An Institute of Distinction

newsISSN 0218-4427

APRIL 2006 No. 56

I N N O V A T I O N S I N G A P O R E

I n n o v a t i o n o f t h e y e a r 2 0 0 1

An Institute of

Ms Vignasweri Ratnam, Charge Nurse (National Kidney Foundation); Mr Ho Hee Shen, Lecturer (School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic); Ms Kamala Devi, Lecturer(School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic); Dr Thomas Sim, Lecturer (School of Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic); and Mrs Meeravathy d/o P. S., Lecturer(School of Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic) are among NIE s pioneer batch of healthcare professionals to receive the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education(full story on page 3)

NIE news

2 CONTENTS

EditorialMrs Ivy Goh

Mr Aaron ChongMs Lynn ChewMs Irene Teo

PhotographerMr William Oh

ContributorsChang Chew Hung

Chew Lee ChinChia Song YuanFoong See KitHo Siew Yin

Nenny NoormanNg Luan EngRazif Bahari

Anthony SeowTan Oon SengPatricia Wong

Xu JunweiJean Yong

Lawrence Zhang

NIE News is published quarterly by thePublic & International Relations Department,

National Institute of Education,Nanyang Technological University.

The next issue will be published in July 2006.

Please address your comments to:The Editorial Team, NIE News

Fax: (65) 6896 8874Email: nienews@nie.edu.sg

National Institute of Education1 Nanyang Walk, Singapore 637616

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Restoring Our Mangroves

NIE Paper Downloaded 250 Times in 21 Days!

GRADUATION

CONFERENCES &SEMINARS

HAPPENINGS

Vis itors

RESEARCH

“Ambassadors of Life” Receive PGDHE

Record Number of Departmental HeadsGraduate with DDM

New Beginnings & New Skills

From Bhutan to Singapore – A LearningExperience

A Voyage of Friendship

Calendar of Events

Aidiladha Celebration Fosters CommunitySpirit

Thai Educators Count on New Teaching Methods

French MP & Ambassador Observe Technology at Work

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AWARDS & HONOURS

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Assoc Prof Tan Seng Chee Receives 2005 JCCI Educational Award10

South Korea Hosts the 4th AsiaCall International Conference

ELL at Asia TEFL International Conference

KSEP Holds Its First International Conferencein Seoul

The 10th Asian TechnologyConference in Mathematics

SEAGA Celebrates Its 16thAnniversary

NIE and Singapore HeartFoundation: New Links Forged

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NIE news

3GRADUATION

certificates at the Inaugural GraduationCeremony held on 17 March 2006. Guest-of-Honour Ms Yong Ying-I, Permanent Secretaryto the Ministry of Health, graced the event heldat NIE. Director of NIE, Prof Leo Tan, gave awarm and congratulatory welcome address,followed by a presentation by the graduands.

This is the first time such a Postgraduate DiplomaProgramme has been customised for the Ministryof Health (MOH). In late 2004, Dr PremaraniKannusamy (Deputy Chief Nursing Officer,Nursing Branch, MOH) approached NIE todiscuss the development of a course suited formedical and nursing staff. “In view of thepotential development of healthcare educationin Singapore and the plans of extensive trainingfor nursing officers, there was a felt need to trainmedical practitioners and nurse educators toenable them to teach effectively,” said Prof Tan.

The PGDHE, designed by NIE’s team of expertsand professionals, was adopted and modifiedfor MOH. This nine-month programme was

created to provide health professionals withboth knowledge and didactic skills, along withbetter comprehension of key underlyingeducational philosophies, pedagogy and theirown experiences. It is also aimed at enhancingtheir academic practice.

“With this postgraduate diploma, MOH willrecognise them as qualified teachers. The coursecontent involves mainly the necessary skills

and knowledge to teach, that is, teachingmethods,” explained Mr Jacques See (CourseAdministrator, PGDHE).

The programme, highly interactive andparticipative, employs diverse delivery modes,such as action learning, dialogue, simulations,case studies and scene-enactment, to buildand encourage the participant’s cognitive,affective, reflective and analytical capacities.

When NIE opened its doors to this newprogramme in early 2005, the response wasoverwhelming. Commented Prof Tan, “webegun to receive many enquiries andapplications from government and privatehospitals, clinics, tertiary institutions andhumanitarian foundations”. Doctors, nursemanagers, nurses, clinical instructors,radiologists, polytechnic lecturers andhealthcare administrators were all applying forthe PGDHE.

“When I decided to pursue this course, manyfriends asked me why. My response [was] tobe a better educator. We were from an era oflook, listen and do. But that is non-existent

T he first cohort of 29 healthcareprofessionals received their PostgraduateDiploma in Higher Education (PGDHE)

“Ambassadors of Life”Receive PGDHE By Public & International Relations

“”

The course modules have increased myknowledge about adult learning and howto facilitate their education. I enjoyed mostof the modules for example, EducationalPsychology, Problem Based Learning,Clinical Teaching, Small Group Teaching,and Curriculum Design and Assessmentin Higher Education. All these havebroadened my perspective as well as armedme with the necessary tools to teach in myarea of work.

Ms Pauline Tan, Staff Nurse,National Kidney Foundation

“Ambassadors of Life”

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NIE news

4GRADUATION

I have acquired more choices of style in delivering my lectures to students. My sessionsnow are more interactive and lively. I noticed my lectures are more tailored and sensitivetowards students, rather than just to finish the syllabus.

Mr Ho Hee Shen, Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic

with today’s generation. They are more critical,more inquisitive and easily distracted. So I tookthis course to learn the psychology of teachingand learning, to improve my teaching strategies,”explained graduand, Ms Kamala Devi (Lecturer,School of Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic).

She observed that as a lecturer at the Schoolof Health Sciences, Nanyang Polytechnic, shebegan evaluating her teaching, coaching andmentor style. She re-examined the ways inwhich she reached out to her students and herassessments modes as well as how she preparedher curriculum. Her new ideas were well received.

