the things we leave behind...closing pw 2009

the late hours
the flu tablets
the hikes to faraway lands
the cognitive pain
...
the bonding
the emptiness
the friendship
and the hollow richness of what it's left behind.

to all...

tigger's song

bye cycle 3 and

Onward now to Cycle 4...

Hope you find abit of yourself during the wr journey...in lyric & imagery...

dedicated to all my groups from the forever valiant to those who rose from ashes...

beneath an autumn tree

The secret of happiness is to plant trees under whose shade you will never sit.
N. Henderson

In each of us, there is a little in all of us.
D. Lichtenberg

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein

PW - touch and go?

I've been doing discreet tracking of your academic progress so far and am pleased to say that many of you, by your industry, gratitude, sincerity and intelligence, have brought a smile to my days. Some encounters to share:

1. Several external partners / professionals whom you interviewed have given me feedback that they are deeply impressed by the amount of preparation you did before meeting them. Often they are heartened by your analytical approach to discussions and above all, by your sense of warmth, intelligence and decorum. A few of you were even given free luncheons by them! Record these moments on picture. They will bring special meaning long after your journey is over. By the way, many of them also commented they find you 'really cute...' It wasn't said with ambivalent intent but with genuine affection for your inimitable personalities & research endeavour. 2. Another group (ahem...a great soul in 6G) which unearthed solid secondary resources of his own for his group has asked me to share these materials with similar groups in greater need. It says alot about the values he lives by. I looked at this student from afar and know he will go even further in life. 3. Majority of groups are burning the midnight or 'late afternoon oil' to get their first draft in tip-top condition. I may not be always right but I also sense some groups are giving each other the mutual support everyone needs. The redrafts, stress, arguments and planning shared bear testimony to your capability to thrive in a working or professional environment in future where you will not always work with people you prefer. I acknowledge it is not always easy. Still, there is a quiet light beaming inside your lives amidst the templates, data, deadlines and the like. You'll have a chance to surface these imprints in a specially-tailored tutorial soon.

4. Some organisations have requested that you provide a transcript of the interview process. They have a right to do so as they do not wish to be misquoted. Do follow up. Beyond the all-important 'Thank-You' note, I would also like you to pass you to pass them a copy of your WR (CD rom?) once your mission is accomplished. Sadly, many still perceive PW as a touch-and -go subject full of armchair theorizing at work. Do correct this misconception. Others request for your report because they too believe in your task. Beyond the formal academic domain of this subject is a possibility that what you do may just be able to alter the environment or forward a cause in something that will benefit other lives. I believe in this cause. We walk the talk.

5. A handful have also received mild doses of sarcasm or the cold shoulder from respondents and interviewees. All this is part of real-world research. Do not be discouraged. Update me should you feel that your sources are 'drying up.' It is not the end of the road. No promises but I will see what I can do to help with my limited network. I encountered several obstacles in my research work as a undergrad and graduate student as well. I look forward to sharing these moments with you when time permits. I know what it's like to be there. I wish I had a group to lean on.

You need not look too far for yours'.

Beyond the WR, I want to say I am proud of your inner journey.

Keep at it. Don't lose heart.

Auspicium Melioris Aevi

Half of the Journey: 28 Jul

Communicate as Team:
Latest pointers on full WR draft (due 5 Aug 5pm) have just been emailed to your respective team resource member(s). See me if their identities remain a mystery to you. Some mails have bounced because mailboxes are left idle or are choked full. Looks like our early sessions on doves, eagles and other car parts (remember?) emerging in team work have become reality- bites for some, by now. Do look forward to a 'lesson' on EQ, self-growth (yes, it happens esp in PW) and group dynamics II soon.
Technical Matters:
In your first and full WR draft, kindly include the following to aid my marking

1. Declaration of word count at the close of each chapter.

2. In cases where pictures or images are used, acknowledge where source is taken from. Ensure they appear in the bibliography as well under the following categories. Books
-Magazines
-Research Journals
-Newspapers
-Internet
-Other sources

This excludes materials taken or developed by the group under which you acknowledge the source as your own eg RJ 123 etc.

