Teaching

Teaching philosophy

My teaching and research supervision philosophy is based on the principle of teaching for life. I believe good teaching and supervision should progressively build up, like a ladder, increasingly sophisticated knowledge based on the bedrock of key principles.

My teaching also stresses the interconnectedness of the subject matter, actively developing conceptual links to the broader materials science and engineering umbrella. I also provide ample motivation for learning the subject by relating the topics to current urgent issues relevant to Singapore and the region.

As Director of the Masters Program and Assistant Chair of Graduate Studies, I incorporate my teaching philosophy in the following three tenets.

a) Leveraging technology enabled learning: A new Masters Program has been launched and successfully implemented. The curriculum encompasses 16 brand new courses which encompass structure, property, processing and performance themes. In this program, we use the latest pedagogical and technological tools to enrich the learning experience.

b) Whole of life teaching: We are developing a robust and diverse menu of “Whole of Life” courses for our graduate students.

c) Teaching for life: We are enabling mature students to access and complete online courses, in line with the Singapore government’s Skills Future program. The goal is to impart to every student a solid, holistic and robust learning framework so that they have both domain knowledge and the enthusiasm to learn what they need to know at any stage in their careers.

1. Teaching responsibilities and action

I have prepared course material for new courses as well as manuals for several lab experiments. I have written an invited pedagogical book chapter on magnetic biomaterials for a textbook on Biomaterials (Springer, New York) used for the MS4003 course. I have recently introduced and taught MS 7055 Magnetic Materials (graduate course). I have been teaching M3015 Design Project and MS3011 Metallic and Ceramic Materials, a revamped course prepared in accordance with the Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations, for a number of years. I have also been involved in Final year project supervision (~100 students since joining NTU) and Industrial Attachment supervision.

a) Course materials development

I have prepared the lecture notes, tutorial questions and answers, online course site, examination papers, laboratory manuals etc. for both my undergraduate and my graduate courses. My courses use technology enabled tools for more effective and active learning. I have written an invited pedagogical book chapter of a Biomaterials textbook for the MS4003 course (Nanomaterials and Biomaterials), edited reference books on nanoparticles and magnetic nanostructures, and an invited monograph in a Springer handbook for my MS7055 graduate course on magnetic materials.

I have created my own animation videos to illustrate the structure-property-processing-performance paradigm for sports car and aircraft materials. I have also recorded, using technology enabled learning, supplementary lectures for those students who wish to learn more about the subject of metals and ceramics.

b) New course curriculum development

The largest course materials development I have undertaken is my involvement in the curriculum development of the new Masters Program. The curriculum encompasses 16 courses which encompass structure, property, processing and performance themes. The syllabus of each of these courses was individually evaluated for quality and underwent a number of revisions related to overlap and linkages to other courses. At the graduate level, I have prepared the syllabus for the Magnetic Materials course . I have served on the Graduate and Undergraduate curriculum committees. I prepared a curriculum structure for review by the Curriculum Committee set up to implement the Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations.

1. Evidence of teaching effectiveness

i.) My teaching effectiveness can be gauged by a variety of indicators. Firstly, I have received the Nanyang Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 and was nominated for the Nanyang Education Award in 2013.

ii.) The Fellow, American Society for Materials citation has mentioned my leadership in education and student training. (Citation: "For scientific and professional contributions to the field of nanomaterials with specific applications to energy and bioengineering applications. For leadership in education and student training.”)

iv.) Mentoring Awards

I have mentored many students at the junior college, undergraduate and graduate levels to national and international prizes.