and was
not factually
correct
There was resource
reference. Group
information was
mostly factually
correct
There was resource
reference,
information is
sufficient in
content and is
factually correct
4) Clarity of
presentation
The group work is
disorganised. The
group is not clear
in explaining
concepts during
presentation.
Presentation of
ideas is
fragmented.
The group work is
well planned.
There is only slight
confusion and
misinterpretation
of information
The group work is
very organised and
clearly explained.
There is group
dynamism where
information is
presented
Conclusion
So, is Hydroponics a good method of cultivation for
Singapore? Can farmers earn enough incomes and profits?
We hope that you eat your veggies and understand how they
were grown. 