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Digital Zeitgeist - A new education landscape moulded by Gen Z.
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JULY/AUGUST 2010
Are we ready
for the
DiGiTAL
NATiveS?
PLUSAll the President’s Men
A rare glimpse into the workings of the Istana
Cover STorY08 DIGITAL ZEITGEIST A new education landscape moulded by Gen Z
FeATUreS05 MAKING IT ALL WORTHWHILE We feature some winners of the Excellence in Public Service Awards
14 RUNNING THE DIGITAL MARATHON IT and new media in the upcoming Youth Olympic Games
30 SAILING A NINTH CENTURY JEWEL Jeff Khoo shares about his time onboard the Jewel of Muscat
36 O WHAT FUN! The first Public Service Week Carnival in pictures
HIGHLIGHTS04 NEWS FROM THE SERVICE
vIeWPoINTS02 INbOx Your views on the new Challenge
03 Your SaY A “bRING YOUR PETS TO WORK” DAY? Readers tell us Yay or Nay
18 Thinking aloud DIGITAL NATIVES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE Get ready for some fundamental changes as Gen Z takes over, says Prof Ang Peng Hwa
24 Word on The STreeT PRIVACY: WHO CARES? Two experts’ view on privacy in cyberspace
27 leTTerS To a Young Public officer bE THE bEST YOU CAN bE Former Head of Civil Service Lim Siong Guan offers tips for new officers
28 a cuPPa WiTh… “NEVER A DULL MOMENT” Permanent Secretary of Public Service Division, Lim Soo Hoon, on family and career
33 PerSPecTiVeS ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN Challenge gains rare access to the workings of the Istana
oN THe JoB38 The big idea TEN WAYS TO KILL A bRAINSTORM What not to do if you want to be creative
39 leVel uP RETOOLING FOR A NEW ERA How to leverage on new media
reST & reLAX19 The challenge Pull ouT YOUR GUIDE TO THE DIGITAL GAP 8 pages of tips to get you ahead
40 life.STYle EAT LIKE AN OLYMPIAN D-I-Y recipes from the Youth Olympics menu
44 The irreVerenT laST Page WANTED We’re on the hunt for Public Service stereotypes
08
No instructions neededFour-year-old Zion Foo uses the iPod intuitively and with ease.
Photography byLumina Studios
24
28
38
40
44
hello!
I don’t feel qualified to write this. I was born before e-mail, I know what “dot matrix” means (no, it has nothing to do with Keanu), and tweet was what my canary used to say. I feel guilty I’m not growing vegetables on Farmville, and ashamed I had to ask our interns about the most popular games these days – MouseHunt, Left 4 Dead and Cooking Mama. There. I am a digital immigrant.
In our bewildering and fast-paced world of digital media, it is easy to feel increasingly left behind. Like you, I struggle with tech every day. And we’re not alone. A recent Lewis PR poll of 1,000 UK residents shows a similar digital divide. Some 50% hadn’t heard of Steve Jobs (10% thought he was a trade union leader, 20% a Division Two footballer, and 20% had no clue); 6% thought VHD – virtual hard disk – was a sexually transmitted disease; and while 88% knew who Bill Gates was, 2% thought he was one of the Great Train robbers. I wonder what we’ll get if we do a similar poll in Singapore (or the Public Service). ;)
But should I feel guilty? After all, tech was not something I grew up with, unlike our Generation Z digital natives, who were probably born clutching their iPhones. But tech IS where we are today, and rather than be frightened by it, the question for us digital immigrants is how to embrace it without feeling embarrassment and awkwardness. And for digital natives, they can help the rest of us along by simplifying the tech speak and showing how technology can indeed enhance the way we work and play, help in problem-solving, and promote collaboration. Our cover story explores how some brave teachers have already employed this to their advantage. I suppose the point is to use tech to our advantage, without forgetting that the world REALLY isn’t virtual.
To our readers, thank you for your generous compliments on our revamped May/June issue. We are so heartened that you enjoyed the new look and content, and we’ll keep “challenging” ourselves to bring a good read to you. Keep your feedback coming and watch out for Challenge Online!
*TweeT!* i’M A DiGiTAL iMMiGrANT!
I suppose the point is to use tech to our advantage, without
forgetting that the world REALLY isn’t virtual.
EditorTay Li Shing
PublisherPS21 office, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s office100 High Street, #07-01 The TreasurySingapore 179434 Tel : 6835-8350Fax : 6333-4010Email : [email protected] : www.challenge.gov.sg
For enquiries or feedback on Challenge, please write to the Challenge Editorial Team at [email protected].
Editorial Advisor Agnes Kwek Editor Tay Li Shing Assistant Editors Edmund Soo & Shaun KhiuEditorial Assistants Amy Sum & Ellice Wong
Tuber Productions Pte Ltd298 River Valley Road Level 2Singapore 238339Tel : 6836-4030Fax : 6836-4029Email : [email protected] Web : www.tuberproductions.com
ManagementDirector Lee Han ShihManaging Director Weiling WongProject Director Liew Wei Ping
EditorialContributing Editor Bridgette See Sub-Editor Bernice TangEditorial Assistant/Writer Gurprit KaurContributors Mike Lee, Ng Hwee Koon, Alexis Ong, Clare Tan & Sheralyn Tay
CreativeCreative Director AshikAssociate Art Director Jasmine TanGraphic Designers Vanessa Lim, Cindy Anggono, Eva Sunarya & Marilyn Ang Production Manager Nurul MalikStudio Manager Ria SilbernickDesign InternsGermaine Chen & Jill NgPhotog raphers Lumina Studios (www.animulstudio.com) John Heng ([email protected]) Norman Ng (www.normanng.com)
Challenge is published bimonthly by Tuber Productions Pte Ltd (Registration No: 200703697K) for PS21 Office, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office. Copyright of the materials contained in this magazine belongs to PS21 Office. Nothing in here shall be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written consent of PS21 Office. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of PS21 Office or Tuber Productions Pte Ltd and no liabilities shall be attached thereto. All rights reserved. All information correct at time of printing.
Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd (Registration No: 197801823M) 57 Loyang Drive Singapore 508968
Wency Chay MOM
and The Irreverent Last Page is just really cool! You guys rock!
I love this latest issue of Challenge Magazine... it’s a refreshing change from the previous issues.
The Fashion bible made it more uptrend
Oh, are we flattered by the bouquets that came
after the revamped Challenge hit the streets. We’re
really chuffed that you liked it and will continue
to make this mag, your mag, a great read.
EDITOR:Reader Thilakavathi J asked if Challenge could go electronic to be more eco-friendly. Based on a
November 2009 survey, 63% of our readers still prefer printed copies so we’ll produce enough to
meet the demand and work with agencies to reduce wastage. We’re now using partially recycled
paper while this issue’s cover is thinner. Thanks for telling us what flies and what doesn’t! Meanwhile,
check out the revamped Challenge Online (www.challenge.gov.sg) for web exclusives!
The latest Challenge magazine was a surprisingly refreshing read. I thoroughly enjoyed the “Fashion Bible” and the very candid article by Colin Goh.
Gilbert oh National Population Secretariat
Excellent work! The fashion bible is brilliant and finally, an interesting tête-à-tête with DPM Teo.
Muhamad Imaduddien MAS
P u b l i c S e r v i c e
Yvonne Cheong MICA
I like the new layout, though I’m unsure about how I feel about the cover. Features are interesting without being tacky.
to me but I guess you do that for a meatier read.
It still seemsrather wordy
I can’t say I have ever ‘enjoyed’ reading this magazine in the past – I just flipped through to keep pace with what’s happening. But the latest issue is very inspiring. Well done.
Kathy Lai IE Singapore
Lee Pak SingSYOGOC
this issue of Challenge is
actually quite interesting to read!” - SMS received and sent on to Challenge team
“OMGEnjoyed reading the latest issue of Challenge. Great work! Rock on!
Tee Bee LockMFA
INbOx
Pearly CheongHSA
My name is Samuel and I am a five-year-old 45kg Bernese Mountain Dog. My “Mom” just told me that the “cheng hu” magazine, CHALLENGE, is asking for views on a “Bring Your Pets To Work Day” at the office. Of course it ’s a hands, paws, fins, and claws – down YAAAAAAAAY from all of us! I mean, what better way to spend a day at work than among fur, feathers and fins, right?
