Simplicity

Toasted mochi and ice cream. Simplicity at its best. 

Despacito - Luis Fonsi ft Daddy Yankee cover

The song, Despacito is just so catchy!
Here is a cover of the song by Boyce Avenue.

Starbucks Frappuccino

Matcha Earl Grey Jelly Frapuccino

Korea Trip 2017 Update

It has been a few days since we came back from our Korea 2017 trip. It will take me a while to update my blog posts on the trip as I have lots of work to catch up on. Please bear with me. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Catch Up

After going on leave for two weeks, catching up on the emails and following up is no joke! 

Students' Work Experience

For the coming two weeks, my project is hosting three Sec 4 students from Catholic High School for their Work Experience Programme. We hope it will be a good experience for the boys. 

NEW New Notebook & Monitor

In all my years of working at NIE, this is the first time in 13 years that I am getting a brand NEW notebook! I am extremely thrilled! I have always been getting refurbished notebooks (four times over the course of 13 years) and frankly, I am getting tired about the slow speed of those notebooks.

View from 16th Level NLB

The colourful Rocher HDB flats

Can see Tanjong Rhu and Benjamin Sheares Bridge

Can see Suntec Convention Centre and Esplanade

Can see Raffles Hotel and War Memorial Park

Sleep In

After an intense week of organising the RPIC 2017, I needed my sleep. It was good to sleep in for once! 

SMSS's 175th Anniversary Green Dot & Homecoming Funfair

Immediately after the talk at NLB in the late morning, I rushed down to Marieann's school, St Margaret's Secondary School for its 175th Anniversary Green Dot and Homecoming Funfair. I wanted to show support to Marieann's school as well as her class stall. I got Marieann to play the game at her class stall on my behalf and I also bought quite a few items, mainly food and a St Margaret's Secondary School drawstring bag. 

Marieann leading the way 

National Library Talk - Four Conversations

I attended a talk at National Library Board (NLB) by Prof Root-Bernstein on "Creativity as an Essential Skill for Future-Readiness". I really enjoyed the talk. Prof Root-Bernstein was one of our Keynoters at recently successfully concluded RPIC 207 held at NIE. 

Photo with Prof Root-Bernstein and Director NLB

Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2017 III

It is Day 3 and the final day of RPIC 2017!
The highlights of Day 3 - 
1. Prof David Carr's Keynote Address on Moral Character and Virtues in Education and Teaching
2. Prof Kim Sung-Il's Keynote Address on Interest-based Learning: A New Pedagogical Framework for Future Education
3. Group photo with my team of wonderful RAs and more importantly, they are my friends!

Prof David Carr's Keynote Address

Prof Kim Sung-Il's Keynote Address

My team of wonderful RAs and more importantly, my friends

Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2017 II

It is Day 2 of RPIC 2017. 

The highlights of Day 2 - 
1. LKY's Educational Legacy and the Challenges of Success Symposium 
2. Keynote by Prof Robert Root-Bernstein on Teaching Creativity in the Classroom
3. Meeting my PhD supervisor, Prof Scott Paris
4. OER Signature Symposium

LKY Symposium

Prof Root-Bernstein's Keynote Address

My PhD supervisor, Prof Scott Paris

OER Signature Symposium

Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2017

It is Day 1 of Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2017 (RPIC 2017). This is the moment, after 11 months of preparation and hard work - RPIC 2017 has finally arrived! :)
As the Deputy Chair of RPIC 2017, my work is not done as I have to keep an eye out for the duration of the conference in case there are situations. 
On the morning itself, I have to receive the Director NIE and the Director-General of Education, MOE together with the Chair and Convenors of RPIC 2017 and escort them both into the Nanyang Auditorium, NTU for the Opening Ceremony. 
In the afternoon, I was present at my RAs/ friends' presentation sessions to give them support as they presented our joint papers. With it being their first time presenting, moral and physical support is most important! :) I thought both Liyana and Filzah did really well for their presentations and they could answer the questions from the audience. I only stepped in to provide additional info when needed. 

Standing room only for Liyana's presentation just before it started

Liyana making her presentation

Filzah making her presentation in a separate session

A group photo after their presentations!

