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KOH Thiam Seng
[Background | Teaching | Research | Publications]
 
   
Current Appointment Associate Professor and Principal
 
Current Address St. Joseph's Institution (Independent)
38 Malcolm Road
Singapore 308274
 
Telephone (65) 62500022
 
Fax (65) 62533640
 
Email thiamseng.koh@nie.edu.sg
 
Academic Qualifications PhD Monash University, Australia
MSc(Hons) Massey University, New Zealand
Dip Ed National University of Singapore
BSc National University of Singapore

Download Curriculum Vitae
 

 
 
 		    
  Academic and Career Background  
 
In terms of my education, after completing a first degree in chemistry and mathematics at the National University of Singapore, I went on to do a MSc in synthetic Organic Chemistry at Massey University, New Zealand followed by a PhD in synthetic Polymer Chemistry and Biochromatography at Monash University, Australia. For my postgraduate education, I worked on cellulose and polyurethane ion-exchangers for the purification of biomolecules such as proteins.

I started my career as a teacher, first, at St. Gabriel's Seconday School (Year 7 - 10) teaching mathematics and science and then at Raffles Junior College (Year 11 - 12), teaching chemistry. I joined the then Institute of Education as a lecturer in educational technology in 1990. In 1991, when the National Institute of Education was established within the Nanyang Technological University, I joined the Division of Chemistry as a lecturer. I taught courses on Organic Chemistry, the use of IT in Chemistry and the teaching of Chemistry to teacher trainees. While lecturing in Chemistry, I maintained my interest on the use of ICT in chemistry and science education.

With effect from 1 January 2009, I have been seconded to St. Joseph's Institution (Independent) as Principal. From 1 October 2007 to 31 December 2008, I held the appointment of Deputy Director at the Institute where my main responsibility is overseeing educational research at the Institute. Between July 2003 and August 2008, I was seconded to the Singapore Ministry of Education as Director of Educational Technology. At the Ministry, I was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the second ICT masterplan for education in Singapore schools. If you are interested to know more about our ICT masterplan for education, you can visit the edu.MALLwebsite for more information. I was also then directing the National Research Foundation's R&D programme on interactive and digital media in education.  Prior to my appointment as Director of Educational Technology, I was on attachment to the Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education as a Deputy Director from July 2000 to June 2003. As a Deputy Director, I was involved in policy formulation for technical education (polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education), arts education (LASALLE SIA College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music), manpower planning for post secondary education, continuing education and training and medical education. 		 
   
  
  Teaching - Archived Web Sites  
 
I have not been actively teaching since July 2000. However, the archived web sites of the courses that I used to teach prior to July 2000 are listed below. Please note that the links on these archived web sites had not been updated since July 2000. You can expect to find many broken links. Also, those links that require actions on the server end such as the discussion forum are also not active anymore.

If you are interested to know how the pioneering web sites for teaching look like at the tertiary level, you may want to visit the web sites listed below.
 
(a) ChemistryWeb - The first Singapore directory that points to educational resources for chemistry education

(b) BAP181 - A module on environmental science offered as an elective for all students at NTU in 1999.

(c) NCY301 - A module for the teaching of chemistry at the secondary level for students on the BSc/BA with DipEd programme.

(d) NAY431 - A module on computing in chemistry for students on the BSc with DipEd programme.

(e) PCY511 - A module for the teaching of chemistry at the secondary level for students on the PGDE programme.

(f) Inservice Module - A module on enquiry approach in chemistry teaching for inservice teachers.

(g) Spreadsheet - A workshop on the use of spreadsheets in teaching for teachers.
  
     
 

Research Interests		  
 
My current research interests are now in the following areas:

(a) policy studies on the effective implementation of ICT in education, in particular, in science education;

(b) development of innovative ICT-enabled pedagogies to enhance science education; and

(c) ICT-enabled communities of practice for the professional development of teachers.

  
     
  Recent Publications  
 

Tan, K.C.D. and Koh, T.S. (2009). Teaching Chemistry in Singapore. In B. Risch (Ed). Teaching Chemistry around the World. Munster, Germany: Waxmann, in press.

Koh, T.S. and Tan, K.C.D. (2009). Web 2.0 Technologies and the Learning of Science. In W.H.L. Tan and R. Subramaniam, (Eds) Handbook of Research on New Media Literacy at the K-12 Level: Issues and Challenges. Hershey, USA: IGI Global, pp 310-325

Hung, D., Ng, P.T., Koh, T.S. and Lim, S.H. (2009). The Social Practice of Learning: A Craft for the 21st Century. Asia Pacific Education Review, 10(2), 205-214.

Koh, T.S., Lee, S.C. and Foo, S.F. (2009). National Policies and Practices on ICT in Education: Singapore. In T. Plomp, R.E. Anderson, N. Law and A. Quale (Eds). Cross-National Information and Communication Technology: Policies and Practices in Education (Revised 2nd Ed). Charlotte, North Carolina, USA: Information Age Publishing, pp 601-618.

Cheah, H.M., Poon, C.L and Koh, T.S. (2009). Preparing Science Students for the Future in Singapore. Journal of Research in Science Education (Japan), 50 (1), 93-103

Hung, D., Lim, K.Y.T, Chen, D.T.V. and Koh, T.S. (2008). Leveraging on Online Communities in Fostering Adaptive Schools. International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, 3(4), 373-386.