In his address, Dr Thomas Sim (Lecturer, Schoolof Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic)provided a psychologist’s viewpoint, drawingfrom his experience in teaching nurses. “Thetheory, techniques, and clinical skills of nursingare important and necessary. All of us presenthere, have the knowledge content and areexperts in our respective fields. However, aboveall, nurses must be carers and they must havepassion. It is these soft skills that really makea difference between a competent and a greatnurse. It is up to us as educators to nurturecaring professionals. We must teach our

students not only the fundamentals ofnursing, but also instill a passion for whatthey do.”

Mrs Meeravathy d/o P. S., a lecturer at NgeeAnn Polytechnic for the School of HealthSciences, has been nursing for 34 years. Sheapplied for the course to not only sharpenher teaching skill but to give more structureto it.

Feedback on the course was encouraging andmany affirmed that they had benefittedimmensely.

“The classroom activities such as the gameswe played, the interesting presentations, androle playing drove the tiredness of the dayaway. We had so much fun and laughter,learning from each other and making newfriends. There was no age barrier to learningand there was so much talent among us. Wehad Dr Andy Poh who strummed the guitarand dedicated songs to us during a Nurses’day celebration,” recalled Ms Catherine Chua(Asst Director, Nursing, Department ofNursing Administration, Institute of MentalHealth).

In his address, Prof Tan remembered “iconicfigures in history, in the likes of FlorenceNightingale, and Mother Theresa, whoselives were dedicated to serve and nurse theneeds of the wounded, the sick and theweak”. This Postgraduate Diploma in HigherEducation is for “all ambassadors of life”.

To quote Dr Andy Poh, a family physicianwith Healthway Medical Group, “In anutshell, the PGDHE is an effective coursewhich imbues participants with the innatepassion to facilitate education in a way whichmeets its challenges and needs in the 21stcentury.”

Goodbye PGDHE my most interactive8 months,I grieve your end and sing your legend,You made my greatest dream come true,I know the coming years will bring all thegood to my career – simply because youplaced my foot in the right path,You provided solace, fun, laughter, and mostof all the “caring” when I needed it most,With the help of my dear friends – some dearerthan others, I have achieved victory.[Loved every moment I spent with you.]

Ms Vignasweri Ratnam, Charge Nurse,National Kidney Foundation

”(Front Row) Mr Sim Cheng Tee (Divisional Director, Corporate Planning & Development), Prof Leo Tan, Ms Yong Ying-I, Prof Lee Sing Kong (Dean, GraduateProgrammes & Research), and Dr Premarani Kannusamy at the PGDHE Graduation Ceremony

NIE news

5

South Korea Hosts the 4th AsiaCALLInternational ConferenceBy Assoc Prof Anthony Seow, English Language & Literature & Asst Prof Chew Lee Chin, Psychological Studies

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

TNovember 2005. CALL enthusiasts from Korea, Japan,Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan, andThailand, convened to share some of their expertise andinstitutional experiences in the field. Other participatingcountries included the USA, Australia, Lebanon, SaudiArabia, and the UAE.

At the conference, Assoc Prof Anthony Seow (EnglishLanguage & Literature) presented a CALL Paper based ona joint project. He also moderated a parallel session and

he 4th Asia Computer-Assisted LanguageLearning (CALL) International Conference washeld in Gyeongju, South Korea, from 10 to 12

participated as one of the speakers in a plenary roundtablediscussion. Asst Prof Chew Lee Chin (PsychologicalStudies) was equally busy with a paper presentation anda parallel-session moderation.

However, it was not all conference deliberations as therewere some moments of cultural exchanges. Dr LarryChong, Founder of AsiaCALL and President of SorabolCollege, Gyeongju, played the dual role of CALL organiserand host. He was also the driving force behind all Koreancultural activities which included authentic Korean mealsin a Korean village, and a treat to a Korean cultural nightof dance and song.

No less memorable was the raucous welcome for CALLvisitors, performed by the students of Sorabol CollegeUniversity in typical fist-clenching fashion following theKorean tradition. It could have been mistaken forsomething akin to a street protest by any uninformedvisitors!

After three rewarding days at the conference, concludingwith an exchange of departure pleasantries and gifts, thedelegates returned to their respective countries to awaitthe next AsiaCALL conference. The 5th AsiaCALLInternational Conference is scheduled to be held possiblyin East Malaysia. The annually hosted conference mustindeed go on if it is to keep alive the Asian spirit in thisrelatively young CALL venture.

Delegates were treated to a cultural night of Korean dance and song

Work aside, CALL visitors found time to indulge in traditional Korean cuisine

NIE news

6ELL at Asia TEFL International ConferenceBy Asst Prof Lawrence Zhang, English Language & Literature

TChew, Assoc Prof Christine Goh, Asst Prof Wee Bee Geok, Asst ProfCaroline Ho, Asst Prof Phillip Towndrow, and Asst Prof Lawrence Zhangpresented papers, all of which were well received.

he English Language & Literature academic group was wellrepresented at the 3rd Asia TEFL International Conference, heldfrom 4 to 6 November 2005 in Beijing, China. Assoc Prof Phyllis

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

in December 2005. The conference was heldat Ewha Womans University with thetheme, “The Emerging Role of EducationalPsychology in Asian Education: Challenges,Strategies, and Implications for the 21stCentury”.

Prof Ahyoung Kim in her presidential addresscommented that the inaugural internationalgathering was significant as a landmarkevent for “establishing and facilitatingmutual understanding within the AsianPacif ic community of educationalpsychologists and, by doing so, addressingthe growing interest in Asian education”.

For the event, KSEP invited six prominentscholars from the Asian Pacific Rim to delivertheir keynote addresses. The topics rangedfrom the more general principles and rolesof educational psychology to more specific

issues such as student development,motivation and teaching and learning inAsian countries. International scholars wereinvited from the USA, Australia, China, Japan,Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore.

Assoc Prof Tan Oon Seng, Head ofPsychological Studies Academic Group, gavethe first keynote address with his paperentitled “Educational Psychology andLearning Innovation: Playing withProblems”. Other keynoters include ProfNaomi Miyake of Chukyo University, Japan;Emeritus Prof Shlomo Sharan of Tel-AvivUniversity, Israel; Prof Dennis McInerney ofUniversity of Western Sydney, Australia;Prof Jiliang Shen of Beijing Normal University,China; and Prof David Watkins of Universityof Hong Kong.

