Latest news with #MarkLu
CNA
7 days ago
- General
- CNA
From classroom to curriculum: How one educator is rethinking teaching for today's learners
As director of the Media, Arts & Design School at Singapore Polytechnic, Mr Mark Lu believed that giving students creative freedom in their learning was the best way to impart knowledge. Interestingly, not all his classmates at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NIE NTU, Singapore), saw it the same way. Two fellow students in the Master of Education (Curriculum and Teaching) programme – one from the military and the other from healthcare – shared a contrasting perspective. In their fields, strict adherence to instructions was often critical, with real consequences in life-or-death situations. This eye-opening insight into the need for different teaching approaches deepened Mr Lu's interest in education. Mr Lu had enrolled in the part-time graduate programme at NIE after a conversation with his supervisor sparked a realisation: He wanted to better understand education policy, pedagogy and curriculum, and how he could better support lecturers in their work. LEARNING FROM MANY, TEACHING FOR ALL With over 30 graduate programmes and courses designed to sharpen critical thinking, enhance professional skills and open up new career paths, NIE attracts a growing number of students from a wide range of industries and countries. Their diverse perspectives and experiences enrich classroom discussions and learning for everyone. This diversity mirrors the changing student population in polytechnics. Mr Lu observed that today's polytechnic students come from increasingly varied educational backgrounds and life stages. Many are working adults returning as full-time students or trainees, each with their own goals and life experiences. As a result, polytechnic lecturers must adopt a flexible mindset and be equipped to teach both technical and soft skills. 'They need to design meaningful classroom experiences that inspire and motivate students from all walks of life and help them work toward their aspirations,' Mr Lu explained. 'At the same time, they have to balance a rigorous curriculum that builds resilience with an awareness of students' well-being.' In such a setting, having a wide-ranging community of fellow educators is important. Mr Lu, who graduated in January this year, said that the diverse student body at NIE was his favourite part of the programme. 'I met classmates from countries like China and Vietnam, and others from fields like the military, nursing, human resources and private education. Each of them is an educator in their own way, and they brought very different yet valuable perspectives on curriculum and teaching.' Mr Lu added that his NIE chat groups remain active. One of his classmates even works in the same polytechnic, though in a different school, and they've explored opportunities to collaborate. For Mr Lu, the graduate programme at NIE offered more than just academic knowledge – it refined his understanding of the many factors and stakeholders involved in shaping curriculum decisions and education policy. 'The course on globalisation and curriculum reform gave me a broader view of Singapore's education landscape and helped me better understand why schools are structured and managed the way they are,' he shared. He especially appreciated how classroom assignments encouraged students to apply what they learned to real-world contexts. Rather than working through fixed case studies, Mr Lu and his classmates were asked to explore how key concepts played out in their own workplaces. 'This pushed me to think more critically about my work and how I can better support both lecturers and students in my school,' he said. Before taking on the role of director, Mr Lu led his school's transdisciplinary unit – a team focused on developing a curriculum that helps students build transdisciplinary skills. This approach encourages students to draw from different disciplines and integrate multiple perspectives when solving problems. With insights gained from NIE courses on curriculum development, Mr Lu and his team designed a series of transdisciplinary studio projects, where students from different creative disciplines worked together to solve social issues and industry briefs innovatively. These projects received positive feedback from industry partners, who were impressed by the students' ideas. Thanks to the research courses he took at NIE, Mr Lu was also able to collaborate with his colleagues on developing a three-year longitudinal study examining the impact of his school's transdisciplinary curriculum. The study has since been presented at both local and international academic conferences. 'Through the transdisciplinary curriculum, our students are becoming more comfortable with ambiguity and more willing to take creative risks – traits that are essential in any creative field,' Mr Lu noted. 'We're now working on developing our own instrument to measure transdisciplinary thinking.' Enrolling in NIE and becoming a student again has reshaped Mr Lu's perspective. Once focused mainly on day-to-day teaching, he now views his work through a broader, more philosophical lens. He is also keen to continue an educational journey that he finds deeply fulfilling. 'I believe continuous learning is a fundamental part of our work. We don't just teach for others to learn – we learn to teach, and we keep learning while we teach. Though I've completed my Master's programme at NIE, I am excited to learn more when I embark on my PhD in August.' Applications for the January 2026 graduate intake at NIE NTU, Singapore, are now open. Apply by Jun 19, 2025, for coursework programmes, and Jul 24, 2025, for research programmes.
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
World's first private jet that can fly 9,000 miles non-stop to launch across US and Europe after breaking records
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE world's first private jet that can fly an incredible 9,000 miles without stopping is set to launch across US and Europe. The Gulfstream G800's record-breaking range means that travellers can get to their destinations in less time. 6 The Gulfstream G800 can fly a record-breaking 9,000 miles without stopping Credit: Gulfstream 6 The jet has a top speed of 570 knots Credit: Gulfstream 6 The plane's luxurious interior Credit: Gulfstream 6 The private jet has secured FAA and EASA certifications - officially making it the longest-range private aircraft in the world. The impressive range allows passengers to fly almost anywhere in the world without taking a single stop. If the jet were to take off from London it could fly to any airport across the globe - with the exception of Sydney. And not only can the jet breeze long distance flights it's spectacular speed means travellers can reach their destinations in record time. The private jet has a top speed of 570 knots - just shy of the world's fastest Bombardier Global 8000's velocity. And it's no surprise it goes so quickly as its powered by Rolls Royce engines and features an aerodynamic wing design. The Gulfstream G800 has three luxurious living areas as well as a dedicated crew compartment for maximum in-flight comfort. It can seat up to 19 passengers and sleep ten. Pictures from inside the plane show a carpeted interior fitted with plush leather seats. And the cabin's sixteen enormous panoramic oval windows mean that travellers can enjoy the incredible views while they zoom through the sky. Hypersonic jet could whisk passengers from London to NYC in an hour The cabin also boasts high-speed WiFi coverage while in the air. And what's more - passengers will feel less tired after flying on G800 compared to others on the market due to its low altitude cabin. While the plane soars 41,000 feet above the ground the cabin will feel as though it is only at 2,840ft. Plans for the world's biggest plane have been unveiled, with the jumbo jet set to take to the skies in 2030. Officially called WindRunner, the colossal aircraft will be able to carry 12-times more than a Boeing 747 - and has one very specific purpose. WindRunner will clock in at an incredible 356ft - longer than the pitch at Wembley - and will be 79ft tall. The company behind it, Radia, has already been working on the plans for almost a decade. While it will be a versatile vehicle, the size and shape of WindRunner have been carefully designed to accommodate one specific item: wind turbines. Wind turbine blades are enormous and incredibly tricky to transport on roads, and normal planes are too small to handle them. Some turbine projects have even needed special roads to be laid to get the blades there. And the blades are expected to get even bigger in the future - possibly growing from 230ft to 330ft. So, with the help of rocket scientist CEO Mark Lundstrom, the Radia team looked for a solution. WindRunner will be able to carry whole blades in its cargo space, and fly them right to the construction site. 6