3. Use of foot notes is strictly for citation of sources. In cases where you REALLY feel the need elaborate a point or define a crucial theoretical term, ensure you do not exceed two attempts per chapter. Examiners are irritated by groups that abuse footnotes in desperate attempts to conserve words in main text.

By the way, every group has been assigned an official group number by MOE. Ensure you receive yours' by this week. Your group number may be cited as a (copyright) source to accompany any original materials (pictures, graphs or templates) developed by the team for use in WR.

simply, animals

What might have been...if I majored in zoology or ethology....your projects and my vocational fantasies....

First I google. Next, I key in the name of the animal and 'conservation' plus 'pdf'...amazing...and this may only be the tip of the iceberg-

http://iucn.org/

http://iucn.org/?3522/Toothless-laws-fail-toothless-anteaters

http://www.waza.org/conservation/pfd%20magazine/Magazin%209/Carnivores%20and%20Pangolins.pdf

http://www.zoo.gov.tw/panda/english/documents/con_formosa_04.pdf

http://anthropology.tamu.edu/faculty/gursky/research/proposal02.pdf

http://www.careforthewild.com/files/slowlorisesflyer.pdf

http://msc.wcsindia.org/PDF/14_Swapna%20N.pdf

Enjoy!

Full WR: Before National Day

The FULL and COMPLETE draft for WR is to be submitted before National Day. We shall fix it at 5pm on 5 Aug 2009. Take the draft seriously, and treat it as a final copy you wish to submit for examination. This will result from less 'bloodshed' coming on my side. Some groups have been known to do very well by the time their second drafts are in . Enough credibility (high scores for SI, GI, EV and Org) has been achieved by the team. The feeling they get is immediate emotional relief plus deep intellectual satisfaction and team affirmation.

This means that intensive group consultations about argument, format & presentation, coherence, choice of pictures, graphs, analysis and citataions etc must be made way before the deadline. I am likely to reject last minute appointments during the second week of August as demand will be high. Priority will be given to groups on a first come, first served basis.

All groups are expected to come up with tight internal deadlines of their own to manage the pressure ahead. To obtain a distinction for PW as a whole, your score for WR must hit 20/24 at the very least. I am sure you want to do better than that. Enough samples are lodged in the library for your critique and inspiration.

Once again, all forms of data collection must end by the close of this month. Start working on chapters 2-5 from today.

Just 3 weeks more for the full report to be in.

Last minute work is always painful and you will get a shelling from me.

You know I dislike that.

Chapter One WR DUE 15 Jul Weds 2pm

Dear groupies

A necessary safeguard against procrastination.

A needed reward for groups itching to get on, now that their findings are almost done...

Deadline for WR Chapter One Draft

Weds. 15 Jul 2009. 2pm

Hardcopy. Duplex please. Font 12. Arial. Declare word count.

Follow rubric & guidelines (e.g. word limit and format) closely, as listed in notes, Raffles Connect and past year reports. This is an important chapter where key foundations are laid for the rest of your WR. Maintain high standards. Don't make me pick on any syntax or spelling errors or worse, conceptual flaws. Do it once and do it well. Continuous drafts can be draining on both parties.

Some groups have asked whether they are able to submit more than one chapter. Excellent. I like the spirit. Do it.

Pls consult your students' scheme of work very closely. You should not feel surprised about these deadlines as they have already been announced last term. And compromises have already been made on my part.

Team presentations will run in the same week.

The race has begun.Get organised. Pace yourself well...

work and run ahead for your desired distinctions,

together, as a team.

fresh updates: talk, advice and feedback

1. Sharing Session on Conservation of Historic Districts / Buildings

FRI. 10 July / LT 2.

3.30-5pm

I travelled to HK recently and took away some interesting pictures and reflections on conservation methods invested there. Do attend if you are keen.

2. Basic Expectations in Vetting and Consultation

Pls do not send anything to me (esp drafts to organisations) for vetting until you've done your part to revise the standard, format and protocol as listed in pw Raffles Connect. I am receiving bad drafts of very poor quality. Some even got the name of the college wrong! Please do not subject your tutor to these needless tasks.