The conference attracted some 200participants and also provided a platformfor discussion on the launch of an Asia-Pacific educational psychology network.

T he Korean Society for EducationalPsychology (KSEP) hosted its firstInternational Conference in Seoul

Asst Prof Caroline Ho, Asst Prof Phillip Towndrow, Asst Prof Lawrence Zhangand Asst Prof Wee Bee Geok at the 3rd Asia TEFL International Conference

The papers presented are as follows:

• “Remaking Singapore: Language Culture and Identity in a GlobalisedWorld” (Chew)

• “Chinese Learners Listening in English: Metacognition, Anxiety andPreferences” (Goh)

• “A Text-based Grammar Approach to the Teaching of English: TheSingapore Experience” (Wee)

• “Mission Impossible? The Case of Non-English Majors TeachingEnglish” (Ho)

• “Setting up and Maintaining an IT-Rich Facility that Caters to theSocial Aspects of Language Learning” (Towndrow)

• “Beyond the Basics in Language Learning Strategy Research: SettingAgendas, Expanding Dimensions” (Zhang)

Asst Prof Wee was one of nine country representatives who gavefeatured presentations. Assoc Prof Chew attended the conference asa founder-member of Asia TEFL, representing Singapore on the ExecutiveCouncil of Asia TEFL. The Asia TEFL International Conference attractedabout 1,500 participants from 38 different countries. Currently, AsiaTEFL, the largest professional organisation for English teachers in Asia-Pacific, has a membership of 4,988 from Asia and around the world,with 323 members from Singapore.

KSEP HoldsIts FirstInternationalConferencein SeoulBy Assoc Prof Tan Oon Seng, Head,Psychological Studies

NIE news

7The 10th Asian Technology Conferencein Mathematics By Ms Ng Luan Eng, Mathematics & Mathematics Education

Cgeo and environmental sciences, and urban planning in academia,education, government and the private sector within the region.

This year, a conference will be co-organised by NIE and SEAGA, to behosted at Nanyang Girls’ High School. The SEAGA Conference 2006 isalso the eigth conference in running since SEAGA’s establishment in 1990.

The SEAGA Conference 2006 will be focusing on trans-disciplinaryperspectives of sustainability from various scholars, policy makers andentrepreneurs, as well as researchers and teachers. The aim is to debatethe progress Southeast Asia has made towards sustainability. The conferencetheme, “Sustainability and Southeast Asia”, reflects this aim.

Such discussion concerns national governments, local agencies in cities,the agricultural industry, and the business sector. This debate shouldtranslate the concept of sustainability into terms relevant for all whohave worked to advance the cause. Sustainability is, however, a contestedconcept and there is an urgent need to provide terms upon which citizensand governments, consumers and producers, can engage effectively withprocesses to realise goals that have been set.

ome November 2006, SEAGA, the Southeast Asian GeographyAssociation, will celebrate its 16th year as an association ofgeographers and professionals in related fields such as history,

The sub-themes of the conference include:1 Sustainable Development and the Southeast Asian Agenda2 Sustainability and Education3 Economic Growth, Competitiveness and Sustainable Development4 Sustainability and Society5 Politics, Policies and Sustainability6 Population, Carrying Capacities and Ecological Footprints7 Cities and Sustainable Development8 Health and Development Issues9 Nature, Culture and Society10 Securing Water Supplies11 Living with Natural Hazards12 Karst Geomorphology13 Remote Sensing and GIS: Their Contribution to Environmental

Management in Southeast Asia14 SE Asia and Environmental Management15 Agriculture and Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia16 Tourism and its Role in Sustainable Development

Participants who are interested to submit an abstract should emailit to the SEAGA Conference Organising Committee atseaga@nie.edu.sg by 31 May 2006. The website for the conferenceis http://www.seaga.co.nr/.

SEAGA Celebrates Its 16th AnniversaryBy Asst Prof Chang Chew Hung, Humanities & Social Studies Education

Technology Conference in Mathematics (ATCM)from 12 to 16 December 2005. This conferencewas the 10th anniversary of the ATCM series,which had its inaugural meeting in Singaporein 1995. The conference was hosted by theKorea National University of Education andheld in Cheong-Ju, South Korea. It was attendedby 110 participants from 26 different countriesand 170 local participants.

Some strands of the conference included: Equityof access of IT tools to all students, theimportance accorded to Computer AlgebraSystems tools, the rigour of mathematicscontent with the use of IT tools, and the roleof graphing calculators.

MME lecturers contributed their Singaporeanperspective at the conference. Assoc Prof Ang

Keng Cheng gave a lecture entitled “A FiniteDifference Formulation for a Traffic Flow Model”.Asst Prof Ng Wee Leng conducted a workshopon “Teaching and Learning Mathematics withan Algebraic Calculator” and presented a paperabout “Using a Graphing Calculator to ExplorePre-University Level Mathematics: SomeExamples in an In-Service Course”. Mr Chua

Boon Liang, a teaching fellow, presented a paperon “The Potential and Pitfalls of Using Video-Conferencing Technology to Enhance Learning”.

The next ATCM conference will be held inHong Kong in December 2006 with learningopportunities awaiting those interested in theuse of IT tools in mathematics education.

T hree Mathematics & MathematicsEducation (MME) academic staffmembers attended the 10th Asian

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Mr Chua Boon Liang, Assoc Prof Ang Keng Cheng and Asst Prof Ng Wee Leng at the 10th ATCM inCheong-Ju, South Korea

NIE news

By Asst Prof Jean Yong, Natural Sciences & Science Education

8 RESEARCH

Restoring Our Mangroves

Mecosystems in terms of primary productivityand coastal protection. Distributed in tropicaland sub-tropical regions, mangroves reachtheir maximum development and greatluxuriance in Southeast Asia, includingSingapore. The abundance of mangroves inSoutheast Asia has led many to believe thatit is the birth place of mangroves and fromthis region, the offspring of mangroves mighthave moved on ocean currents to differentcoastal regions in the tropical latitudes.

