Taught by: Yueh-Siang Chang
Name: Adam Seah (@adamseahjh)
Content (Structure/Organization): 4
Due to the nature of site visits that is arranged in advance, the course schedule is less subject to change.
Accessibility and Assessment: 5
This course is accessible to all, regardless of whether one has a background in history.
As the overseas field trip is heavily subsidised, this course is also accessible to all regardless of financial background.
Manageability of Workload: 4
The very first reading will be long and difficult to understand, but subsequent readings will be lighter in comparison.
The field trip, taking up most of the recess week, may cause issues for others with Week 7 midterms and other commitments and deadlines.
The workload for this course is on the higher side (more than the standard 2k-level course at FASS), with four essays, the longest being the deliverable following the field trip.
Nevertheless, Siang is mindful of students' workloads, and some lessons are set as writing time for the completion of assignment.
Ease/Difficulty of attaining grades:
As someone who is not the strongest writer around, I felt that good grades were attainable with the inclusion and development of insightful arguments in the written work and during class discussions.
Learning Value/Recommendation: 5
This course has exposed me to aspects of Singapore's history and heritage I was previously unaware of - who knew there was so much more than what was taught in secondary school history textbooks! This course has high learning value, particularly for Singaporeans who want to be more critical of dominant cultural narratives and institutions and be more engaged with the less-represented aspects of our history. This course helps explain how our cultural institutions, heritage and spaces are contested, debated, negotiated and shaped.
About the Instructor:
Siang is a very knowledgeable and approachable prof. The sites of visit are carefully chosen by her to reinforce concepts. Particularly during the overseas field trip, Siang was very caring and looks out for the well-being all students.
As a curator, Siang brings a wealth of experience in museum and exhibition curation.
Additional Comments/Word of Advice:
Ensure you are able to commit to the field trip before signing up for this course. Try to refrain from scheduling classes immediately before or after this course, as some lessons involve visits to sites off-campus.
Content (Structure/Organization): 4
I took the first iteration of the course, and I know Siang (and Dr Quek, if she is still on the course) is intending to make changes to improve it so please take this with a grain of salt!
Siang provides a very well-structured syllabus and carefully-selected readings, and the outcome of each week is clearly laid out, with each week focusing either on a theory about curation/heritage preservation or on a case-study about how certain historical artefacts or cultures have been curated and preserved. There are also site visits almost every week, so make sure to not have a class immediately after this one so you don't feel rushed to finish looking around the places you're brought to.
If there are. changes to the syllabus, Siang is very on-the-ball about updating the class and telling us what the consequences are and how the changes will affect us. She is also open to getting class feedback, and is generally quite fluid and adaptable.
For my run, there weer 4 essays: food heritage, comparison between SG and Melaka's means of heritage protection and preservation, ecological heritage preservation, and a photo journal. The class part comes from a presentation, where each week a student presents on one of the readings of that week. Siang releases the list of what you will be presenting at the start of the sem, so you have plenty of time to prepare.
Accessibility and Assessment: 5
The subject topics themselves are not difficult. It may be unique, as heritage and historical curation and preservation is not something you would have come across previously (...unless you're already part of that niche), but overall it's not that hard to pick up.
Manageability of Workload: 3
It's not heavy in terms of assignments (of which there are 4 essays ranging between 1.2k and 3.5k word counts). But since there are a lot of site visits and your recess week will be spent overseas (our year was at Melacca, but I've heard that future classes may go to Penang), it takes up quite some time, especially with the travelling.
Ease/Difficulty of attaining grades:
Siang (and Dr Quek) grade fairly off of merit. They are not the kind of teachers who refuse to give out As because of strange reasons. I personally think that you can do well as long as you have a strong foundation of essay-writing and academic argumentative skills, you'll be fine. To get higher grades, you need to be aware of all the points raised during the various classes (the x2 a week classes are typically split between lecture-style, discussion-style, and field trips), and weave them into your argument. Honestly, paying attention and doing your due diligence in researching and writing goes a long way (my credentials are that I got As for my essays).
Learning Value/Recommendation: 5
Extremely valuable! This was one of my favourite classes I've ever taken, even though in terms of my academic plan/classes I need to graduate, it's almost useless (I'm on the USP track and it barely counts for my grad requirements). I have learnt a lot about my academic strengths and interests, and I have gone on to take other classes of similar natures just to continue exploring this subject matter (NHS2030 Making of a Nation).
About the Instructor:
Siang is an incredibly knowledgeable and approcheable teacher. She is very fluid and adaptable, and understanding when you come to her with your discussions, ideas, or problems. The only thing that pisses her off is if you come to class with an obviously uncaring/flippant attitude. She teaches this topic because she has had past experience as a curator and is genuinely interested, and appreciates her students who match that energy.
As an educator, she is well-spoken in giving lectures and guiding discussions, and always comes prepared.
Additional Comments/Word of Advice:
TAKE THE COURSE. It is incredible in every way and is sosososo worth your time
Name: Andrew (Telegram Handle: @overfitted)
Content (Structure/Organization): -
Essay topics were released only closer to deadlines by design, topics in general were revealed ahead of time with a clear syllabus.
Student discussions were highly encouraged on lighter weeks but discussions were sometimes railroaded on content-heavy weeks.
Accessibility and Assessment: 5
Very accessible, everything can be picked up from the readings, class discussions are easy to follow, simple to follow lectures.
Manageability of Workload: 1
Extremely. Several essays, weekly readings that can exceed 200 pages (albeit with pictures). You could probably manage the workload if you're used to it, especially if you can grind essays out quickly should the need arises. Siang is also very receptive to student's needs and encourages us to put our needs first where possible.
However as an all-or-nothing stem kid, I put my 120% into everything (except coming to class on time ecksdee) which was very draining to say the least. In my defence I needed the lengthy hot showers to wake me up from my last minute all-nighters doing the readings.
Ease/Difficulty of attaining grades:
B+ if you put in effort, suspect probably no more and no less. However we do on fact take those and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Learning Value/Recommendation: 5
Probably up there as one of the best mods imo, would stake my GPA on this again. Made my poor S/U decisions which forced me to take one extra non-S/Ued USP mod seem like a blessing in disguise.
About the Instructor:
Very fun to learn from, very engaging especially because there is tangible mutual learning given the broad scope.
Additional Comments/Word of Advice:
Prep your slides in advance in week 1 while you still have time.