3. Working with External Organisations

A complaint has been lodged by an external organisation about students' poor etiquette in making interview requests. Please be polite and learn to accept NO for an answer. Be gracious. Say thank you and look for an alternative source. This is real-world learning in the flesh. Safeguard the reputation of the college at all times. 'Thank-you...sorry...excuse me' are words with eternal value. Intellectual aggression and poor EQ get you nowhere.

WR consultations: what to bring

1. Each other.

You were placed in groups for a reason. It is a shared grade. And 5-4 brains are better than 2. A sign of commitment. My philosophy to 'teaching' pw:I look forward to learning something new about the topic from you each time we meet. Sadly, the reverse happens most of the time. Mutual engagement works wonders. Your brains will smile, not sulk.

2. Health check - your temperature readings

Sorry...this sounds legalistic but MOE has banned all large group meetings consisting of more than 30 pax. We are not affected. Make use of extra time on your hands now that CCAs have been temporarily suspended. Scramble to close any lapses which have occurred in your pw planning. Inform your team leader if you are feeling unwell and you are advised not to come for meetings. You don't want your entire group to be infected and put on home quarantine to continue your pw project.

2. Bring clear evidence of literature review

This refers to newspaper articles, excerpts from academic readings, case studies, reports (am ok with soft or hard copy) you will be using to score for SUBSTANTIATION of information used in your WR. Highlight sections (concepts, specific data or arguments) you wish to quote to back-up your WR or survey findings. Makes my job easier. I am trained in speed-reading. Don't worry. I want to be assured that your proposals and ideas are modified from interdisciplinary sources and real-world learning. Pictures are a bonus. 'Smoke-bombs' and superficial ideas get us nowhere.

3. Raw Data. This refers to summary of survey findings or interviews (transcribed for easy processing) which you may have completed.

Expect your proposals to evolve. For some, massive intellectual 'facelifts' will be made to push your groups to score well for WR. 40%. The As need to come from here. You will help me alot by doing your part to engage and sift your readings for good concepts and arguments. My role is that of a supervising tutor, not a team leader / member.

Items 1 and 2 are important. I understand that not every group has completed their data collection yet. I stress again that distinctions in PW are mostly determined by group effort followed by good literature reviews done on chosen topic. In terms of scoring, [GI, EV and Org] good grades for WR are always built on this foundation.

Book your appointments early. I do not favour last minute 'house-calls.'
I do not reside in college / bishan. Let us be fair & sensitive to all.

Pw cycle over the next 3 weeks will very intense for everyone. Some of you will be high-strung. A few groups may even panic while a strong handful will breeze through based on good effort put in over the last 4 months; minor touch-ups will do. Rejoice.

You reap what you sow.

You know where you belong.

You know what to build on.

What to avoid.

Third Week July: 5 min presentation per group

All groups are required to do a 5 minute presentation to update the class about the progress of their pw research. You may use pictures and key points (avoid chunky paragraphs) to showcase your raw data & insights. It will held during tutorials in the 3rd week of July (13-17 July). We are moving into OP preparation in some ways and this brief encounter will give me a good idea about your strengths or inadequacies as a speaker. No worries about the latter. We all started somewhere.

Restrict yourself to no more than 10 slides. Be succinct. You may cover the following areas.

• Conceptual Definitions to Topic & Rationale for topic chosen
• Links between TR1 and TR2
• Explain rationale behind proposal
• Preliminary Insights from data collection
• Strengths & Limitations

You may also use the format shown in Raffles Connect. This format is tailored to groups that have completed their data collection and are ready to present some aspects of their findings.

You may put your work in a thumbdrive or bring your own laptops.

On a gentle note, all groups are required to bring their own laptops for classes and consultations. As bookings for com labs are in hot demand this season, there is no guarantee that we can secure a lab for all lessons. This promotes ownership of your own work as well.