Mangrove plants grow at the interface betweenland and sea, where they exist in conditionsof fluctuating salinities, strong winds, andunstable and anaerobic soils. It is likely thatthere may be no other comparable group ofplants with such highly developedmorphological and physiological adaptationsto such extreme conditions.

These tough conditions make this habitat anextremely difficult one for plants to grow.Nevertheless, we still can find a variety of plantsthriving in this sort of harsh environment.

Following the strong tradition of mangroveresearch and education in Natural Sciences &Science Education (NSSE), previouslyestablished by Prof Leo Tan, Director of NIE,and Prof Lee Sing Kong, Dean of GraduateProgrammes & Research, some NSSE staff

angrove forests, known as“rainforests by the sea”, are one ofthe most important coastal

Asst Prof Shawn Lum teaching NIE student teachers about the close-relationship between mangroves and their adjacent habitats at Chek Jawa,Pulau Ubin

Singapore’s total mangrove area has shrunkfrom about 6,400 ha in 1953 to about 500 haat present. A second species believed to havebeen extinct, Bruguiera Sexangula (tumu putih),

Despite being a small-city state, Singapore has richmangrove plant diversity. Bruguiera Hainesii, thenew mangrove plant record for Singapore that wasdiscovered recently by NSSE staff

species. We therefore had the honour of re-naming the East Asian Kandelia species asKandelia Obovata Sheue, Liu & Yong.

Ecological ServicesMangroves not only provide habitats for insects,birds, turtles, lizards, fishes and other marineorganisms, they also provide valuable “goods”(seafood and wood/charcoal) and “services”to humans.

Mangroves prevent shoreline erosion, reducesedimentation in coastal waters, and theirroots can absorb heavy metals, metalloids andcertain pollutants, cleaning the seawater inwhich they grow.

Such multiple roles are important for Singaporeas we are becoming increasingly reliant oncoastal seawater for desalination. In addition,there is emerging scientific evidence thatmangroves are important for the well-being ofcoral reefs and even the ocean's biogeochemicalcycle with regard to its sources of marinedissolved organic carbon.

More recently, the idea of mangrove forestsas “carbon sinks” is slowly becoming moreapparent in light of the fact that carbondioxide (CO2) emissions are the root causeof climate change.

Unlike our inland rainforest plants that utilisefreshwater to grow, mangrove plants are ableto photosynthesize and grow using(undrinkable) seawater! One hectare ofmangrove forest can roughly absorb the 1.5tons of CO2 generated by a vehicle (usingabout 2,500 litres of fuel) in a year.

Together with colleagues from Universiti SainsMalaysia and the Australian NationalUniversity, we are building on these earlier

BUGS GALORE!!! Hemipteran bugs, sitting beneatha leaf of the new Ceriops species, at the Pulau Ubinmangroves

(Asst Prof Shawn Lum, Assoc Prof Tan SweeNgin, and Asst Prof Jean Yong) and severallocal and international colleagues have in recentyears contributed to two aspects of mangroveresearch and education.

New mangrove plant speciesand recordsEven in a small and highly urbanised countrylike Singapore, we are still able to find newplant records that have never been documentedbefore. Thus, finding Bruguiera Hainesii(berus mata buaya) at the Pasir Ris mangrovesrevealed that our local flora is still rich in plantspecies diversity.

was spotted recently for the firsttime after more than 50 years.

Careful morphological andchromosomal analyses revealedthat our local Kandelia Candel(pisang pisang) is indeed differentfrom other Kandelia speciesfound in East Asia (NorthVietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong,China and Japan). This is a majorbreakthrough for mangrove plantdiversity research as Kandelia isregarded more as a predominantEast Asian mangrove species.

Several hundred papers werepublished about Kandelia andno scientist has ever doubtedthe identity of this mangrove

NIE news

9RESEARCH

biodiversity/environmental science-related staffmembers on how to identify the plant specieseasily in the mangroves.

Continuous mangrove research contributions

Asst Prof Jean Yong measuring mangrove leaf photosynthesis on a tree tower sited within a mangroveforest canopy

findings and conducting further experimentsto understand how tides and higher airtemperatures (due to global warming) willaffect the ability of our mangrove forest toabsorb CO2.

As aptly presented by Prof Ong Jin Eong (NIE’slong-term collaborator from Universiti SainsMalaysia) that Indonesia with her 4.5 millionha of mangroves, can use her mangroves toabsorb the CO2 emissions of some 5 millioncars. This surely is a bargaining chip for anycarbon trading!

Mangroves are being replaced by vast shrimpfarms, industrial/housing developments, andtourist resorts. In the five countries hit hardestby the tsunami in December 2004, an estimateof 1.5 million ha of mangroves developedbetween 1980 and 2000 (about 26% of theregion’s mangrove cover) was eliminated.

But the devastation wrought by the tsunamihas inspired governments to try to restorethese ecosystems, which environmentalscientists and economists have long lobbiedas natural defences against storm damage.

Mangrove restoration is notoriously difficultand these replanting projects face hugechallenges. Past restoration projects in manyother countries made the mistake of plantingincorrect flora species in the wrong places;something many scientists have lamented. Inthis respect, by using Sungei Api Api andPulau Semakau mangroves as successful localexamples, Prof Tan and Prof Lee havedemonstrated that such problems can becircumvented if proper scientific methods andeducation are adopted into mangrovemanagement practices.

For example, NSSE has produced a ComparativeMangrove Guide Sheet to guide bothteachers (pre-service and in-service) and

and educational outreach programmes,conducted both internationally and locally byNSSE staff and their partners, can ensurebetter understanding of how diverse ourmangroves are and that this habitat type isimportant to our well-being with its many“hidden” ecological services.

Today’s mangrove forests are one of themost threatened habitats in the worldbecause of natural and demographicpressures. Public awareness and research andeducation about the mangrove forests willhelp us to appreciate and protect ourmangrove ecosystems.

