I am an educator and artist. This site is where I showcase my artwork and write personal observations on topics such as education, parenting, art and life in general.
Presently, I am a Senior Education Advisor at the Department of Educational Development (EDU) in Singapore Polytechnic (SP). I lead projects on self-directed learning, student feedback, graduate attributes, multidimensional assessment and education research. I provide professional development training and am also assisting in learning analytics and flipped learning projects.
Before transferring to EDU in April 2019, I was Course Chair for the full-time Diploma in Digital Animation (DDA) at SP’s School of Digital Media & Infocomm Technology (now renamed Media, Art and Design School) from 2010 to 2017. I oversaw the design of the diploma program, its curriculum, student and staff development, as well as various aspects of publicity and outreach. I had also supervised final year animation projects and taught modules ranging from History of Animation to Figure Drawing, and Visual Storytelling to 3D Character Animation since joining SP in 2001. I still teach a class or two at MAD School to complement my role as education advisor. I enjoy being on the ground and “in the trenches” where theory meets practice.
Additionally, I teach the 3D Production course in the BFA program at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Art, Design and Media as part-time faculty. I have been doing so since 2010, and am grateful to be able to continue contributing my services to my alma mater.
My other significant achievements:
- Designed and supervised the creation of the M.A.D. (Media, Art, Design) Studios – the signature home-based studio concept – for SP’s DDA and Diploma in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics (DVEMG) students in 2012.
- Appointed Student Volunteers Chair at the SIGGRAPH Asia international computer graphics conferences in 2008 and 2011.
- Received the SP Excellence in Teaching Award in 2004.
In 2015, I successfully completed the Master of Education program from the University of Adelaide. During the course I was introduced and became fascinated with the concept of “neuroplasticity“ especially in the area of education and how it relates to effective student learning. I am still intrigued by how and why students learn (or don’t learn) in our fast-paced information-overloading distracting world, and what we can do to enhance the process.
Prior to that, I had also obtained a Master of Arts in 3D Computer Animation (Distinction) from NCCA Bournemouth University, UK in 2006. A major highlight from my time there was getting my 3D animated short film screened at a new talent showcase at Aardman Studios in Bristol. I got to walk around a section of the iconic building and ogle the Wallace and Gromit props and sets on display. That year spent in the UK was unforgettable.
I am a visual person and love to draw ever since I was a kid. I was that quiet student in the corner sketching instead of talking or causing a nuisance when there was no classwork to be done or the teacher was not around. I count myself lucky to have grown up on a rich diet of comics (mainly Marvel with a healthy serving of DC) and cartoons (e.g. Blocker Corp Machine Blaster, Looney Tunes, Wacky Races, Superfriends, Transformers, Visionaries), as well as a wide range of live-action TV shows (e.g. Electric Company, Ultraman, Captain Scarlet, Space 1999, Battlestar Galactica, MacGyver, Wild Wild West, Remington Steele, V, Murder She Wrote, X-Files).
I still draw inspiration from my past and try to soak in as much as I can of the present, because I believe we never stop learning. I also believe in living life in moderation.
My LinkedIn profile can be found here.
Welcome to my website. Please feel free to comment on my blog posts and thank you for visiting!