Kindly activate your floating slots for further consultations with me. This is the most intense period of pw where top marks need to be earned to secure your A grade for pwWR . 2 periods / week are insufficient due to the large number of groups / topics we are supervising. We seek your kind understanding on our workload.

You know your initiatives and spirit will be warmly appreciated.

prep for post CT PW WR

An early note.

To safeguard your proposals and research methods, kindly ensure that the following materials are ready for use in defence of ideas when we meet after CTs. The pace is likely to acclerate considerably.
1. Key readings (at least 3-5, please highlight relevant sections) sourced from your literature reviews. I understand that they will be well-deployed and applied to substantiate the links between TR1 and TR2 within your chosen topic and proposal.

2. Specific concepts, methods, philosophies or approaches and / or strategies obtained from real-world context / other readings which you intent to apply in your WR.
3. Raw data from primary data collection. Need not be processed. Am fine if some preliminary work has already been done on it. Note that all interviews have to be transcribed at some stage. You may highlight key arguments or ideas which you think may be applicable for use in WR.
Once again, items 1 and 2 are critical pre-requisites if you wish to score well for PW. They carry the greatest potential in scoring well for GI and EV in your WR. Interdisciplinary prospects in your approach to Conservation / Emergency will also be clearly noted here. You will be able to sense the quality of your proposals (and my frank assessment) based on this understanding.

On a personal note, there are a handful of groups which have resorted to appointing one member to work on questionaires and surveys alone. These materials were then tossed to me for editing with tons of careless mistakes and vague assertions made. The standards were less than satisfactory. Please understand that independent learning and group work are key demands of this subject. You are not likely to do well if little effort has been made to work and THINK as a team. I enjoy engaging your ideas but don't make me 'do the thinking / write the proposal ' for you!

It is ok to elect a change in team leader if the latter is unable to cope. Some of you are soldiering on when I suspect a change in leadership would energise the group pacing and climate for the better of all. This has to do with aptitude, not judgement. You can still function professionally as a team. Talk to me individually if this concerns you.
Please take good care of yourself this season. Those who are doing topics on emergency should be finding a goldmine of concepts and strategies in daily news by now. You know what to do :)
I write this with due respect to anyone who has been quarantined because of precautions taken by the authorities. Looking forward to your return to college soon...

Public Forum by URA

Thanks to Junxiang of 6N for the following update.

Please note that the revised date for the briefing by URA on Conservation for project work, has been confirmed for

13 July 2009 Monday. 2-4 pm (to be seated by 1.45pm)

Venue: City Gallery 3rd Storey theatrette
The URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road.

Other instructions:
For purposes of public health, kindly provide the following information for all who are attending:

Full Name & NRIC number
Phone contact

Please reply to the following personnel if you would like to make it for the session, and how many of you would be attending.

You can send this information to Ms Susan Ong at
Susan_Ong@ura.gov.sg

open secrets to crafting a good proposal

Some of you are moving into a crucial and yes, painful and intellectually demanding stage of PW -toward crafting an innovative and strong proposal to showcase your engagement of the project theme. You must be wondering why some proposals are readily rejected while others are intuitively embraced. Your collective brains may sometimes hear a loud or subtle 'click' when that happens. Mine as well. This may contrast with long faces and over-heated brain cells when a proposal is shot down repeatedly by yours truly. Sorry but that's our job as pw tutors. Academic rigour is one hallmark of a good proposal. Another clear indicator is the ability to develop a strong template / diagram to show how various aspects of a proposal (plans / activities VS strategies and philosophy or principles) are inter-related and connected to the task requirements. In short, you are able to defend and rationalize your approach with sense and confidence in the face of repeated interrogations put forward by your supervisor.

While a learning journey or heritage trail may work for one group, the other may experience a quick rejection of the same idea. Blogs, talks and exhibitions are the usual stuff developed by groups for pw. Every group is bound to consider these activities at some stage. The group that will stand out is one that will showcase strong academic rigour and rationale adapted from real-world case studies or approaches. A reliable sign is the ability to cite relevant literature to support your plans during consultations especially in defending your proposal . The use of sound concepts to anchor your proposal is another. There is a subtle difference between a pointless activity and one supported by a sound strategy. The signs are as follows:

1. The philosophy behind a strategy or conservation proposal is adapted from established case studies, principles and concepts sourced from a broad range of secondary references. There is a distinctive character apparent in a good proposal; groups are able to distinguish between mere activities and plans and a set of multi-pronged activities / plans that are inspired or fueled by an over-riding principle.