Mangrove Guide Sheet

NIE news

10 AWARDS & HONOURS

By Assoc Prof Foong See Kit, Natural Sciences & Science Education

NIE PaperDownloaded 250Times in 21 Days!

Loganantham Kuppan, David Buay, Liew Voon Hooi, and Assoc Prof Foong See Kit

How Long Does It Take to Boil anEgg? Revisited

C ongratulations to Assoc Prof Tan Seng Chee whoreceived the Japanese Chamber of Commerceand Industry, Singapore Foundation (JCCI)

journal articles, conference papers and book chapters.One of his key research interests is to foster knowledgebuilding among school students with computer-supportedcollaborative learning technology.

In addition to his appointment as the Deputy Head ofthe Learning Sciences and Technologies academic groupin NIE, Assoc Prof Tan is also an assistant director inthe Educational Technology Division (ETD), Ministry ofEducation. He leads the R&D team in ETD, whichconducts research and developmental works to informschool practitioners on the use of ICT in education. “Iwant to do something that can benefit the schools.Working in the Ministry gives me opportunities to workwith schools more closely,” he said. He hopes that hisposition in both NIE and MOE will help to bring togetherresearch and practitioner communities to jointlycontribute to the realisation of the IT Masterplan inSingapore schools.

Education Award for 2005. The JCCI awards recogniseoutstanding achievers in the areas of arts, culture,education, and sports in Singapore.

“Ever since I was a student teacher in NIE, I was deeplyinterested in educational psychology and learning theories. They give me a lens to reflect and analyse my classroompractices,” Assoc Prof Tan recalled. He is grateful to NIEfor the Overseas Graduate Scholarship, which helps himto realise his dream as an educational researcher. Afterearning a PhD in Instructional Systems, he has beencontributing to the professional development of schoolleaders and teachers in the area of educational technologyat various levels. He also teaches in the Mastersprogramme and mentors PhD students. He is active ineducational research projects and has published numerous

Assoc Prof Tan Seng Chee Receives2005 JCCI Educational AwardBy Public & International Relations

RESEARCH

improved the current modelling of an eggboiling process, and predicted accurately(down to an uncertainty of only 1%) thetime required to cook an egg in alaboratory controlled environment, whileprevious predictions exceeded 15%.

Note: As of 11 April 2006, the figure has reached500 times. Across all IOP journals, only 3% ofarticles were accessed over 500 times this year.

Acollaboration with Prof David Kiang of The Chinese Universityof Hong Kong, was downloaded 250 times in 21 days sinceits publication on 2 December 2005.

The paper, entitled “How Long Does It Take to Boil an Egg?Revisited”, appeared in the prestigious European Journal ofPhysics [Vol 27, pp119 (2006)], published by the Instituteof Physics (IOP), UK.

To put the number of downloads into context, across allIOP journals, which numbers about 50, only 10% of articleswere accessed over 250 times in three months. The team

research paper written by NIE students David Buay,Loganantham Kuppan and Liew Voon Hooi, withtheir supervisor Assoc Prof Foong See Kit, and in

school’s curriculum, to canteen food, todesigning physical activities.

Assoc Prof Chia’s lecture on taking “PersonalResponsibility for Play” (PRIDE) highlightedthat play, which is natural for any child, shouldbe encouraged and fostered for its healthbenefits and ease of implementation. Hesuggested that the school environment bemade play-friendly and that schools considerproviding shower facilities for sweaty childrenafter physical activities.

Asst Prof Liu addressed parents in the audienceand shared insights on how parents can motivatetheir child in various aspects of their lives,including adopting healthy habits. Using thetraditional Chinese character for listen, ,she pointed out that parents ought to listen,characterised with the ear, 耳, with their heart,心. But modernisation has diminished theoriginal meaning of 听, reflecting how we nowtend to listen 斤 with our mouths 口, implyingthat parents are simply not taking the time tolisten to children.

One of the highlights of the seminar was theForum Discussion chaired by Dr Wong. The40-minute session was entertaining as well asinformative. Issues raised ranged from canteenfood, to PE curriculum, to the architecturaldesign of a school, as well as nutrition duringpregnancy.

Assoc Prof Quek Jin Jong (Dean, Academic),ended the evening by expressing his gratitudefor all supporting organisations and reiteratedthat managing obesity, as a complex task,requires the combined and concerted effort ofall stakeholders, the family, the school, and thecommunity in order to really make a differencein a child’s health, now and in the future.

The seminar ended on a highnote, with participantsreceiving many goodies in giftpacks sponsored by variousorganisations.

NIE benefitted immensely fromthe seminar by building newbridges and forging strongerrelationships with governmentagencies and volunteerorganisations, thus providinga p la t fo rm fo r fu tu recollaborations. At the sametime, NIE’s future teacherswent home with an enriching,learning experience.

Association (SPEA), joined hands for the firsttime to organise a public educational seminartargeted at teachers, parents and healthcareprofessionals. This took place at the RockAuditorium at Suntec City on 21 January 2006.

The seminar organising committee comprisingsecond-year NIE Postgraduate (PE) studentteachers and staff of SHF, under thechairmanship of Dr Patricia Wong (PhysicalEducation & Sports Science) who is also theHonorary Advisor for School Programmes toSHF, promoted the slogan “Hearty Children,Sturdy Future”. The seminar received strongsupport from the Ministry ofEducation (MOE), the Ministry ofHealth, the Ministry of CommunityDevelopment, Youth and Sports, andits related agencies. Volunteerteachers and students from BedokSouth Secondary School and KongHwa School, and student teachersfrom NIE also got involved. The aimwas to raise awareness of thecomplexities of weight issues amongSingaporean children. The theme aptlytitled “Managing Obesity in Schools”.

Sharing their perspectives were AssocProf Michael Chia (Physical Education& Sports Science) and Asst Prof Liu

Woon Chia (Psychological Studies), both fromNIE; Ms Genevieve Chye, Asst Director ofCurriculum Planning and Development Division,MOE; Dr Mabel Yap, Director of Research andInformation Management Division, HealthPromotion Board; and, Mr Michael Grice, BoardMember of SHF.

