Cheah Kok Ming
Academy Alumni
Academy Fellow from 2011 -2014, 2018 – 2021
Climate change demands a paradigm shift in design education. I am committed to constructing and enhancing pedagogical frameworks that leverage on inter-disciplinary enquiry and holistic thinking, underpinned by environmental literacy. This will empower students with the appropriate values and capabilities in making a difference to our collective future.
5Teaching Achievements
- Led the successful re-making of the Department of Architecture’s Design, Technology and Sustainability programme, transforming its curriculum to draw top students and quadruple the enrolment in four years
- Incorporated the area of sustainability in the review of three technical modules for the architectural undergraduate programme
- Integrated hands-on exercises for problem-based learning in architectural construction to develop metacognitive abilities vital to learning independently and effectively
- Inculcated the mindset in students to better understand the interrelatedness of their actions and the environment, enabling them to provide holistic and integrated design solutions
- Mentored students to win five accolades from international design competitions
Teaching Strengths
- Connects design thinking with technical thinking as a skill set for students to develop design ideas that are intellectually challenging and technically imaginative
- Creates an engaging problem-based learning journey that yields the construction of knowledge and concepts through an iterative process of reflecting on problem-solving experiences
- Translates pertinent issues of sustainability into the focus of design exploration, facilitating students to invent appropriate architectural prototypes
- Devises learning themes in study trips for students to frame issues and direct enquiries for seeking insights and new perspectives
- Maximises the different learning strengths of students to bring out the best in them
Publication Credits
- Published 10 articles in academic and professional journals such as Journal of South East Asian Architecture, Singapore Architect and FuturArc
- Architectural works were reviewed in 13 publications, with one – the Institute of South East Asian Building – being widely examined and discussed in architectural journals and books
- Contributed articles on teaching in university publications
Professional Standing
- Examiner for Professional Practice Examinations, Board of Architects Singapore
- Chairperson, Board of Examiners for Diploma in Design, Building and Construction Authority Academy
- Member, Green Practice Committee, Singapore Institute of Architects
- Member, Building Technology Educators’ Society, USA
- Member, Society of Building Science Educators, USA
Awards and Accolades
- Annual Teaching Excellence Award, NUS (2007/2008)
- Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, School of Design and Environment (2009/2010, 2007/2008)
- Best Teaching Media Award, Singapore Polytechnic (2005)
- Excellence in Teaching Award, Singapore Polytechnic (2004)
- Architectural Heritage Award for Asian Civilisations Museum, Urban Redevelopment Authority (2003)
- Best Buildable Design Award for Kranji Secondary School, Construction Industry Development Board (1996)