(Editor: Samuel told us lots more but we had to cut him short due to lack of space... Go online to read his entire letter!)
OK, before I go, my Mummy just wants everyone to know that even if this idea doesn’t happen in the end, she’s still very happy that the topic was raised. It ’s good to know that the “gahmen” is prepared to explore doing some hip, happening and hot things from time to time! As they say, it ’s the thought that counts!
WINNINGENTRY
Congratulations to Ms Pearly Cheong, who wins a $100 Gift Voucher from Pet Lovers
Centre. All other published entries win shopping vouchers worth $30 each. Winners
will be contacted via e-mail.
Since we spend more time at office than our homes, bringing pets is a definite YAY. And since most of the public service officers are so good in multi-tasking, work-ing and taking care of our own pets at the same time should not be a problem.
Nadia Hamid MOE
Talking about pets could help break the ice and get everybody out of a routine. This idea could be extended to a weekend Pet-a-thon, so pet owners and pet lovers could engage in activities such as strolling with their pets and interacting with other pet lovers as well.
Ming Fong Heng MOM
I will simply love this f resh idea! It will be great to see how pets make ‘friends’ with each other. We can set aside a space in the office solely for the pets to mingle and play! I will feel that bring-ing pets to the office simply reduces the tension in the office environment!
veronica Zhang MOE
Definitely a “Yay”! It will ease the boredom of a 9-5 work routine, even if it’s only just one day. It will encour-age more casual bonding between colleagues, as there is another topic, ie sharing on views of how to raise pets (besides the common topic of how to raise kids).
Tay Bee HongHDB
Some people may be al-lergic to the animals and fa l l s ick, which reduces work productivity. I always believe that the office is a purely working environment and pets should be ‘ lef t for leisure’. I love pets and because of my love, I don’t want to bring them to my office when I know I can’t fully give my time to them whilst I’m working!
Jornathan SawSingapore Prisons
I am not a serious or worka-holic person but I don’t mix business and home matters together! I have a pet dog called ‘Joey’ at home and I adore her and always play with her. In the office, I will be busy running errands and ‘running’ to meetings. Bringing ‘Joey’ to office may distract me and I might not work properly! If I’m out having meetings, oh dear, I couldn’t imagine if Joey runs to the counters that are serving the public!
Ken ChewMHA
Would you
‘FRIEND’ your colleagues or bosses on Facebook?
Tell us at: [email protected]
The best entry will win an attractive prize worth up to
$100! All other published entries will win shopping vouchers worth $30 each. Please include your name, email address, agency and contact number.
All entries should reach us by August 1, 2010.
BriNG YoUr PeTS To work?
ReadeRs tell us YaY oR NaY!
YaY! NaY!03Your Say
CoMiNG UP...
To celebrate 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity, NParks has planned a series of activities, such as guided park and nature walks. To learn more about the rich biodiversity of our island visit www.nparks.gov.sg
Now it’s easier for you to contribute your time, skills, or money to Singapore’s exciting arts and cultural scene – new art philanthropy portal, www.give2arts.sg, has over 80 registered arts and cultural charities seeking volunteers and donations.
NewSfrom theServiCe
NATIONAL DAY PARADE (NDP) 2010Going back to its historical setting at the Padang after five years, this year’s NDP, themed “Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag”, celebrates Singapore’s 45th year of nationhood. For more information, visit www.ndp.org.sg
SINGAPORE, LET’S READ!READ! Singapore 2010, a reading initiative by the National Library Board, is now on till August 30. This year’s theme “Roads Less Travelled” aims to encourage Singaporeans to share their views on making unconventional life choices. Go to readsingapore.nlb.gov.sgfor more info on selected novels and poems.
bRINGING US TOGETHERLet’s come together this 11-22 August to discover what it is that unites us as Singaporeans. HeritageFest is a spectacular line-up of events that includes a three-day finale in the Arts and Heritage District, as well as festive hubs throughout the island. Visit www.heritagefest.sg
RUNNING FOR A CAUSEThe Yellow Ribbon Prison Run returns on September 5, 2010. The race is aiming to set a record for the “largest number of runners wearing yellow shoelaces”. So register now to support ex-offenders and you can also buy a pair of Yellow Ribbon shoelaces at $2.00. Visit www.yellowribbonprisonrun.sg
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SUPPORT bIODIVERSITY
GIVE TO ARTS AND CULTURE, YOUR WAY
Image from Singapore Tourism Board
SINGAPore WINS UNITeD NATIoNS (UN) AWArDWith its reputation for excellence in serving public interest and improving public administration, the Singapore govern-ment recently bagged the UN e-Government Survey Special Awards (“Outstanding Progress among the Top 20”) given out by the UN Public Administration Network. The UN has also designated June 23 as UN Public Service Day to celebrate the value and virtue of service to the community.
GoverNMeNT NeWS oN THe GoYou can now download the latest government news and information to your iPhone, thanks to the revamped www.gov.sg portal. Don’t have an iPhone? There is also a Twitter account
and RSS feeds that the public can access for the same purpose. Other features include electronic services, a calendar of events, and even a feedback platform.
Highlights04
Winners of the Excellence in Public Service Awards are
recognised for having made a real difference in the lives of
Singaporeans.
by Sheralyn Tay
Dr Vineta Bhalla (left) was inspired to do more for organ donors after reading about organ transplant recipient Sheralyn Tay (right) and her brother’s experience in the media.
Best Practice Award for
Stakeholder
MoH
MAkiNG iT ALL worThwhiLe
A FEW WORDS IN THE MEDIAin 2008 got Dr Vineta Bhalla think-ing. An organ donor, Mr Alphonsus Tay, had told the press his insurance premiums were raised following his operation, and he was concerned that this might discourage others from be-coming donors.
Dr Vineta, who is Director of Hospi-tal Services at the Ministry of Health (MOH), and her team began to ask themselves what could be done to support the altruism of organ donors and ensure their healthcare needs were looked after.
Mr Tay’s donation of a kidney to his sister was Dr Vineta’s “personal and professional inspiration” that led her to push for better donor protection.
“Many donors give up going for their regular follow-up after some time due to financial issues and other commit-ments,” she said. “We need to bring down these barriers for donors and also get the transplant centres to take on the responsibility of caring for them, just like they do for recipients.”
During the extensive review in 2008 and 2009 of the Human Organ Trans-plant Act (HOTA), much thought was given to this need to look after organ donors. MOH sought public views extensively; at times, it even seemed to be saying: ‘I don’t know – what do you think?’
Dr Vineta explained why this was so: “While at some point, MOH might have appeared unsure of its policy stance, it was worth the risk as it was critical to be open to stakeholders’ input and tweaking the policy accordingly.
“Getting feedback that what we did, worked, makes it all worthwhile.”
Finally, in March 2009, HOTA was amended. Among the changes were the inclusion of older organ donors and allowing paired matching of liv-ing donors, moves that will widen the pool of donors.
Provisions were also made to allow reimbursement for altruistic living do-nors and protect them after donation. A donor welfare fund, donor insurance
and a donor care registry have also been set up.
The wr i ter i s an organ t ransplant recipient and the sister of Mr Tay. She took part, both as a journalist and a transplant patient, in the discussions during the HOTA review. She adds: “I am grateful for the changes and the way in which MOH engaged stakeholders. I had my transplant in 2005 (before the amendments took place) but the issue remains a very personal one for me and my younger brother Alphonsus.”
DIAMoNDS IN THe roUGHMs Tang Hong Hong, 28, deals with “difficult” kids daily – all of them find-ing their way back from the wrong side of the law.
“My job is two-fold: to ensure they stick to the terms of their probation, and that their basic needs are met,” explained Ms Tang, a Senior Probation Officer at the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
But more than that, she forges friend-ships with her probationers, offering them the support they need. This was the case with Adam, then 15. When his landlord evicted him and his ex-tended family f rom their home, Ms Tang immediately went on a search for alternative housing.
“Before we could find a new home, the whole family had moved to the void deck with all their belongings where they stayed for one night. When I saw them there, tired and hungry, it was so
I was really scared, but
I knew I had to be firm… I could not
let them sleep another night
at the void deck.
Distinguished Star Service Award
Ms Tang Hong Hong Senior Probation Officer, MCYS
heart-wrenching,” she recalled.