The event was the first of a series of annualseminars. Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of Statefor Education and Trade & Industry, was invitedto officiate the inaugural session as well as tolaunch the series of seminars.

Mr Chan spoke from his heart and entertainedthe audience with anecdotes from hischildhood. He pointed out that Chinese cultureviews eating as a form of prosperity and goodfortune. 能吃是福. Traditionally, Chineseparents showed their love for their children byfeeding them good and delicious food. Lovedand doted upon by his parents andgrandparents, Mr Chan confessed to being arather plump child. However, he cautionedparents that it is better for a child to be healthyand happy, rather than overweight and stuffedwith delicious goodies.

Dr Yap delivered a speech entitled “ChildhoodObesity: Determinants and Health Risks”.She presented statistics highlighting theproblem and dangers of childhood obesity,pointing out that obesity in children as youngas three years old has implications thatextends into adulthood. Ms Chye then gavean overview of MOE’s approach to themanaging obesity in schools, from the

NIE news

NIE and Singapore HeartFoundation: New Links ForgedBy Dr Patricia Wong, Physical Education & Sports Science

N IE and the Singapore HeartFoundation (SHF), in collaborationwith the Singapore Physical Education

Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State for Educationand Trade & Industry, sharing his personalexperiences on weight management

CONFERENCES & SEMINARS11

Dr Patricia Wong (second row, fourth from right) with members of the SeminarOrganising Committee (second row), and volunteers from NIE (in white), and BedokSouth Secondary School

Prize winners with Mr Khoo Chin Hean (8th from right), Mr Wong Siew Hoong (7th from right), Prof Leo Tan(6th from right), and other NIE staff

NIE news

12 GRADUATION

Record Number of DepartmentalHeads Graduate with DDM

Acohort of 364 newly qualified teachers joined the ranks of theeducation fraternity when they received their diplomas at theTeachers’ Investiture Ceremony, held at NTU’s Nanyang

Auditorium on 26 January 2006. Graduands received certificates fortheir achievements in Bachelor’s degree, Postgraduate Diploma inEducation (Primary and Secondary), and diplomas in variousspecialisations.

In the Guest-of-Honour’s address, Education Minister Mr TharmanShanmugaratnam extended his warmest congratulations to the graduandsand welcomed them to “a profession with the unique responsibility ofnurturing the talents and energies that will create our future as anation”. He added that “education is about each of you and what youdo to spur your students to spread their wings and soar”.

The Minister also announced that the Ministry of Education (MOE) willintroduce a Structured Mentoring Programme (SMP) to provide additionalguidance and support for graduate teachers at the start of their career.He said in his address that “MOE will organise training in mentoringand coaching skills for mentors who are untrained. We will also phase

ODepartmental Management (DDM). Theceremony, held at the Civil Service College,was graced by Mr Wong Siew Hoong, Directorof Schools, Ministry of Education.

n 9 January 2006, NIE witnessedthe largest cohort of 167 teachers,graduating with a Diploma in

DDM is a four-month programme fordepartmental heads and school leaders,who in time may assume significantmanagerial responsibilities in schools.Managed by NIE’s Graduate Programmes &Research Office, this innovative programmeprepares heads to be exemplary people

managers as well as experts in teaching andlearning. Besides addressing issues andtechnologies impacting education, a majorpart of the programme focuses on teamlearning, curriculum innovation, anddynamic learning systems.

In his address, Director of NIE, Prof Leo Tan,likened the graduands to competitors whotake part in reality TV shows such as FearFactor, The Apprentice, The Contender andThe Amazing Race, where they are wellprepared to endure and overcome everychallenge in order to win. Through leadershipskills and by sharing their knowledge withothers, these graduands can bring aboutpositive changes and make a difference insociety.

For exemplifying the highest level of learningacross the programme, Mdm Adeline ChanSwee Yin was presented the Association forSupervision and Curriculum DevelopmentBook Prize, while Mr Kirupanantha Kumars/o Palaiyan, who had the best overallperformance in the programme, received theDr Ruth Wong Medal. Nine other graduandswere awarded the Dr J M Nathan MemorialPrize for Creativity.

By Mr Xu Junwei, Singapore Polytechnic Intern Attached to Public & International Relations

New Beginnings& New SkillsBy Mr Xu Junwei, Singapore Polytechnic Intern Attached toPublic & International Relations

into our schools additional teacher provisions, to give experiencedteachers more time to mentor their newer colleagues”.

In his speech, Mr Tharman also mentioned that NIE has incorporated aSocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) component, which is vital for developingattributes and values among the youth, within the Group Endeavours inService Learning (GESL) and practicum. NIE will integrate SEL within theoverall pre-service training for teachers from July 2007. In addition, startingApril 2006, NIE will also introduce new courses to help equip teacherswith the necessary tools to teach these core SEL skills.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister of State for Education andTrade & Industry, Mr Chan Soo Sen; Senior Parliamentary Secretary forEducation and Manpower, Mr Hawazi Daipi; Permanent Secretary forEducation, LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh; and other distinguished guests.

Education Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam in conversation with thegraduands

NIE news

13VISITORS

Thai Educators Count onNew Teaching MethodsBy Ms Ho Siew Yin, Mathematics & Mathematics Education

As part of their study tour to observe different methods ofteaching mathematics in classrooms, Mr Wichian Chaiyasang,Principal, and Mr Channarong Wisetsat, a mathematics teacher,

both from Lamplaimat Pattana School (LPS) in Buriram, Thailand, visitedsix Singapore schools from 13 to 16 February 2006.

The visitors sat in classroom lessons conducted by teachers in fourprimary schools, namely Marymount Convent School, Si Ling PrimarySchool, Guangyang Primary School, and White Sands Primary School.They were introduced to a wide variety of teaching strategies, rangingfrom teacher-directed oral multiplication games to self-learning and

practice using Math CD ROMs in the Computer Lab. BothThai educators also observed group work within learningcenters in SEED (Strategies for Effective Engagement &Development) classrooms. They also had the opportunity toobserve a mathematics enrichment class at St Hilda’s PrimarySchool.