2. It is aligned to a strong environmental scan (physical setting), social context (meets a social need or knowledge gap) and reality check (availability of stakeholders to validate proposal).

3. There is a coherent follow-up between TR 1 (lessons learnt) and TR2 (lessons applied).

Research and real-world learning is not a smooth process. Some of you will come back with contradictory findings and realise that your questions need to be better phrased. Another group may experience alot of frustration when respondents do not reply to you. Some may even react sarcastically to your surveys. One group has already experienced that nasty bite. You may need to resort to a back-up plan. Once again, welcome to real-world learning.

Keep me posted on the journey. You may like to know that my mind goes through 32 cranium- blasts in every consultation. Your tutors often need to move 5 or 10 steps ahead of you to guide you through different aspects of the research process. Not easy. It helps alot if the team remains united and cooperates fully with the tutor in engaging an idea or pushing through a thought-process or argument. We stress alot on intellectual 0wnership for your own project.

You know what I am getting at.

Keep steady. Keep the lines open. You are not alone.

reclaiming heritage exhibition 11-28 june

Hi,
A topical exhibit that may interest some PW groups...should link be unstable...kindly google and proceed to NUS Museums webpage.

http://www.nus.edu.sg/museum/exhibitions_reclaiming_heritage.html

watch the signs

Make this a daily challenge. Scan papers regularly and look for relevant articles related to your project. Today's main paper features 3 full articles closely related to aspects of emergency and conservation that 3 groups have proposed...'on green, monetary crisis and conflicts in the heart of faith'. Did you spot them?

These pieces go a long way to build up the credibility for your choice of topic. Many consistent groups feature them as part of their appendix. They add shine and academic credit to the research process.

Looking forward to these nuggets of substance when I return...

The Need for Conceptual Anchors

Be it emergency or conservation, every group holds an action plan developed from a proposal. This, in turn is shaped by lessons learnt and applied from a comparative approach to 2 topical areas. How do you ensure that your written report will stand out from others during strict assessment procedures?

Apart from innovative proposals and actions plans gleaned and adapted from strong case studies, groups will attempt to distinguish themselves from one another by the intelligent application and manipulation of sound concepts in their elaboration. Wide reading and thoughtful application of case studies in a project work proposal imparts needed depth to the way a group addressses a topic. Originality and creativity is first derived from a supreme command of knowledge in chosen area of interest. On the issue of emergency (have received feedback that we spend too much time elaborating on conservation due to sheer amount of interest by many groups), here are some good links to tap on. Note the use of diagrams to illustrate clear strategies underpinned by concepts related to types of crisis related to medical and other socio-economic emergencies. With a pdf added to your bootlean search techniques, you be surprised by the amount of good resources you can find.

Enjoy building up your resources and insights....apart from a meticulous scan in the daily papers for SI materials to enhance up your case studies. I expect every group to develop strong conceptual diagrams to illustrate your strategies. It works...

http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/preparedness/emergency_preparedness_eng.pdf

http://www.foodsec.org/docs/concepts_guide.pdf

http://www.alnap.org/publications/pdfs/tsunamibriefing05.pdf

Singapore Houses: Conservation

Hi All,
Something interesting for PW groups attempting conservation and architecture. There is a talk on "SINGAPORE HOUSES: epitomising, cutting-edge, residential architecture" by Robert Powell & Albert Lim KS. Details as follows: 11 June 2009, Thursday, 5 – 6pm, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street, The Pod, Level 16 (access by private lift at level 1,opposite reception)

Due to limited seats, registration is required:
Margaret Kang.

