Keynote & Invited Talks
Choo, S. S. (2014, April). The contribution of English Education to Singapore's globalizing efforts. Invited keynote address at the Global Learning Alliance conference. New York, United States.
Choo, S. S. (2013, September). Globalizing English: How English language and literature can complement each other to develop globally-minded students. Invited workshop at the Teaching & Learning Symposium, PLMGSS, Singapore.
Choo, S. S. (2013, September). Teaching unseen poetry through the use of visual texts. Invited workshop at the Celebrate Learning, CHIJ Toa Payoh, Singapore.
Choo, S. S. (2013, February). Education for twenty-first century global capacities. Invited mass lecture at the Integrated Programme Education Seminar, NYGH-HCI, Singapore.
Choo, S. S. (2012, August). Beyond PISA and TIMSS: Twenty-first century global capacities framework for international benchmarking. Opening address at the Global Learning Alliance Summit, Singapore.
Choo, S. S. (2011, June). Cultivating moral sensibilities through aesthetic education: The power of everyday cosmopolitanism. Invited keynote at the International Conference for New Directions in the Humanities, University of Granada, Spain.
Vinz, R., Choo, S. S., & Sousanis, N. (2011, May). Creativity, Play and Imagination. Opening address, New York, United States.
Choo, S. S. (2008, May). Teaching language through literature. Invited keynote at the Opening of the Centre for Excellence in English, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Singapore.
OTHER PROJECTS
Global poetry unit, Greenridge Secondary School (2013-2014). Role: Consultant,
Global Literacies Task Force, Hwa Chong Institution (2013-2014). Role: Consultant
Poetry inservice, CPDD, Ministry of Education (2013). Role: Consultant.
Studies in Educational Innovation, CPET, Teachers College, Columbia University (2009-present). Role: Co-founder of SEI which is dedicated to examining the factors that contribute to collaborations in innovative thinking and educational creativity in schools in the United States and around the world. SEI project teams leverage research on global educational innovations, multidisciplinary knowledge and habits of thinking, and practitioner expertise to work in partnership with school districts to document, share, or facilitate workshops and project-based experiences on various processes, practices, and approaches to educational innovations. SEI specializes in research and design focused on creativity, twenty-first century curricula, and instruction and assessment that demonstrate a culture of innovation in teaching and learning. Current projects include the development of an international consortium of innovative schools in partnership with teacher-education colleges around the world. Http://www.tc.edu/sei
Global Learning Alliance, SEI, Teachers College, columbia University (2010 to present). Role: Co-organizer. The GLA brings together scholars and school leaders from the most innovative schools around the world to bridge theory and practice and conduct research into twenty-first century global capacities. http://blogs.tc.columbia.edu/worldclasseducation/
Creativity, Play, and the imagination across Disciplines, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York (2010-2011). Role: Co-organizer with Nick Sousanis. This interdisciplinary conference brought together educators, artists, scholars, and game-makers from all disciplines to reflect on, experience and converse on creativity as a central site for learning and everyday living. The conference was sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Teachers College, Microsoft Research and Imagining America. The conference was also held in conjunction with Game Show New York art Exhibition. Http://blogs.tc.columbia.edu/creativityconference2011/
Student Press Initiative, Teachers College, Columbia University (2010). Role: Site educator and Mandarin specialist. The project involves working with students at the Adult Education Center at Midtown Manhattan in the publication of an oral history text. http://publishspi.org/
Generation Schools Network, New York (2009). Role: Consultant. Designed an integrated Global Humanities model and curriculum to be implemented in Generation Schools.
Global Classroom One-to-World, New York (2009). Role: Consultant. Designed a 10-week Media/Visual literacy curriculum for Newcomer’s High School in Queens NY as part of the 21st CCLC funding.
Bi-cultural museum in Second Life (2008-2009). Role: Investigator/researcher. Collaborated with a professor from the Nanyang Technological University to create a virtual museum in Second-life to promote literature education among pre-service teachers.
Teaching Language through Literature National School initiative (2007). Role: Chairperson & coordinator. Collaborated with the English Unit, Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education to pilot test and design this new curriculum for secondary schools.
Media Studies as a National Curriculum pilot project (2006 to 2008). Role: Lead external consultant. Co-wrote the Media Studies proposed syllabus and coordinated the teacher-training and pilot trial phase for implementation at a national level.
Ministry of Education Literature Syllabus Review Committee (2005). Role: Invited member. This committee, organized by the Ministry of Education, was tasked to propose key changes to the National English Literature curriculum.
National Schools Literature Festival (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Role: Chair and organizer. Led the festival with team of teachers; liaised with external organizations and school leaders, secured funding, planned and implemented teacher training.