She secured a place for his three younger siblings and grandmother at a crisis shelter and arranged for Adam, who was over the shelter’s age limit, to be taken to a home. But a cousin threatened Ms Tang with violence if she “broke up the family”.
Faced with the screaming man, Ms Tang stood her ground. “I was really scared, but I knew I had to be firm. My concern was to ensure Adam and his family could find shelter for the night. I could not let them sleep another night at the void deck.”
Today, Adam and his family are settled into a new flat and he still keeps in touch with Ms Tang frequently via SMS.
Ms Tang believes every one of “her boys” has the potential to overcome their circumstances.
When her former probationers update her on their lives, it fills Ms Tang with joy.
“They all say I am like their second mother, but I say ‘No lah, just call me
sister instead!’” she said, adding with a smile. “When they tell me they are in NS or Poly, I know I have made a difference, that I have succeeded.”
TAKING SToCKAs demand for rental housing doubled in recent years and supply declined, the Housing Development Board (HDB) had an urgent situation on their hands.
“The team had to think really hard and innovatively on how best to churn out the supply of rental flats in the fast-est manner,” recalled Deputy Director (Rental Housing), Mike Chan.
Besides looking for suitable sites to build new rental flats, the team also explored re-using existing facilities. “Time was of the essence, [so] the team started to look at properties that can be re-adapted, both for interim and for longer-term rental use. In our search for answers, we really have to dig hard to snoop out such properties,” he said.
Turning three- and four-room flats into one- and two-room rental units, Mr Chan and his team increased rental stock within a year, instead of having
to spend two years building new apart-ment blocks.
The team also created interim rental housing in blocks awaiting demolition. Families waiting for rental flats or in need of urgent housing can share the three- or four-room flats. To better tailor to the temporary housing needs of these families, HDB engaged, for the first time, a private entity to man-age the tenancy and to perform social roles under the subsidised rental hous-ing framework.
“We are focused on delivering our goals of housing needy Singaporeans, working together as a united team, and embrac-ing innovation when we are confronted with problems and challenges,” said Mr Chan.
The team had to think really hard and innovatively on how best to churn out the supply of rental flats in the fastest manner.
Best Practice Award for Resource
Management
HDB
07Feature
digital
A new education landscape moulded by Generation Z is emerging.
NG HWEE KOON reports.
^ Main Entry: zeit·geist Pronunciation: \’tsīt-‘gīst, ‘zīt-\
Function: noun Usage: often capitalised
Etymology: German, from Zeit + Geist spiritDate: 1835
the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era
UNLIKE THOSE OF US WHO have had to migrate into a digital world, Generation Z* children are true
digital natives who have never known life without mo-b i l e phones o r the Internet.
According to a 2008 survey by the Infocomm Devel-opment Author-ity of Singapore ( I DA ) , s e v e n - to 24-year-olds spend more o f their online time on instant mes-saging (IM) and social networking than o ther age groups, and are
more likely to turn to the Internet for their learning.
Unlike the previous generations, they have never known the limits of desk-bound computing. Instead they live in a world where everyone has at least one mobile phone, with the Internet increasingly available in their pockets.
So just how different does this make the kids of today? Mr Richard Gerver, an internationally renowned speaker and Education Advisor to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, describes them as the “on demand” generation.
They expect immediacy and personal control – as can be seen from the way they listen to music, download only what they like, and create their own playlists. For them, a world without Google, Facebook, YouTube, music and games downloads, and IM has never existed.
As a result, there is a growing disconnect between how kids are learning on their own and the way lessons are taught in the formal education system, says As-sociate Professor Looi Chee Kit from
the National Institute of Education and Founding Head of the Learning Sciences Lab, a research centre for learning and teaching.
The challenge, he thinks, is to design curricular activities that are relevant to students’ daily lives so that they would continue to pursue them on their own, beyond the classroom.
The way not to do it is to try to confine technology in education to a computer or a laptop meant only for word or data processing. This, says Mr Gerver, is “patronising and limiting”.
We also don’t want to be constantly nagging or banning our kids f rom activities such as gaming or social networking, which will only make them feel “very controlled”, as one 12-year-old puts it.
Mr Gerver tells Challenge in an e-mail interview: “We must remember that this generation do not view technology as we do. They aren’t dazzled by it, and they expect and demand more f rom it. To them technology is a facilitator and is temporary.” Indeed, today it ’s iPad and Kindle; tomorrow it will be something else.
Hence as we seek to harness their abilities to help them grow, we need to first be conscious of what makes them different.
Our teachers have observed that in the classroom, the students’ infocomm technology (ICT) experiences translate into the ability to multi-task, and a preference to communicate by texting – be it SMS or IM – as opposed to the act of speaking up.
EitgEiSt^
What’s the strategy?
09Cover Story
They also prefer graphics and multi-media content to reams of grey text. At the same time, they tend to have shorter attention span than children of the past, and are less focused.
Says Ms Chea Seok Choo, a teacher at Rulang Primary with 30 years of teaching experience: “Children today are distracted by many alternative sources of information. I am constantly amazed by their intelligence. They are very capable and can learn on their own at a single click. To them, school is just [a place] to socialise and interact with their friends.”
Indeed, kids today want to be friends. They want to be connected and have no use for hoity-toity airs from their teachers, or anybody.
One then has to ask: If the voice of authority no longer speaks to this generation of children, how can the old way of learning with one teacher talking to a class of 40 students work?
It is unlikely to. Not even if you use “newer” tools like PowerPoint, tablet PCs and visualisers (instead of white boards and overhead projectors) , because, according to Alexandria Schoon, a Secondary 3 student from a well-known school, such lessons – which are already the norm for her – are “boring”.
To make learning “as exciting as Dis-neyland” (as Mr Gerver envisions it to be) some of our schools are already experimenting with new methods that make teachers “action researchers”.
For example, Prof Looi helped May-flower Primary put in place a “Group-Scribbles” system that works like a virtual notice board with sticky notes that students can “write” on. The teacher poses questions and students “paste” their answers onto the board.
Rather than doing it the traditional way, where teachers might have struck fear in class by pinpointing out students to answer questions, this system creates a “safe learning environment”.
Students, now cloaked by anonymity, can respond without fear of ridicule. The entire class, including the teacher, focus more on the ideas generated rather than on the person giving the answer.
In this way, teachers can gauge the students’ conceptual understanding
from the general response and are able to help correct misconceptions, if any, on the spot.
A similar system using “Wallwisher.com” is used in Ngee Ann Secondary without anonymity by Ms Rachel Poh, an English Language and Literature teacher. By tapping into students’ natural inclination for text messages, she has seen dramatic results.
Compared to the past when lessons wind to a quick close from a lack of
TEACHERS AS
Cover Story10
interaction, the students were so engaged that they answered not just her questions but also commented on their classmates’ answers – behaviour commonly displayed on Internet forums and social networking sites. The session was extended to allow the students to continue posting their comments after they went home. Now, that ’s homework on demand.
Photos files Video call games activities invites block
Shakespeare (Available)
TO ASK OR NOT TO ASK
Building on her colleague’s experiment with a “Newton bot”, teacher Rachel Poh (above) worked with Microsoft to develop a “William Shakespeare bot”, where answers about the life and background of the dead poet and playwright are input into a robot and lessons are conducted through the Windows Live Messenger platform where students fill in a Facebook profile-like worksheet about Shakespeare.
This took a lot of planning ahead, where she had to come up with the worksheet, a list of standard question and answers, as well as to brainstorm with colleagues about other potential questions that the students might ask.
Testing was done with a small group of students to make sure that the way the teachers had phrased the questions was the same as how students would ask them, before the system could go “live”.
The results more than made up for the hard work as students chatted enthusiastically with the dead poet who came “alive” as their new “Messenger friend”. Ms Poh said: “They were amazed and kept asking if there was some poor technician hiding in a dark room somewhere answering their questions as they typed them in. It made the lesson fun for the teachers too.”
The results from all that experi-mentation have been encourag-ing, with pilot studies by the Ministry of Education (MOE) showing that students found ICT-integrated lessons to be interesting and engaging.
For example, in Marsiling Sec-ondary, about 80% of students who used an online collaborative environment in their lessons reflected high motivational lev-els, with a majority participating actively in online discussions.
MOE also has a range of workshops to help teachers pick up the necessary skills to respond to this new learning environment. From 2010, it will train more than 1,000 ICT Mentors to raise the level of ICT used in schools. To foster collaboration and the sharing of ideas and resources, the ministry has also created ICT platforms such as edumall2.0 and iSHARE.