In addition, Asst Prof Yeap Ban Har (Mathematics &Mathematics Education) conducted an interesting in-serviceprogramme lesson with a demonstration class at WoodlandsRing Primary School. Both students and visitors werechallenged to break the “Secret Codes” given to them.

The Thai educators were impressed with the teamwork amongkey personnel, teachers, and support staff in the schools, aswell as the liveliness and enthusiasm of the pupils.

French MP &AmbassadorObserveTechnologyat Work

AParliament, and Mr Jean-Paul Réau, FrenchAmbassador to Singapore, during their visit toNIE on 13 March 2006. Their call on theinstitute was in conjunction with French

ssoc Prof Quek Jin Jong (Dean,Academic) played host to Mr LaurentWaucquier, French Member of

Minister Delegate for Budget and AdministrativeReform Mr Jean-Francois Copé’s official trip toSingapore. The delegation was interested toexamine both social and commercial benefitsof innovative services offered in Singapore. Aftertouring the “Classroom of the Future”, thevisitors were briefed on a variety of related

issues by Assoc Prof Quek and Assoc Prof LooiChee Kit, Head of Learning Sciences Laboratory.

The dignitaries were accompanied by theMinister’s principal private secretary, Mr GuyAlves, and the staff of Singapore’s FrenchEmbassy.

By Public & International Relations

French visitors get a taste of what the future holds for Singapore’s technology and innovation services

Ms Ho Siew Yin, Mr Channarong Wisetsat, Mr Wichian Chaiyasang, Mr Tan SiewTiong (Vice-Principal, White Sands Primary School), and Mr Alvin Tan (Teacher,White Sands Primary School)

NIE news

14 HAPPENINGS

From Bhutan to Singapore – A Learning ExperienceBy Ms Nenny Noorman, Academic Computing & Information Services

Iwho were here to participate in a three-monthprofessional development programme, focusedon the use of information technology ineducation. Four lecturers were from NIE in thestate of Paro, with another three from NIE inthe Samtse region.

Their training programme here was an extensionof previous groundwork done by lecturers fromSingaopre’s NIE as well as Temasek Polytechnic.Assoc Prof Philip Wong, Divisional Director ofAcademic Computing & Information Services

n December 2005, Singapore’s NIE campuswelcomed a group of lecturers from theNational Institute of Education, Bhutan,

(ACIS), helped develop a curriculum for theirBachelor of Education (specialisation in ICT)for their student teachers. The programme alsoaimed to help these visiting lecturers increasetheir knowledge and expertise in the field ofICT in Education.

Apart from learning instructional designtheories and research in ICT in Education, theparticipants were taught the use of varioussoftwares such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop,Flash, and Authorware, and programming inJavascript. For more effective learning, theywere also assigned projects in which they hadto apply the skills they acquired through the

programme. The end result was that theywere equipped with both pedagogical andtechnical skills. A visit to a couple of schoolswas included in their training programme.Through the visit, the participants were ableto learn how IT is used in school curriculumsin Singapore.

With newly acquired knowledge and skills,the lecturers were more than prepared toundertake the new IT modules back home inBhutan. They plan to share what they havelearnt with their colleagues in Bhutan andapply the lessons learnt to their methods ofinstruction. For some, plans are also in thepipeline to design e-learning materials toenable both NIEs (in Paro and Samtse) tooffer distance education programmes.

Indeed, the participants also took homewonderful memories of living in Singapore.They joined various ACIS social activitiesand had opportunities to enjoy and savourlocal culture and cuisine through variousfestivities. The participants expressed theirdeepest appreciation to all at NIE, Singaporefor their warm hospitality throughout theSingapore stint.

A Voyage of FriendshipBy Mr Chia Song Yuan, Student Teacher, Postgraduate Diploma in Education

These are just some of the wonderful experiences onboard the Ship ofSoutheast Asia Youth Programme (SSEAYP). SSEAYP is a programmesponsored by the Japanese government. It aims to bring togetheryouths, aged between 18 and 30 years, from Japan and the ASEANregion, to foster international friendships and broaden their globalhorizon.

Selected participants from the various countries will gather in a pre-designated country to begin the sea voyage on board the luxuriousJapanese cruiser, Nippon Maru. The journey will bring these youngpeople to six of the participating countries over forty days.

The itinerary for last year’s expedition in December included Malaysia,Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, and Japan. Youths participatedin discussions on social and youth matters, cultural introductions,sports, recreation, and club activities. Everyone had the opportunityto showcase their diverse ethnicity and traditions; whilst appreciatingthe cultures of others at each port-of-call.

magine waking up to the cry of seagulls, watching dolphins swimin deep blue waters, and living with families in foreign lands...

Despite long hours of choreographing with different dance movements,it was extremely rewarding to perform our gangway flag cheers as theship docked at each country. No words could describe the joy and funwe had through interaction with local youths, institutional visits andcourtesy calls on dignitaries and community service.

It was a memorable journey for all as it was great fun brainstorming,bonding and creating a strong camaraderie and lasting friendships.

I

Mr Ugyen Dorji, Mr Sonam Rinchen, Mr Dorji Tshering, Mr Karma Rinchen, Prof Lee Sing Kong (Dean,Graduate Programmes & Research), Ms Ugyen Pem, Assoc Prof Philip Wong (Divisional Director, AcademicComputing & Information Services), Mr Ugyen Wangchuk, and Mr Karma Chewang

Young adventurers take on the discovery of a lifetime

NIE news

15HAPPENINGS

Event Date Venue Contact Person

Calendar of Events

LangScape: Exploring Ways of Teaching Language & Literature 27 - 28 Apr 2006 Regional LanguageCentre (RELC)

Assoc Prof Anneliese Kramer-DahlEmail: akrame@nie.edu.sg

Enrichment Programme (including National Education Seminarand Visit to MINDEF) for all Diploma in Education and Bachelorof Arts/Science (Education) Graduating Student Teachers

8 - 19 May 2006 NIE Campus Mrs Jessica TanEmail: lfjwong@nie.edu.sg

Enrichment Programme (including National Education Seminarand Visit to MINDEF) for all Postgraduate Diploma in Education(Primary and Secondary) Graduating Student Teachers