1 Day to RPIC 2017

It's full dress rehearsal today. We are one day away from the official opening of our Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference 2017. As the deputy chair, I am pretty nervous and thankfully, everything ran smoothly at the rehearsal. Just hope for the same tomorrow! 

Touched!

A former colleague asked my RA and friend to pass me a souvenir which she bought in Japan. I am really touched to know that I am in her thoughts even though she has already left the research centre. Thank you for the "green turtle"! It means a lot to me. 

Strawberry Surprise

I allowed the barista to surprise me and she whipped up a delicious Strawberry Frappuccino. 

 

RIP, Tamagotchi

This evening, I saw this on my Tamagotchi. I am not sure what is happening.

An hour later, I saw this!

I am so sorry. This is my first time playing Tamagotchi. I will do better next time.
Rest in peace, Tamagotchi I! 

Parent-Teacher-Meeting

As I attended my daughter's parent-teacher-meeting, I bore in mind what the late Dr Tay Eng Soon said about ability and diversity.

Tasty Souvenirs

Tasty souvenirs from a colleague who came back from Hokkaido, Japan. :)

Cold Lunch

Lunch (and dessert) is best served cold on a hot day. :)

Hiyashi Cold Ramen

Rest in Peace, Prof Lee Sing Kong

Prof Lee Sing Kong, you will be missed.

Souvenirs from Seoul

A friend returned from her holidays in Korea, and brought back souvenirs from Seoul for me!

Shiratama Dango

Craved for shiratama dango and as a bonus, it came with soft serve ice cream haha.

Opera Night - Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore

Last night was the night out at the opera's - watching Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore, a comic opera in two acts. 
A wonderful performance and in great company of my friend and neighbour, Vanessa.

Student Work Experience

Once again, I took in five Secondary 3 students under my project for their work experience programme. Although it is only a one day programme, I built in both information-giving and hands-on for the students without making it too boring or too over-whelming for them as it is their first experience with research work. 

Marieann - one of the students attached to my project for work experience :)

The lovely work experience programme students

My colleagues, Liyana and Cheryl and I enjoyed interacting with the students. We hope that the skills that they learnt at the work experience can also be applied to their school work. 

"Giant" Banana

One of my mother's exercise buddies at the Botanical Gardens gave my mother a banana which her sister brought over from their hometown in Malaysia. How special can a banana be?? 
We didn't give it two hoots until we saw it. We have never seen such a huge banana! It is close to 30cm in length. According to my mother's friend, this particular species of banana is extremely sweet, it can be sliced up and fried like goreng pisang. I wonder what species this is? I don't think I have ever seen the like of it in Singapore. 

The banana measured against a 20cm ruler

Tamagotchi III

It is now a Tamagotchi teenager! 

New Proposal?

Thinking seriously...

Lychee Rose

A surprisingly good bingsu, Lychee Rose from Han Bing at Serene Centre.

Tamagotchi II

Since the conversation with Marieann about Tamagotchi, this is the first time I have seen it in the shops! Wow, it is really back in fashion. 
Although it was bought for Marieann in mind (she asked for one), she wanted the bigger version. I didn't know there is a difference. Juliane took over the Tamagotchi which is a keychain version and searched the internet on how to care for the Tamagotchi as the instructions were in Japanese. I happened to buy a Tamagotchi released in 2005! Wow, it is 12 years old. 

Tim Tam Surprise

Another Tim Tam surprise!

De-stess

After a high-stakes (and stressful) presentation at MOE, my colleagues and I went to my former student's cafe, Curbside for lunch. For me, hot chocolate and grilled salmon with rice are best for de-stressing! :)

Happy Vesak Day 2017

Wishing all peace and happiness.

Happy Vesak Day 2017!

Sweet Break

Pandan Gula Melaka Cake - a sweet break. 

Tamagotchi

Marieann suddenly asked if I had ever played Tamagotchi (also spelt as Tamagotch) before. 
Goodness, I haven't heard that word in a long time. Tamagotchi was the craze in the late 1990s. It is a handheld digital pet. I remembered I had to warn my students off from playing Tamagotchi in class or it would be confiscated from them! (Un)Fortunately, my students listened and I didn't have to confiscate any Tamagotchi which also meant I never had the chance to play one. Haha. 
It seems that Tamagotchi is back in fashion again.

Happy Labour Day 2017

Happy day resting!