Informally, schools that have experi-mented with ICT are also enthusi-astic about sharing their knowledge. Kranji Secondary, for instance, has been organising the “National ICT Sharing Session” since 2003. The session usu-ally sees some 600 teachers from across Singapore gathering for an afternoon at the school’s 40 classrooms to trade notes on their ICT projects.
The next wave is expected to be in the realm of mobile comput-ing – or what Mr Sam Wong, Principal of Canberra Primary, calls “in-between computing” – when computing devices are used while travelling from one place to another.
Noting that one of the govern-ment’s goals is to move towards giving every student a computer, Mr Wong believes we need to
Coming up next
GETTING MORE TO JOIN the bandWagon
SHANGHAI’D TO SINGAPORE
At Canberra Primary, one of the six pioneer batch of FutureSchools@Singapore, Principal Sam Wong has an ambitious plan to bring a miniature Shanghai Expo, which sits on the banks of the Yangtze River, to his school’s “4D Immersive Lab”.
Students are tasked to gather information in the form of video clips, weblogs and trivia on 12 of the pavilions during a visit in June, so that a virtual Expo can be brought to life in the lab through 14 interactive life-sized 3D screens. To extend the school room into students’ living spaces, Mr Wong even plans to make the facility available to members of the public in future.
Cover Story12
maximise this by changing the way we think of ICT in education.
The point is not simply to “throw away all the textbooks” and just put every-thing on the computer but to harness the way the young of today are already using mobile devices.
For example, what is the first thing children do when they get on the bus or MRT these days? They would whip out their mobile devices, be it the iPhone, PlayStation, Nintendo DS, or even the most basic mobile phone, and become lost in their own world. Mr Wong wants to ride on the power of this “in-between computing” to get students to learn.
Some pioneers like Canberra Second-ary’s Dr Mohammad Nizam Bin Abdul Kadir are already taking baby steps. He has developed an EMLAT (Extreme Mobile Learning with Authoring Tools) system, where he records videos of science lessons in a format that is compatible with the existing mobile devices that the students already carry – regardless of their phone model.
Unlike traditional classroom teach-ing where the teacher is limited by the number of times he can repeat a lesson, the students could now watch the videos wherever they are and learn at their own pace.
The advantages of using ICT in educa-tion are numerous. Ms Chea of Rulang Primary once found the adoption of ICT in schools a “horrifying” experi-ence and used to cringe at the thought of having to use the computer. Now she enthuses about how much more convenient the technology has made administrative tasks such as the analysis of results.
She also likes the scalability where one resource can be shared by many at once across physical boundaries. This became important especially during the SARS and H1N1 crises, when students were required to stay at home.
Dr Nizam found that because students’ interest in the subject had been piqued through interactive ICT-infused lessons earlier on, they were more motivated when the time came for them to hit the books to prepare for their “O” Level examinations.
Singapore Teachers’ Union General Secretary Edwin Lye notes that the role of the teacher has evolved into one of being “facilitator” and “change-agent”. Teachers should excite students about life-long and self-directed learn-ing, and help them develop critical thinking skills, so that they can tell good information from disinformation or misinformation.
They should also inculcate a strong core of values that allow students to understand on their own that acts like bullying are socially undesirable, whether they occur in the real world or in cyberspace.
“To not only survive but to thrive in the world that is now about exponential change, uncertainty, globalisation and communication, they will need to be self-confident, flexible, and creative,” said Mr Gerver, who stressed that the young will have to be risk takers and “amazing” communicators with high levels of emotional intelligence in order to cope with constant change.
Therefore, the objective is to create a school environment that encourages face-to-face interaction to build stu-dents’ collaborative and communication skills, and to develop a curricula that helps them become successful learners and confident individuals. These are the life skills that educators agree would help our children tackle the unknown future in their world.
PREPARING OUR KIDS FOR
their future
About 13,000 computers were used in Singapore schools, usually by students taking computer classes or by teachers for administrative purposes
About 80,000 computers were used in Singapore schools, usually by students taking computer classes or by teachers for administrative purposes
2002
1997
2010
About 140,000 computers for use by all students and teachers across all subjects and levels in the curriculum
Source: Ministry of Education
Feature14
bEHIND THE GAMES
2,000
computers
250
servers1,700CPUs
1,200network devices
5,000network points
35 venues of which 18 are competition venues
Running the
Come August, all eyes will be on the record-breaking feats of athletes gathered in Singapore for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
Alvin LowSenior Consultant, Internet & Digital Media TeamHe manages the official website, micro-sites, Culture and Education Programme Management System and the Digital Concierge for Singapore 2010. He man-ages the contract and the project life cycle, and oversees the infrastructure and operational aspects of the systems.
Challenge: How does the Digital Concierge for Singapore 2010 build upon the original DC pilot that was completed in 2008?
alvin low: The Digital Concierge for Singapore 2010 was included
as part of Singapore’s bid proposal to offer timely, relevant and per-sonalised information and services for athletes and sport officials. We engaged content providers, govern-ment agencies, businesses and ICT solution providers to specially tailor the first such implementation for an Olympic Games.
C: In designing the Digital Con-cierge for Singapore 2010, what special considerations were made for the targeted users of youth athletes and team officials?
al: They speak a wide range of languages, so we have tried as far as possible to make navigation more intuitive with icons. The user guide is also published in s ix languages. As the athletes are between 14 and 18 years old, we have incorporated digital media content and mobile social network features too, so that they can easily post status updates or upload photos to their WhyOhGee! Com-munity pages or other social network platforms.
What is the Digital Concierge for Singapore 2010?
It is all the information you need for the Games – all in your palm. The 5,000 athletes and officials will each receive a Samsung OmniaLite (B7300) phone that contains the Digital Concierge for Singapore 2010 software. Specially customised for the Games, i t gives relevant and personalised information like competition schedules and results. U s e r s c a n a l s o s h a r e c o n t e n t o n popular social networks, access tourism information, and cal l the language hotlines directly. Plus, the phone is for keeps!
60
120hardware & software platforms
utilising
30,000 man-hours gone into integration testing
85 full-timers
65 short-term assigned regular staff
1,280 volunteers
to deliver the solutions for
Singapore2010different systems
Marathon
Behind the scenes, YOG staff in charge of technology and digital content have been running a digital marathon for two and a half years. As they near the finishing line, five of them took a breather to talk to Challenge about their once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Challenge gives you the bits and by
tes of
the upcoming Youth Olympic Games.
by Mike L
ee
Lim Bee KwanDirector, TechnologyS h e h e a d s t h e te a m ove r s e e i n g t h e planning, delivery and operations of all technology systems for YOG.
Challenge: Besides co-ordinating within the
organising commit-tee, there’s also the collaboration with agencies like IDA and LTA, and private compa-
nies. How does your team keep on
top of everything?
lim Bee Kwan: This project time-line is immovable and we began with the end in mind. Rather than rush into the project, we put in a lot of effort to plan and establish the strategies for procurement, development, testing, implementa-tion, and operations. We put in the right governance structure, and even planned how the organisation struc-ture of the division would evolve as we move towards Games-time. Therefore, we were able to be precise in our execution and meet the tight delivery timelines.
C: What has your team learned thus far?
lBK: The Technology function is complex and there are many moving pieces. It is important for the entire team to be clear of the division’s key parameters and principles so that even if there are changes, everyone knows how to adjust. It is a challenge to keep 85 busy people abreast of the key developments and decisions taken, but I think we have managed to find the right balance.
victor TanManager, New MediaHe helped create the Singapore 2010 Odyssey, the first 3D virtual world based on an Olympic event. He also manages the social media initiatives and projects under the New Media team’s care.
Challenge: What is your one-minute pitch for the WhyOhGee web portal?
Jul ian lim: “ W hy ” i s abou t asking questions, like “Why do I need to eat my vegetables?” “Oh” is about discovering the answer: “Oh! I didn’t know that!” Gee is about reflection: “Gee… that actually makes sense.” So in that combination, which coincidentally sounds like the acronym YOG, we have encapsulated the spirit of learning and self-discovery.
C: The WhyOhGee microsite looks absolutely funky. How did it come about?