Tan, K.C.D. and Koh, T.S. (2008). Web 2.0 Technologies in the School Science. School Science Review, 90(330), 1-5.

Koh, T.S., Huang, D., Lim, K.Y.T., Chen, V. and Hung, D. (2008). Journeys in the Learning Sciences – The Singapore Experience. Educational Technology, 48(4), 36-40.

Koh, T.S. and Lee, S.C. (Eds) (2008). Information Communication Technology in Education: Singapore’s ICT Masterplans 1997-2008. Singapore: World Scientific.

Koh, T.S. and Lee, S.C. (2008). Digital Skills and Education: Singapore’s ICT Master Planning for the School Sector. In Lee, S.K., Goh, C.B., Fredriksen, B. and Tan, J.P. (Eds). Towards a Better Future: Education and Training for Economic Development of Singapore since 1965. Washington D.C., USA: World Bank and Singapore: National Institute of Education, pp 167-190.

Koh, T.S., Tan, K.C.D. and Cheah, H.M. (2008). Science Education in Singapore: Meeting the Challenges Ahead. In Coll, R.K and Taylor, N. (Eds). Education in Context: An International Examination of the Influence of Context on Science Curricula Development and Implementation. Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense Publishers, pp. 283-290.

Koh, T.S. and Cheah, H.M. (2007). Recent Developments in Singapore Education with Particular Focus on Science Education. Journal of Research in Science Education (Japan), 47(3), 63-70

Hung, D., Bopry, J., Looi, C.K., and Koh, T.S. (2007). Situated Cognition and Beyond: Martin Heidegger on Transformations in Being and Identity. In J.L. Kincheloe and R.A. Horn (Eds). The Praeger Handbook of Education and Psychology Volume 4. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, pp. 709-716.

Hung, D., Chen, D.T.V. and Koh, T.S. (2006). The Reverse LPP Process for Nurturing a Community of Practice. Educational Media International, 43(4), 299-314.

Hung, D., Tan, S.C. and Koh, T.S. (2006). From Traditional to Constructivist Epistemologies: A Proposed Theoretical Framework Based on Activity Theory for Learning Communities. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 17(1), 37-55.

Tan, K.C.D., Hedberg, J.G., Koh, T.S., & Seah, W.C. (2006). Datalogging in Singapore Schools: Supporting effective implementations. Research in Science & Technological Education, 24(1), 111-127.

Tan, S.C. and Koh, T.S. (2006). Translating Learning Sciences Research into Classroom Practices. Educational Technology, 46(3), 15-21.

Hung, D., Tan, S.C., and Koh, T.S. (2006). Engaged Learning: Making Learning an Authentic Experience. In D. Hung and M.S. Khine, (Eds.). Engaged learning with emerging technologies. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, pp. 29-48.

Looi, C.K., Lim, W.Y., Koh, T.S. and Hung, D. (2006). Systemic Innovations and the Role of Change-Technology: Issues of Sustainability and Generalizability. In W.H.L. Tan and R. Subramaniam, (Eds). Literacy in Technology at the K-12 Level: Issues and Challenges. Hershey, USA: Idea Group Inc., pp. 234-245.

Tan, W.H.L., Koh, T.S., and Hung, D. (2006).  Knowledge Management, Communities of Practice, and the Role of Technology: Lessons learned from the past and implications for the future. In W.H.L. Tan and R. Subramaniam, (Eds). Literacy in Technology at the K-12 Level: Issues and Challenges. Hershey, USA: Idea Group Inc., pp. 573-585.

Koh, T.S. and Koh, Y.C. (2006). Integration of Information Technology in Singapore School Mathematics Curriculum. The Mathematics Educator, 9(2), 1-15.

Koh, T.S. and Cheah, H.M. (2006). Recent Developments in Singapore Education with Particular Reference to Science Education. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Science Education in Japan (Nara, Japan, August 6) pp. 29-37 [Invited Paper].

Hung, D., Tan, S.C., Hedberg, J.G. and Koh, T.S. (2005). A Framework for Fostering a Community of Practice: Scaffolding Learners through an Evolving Continuum. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36(2), 159-176.

Koh, T.S. (2005). The Change Role of Education in Dynamic Asia: The Singapore Journey. 7th Hitachi Young Leaders’ Initiative (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 11-15) pp. 48-52 [Invited Plenary Paper]

Looi, C.K., Hung, D., Bopry, J. and Koh, T.S. (2004). Singapore’s Learning Science Lab: Seeking Transformations in ICT-enabled Pedagogy. Educational Technology Research and Development, 52(4), 91-115.

Hung, D., Looi, C.K., and Koh, T.S. (2004). Situated Cognition and Communities of Practice: Differentiating between First-Person "Lived Experiences" and Third-Person Perspectives. Educational Technology and Society, 7(4), 193-200.

Hung, D. and Koh, T.S. (2004). A Social-Cultural View to Information Technology Integration in School Contexts. Educational Technology, 44(2), 48-53.


  
   
 
Last Upated: 10 August 2009