Time to reform assessment for authenticity

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore where a panel is discussing "Panel: Is it time for reform? The bid for authenticity in assessments". With Edwin Lim, Hwa Chong Institution, Yian Hoon Lim, Seng Kang Secondary School, Barbara Tajti, Saint John Mary International School and Kerry Moore, Stonyhurst International School Penang. There are many teachers from international schools in the audience. You may wonder why as a university lecturer I am at a school session. But there is a lot in common between international schools and universities. They have international students and have to cope with international needs. 

The topic of reflection just came up. This is something I teach, mentor and assess students on. I have spent many years being trained on how to do it, but I am still not sure I understand what it is. One thing I would like to explore is how to automate asking the student about the work they submitted: "Here you wrote ... why?".

Problem based learning and design thinking also came up. 

Instapod for Education

 The excitement of EduTech Asia was getting a little overwhelming so I retreated to one of the six Instapods installed on the conference floor.  These each accommodate four people at a small meeting table. Not completely soundproof, they appear only single glazed, but workable. There are smaller and larger pods available.

edX for Credentialing

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore, where Christyl Potgieter, Director, Enterprise Partner Marketing at edX and Dr Paulina Pannen, Senior Expert, Indonesia Cyber Education Institute, Universitas Terbuka are talking on AI, skills and learning. edX has been around for some time, delivering puerly online courses, which were marketed as "MOOCs" Massive Open Online Courses. These did not catch on at traditional universities, but as is being discussed could still find a role to provide shorter qualifications (marketed as "microcredentials") for those who are unable to attend a traditional university program. 

Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore, where Sophia Wei and Tay Mia Eng, are speaking on Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach. This is very relevant as I was asked yesterday if I could create videos on professional skills, such as how to run a meeting, for professionals. While I have been trained in making training videos, the difficulty is how to position this for advanced technical students. Recently I had students comment to me that they used complex terms in their writing as they thought they needed to be "academic". Similarly, academics dismiss professional skills teaching as not academic. However these are areas which employers value and graduate suffer from a lack of. Tay Mia Eng gave the example of writing a resume, a task their paid with learning to use AI, to make it technical and relevant for STEM students.  

EDUtech Asia and Singapore FinTech Festival in November

Happy to meet up with people around EDUtech Asia and Singapore FinTech Festival, over the next two weeks. On this visit to Singapore I have no presentations planned, but have volunteered to fill in, if needed chairing or speaking at the events. Also happy to speak elsewhere if there is interest. 

EduTech Asia 5 to 6 November in Singapore

Here are my preliminary selections of sessions at EduTech Asia 5 to 6 November in Singapore:

Wednesday, 5 November 12:05 PM

Fireside chat: Harnessing the power of Generative AI for higher education

How AWS is advancing Generative AI in Higher Education across the Asia-Pacific region How AI can be leveraged responsibly to enhance teaching, learning and administration across university, college and polytechnic campuses Hear real-world success stories from global and local institutions leveraging this transformative technology  

Manoj Lohatepanont, Chulalongkorn University
Hannah Gapes, AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC.

Lunch break and exhibition visit

Fireside chat: Flexible learning pathways – incorporating vocational training to boost skills

Enhancing students' technical skills while providing a strong academic foundation Developing stackable credentials, allowing learners to accumulate skills over time Assessing learning through competency-based assessments and industry-recognised certifications

Ann Lautrette, Taipei European School
Chetna Sabharwal, Association of Indian Principals (AIP)

Case study presentation: Enhancing teaching experiences through Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach

Integrating industry-relevant competencies to ensure that students are aligned with workforce demands Building knowledge, skills and attitudes through practical work tasks Showcasing results from the Diploma in AI & Data Engineering

Sophia Wei, Nanyang Polytechnic
Tay Mia Eng, Nanyang Polytechnic

Case study presentation: Building a seamless & borderless university with 5G networks at NUS