29 May - 9 Jun 2006 NIE Campus Mrs Jessica TanEmail: lfjwong@nie.edu.sg

Educational Conference 2006 - Diversity for Excellence: EngagedPedagogies

29 - 31 May 2006 Orchard Hotel Asst Prof Jessie EeEmail: lcjee@nie.edu.sg

Senior Teachers Graduation 2006 May / June 2006 NIE Campus Ms Mae ChanEmail:mpchan@nie.edu.sg

Advanced Senior Teachers Programme (ASTP) Orientation for2006 Intake

Jun 2006 NIE Campus Ms Mae ChanEmail:mpchan@nie.edu.sg

Mathematics Teachers' Conference 1 Jun 2006 NIE Campus Assoc Prof Berinderjeet KaurEmail: bkaur@nie.edu.sg

Diploma in Departmental Management Graduation Ceremonyfor January 2006 Intake

Jul 2006 Institute of PublicAdministration andManagement Auditorium,Civil Service College

Ms Mae ChanEmail:mpchan@nie.edu.sg

Registration for New Student Teachers of Initial TeacherPreparation Programmes

Jul 2006 NIE Campus Mrs Tok-Tan Kok MuiEmail:kmtan@nie.edu.sg

Orientation Programme for All New Student Teachers fromthe Initial Teacher Preparation Programmes

Jul / Aug 2006 NIE Campus Mrs Jessica TanEmail: lfjwong@nie.edu.sg

Graduation Ceremony for Master in Educational Administration(MEA) Programme

To be confirmed Ms May LinEmail: mqlin@nie.edu.sg

Aug 2006

Racial Harmony Day Celebration 2 Aug 2006 Lecture Theatre 8, NIE Mr Mohd Aidil SubhanEmail: masubhan@nie.edu.sg

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration 8 Sep 2006 Lecture Theatre 1, NIE Asst Prof Aw Guat PohEmail:gpaw@nie.edu.sg

Tamil Research Seminar 9 Sep 2006 Lecture Theatre 1, NIE Asst Prof Seetha LakshmiEmail: slakshmi@nie.edu.sg

NAA Govindasamy Tamil IT Award Prize-Giving Ceremony 9 Sep 2006 NIE Campus Asst Prof Seetha LakshmiEmail: slakshmi@nie.edu.sg

Ms Mae ChanEmail:mpchan@nie.edu.sg

Diploma in Departmental ManagementOrientation for July 2006 Intake

Jul 2006 NIE Campus

International Physics Olympiad 2006 (IPhO 2006) 8 - 17 Jul 2006 Nanyang Auditorium, NTUand NIE Campus

Prof Xu ShuyanEmail: syxu@nie.edu.sg

Teachers' Investiture Ceremony 11 - 13 Jul 2006 Nanyang Auditorium, NTU Mrs Mak Lek CherEmail: lcmak@nie.edu.sg

3rd International Seminar on Malay Language, Literature andCulture 2006

14 - 16 Jul 2006 Meritus-Mandarin Hotel Assoc Prof Paitoon M ChaiyanaraEmail: pmchai@nie.edu.sg

3rd Congress of the World Federation of Physics Competitions 17 - 21 Jul 2006 NTU / NIE Campus Prof Xu ShuyanEmail: syxu@nie.edu.sg

Commerce Seminar 2006 22 Jul 2006 Fort Canning Lodge Ms Koh Noi KengEmail: nkkoh@nie.edu.sg

NIE news

16 HAPPENINGS

About 100 NIE student teachers and members,of different faiths and creeds, came togetheron 25 January 2006 to celebrate Hari RayaAidiladha, one of the two most important

Muslim holidays.

Hari Raya Aidiladha, or Haji Celebration, jointly organisedby the Asian Languages & Cultures Group and the MalayLanguage & Cultural Society, filled the campus’ lecturetheatre for an afternoon of cultural performances, foodand celebration.

Aidiladha, which marks the end of the Hajj, falls on thelast month of the Muslim calendar, when Muslims (ifable to) make the pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca.The Hajj constitutes the fifth pillar of Islam, consideredas essential religious duties required of every Muslim.Often, Muslim families slaughter animals on this day, tosymbolically commemorate the sacrifice prophet Ibrahim

made to Allah by offering up his son, Ismail.

Aidiladha is observed, not only as remembranceof Ibrahim’s act of propitiation to God, butalso as a day for Muslims to reflect on what

Aidiladha CelebrationFosters Community SpiritBy Asst Prof Razif Bahari, Asian Languages & Cultures

Dubai exchange student, Jassem Al Ali,entertaining guests with an Arabic song

sacrifices they have done in their lives,as a gentle reminder to do selfless gooddeeds for others.

In the spirit of this year’s Aidiladhacelebration theme, “Unity in Diversity”,the event kicked off with a poetry recitalby a group of students from variousreligious and ethnic backgrounds, takingturns to recite verses in Malay, English,Arabic and Mandarin, praising God andthe brotherhood of man.

Guests were entertained with nasyid anddikir barat performances by NIE studentteachers as well as a surprise special treatby an exchange student from Abu Dhabi,Jassem Al Ali, whose melodious renditionof an Arabic song, En Za’alt (When Youare Upset), wowed the audience.

Janice Seow, decked in her finest baju kurung, said sheattended the celebration to support her colleagues at theAsian Languages & Cultures department. “Hari Rayacelebrations are always fun,” she said. “They bringeveryone together. It’s a great way to learn about eachothers’ customs and way of life while being entertainedin an informal and relaxed atmosphere.”

Jassem said what he missed most is celebrating Aidiladhawith his family back in Abu Dhabi. “Celebrating with thefamily takes on a new dimension once you experiencecelebrating Eid on your own in a faraway land. You beginto realise the importance of family in Islam,” he said.“But community is important too and it’s nice to gettogether and celebrate Eid with both my Muslim andnon-Muslim friends here in Singapore,” he affirmed.

Dikir Barat performance by members of PERBAYU, NTU/NIE Malay Language & Cultural Society