Disruptions! Disruptions! It is an understatement that COVID-19 has disrupted much of what we used to know as the norm. Our lives were disrupted. Our plans were disrupted. But COVID-19 also offered us an opportunity to reflect upon the past and reimagine the future!
In this issue, we reflect on the achievements of the late Dr Muhammad Ariff Ahmad, “the father of Malay language, literature and culture”, whose contributions are now housed within a permanent exhibition at the National Institute of Education (NIE) Library. His motto in teaching and writing “Sastera Membina Manusia”, which means “Literature Builds Mankind”, certainly reminds us of how we, as part of the human race, can come together to build a better future despite the current challenges.
While many of our conferences and celebrations were disrupted in 2020, the COVID-19 situation has also brought forth new ideas in how we collaborate and celebrate. I invite you to dive into the webinars organised by many of our colleagues, reminisce the good memories we had during the National Institute of Education Nanyang Technological University Singapore's (NIE NTU Singapore) 70th Birthday Party, and look forward to the future of educational research with the recent launch of the Science of Learning in Education Centre (SoLEC).
It is during these challenging times that we also begin to realise the importance of mutual understanding especially in a multi-cultural country like Singapore. Multiculturalism champions group parity and appreciation of differing cultural norms and values, rather than avoidance or mere tolerance. Read about the intriguing study that looked at the same Cinderella through the lenses of different cultures in Excursion. Also look out for our featured Essay on Talk Moves — a project to help students better understand geographical data through productive classroom discussion and sharpening language use.
As we adapt to the new normal, let us not be discouraged by disruptions. Instead, we can rekindle that spirit of learning by looking at how passionate teachers like Dr Adeline Yong (PhD, Class of 2020) have reimagined hands-on learning for home-based learning in our Portrait feature.
Let us also learn to smell the roses and listen to the sounds of nature amid a noisy world. You will be surprised by what you can find right here on campus. Come and explore the flora and fauna of our beautiful campus grounds with Roxanne Lau Shu Xin, a Year 3 student from the NTU-NIE Teaching Scholars Programme (TSP).
Finally, find time to rest and find space to reimagine the future!