Email margaret@periplus.com.sg

62801330 before 8 June 2009

research & regard for personal safety

Dear students

Many of you will make forays into aspects of real-world learning as data-collection season eases in for pw. A gentle but firm reminder once again that as young adults, you are responsible for your personal safety at all times especially when you work outside college. Apart from basic safety issues, this also includes how you go about maintaining a general regard and care for each other's psychological and emotional welfare. The following advisory are to be adhered at all times-

---------------------------------

1. Members who are unwell that day are not to take part in survey or data-collection. Parents have expressed serious concern for this. I leave it to the discretion of the group leader and fellow members to ensure that this advice is followed. I do not wish to receive complaints.

2. Some of your fieldtrips are outdoor in nature and require you to cycle or trek to visit certain landmarks. I am aware that 2 students covering Pulau Ubin have already sustained mild sprains during their first forays. Ubin's terrain is marked by steep slopes and infrequent skirmish with the occasional reckless cyclist or driver. Fatal accidents have happened before. Short of nagging further, I think you know what my real concerns are about. Research ethics and basic common sense for personal / group safety go hand-in-hand. There is no integrity to be gained from going at a passionate pace that lands you in mental distress or on clutch.

3. Students who are visiting sacred or personal sites like residents' homes, temples, mosques or cemeteries are to be attired in a respectable manner. Spagetti-straps are not apt while in some cases berms are fine (except in mosques). Remove your footwear if you are invited into someone's home. First impressions count. You live in Asia. You get the drift.

Ask if unsure.

finding alternatives: com lab 3

The consultation slots for the next 2 days and upcoming holiday slots have been jammed packed. I have booked com lab 3 in response to this need. Multiple groups are allowed to use these terminals to refine their research questionaires if necessary. I will also be present to assist if required. Interested groups are to inform me in advance.

It would help greatly if all groups bring along 5 sets of readings from your secondary research to substantiate your proposal during consultation. Remember that you are to defend, refine and apply your proposal in every appointment. Some previous slots have been rather unfruitful because members have been quiet and the tutor ends up doing too much of 'talking' in an attempt to lead discussions. This needs to stop.

Strive to have a good sparring session with me and each other. Only then will we be able to harness the real spirit to PW. A copy of the principal's cover letter to support you in collecting data from external organisations have been placed in your class pigeon-holes. Groups that have yet to collect them are to do so. Please zap a copy for your own group. Leave the original copy intact in pigeon-hole for others to use.

Thanks.

See you all.

data bank from indie blogs...

Here are examples of good independent blogs which provide a range of possible secondary and primary sources (if you follow up) for those keen on built & natural heritage ....I'll encourage all to explore these interesting writeups for yourselves. Some happen to feature poignant pictures that say much more than words- an interesting thought as to how you may like to deploy your pictures for WRs. Several of these sites depict different experiences of what it means to remember a place and the lost stories, memoirs and folklores that many seek to reclaim and remember...

http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/

http://jalankayutrail.blogspot.com

http://jalankayutrail.blogspot.com/search/label/Kampong

This subsidary link provides a good example of what it means to collect primary data based on a respondent's personal experiences. It is a kind of qualitative research endeavor that requires extra care and sensitivity in the manner and intent in the way questions are crafted .

http://cnrv.blogspot.com

http://yesterday.sg/

http://timesofmylife.wordpress.com

the laptop

Apart from notes and relevant readings collected, all groups are advised to bring along a laptop with easy wireless access. It will be a great aid during consultations during this cycle of pw.

Thank you.

further signs and directions

Directions to Sungei Buloh are as follows-

http://www.sbwr.org.sg/visitorinfo/gettingthere/drivingdirections/
Mondays to Saturdays
Board SMRT Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station.
Alight at Kranji ReservoirCarpark for 15-min walk to the Reserve.

Sundays and Public Holidays
SMRT Bus 925 stops at Reserve's entrance.Kranji ExpressKranji Express operates daily starting from 9am and ending at 5pm fromKranji MRT Station
Yesterday's edition of the Straits Times (30 May) has a significant feature on coral reefs under threat as well as race relations, topics which are pertinent to groups dealing with the 2 themes.