Cheah Kok Ming

Cheah Kok Ming

Council Member

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)