Jl: It ’s the brainchild of 80-plus youths who came together over two evenings and gave us ideas on what they wanted to see and do on a website. We also worked closely with a design team to make sure we communicated what we wanted users to feel when they visit the site. After that, it’s constant tweaking to make things work better.
C: There’s also the YOG presence on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Face-book, and a blog. Does your team rest at all?
Jl: Nope! But we do try to have fun while working. Some of us even took Lyo and Merly (the YOG mascots) up north on a road trip. Have you ever seen a toll booth attendant posing with a plush toy?
ENGAGING THE YOUNG
Julian LimHead, New MediaHe oversees the design, delivery and content for the various public-facing new media initiatives of the YOG.
The YOG New Media team is reaching out to a wider (even global) audience by talking to youths in an interactive lingo
they are familiar with.
Feature16
Challenge: What was your team’s brief for the Singapore 2010 Odyssey?
Victor tan: The virtual world has to be educational, fun, and continually engage users of all ages. It has to allow someone who cannot participate in the YOG in real life to do so virtually, and also let someone who has not been to Singapore preview the places and facilities.
C: The Singapore 2010 Odyssey combines the present, and futuristic 3010. How was the future envisioned?
Vt: We had discussions with our target demographic of upper primary school children. We asked them: What do you want? What are you looking for? Based on their responses, we got a better understanding of what they wanted to see. They even had a say in choosing the winning proposal for the project.
C: What were some of the challenges faced in the process of creating Singapore 2010 Odyssey?
Vt: The biggest problems were that we had only two years and our virtual world, themed after the YOG, had no precedent. Thus we had a lot of unknown areas, like choosing the most appropriate platforms for the virtual world. We just had to deal with it. Besides balancing the educational and fun elements, we also had to accommodate the branding requirements set by IOC (International Olympic Committee).
Amanda ZhangEditor, New MediaMore famously known as the eccentric Youth Guru who answers sports questions in her popular online videos, she manages a team of web repor ters, web photojournal ists , videographers and video editors to produce content for YOG.
Challenge: You wrestled a real Olym-pic champion for one of your videos. How was it?
amanda Zhang: It was one of the toughest assignments I had. She threw me around like a doll, and pinned me down to the ground. I did suffer some bruises. But all in all, it was great fun.
C: How did the character of a weird Chinese guru master get created?
AZ: We wanted to attract youths to our website and videos are the way to go. The idea took after a popular video series called “Ask a Ninja”. The Youth Guru’s style was just something like a voice speaking in my head; when film-ing, I switch instantly into the role, as we shoot the videos in a short time frame, around one hour per episode.
C: How is working with your team?
AZ: It takes time and effort to bring out their potential and to train them. It is definitely very rewarding because it keeps me young at heart.
“I am the Editor for the youth microsite WhyOhGee.sg. By hook or crook, I must produce interesting, fresh content every week or my boss Julian withholds food rations.”
and needs empowerment to make de-cisions to a public that is increasingly expecting responsiveness.
It is not a one-way street of empower-ment, however. The very technology that empowers the civil servant’s decision also enables the supervisor to peek down on his or her decision.
oPeNNeSSAs information is increasingly shared, e-mailed or put onto the Internet, it becomes easier to search and access information. Openness fosters transpar-ency and reduces corruption, leading to better governance.
The Civil Service will thus have to be more open in allowing civil servants to speak and in sharing information generally. Already the British civil ser-vice has developed detailed guidelines on what civil servants can post online. Our Official Secrets Act, inherited from the very same Britons, will need a re-looking.
reSPoNSIveNeSSOne author said that in the 1970s, it took him three weeks to reply to a letter and the reader was grateful for the reply; not so long ago, he replied to a reader’s e-mail and was berated for not responding via IM (instant messag-ing). I expect that both internally and externally, the speed of communication will accelerate.
In important areas, however, speed is not efficiency but haste, which works
against the best ideas. It just takes time to think and talk through issues and ideas in any organisation, and all the more so in a large one such as the Civil Service.
The Civil Service will indeed be even more responsive, at least in some facets of the word. The digital natives will
show the way in being more responsive while managing expectations.
As I was writing this conclusion, I was thinking: am I saying that the Civil Service will be an exciting place to work in the future? The answer has to be “Yes”. All over the world, I encounter people who are not so much interested in making money as in making a difference – like, well, civil servants. Their natural duck-to-water fluidity with digital technology and their idealism, together managed well, make the digital natives a potent force for much good.
Prof Ang Peng Hwa researches and teaches media law and policy with a special emphasis on Internet gover-nance, at the Wee Kim Wee School of Comunication & Information, Nanyang Technological University. He is currently Director of the Singapore Internet Research Centre.
Am I saying that the Civil Service will be an exciting place to work in the future?
The answer has to be “Yes”.
THE INTERNET WENT PUBLICaround the world in 1994. If one as-sumes some meaningful exposure to the computer at age four or five, it means that the “digital natives” – the generation that grew up using the Internet – should be 20 to 21 years old in 2010. Some of these digital natives should be entering the Singapore Civil Service now.
How will these digital natives change the Civil Service?
eMPoWerMeNTThe Internet gives one the feeling that one can read whatever one wishes, talk to whomever one wishes on whatever one wishes, and do whatever one wishes. In Singapore, except for hot-button issues touching on race and religion, critical views of the government and its policies have not been prosecuted.
The Civil Service does not operate like that. There are sensible reasons for this. A Civil Service needs predictability. If any officer can change the rule, the Civil Service becomes unpredictable, and then it is not so different from a feudal I-want-it-my-way days of yore.
But the widespread use of technology will flatten the organisational structure in practice, if not on the organisational chart. The civil servant at the end of the line dealing with the public wants
Expect some fundamental changes in the Civil Service as an Internet-savvy generation gradually takes over, says Prof Ang Peng Hwa
DiGiTAL NATiveS CiviL ServiCein the
Thinking Aloud18
DeAr YoUNG oFFICer,
If I am allowed to offer just one piece of advice to anyone newly starting work, it would simply be, “Be the best you can be”. This requires three actions:
• Do thebest you can inwhatever you do;
• Be thebest you canbe– reachout to realise your potential;
• Workwellwithothers – accomplish more than working just on your own.
“Do the best you can” means to be never satisfied until you have put your all into any assignment. There needs to be the “intellectual restlessness”, a continual questioning as to whether things could be done in a better way, and whether you could do better things with your time and energy.
There needs also to be a “constructive dissatisfaction”, an unwillingness to be satisfied until the best possible has been done, but an unwillingness which manifests itself in a constructive, rather than destructive, sceptical, complaining, or cynical way.
“Be the best you can be” means taking every opportunity to improve yourself. It is a willingness to learn, a willingness to accept criticism, a willingness to listen, and a willingness to try new things. I am saddened when I hear someone say, “I don’t see why I should do this when they are not paying me more.” That is how we miss opportunities to become better, stretch our abilities, and learn how more capable we could be.
Separate the matter of pay from the willingness to do more. If you are not prepared to do more, you miss the chance to establish your credentials to be entrusted with more. And if you do do more but do not get the promotion or recognition in due time, you always have a choice to go somewhere else where your skill and experience would be given adequate recognition.
There is no need to stay where you are and be miserable. At the same time, the only one who loses by not stretching himself or herself is you.
“Work well with others” means rec-ognising there are very few things in work and life which you can do all on your own. Develop networks of contacts and nurture relationships.
Synergy and symbiosis guarantee greater achievement than “flying solo”. Learn to “put yourself in the other person’s shoes”. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” There has to be self-confidence but there has to be humility, too. Share with others and together make things happen.
Living these three precepts in the Public Service is not difficult if you are willing. The mission is honourable – to serve Singaporeans and Singapore. It lives on meritocracy, offers opportunity to contribute and to try, and naturally demands working not just within a department but across agencies.
“Be the best you can be” is good for your advancement, your sense of self-worth, your enhancement of knowledge and experience, and your ability to contrib-ute. It is good for your soul.
by Lim Siong GuanGroup President, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation
Former Head of Civil Service
... the only one who loses by not stretching himself or herself is you.
27Letters to a Young Officer
“GTG TTY TMRW”*
When the SMS flashed on Ms Lim Soo Hoon’s mobile phone, she had to ask her elder son Samuel to decipher what his brother, Russell, was trying to say.
This, Ms Lim recounts, really showed the IT gap. “And they’re not even geeks,” she adds, laughing.