Transforming National University of Singapore’s (NUS) campus connectivity through ultra-fast reliable internet access Driving innovation and elevating the teaching and learning experience Fostering a mobile and adaptive learning environment

Nelson Wong, National University of Singapore

Panel: Building bridges – enriching learning experiences through cross-border collaborations

How cross-border collaborations can enhance curriculum development Exploring how such partnerships can enable institutions to share best practices and foster innovation Broadening students' horizons and exposing them to global opportunities 

Nicholas Paul Belcher, The International School @ ParkCity
Jake Pratley, GLOBIS Asia Campus
Aye Chan Oo, Scholatic International School Myanmar
Michael Galligan, Cognita Asia

Panel: Into the unknown – preparing learners for jobs that don’t exist yet

Equipping learners with foundational skills that will prepare them for roles in an unpredictable job market Breaking away from siloed content and embracing cross-disciplinary learning Nurturing lifelong learners who embrace change and remain curious throughout life  

Michael Yap, Coventry University
Angela Siew Hoong Lee, Sunway University
Roel Rodrigo, Malayan Colleges Laguna
Neelesh Bhatia, National University Singapore
Choon Hou Sim, Republic Polytechnic5:10 PM

Panel: Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills through student-centred learning

How inquiry-based learning methods encourage students to explore questions and engage in critical analysis Integrating reflective practices into the learning process Assessing and evaluating students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities

Jayson Bergania, University of Makati
Keith Sharp, American University of Phnom Penh
Mike Choong, Taylor's University
Noorzareith Sofeia Noordin, Sunway University

Thursday 6 November

Panel: Is it time for reform? The bid for authenticity in assessments

Designing authentic assessments that allow learners to demonstrate skills Improving existing models of summative assessment Tapping into AI to develop fairer, more accurate assessments

Edwin Lim, Hwa Chong Institution
Yian Hoon Lim, Seng Kang Secondary School
Barbara Tajti, Saint John Mary International School
Kerry Moore, Stonyhurst International School Penang

Case study presentation: Revolutionising learning with competency-based design thinking

Differentiating between competencies and abilities to sharpen learning outcomes Building and applying design competency maps using AI-powered tools Creating effective assessment rubrics for hands-on classroom activities and projects

Panel: Smarter marketing, recruitment & retention strategies with AI and automation

Increase conversion rates and reduce administrative load Using data to identify and attract students while improving targeting and segmentation in marketing campaigns Deploying AI-powered systems to nurture prospective students throughout recruitment processes  

Alan Go, Hanbridge Institute
Zulkarnan Abdul, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

HE RT 08: ⁠How can higher education prepare students for a global workforce shaped by AI and digital transformation?

This session is ideal for attendees from Higher Education education institutions. Participate in engaging discussions with your peers from around Asia!

Keynote Panel: The road to 2030 – what will learning look like in the next 5 years?

Yuhyun Park, DQ Institute
Graham Brown-Martin, Learning Without Frontiers
Kristie Chen, Bold Academy Pte. Ltd.
Pasi Sahlberg, University of Melbourne
Pak Tee Ng, National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore

Best of EduTech Asia 2025

EduTech Asia 2025 is in Singapore 4 TO 6 November. The preliminary agenda is now out. Here are my selections from the Higher Education stream:

Pre-Conference Workshops: 4 November 2025

10:00 Revolutionise learning with competency-based design thinking

14:00 Blended learning 2.0! Designing a community of inquiry to enhance student learning

Conference Day 1: 5 November 2025

11:00 Panel: Can AI and data create a more personalised learning approach?

11:45 Fireside chat: The rise of the AI tutoring technology

14:10 Case study presentation: Enhancing teaching experiences through Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach

What is on in Singapore 4 to 7 November?

I just booked for EduTech Asia 2025 in Singapore 5 to 6 November. Last year at the event Professor Angela Lee from Sunway University Malaysia, and I talked about AI and education in a "silent disco" fireside chat. Usually I give some talks and attend some extra conferences. Any suggestions? Anyone like a a presentation on something?