Education Innovation

It was a delight to share the stage with speakers from Google and 3M at the Army Logistics Training Institute (ALTI) Innovation Workshop, jointly organised with and held at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East on 23 Apr 2018.

The energetic keynote address and opening activities by Colonel Sng Hock Lin, Commander ALTI, were tall acts to emulate (see video). As the first speaker, I attempted to carry through that same momentum demystifying innovation before distilling into an outcome-driven framework on the types, modes and levels of innovation.

For in a resource-scarce nation like ours, innovation needs to move beyond pure novelty towards productive endeavours. 

Based on the framework, 3 examples were subsequently presented.

Emerging Education Marketplace

Temasek Polytechnic has recently launched a suite of micro-learning courses (MLCs) for busy professionals with Gnowbe (see article). Not only do MLCs allow learning to take place in pockets of free time, content can be updated very quickly too. Beyond MLCs and the free signup period for Singaporeans, what could potentially be transformational would be the polytechnic’s open invite for all budding providers/curators to hop on the platform and offer MLCs. As new technology and knowledge evolve so quickly, this marketplace concept may be a more efficient model for skills transfer, from other industry providers directly to learners, and academics will not need to play catch-up of learning skills before impart them. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will similarly not be limited by their talent pool. The ease at which IHLs perform the role of a market maker and facilitate such “marketplaces” may determine our future relevance or otherwise, as Ngee Ann Polytechnic has demonstrated recently with the launch of Artificial Intelligence in Fintech course (see article).

Reframing Narrative

One factor that potential students will consider when choosing between IHLs is the strength of the alumni networks. More than funding alma maters, these networks form professional communities that students, graduates and IHLs may tap upon to advance academic offerings and standings as well as collaborations and partnerships. National University of Singapore’s (NUS’) recent “Students for Life” initiative reframed the client narrative for the institution (see article). Not only does it ensure a pipeline of clients for the institution’s lifelong learning offerings, the reframed narrative also strengthens the allegiance that graduates will have with the institution and by extension its alumni network. One could even argue that the term “alumni” has in fact been eradicated with this narrative. Google shared a similar example where its narrative of talent recruitment (for the company) was reframed to talent development (for the technology world), and how that has increased the company’s mindshare among technology talents across the globe.

Digitalising Career Services

Beyond training of the mind, IHLs prepare graduates for the workplace. However, unlike teaching and learning which form the mainstream services available in IHLs, career services are often viewed as auxiliary and delivered via traditional channels. And while innovations in teaching and learning pedagogies have taken the centerstage in the education scene, e.g. the Edutech avalanche, that of career services paled in comparison, much less researched into, as evident in the lack of existing literature. Given the importance and pervasiveness of career services in a student’s journey in an IHL, it is critical that career services lead the way in digitalisation efforts. Over and above innovation and cost savings, students in Ngee Ann Polytechnic are sensitised and will begin to dream of digitalisation possibilities in their respective industries (see website)

True to its form, from blended learning, smart learning environments, learning analytics, augmented and virtual reality, etc., the workshop was an education innovation galore for participants and visitors alike with the innovation booths put up by ALTI, ITE and 3M. The educator in me particularly enjoyed interacting with the NSFs (National Servicemen Full-Time) who are part of the ALTI Valley. Named after Silicon Valley, this is the place where NSFs are empowered to put their skills into innovative “ventures”, from board games to mobile apps, augmented and virtual reality, etc., just so that the curriculum may be better delivered and learning institutionalised.

It was certainly a day where I took home more than I had shared and I could only attribute it a certain innovative buzz in ALTI. Keep up the great work Colonel Sng and thanks for having me.