When she encounters problems with her computer, she prefers handing it over to her children as “they’re unafraid to explore and experiment, even if they have no idea what they are doing”.
But Ms Lim admits she would be “ner-vous” if public officers were equally ad-venturous when it comes to developing policies because, unlike messing with laptops, policy decisions affect lives.
“Sometimes what we put in place has a long tail, and it may take a while to unravel,” she says, stressing that officers must be mindful of the impact their actions have on others.
She recalls: “When I was in the then Ministry of Labour, one of my of-ficers ran upstairs and said somebody was going to kill himself because we rejected his application to marry a foreign worker.”
You see how your policies can affect some lives adversely, even though in the bigger scheme of things, you know it’s the right thing to do.”
Ms Lim adds: “Yes, we want [officers]to t ake r i sk s ( fo r example , new methods o f do ing someth ing or getting ideas are encouraged), but we need to be discerning of what we can try.”
BeING A BUSYBoDYMs Lim began her Public Service career in 1981 with the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Since then she has worked at Transport, Manpower, Community Development, Youth and Sports, among other agencies.
Thirty years on, she remains passionate about her work. “I always tell people that to be in the Public Service, you have to be a bit of a kaypoh (busybody)
Permanent Secretary for Public Service Division, Lim Soo Hoon, talks to Bridgette See about her family and her work, in A Cuppa With…
“Never MoMeNT” ADULL
What’s usually in your cuppa? Coffee.
Your favourite flavour or brand?No brand in particular but I
like my coffee freshly brewed,
strong, with some cream but
no sugar.
Where do you normally have your cuppa? I must have a cuppa at home before
I get to work and one at lunch.
because you’re involved in things that are beyond yourself,” says Ms Lim, who had a hand in the launch of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system and the Singapore Sports School, among other milestones of her career.
“The thrill and pride to have been in-volved in something that affects so many people is hard to describe,” she says, recalling that she was heavily pregnant while at the launch of one of the early phases of the MRT system.
“Someone said, ‘Please don’t give birth on the train!’” says Ms Lim, who de-livered Samuel soon after.
GroUND eXPerIeNCeThe policy maker thanks her stint at the Registry of Vehicles for letting her understand what operating at the ground meant.
Tasked to implement policies, she saw a yawning gap between policy makers and operational staff. Her staff said to her: “We told HQ it couldn’t be done but they didn’t want to listen to us so we got it done the way we knew how.”
This taught her a valuable lesson: If you want to implement policies well, understand the operational constraints, talk to the people who have to imple-ment them, and modify your policy, if necessary, so that the desired outcomes are achieved.
“So I’m a firm believer of our Staff Suggestion Scheme, as people on the ground know the problems and solu-tions. They just need a platform to surface their views.”
FAMILY MATTerSThough she is the first woman to be appointed Permanent Secretary, Ms Lim says she is no Superwoman and she doesn’t believe such a person exists anyway.
“When my children were young, they used to think the woman in the kitchen they saw in story books was the domes-tic help, as they had never seen their mother cooking in a kitchen,” says Ms Lim, who prefers to “outsource” the cooking to her helper.
Her toughest test came in late 2004 when Samuel, her elder son, was diagnosed with cancer. Throughout the 10-month ordea l , the newly appointed head of the Public Ser-vice Divis ion continued working f rom home or hospital. “I wanted to maintain some sense of normalcy for Sam and myself,” she says.
In 2007, Samuel had a relapse and again, Ms Lim had to slow down her pace at work, but never without feeling guilty about it.
“I’d be mad to put my work ahead of my son,” she says. “[But] it was a struggle for me. You can’t shirk your responsibilities, yet you know certain things can’t wait.”
She recalls, with bitter sweetness: “Sam saw me without my computer one day and he asked, ‘Mum, have you lost your job?’”
When the surprised mother said she was on leave to be with him, he said, “Ever since I knew you as my Mum, I have never seen you stop working.”
The boy’s honest words hit home.
“It helped me to reflect and reprior-itise,” says Ms Lim, still visibly moved by the recollection. “You ask yourself what’s important.”
The very personal brush with cancer reaffirmed this senior public officer’s support for family and work-l i fe balance. She counsels young officers who are torn between career and setting up a family to get married and have children first.
“Career can wait,” she says. “But certain things can’t wait. Babies can’t wait, and loved ones can’t wait.”
But now that she has an “empty nest” – with Russell, 19, in National Service and Samuel, 21, studying abroad – Ms Lim is again pouring most of her energy into work.
“I like my role and the challenges…There’s never a dull moment.”
*GTG TTY TMRW: Got to go, talk to you tomorrow
The official “A Cuppa With…” Cup
29A Cuppa With...
SAiLiNG ABoArD A NiNTh
CeNTUrY JeweL
Foreign Service Off icer Jeff Khoo spent 28 days at sea, relying on ancient sailing and navigation methods. He shares his experience on the Jewel of Muscat with Gurprit Kaur.
“THIS SHIP OBEYS NONE OF the Estimated Times of Arrival that we are used to. It, and its voyages, reminds us that our mastery over time is a recent accomplishment and perhaps an illusory one, too,” wrote Jeff Khoo, 27, in his diary, as he sailed onboard the Jewel of Muscat.
For the city slicker, time had come to a standstill on the ship that relied not on modern engineering but on ancient sailing and navigation methods.
Jeff and 16 others had begun their epic journey in February 2010, making their way from Muscat, Oman to Singapore. The ship, a handmade replica of a ninth century Arabian ship, is a gift f rom the Sultanate of Oman to the people of Singapore.
To trace its genesis, one needs to go back 10 years in time when a ninth century Arab shipwreck was discovered, not far from Singapore. Its haul of 60,000 pieces of pottery and artefacts f rom the Tang Dynasty was bought over by Sentosa Leisure Group.
When Foreign Minister George Yeo visited Oman three years ago, he saw the Sohar, a recreation of Sinbad’s ship. “After describing the shipwrecked Ara-bian ship to the Deputy Minister [of Oman] accompanying me, I asked half seriously if the Omanis could build a replica for us. I knew the Omanis had an unbroken dhow-building tradition going back a long time,” Mr Yeo wrote in his blog.
The 18-metre ship was built without nails, with hull planks sewn together with coconut fibre, and fitted perfectly to ensure that the ship is watertight. To waterproof it, the ship’s body was coated with a mixture of goat fat and lime.
reTrACING HISTorYDating back several centuries, Asia and the Middle East have been linked not only by the Silk Road and the Spice Route, but also by the Maritime Silk Route, one in which Singapore has a rightful place. This historical voyage was an opportunity for Jeff to witness a strand of Singapore’s history first-hand.
“The Jewel was retracing an ancient trading route through ports in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, with the aid of old navigation and sailing methods. It was a marvellous excuse for me to study this part of our history, of which I knew little, until recently,” shared Jeff, who took a basic sailing course prior to the voyage.
The crew were taught the theory of ninth century navigation methods but lacked the experience. Though they struggled initially to use the kamal, an ancient celestial navigation tool that determines latitude, they soon figured it out.
And with no engine, let alone an “auto-pilot” mode, the Jewel was clearly not made for a plain-sailing journey. Controlling the massive spars and sails required at least four to five people each time, relying on teamwork.
“The wind died down yesterday night, and now we’re barely making 1.5 knots, with the current against us. We hope to arrive in five days, but none of us dare to make confident predictions,” wrote Jeff on Day 22.
Although f riction was unavoidable onboard the cramped quarters, the
We hope to arrive in five
days, but none of us dare to
make confident predictions.
31Feature
intense working experience and long hours together forged strong friendship among the 17-men crew.
“I am full of admiration for the Omani crew. They were hardworking and ever jovial, always livening up the mood. These friendships will extend beyond the Jewel of Muscat,” said Jeff, who is not ruling out the possibility of writing a book about his 28-day journey.
This once-in-a-lifetime voyage has given Jeff unforgettable memories, some bordering on the surreal.
“When the ship left Oman, the sea was full of bioluminescent algae. At night, the water disturbed by the Jewel’s passage glistened and glowed, making us feel like we were gliding on a sparkling green carpet beneath the stars,” he said.
The arrival of the Jewel of Muscat at the first port of call at Cochin, India, will be a lasting memory for the crew.
