Archive for the ‘ Education ’ Category

On Reading

I am a voracious reader — I read anywhere and everywhere: on the toilet or on the bus; at home or at the office; at the library or at fiancee’s home; while watching television or exercising. I like to think that I’m always learning something new, something to apply to life, such that I can [ READ MORE ]

Grade Inflation in University?

I came across an article by Walter E. Williams, an economics professor from George Mason University, discussing how grades in American Universities have been going up, causing “grade inflation”. For example, a “C” grade, he says, should be taken to mean an “F”. Though I do have an intuitive belief that grades are going up (seems [ READ MORE ]

Writing for Writing

I’ve long had this perception that writing a journal or having a blog that you regularly write to will help improve your English or use of language. Though I think that that theory does hold true to a certain extent, I’ve seen much evidence to the contrary that pushed me to think about why this [ READ MORE ]

Mixing Disciplines

I’m currently reading a book on innovation, called The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson. What I have read thus far has intrigued me and got me thinking like no book has for a long time. [ READ MORE ]

The Little that We Know

Last Thursday I attended a communications unit tutorial, and was really surprised (shocked, really) by the discussion that day. The students and facilitator (aka. the tutor) displayed such depth and scope in thought on that week’s material (on digital and analogue modes of communication; largely philosophical stuff) that I could only observe is a state of [ READ MORE ]

Speaking up in class

I wish I did that more; speaking up in class. Unfortunately, the opportunity for that has gone, and my marks have been locked in. Now, I’m facing an almost insurmountable hurdle in the final examinations to get the grade I so desire. If I work hard now, will it happen? But then again, should it happen? Maybe it’d be [ READ MORE ]

Complementary Love

When it comes to love — though it may be hard to tell the difference — seek not one who compliments you, but one who complements you. [ READ MORE ]

Classroom Participation for Introverts

I have always found the concept of “classroom participation” quite irritating, not least because of my introverted nature. Classroom participation has been something I have had to deal with since my Polytechnic days, though it was never really enforced in Singapore. In Australia, marks are given after every session, and you actually get to know [ READ MORE ]

And He Said, And He Said

I’m normally not critical of any Singaporean journalist’s writing. I know it’s a difficult job, and having to churn out article after article in ever shortening time periods is no mean feat. In fact, I’m actually quite impressed with the way most articles are written. However, today I came across an article about how non-Chinese spend the [ READ MORE ]

Studying Overseas

I’ll be going over to UWA (University of Western Australia) in a little less than three weeks time. This all still feels a little strange to me. I never quite expected to be one of those who “study overseas”. But I plans in education haven’t always gone smoothly. In primary school, I did rather badly and didn’t manage [ READ MORE ]