Jonathan Sim

Jonathan Y. H. Sim (沈耀发) is Assistant Director (Pedagogy) at the NUS AI Centre for Educational Technologies, where he works closely with educators to drive pedagogical innovations by exploring and creating new teaching and learning practices using AI. He is also a Lecturer of Philosophy, at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, where he teaches the Philosophy of Computing and Data Analytics and Chinese philosophy to undergraduates and working professionals. Jonathan has a special interest in crossing beyond disciplinary boundaries in the search for fascinating new insights to address age-old problems. It is for this reason that he has worked with Nobel Laureates and many top academics around the world to publish books on critical world issues, such as “Grand Challenges for Science in the 21st Century” (2018), “Buying Time for Climate Action” (2021), and “Fit for Purpose? The Futures of Universities” (2022). For his passion for sharing the joys of philosophy and his unique insights as a philosopher on a spectrum of applied issues, Jonathan has been invited to speak on matters such as AI, education, tech and society, and the future of work to various government agencies and media outlets.

Teaching Aspirations

I believe that no student should be left behind. And I have come to realise that if we can provide weaker students with the right kinds of support, they will be able to flourish and learn as well as their peers. The key to this, as I have discovered, is to engage closely with students, to understand their perspectives and how they learn – because how students think, perceive, and behave can be very different from what we teachers have experienced. This is why I am a huge proponent of involving my students as co-creators and partners in both teaching and research. Working with them helps me discover the flawed assumptions I may have about their learning, and they teach me how to teach them more effectively, how to engage them better, and how to relate my lessons with their experiences. To support students of diverse learning paces and abilities, I have developed many learning games, activities, and even peer support mechanisms  – together with my student assistants – to ensure that we leave no student behind.

About being a part of the academy

I’m excited to be a Fellow of the Teaching Academy as it offers me a unique space to share my experiences as an educator while also gaining valuable insights from other passionate educators within the NUS community. The projects led by NUSTA allow me to step beyond my usual work and explore innovative new paths within higher education. These initiatives push me to think deeply about what lies beyond the horizon of higher education, especially as the landscape of higher education fast changing due to technology and other factors. Collaborating with other equally passionate peers on these projects have helped to deepen my understanding of what education can be and it helps me grow both personally and professionally. I am confident that my work at NUSTA will allow me to contribute significantly to the NUS community by sharing my experience and insights in AI, philosophy, online teaching and interdisciplinary work. It is a platform that gives me the opportunity to merge these passions in a way that enriches both my work and the broader educational landscape.

Teaching Awards

• Annual Teaching Excellence Award 2022/2023
• FASS Teaching Excellence Award 2022/2023
• FASS Teaching Excellence Award 2021/2022
• FASS Teaching Excellence Award 2019/2020