“Three weeks prior to our arrival at Cochin, an Indian Coastal Guard aircraft flew over our ship and hailed us over the Very High Frequency radio, ‘Jewel of Muscat, Jewel of Mus-cat, welcome to India’. For us that was the moment when we had arrived in Cochin,” said Jeff of the warm and unexpected reception.
After more than 1,300 miles at sea, Jeff bid farewell to his fellow crew members at Cochin while they continued on their voyage to Galle, Penang, Malacca and finally to Singapore in July 2010.
Jewel of Muscat is currently berthed
at Keppel Bay Marina.
From left: Jeff goes aloft to attach a baggywrinkle on the mainmast backstay, to prevent the mainsail from chaffing; Jeff (centre) worked closely with the crew from the starboard watch.
Photo credits: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultan of Oman.
These friendships will extend beyond the Jewel of Muscat.
Feature32
Text by Bridgette SeePhotography by Norman Ng
Challenge gets rare access to the workings of the Istana.
The PreSiDeNT’S
MeN
All
the RiGht-haNd MaN
He is the youngest Aide-de-camp (ADC) to have ever served at the Istana. When Mr Ang Eng Seng was appointed in 2007 to be the Presi-dent’s personal assistant, he had only been in the Police Force for two years. Not surprisingly, he had a stressful start to his term. “I didn’t have a lot of work-ing experience so I didn’t have much
confidence when it came to speaking to dignitar-ies,” the boyish-look-ing 30-year-old recalls. “I had to work hard to prove to Mr Nathan that, despite my age, I could be a capable assistant.” The President, his direct supervisor, was a patient teacher, says Mr Ang. “My first memo to him came back with com-ments f rom him,” he recounts. “He told me to take out the ‘Yours Sin-cerely’ and ‘Thank You’ and to get to the point.”
Since then, the ADC has learnt well the President ’s habits and preferences; he guards his boss’s interests jealously, making sure every event the Head of State attends is appropriate and suitably prepared. “I never imagined that I’d be so close to the President, to interact with him on a daily basis,” says Mr Ang, whose term ends in August when he will return to the Police Force.
the FaithFul GaRdeNeR
The year was 1972. Mr Hamid Sudi was 18 and jobless, his father unemployed, and there were 10 hungry mouths at home to feed.
“Someone from the Welfare Depart-ment came and asked me what I could do,” recalls Mr Hamid. “Months later, a letter came for me to report to the Istana for a job interview as a gardener.”
Attached to a mandor (chief gardener), the young man began to learn every aspect of gardening, from working on fruit trees to grass cutting. “My relatives were like ‘Wow, you work at Istana, it means you have big salary,” says the 56-year-old, laughing. “But I was paid $4.60 a day.”
Since then, Mr Hamid has faith-fully tended the grounds of the Istana,
MR PERFECTIONISTMr Hamid uses a specialised reel mower to make sure the Istana’s golf green is trimmed to 4.5mm.
Perspectives34
Anyone can do it, but you must be proud of it and have a sense of belonging
witnessing their transformation f rom “jungle” to gardens and landscaped lawns.
Now a landscape technician, Mr Hamid and five others lead a group of about 30 contract workers to keep the Istana look-ing smart.
After 38 years, he has witnessed five Presidents and three Prime Ministers being sworn in to serve the country – all f rom a distance. But that is about to change: he has received an invitation to have tea with President S R Nathan. “I don’t know what I will say,” he says, blush-ing deeply at the thought.
the FoCused ButleR
It is 6pm – an hour before the President plays host to the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, at a state dinner.
Senior Butler Jacob Emmanuel, 42, has a look of intense concentration as he scrutinises every glass at the President’s table. He spots a fleck of dirt on one, isolates it, and instructs the waiters to change it immediately.
“The President prefers to drink warm water so I make sure we have it ready for him,” he says. “Later, I’ll replace it with another cup when it gets cold.”
Specifically, Mr Emmanuel is assigned to serve Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. But like the other butlers, he knows the habits of all the leaders at the Istana intimately: how the signature tea should be brewed, what food they prefer, eating indoors or al fresco, down to the minutiae.
Paying attention to detail and being 100% focused while serving is all it takes to be a good butler, says the 15-year veteran.
He knows this too well, recounting an occasion when he failed to notice a junior butler had forgotten to place soup spoons, until the soup was served.
“I quickly brought the spoons in, and later apologised to SM Goh,” says Mr Emmanuel, acknowledging that he is “lucky” to have a forgiving boss.
But the butler knows this is not to be taken advantage of: “I tell the juniors that when bosses are chinchai (easy-going), it is their kindness; when we are chinchai, it is our laziness.”
It may not be rocket science, but Mr Emmanuel still brims with pride talking about his work.
“Anyone can do it,” he says. “But you must be proud of it and have a sense of belonging. To me, it’s a great honour to serve as butler in the Istana, especially to Mr Goh.”
Want to hear more stories from the Istana? Go to www.challenge.gov.sg for an exclusive photo essay.
EAGLE EYE Mr Emmanuel scrutinises a dinner glass before a state dinner.
whAT FUN!
Splashing Good TimesA rainy start to the day did not dampen the spirit as families took to the pool for some wild, wet fun.
Smiles GaloreMr Chan Yeng Kit (Perm Sec, MICA), accompanied by his wife, graces the carnival as guest of honour.
For the f irst time, we wrapped up Public Service Week 2010 with a family carnival at the Bukit Batok Civil Service Club in May. Spot yourself ? Write in to [email protected] and we’ll send you your picture!
big SplashWhat better stress reliever than to take aim and dunk someone?
Team Spirit Families learnt about great teamwork in the Amazing Race: Public Service edition.
Go to www.challenge.gov.sg for more pictures of the carnival!
37Feature
Start with the wrong attitudeHave an arrogant Mr or Ms Know It All kick-start the brainstorming – a sure way to shoot down ideas or keep them at bay.
Make sure the Boss is always presentThe boss is always right – right? Have the boss dominate discussions so that everyone else shuts up.
Speak only when it’s your turnAdopt this archaic way of going round the table to ensure a slow, painful and awkward sess ion. Spontaneity is a no-no, so never let people share ideas when inspiration hits them.
Dwell on historyFocus on the past, not the future. Go through the we-should-haves, could-haves, would-haves, and end up fingering blame. Fun.
Silly idea=bad ideaLabel silly and weird ideas “bad” ideas, to guarantee a superbly boring brainstorm.
Shoot down all ideasDiss all ideas that come your way, while offering none in return. Guaranteed a morale killer, it ’ ll motivate everyone to participate ... NOT!!!
Write down everythingWrite every idea on the board. Do this (instead of doodles and sketches) and you can be sure every-one will be more focused on taking notes than generating ideas.
Have no sense of directionShoot off in all directions, and get horribly lost in the jungle of ideas.
Get personalInstead of attacking the idea, have a go at the person bringing it up. A surefire way to put others off offering ideas.
No action, talk onlyDon’t work on the ideas after the brainstorm, leave them behind. Ideas (apparently) have a tendency to flourish on their own.
cPr for creativity
www.ted.comwww.ideo.com
read ThiS forbig ideaS…
Creativity Unlimited: Thinking Inside the Box for Business Innovation by Micael Dahlén
Instead of “thinking outside the box”, this book suggests that we rethink creativity from “inside the box”. Lots of exercises and tools to train your way to creativity and success by using the skills, knowledge and products you have while thinking inside the box.
ISBN: 978-0-470-77084-9August 2009/ RRP: S$62.01 incl. GSTAvailable at all leading bookstores
Now that you know the Ten Ways to Kill a Brainstorm, tell us what mantra you live by to boost creativity at the workplace and stand to win a creativity booster puzzle. You’ll be the most creative person at work before you know it!
We are giving away five awesome sets, so send in your entries to [email protected] before August 13, 2010.
The Big Idea38
You may not realise this, but every time you use Facebook or Twitter, a group of professionals is closely watching you. No, they are not secret agents, but public relations experts for whom new media, as a collective of Web 2.0 and social media platforms, is presenting challenges – and opportunities.
Today, empowered by the Internet, stakeholders and individual mem-bers of the public, whose voices were previously mediated by tradi-tional media, are coming to the fore.
Media consumption patterns among the public are also evolving in tandem.
It’s no longer surprising to see middle-aged or older Singaporeans whip out their iPhones to keep tabs on the movement of share prices (or that of their children via Twitter and Facebook updates). Traditional media in Singapore has had to respond by evolving the way it reports and pack-ages news.
In Indonesia, where Internet pen-etration is just 12.5%, the prolifera-tion of cyber cafes and the availabil-ity of affordable cell phones plans are contributing to a new media boom. In fact, says the New York Times, Indonesia has the world’s third-largest number of Facebook users at 21 million, and they are turning into a political force.
In Japan, online journalists are now able to attend news conferences held by the government. Hitherto, government press conferences were only open to closely guarded press clubs comprising members of large media companies.
New media, therefore, should not be seen as a threat, but an opportunity for the government to reach out to diverse audiences in very different ways, said Acting Minister of Information, Communications & the Arts Lui Tuck Yew at a recent public communications conference co-organised by MICA and the Civil Service College (CSC).
Over the years, the CSC has been working with its partners to augment its suite of training programmes to develop the Public Service’s capabilities to har-ness the communications opportunities presented by new media.
The latest of such programmes is the Professional Certificate in New Media Communications, jointly developed by the Civil Service College and the School of Film & Media Studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
The one-week programme adopts an integrated approach to new media, equipping participants with the prac-tical skills set, as well as the mental paradigm, to create content for key new media platforms.
The first run was over-subscribed, with many agencies asking for a second run this year. We expect to offer a second run in October. If you feel that such a programme will benefit your work,
contact your training coordi-nator, and tune in to the Civil Service College via its website www.cscollege.gov.sg and on Facebook (“Civil Service Col-lege Singapore”) for more to come.
David Lee i s head of the Centre for Public Communica-tions, Civil Service College.
You may not realise this, but every
time you use Facebook or Twitter, a group of
professionals is closely
watching you.
You can now f ind the Civil Service College on Facebook. It’s part of the Public Service’s new media programme to reach out to audiences in new ways. by David Lee
reTooLiNG for a New erA
39Level Up
Art Direction by Jasmine Tan
Photography by John Heng
Recipes by Kenneth FranciscoHead of Food and Beverage &David LeongHead of Catering for the Youth Olympic Village
eAT Like AN
recipes 600 Chefs
Created by 12
recipes from the YoG menu
Challenge brings you3
Months6Over
Get a taste of what athletes at the Youth Olympic Games will be served, all at your own convenience.
YoGhuRt & GRaNola CRaZeA nutritious breakfast of
yoghurt topped with honey and crunchy granola. A recipe that is impossible to go wrong with
– you even decide your own portions!
IngredientsHoney (Can be replaced with
Strawberry/Mango Compote) • Natural Non/Low Fat Yoghurt • Granola • Nuts (Optional)
• Fresh or Dried Fruits (Optional)
Method1.
In a cup or bowl, pour honey.2.
Spoon in yoghurt.3.
Top it off with granola.4.
If desired, finish it off with some fresh/dried fruits.
Per Serving 458 cals, 2.7g fat, 15g protein, 93g carbs
41Life.Style
BRaised laMB iN toMato
& oliVe sauCe(Five Servings)
Succulent lamb braised in a hearty tomato base – a rich dish that won’t leave you feeling guilty.
Ingredients500g Lamb Leg (Boneless, cut into 30g cubes) • 20g Black Olives (Ripe, pitted and sliced) • 30g Western Seven Spice Powder • 1 Bay Leaf • 50g Tomato Puree • 120g Canned Tomato (In whole) • 3g Fresh Thyme • 8 White Onions • 100g Leek • 100g Carrots • 100g Celery • 100g Plain Flour • 200ml Water • 30ml Salad Oil • Salt
(Granulated) • White Pepper (Powder)
Method1.
Season lamb with seven spice powder and coat with flour.
2.On a moderate heat, add 20ml of salad oil into a stewing pot. Sear lamb cubes on all sides.
3.Add in bay leaf, onions, celery, leek and carrots. Continue to stir every 2 minutes for about
10 minutes.4.
Add the remaining 10ml of canola oil to the pan and under medium heat, sweat the garlic and the onions till translucent.
5.Add fresh thyme, canned
tomatoes and water. Leave to simmer for 1½ hours till
tender, stirring once in a while.6.
Season with salt and pepper.7.
Add olives before serving.
Per Serving 139 cals, 6g fat, 18.4g protein, 2.6g carbs
D-I-Y! Learn how to whip up these dishes with our step-by-step online tutorial at www.challenge.gov.sg
DID YOU KNOW?Come Games day, close to 21,000 meals will be prepared daily for 5500 athletes
and officials from 205 countries.
“Singapore Flavour” is a special treat for athletes to sample authentic local hawker fare that has not been modified to meet
their nutritional requirements.
seaFood RaGout deliGht
(Five servings)
A refreshing ragout with a lightly flavoured milk base
accompanied with fresh seafood.
Ingredients20g Modified Starch • 10g Bullion Chicken Powder • 3g Mixed Herbs • 300ml Low Fat
Milk • 200g Prawns (Deveined and shelled) • 150g Squid Tube (Sliced into rings) • 150g Fish Fillet • 15g Tomato Paste • 4 Tomatoes (Chopped) • 2 Onions (Chopped) • 5 Cloves of Garlic (Chopped) • 30g Plain Flour • 20ml
Canola Oil • Salt • Pepper
Method1.
Marinate prawns, squid and fish fillet with salt and pepper.
Thinly coat with flour.2.
Heat a skillet pan with 10ml of canola oil, over medium heat. Add marinated seafood and
sear on both sides.3.
Remove cooked seafood.4.
Add the remaining 10ml of canola oil to the pan and under medium heat, sweat the garlic and the onions till translucent.
5.Add the mixed herbs and
tomato paste. Reduce to low heat and cook for about
5 minutes. 6.
Add milk to the pan and bring to a boil.
7.Add the chopped tomatoes.
8.Slowly mix the starch mixture
(modified starch and 10ml water) into the hot stock until
it thickens slightly. 9.
Add in chicken powder and cooked seafood and bring back
to a boil.10.
Season with salt and pepper.
Per Serving 150 cals, 3.4g fat, 17.3g protein, 12.6g carbs
35Feature43Life.Style
by the Sheriff of Public Service County
If you have information of the main suspect, immediately contact: The Public Service County office at [email protected]
Tell us, in less than 50 words, how he/she killed creativity in the office. Remember to leave your name, agency, email address and contact number.
All informants will be kept confidential to protect identities.
Need We Say More?Here’s where we let the humour loose, and learn to laugh at ourselves a little more. Have ideas or jokes about the Public Service? Email us: [email protected]
The winner of the most
The Sheriff reserves all rights todefine “interesting” and decide
upon the winning entry
interesting submission will
on it.
mug with the illustrated“mugshot” of the offender
receive a limited edition
ACCoMPLICeS
Bond CounterIncessant counting down of days left of (what else) his bond Creativity
Killer!Taiji Master Shifts work (and blame) to others quickly and efficiently
I.M. WorshipperFollows the instruction manual to the tee, including quoting it in emails
Irreverent Last Page44
to be
won!
FIVE PAIRS
OF
Mark Zuckerberg, Co-founder, Ceo and President of popular social networking site Facebook, was born in the year_____
A. 1954B. 1964C. 1974D. 1984
The _____, a wireless tablet computer, is the latest device designed and marketed by Apple.
A. iPadB. iPodC. iPhoneD. iTab
Skype is a software application that allows users to_____
A. send and read messages known as tweetsB. make voice calls to anyone in the world, over the InternetC. send and receive emailD. upload, share and view videos
________ is one of the most popular business-oriented social networking sites for working professionals who wish to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in their industry or work.
A. LinkedInB. LinkedOutC. LinkedUpD. LinkingIn
Web-based e-mail programs such as _______ are examples of cloud-based applications. This means users can access their email “in the cloud” from any computer with a Web browser.
A GmailB HotmailC Yahoo MailD All of the above
Submit your answers by
august 13, 2010 at:
Websitewww.challenge.gov.sg
email [email protected]
fax6333 4010
Please include your name, email address, agency and
contact number.
All winners will be notified by email.
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moviemoviemovie
vouchersvouchers
LOOK OUT!
For the revamped Challenge Online
behind the scenes pictures, Challenge team blog, tips from our online columnists and more
for web exclusives:
Clickwww.challenge.gov.sg
