Game-based learning is an innovative approach that seamlessly blends education and entertainment, captivating learners of all ages and fostering a dynamic and engaging learning experience. By leveraging the inherent motivational qualities of games, this pedagogical method empowers individuals to acquire knowledge and skills through interactive gameplay, problem-solving challenges, and immersive storytelling.
The Learning Innovation Festival 2023 will feature presentations by invited professors who have successfully implemented game-based learning in their classrooms. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how these innovative educators are using gaming technology to engage their students, enhance critical thinking, and promote collaborative learning.
Our Speakers
Associate Professor Geng Xuesong
Senior Lecturer Whitney Zhang
Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Singapore Management University
Associate Professor Marcus Ang
Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Singapore Management University
Professor Norman Li
School of Social Sciences
Singapore Management University
Dr. Low Chin Heng
Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Singapore Management University
Associate Professor Dorcas Quek Anderson
Yong Pung How School of Law
Singapore Management University
Associate Professor Seow Poh Sun
Senior Lecturer Wong Suay Peng
Associate Professor Sterling Huang
School of Accountancy
Singapore Management University
Integrated Information Technology & Systems Team
Singapore Management University
Centre for Management Practice
Singapore Management University
6 October 2023
Programme (9am - 12pm Singapore Time)
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- 9:00 - 9:10 am Welcome Address
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Associate Professor Lieven Demeester
Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation)
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University
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- 9:10 - 9:20 am Writing Cases and Teaching Notes for Game-Based Learning and Gamification
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Centre for Management Practice
Singapore Management University
Writing Cases and Teaching Notes for GamesSynopsis
Most of the games presented at LIFE 2023 are accompanied by a case and a teaching note. These documents will typically be written after each game project development is complete.
The cases explain the game in detail and outline the concepts and theories that it accomplishes while the Teaching Notes also contain lesson plans which faculty users may use to guide their classes on utilizing the game effective.
- 9:20 - 9:30 am Dawn of the Duck - An Evolution Experience
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Professor Norman Li
School of Social Sciences
Singapore Management University
Dawn of the Duck - An Evolution ExperienceSynopsis
Engage, learn, and evolve as students take charge of a group of charismatic ducks and embark on an extraordinary evolutionary journey. Witness natural selection in action, adapt to changing environments, and uncover fascinating complexities through an engaging and interactive gameplay experience.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Norman Li is a Professor of Psychology at SMU. He has a BA in economics from Northwestern University, MBA from University of Michigan, and a PhD from Arizona State University. Prior to academia, Dr. Li worked in options trading and as an investment consultant, and taught economics and finance in Chicago. He also was an assistant professor in psychology at University of Texas-Austin. His research in social psychology draws on an evolutionary psychological perspective and focuses on mate choice and various aspects of human mating, as well as the root of problems that increasingly affect modern individuals, organizations, and societies. He has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals and 40 chapters in edited volumes and is currently serving on the editorial board of six academic journals.
- 9:30 - 9:40 am Co-Founders of the North
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Associate Professor Geng Xuesong Senior Lecturer Whitney Zhang
Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Singapore Management University Co-Founders of the NorthSynopsis
Embark on an epic multiplayer adventure with Co-Founders of the North, where students collaborate and compete to build towering structures on a dynamic floating island
Speaker Bio
Dr. Geng obtained his PhD from the University of Toronto and he is Associate Professor of Strategic Management at Lee Kong Chian School of Business of Singapore Management University. He has taught courses such as strategy, strategic change, sustainability and digital business on undergraduate, masters, and PhD levels. He tends to use case- and action-based teaching to make his class interactive and thought-provoking for students. He is the recipient of SMU Most Promising Teacher Award and Most Innovative Teacher Award.
Dr. Whitney Zhang has been actively teaching undergraduate, post graduate and Executive program since 2012. Whitney has been consistently placed on the Dean’s Honor List as top teaching faculty since 2014. With a strong background in Engineering, Whitney appreciates the interdisciplinary nature of strategic management in today’s day and age, which is critical for firms to strive in the VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world. Whitney grew up in China, studied in the States, worked in the States and Singapore. The experience has provided her diverse cultural background and special insights in managing change. She has written cases of both large multinational corporations and small enterprises. She has also constantly contributed to newspaper articles such as Lianhe Zaobao. She has worked with industry partners to bring real life problems to the classroom so that students are able to provide fresh perspectives that often turn out to be valuable in tackling the issues. Whitney does a lot of volunteer work as she believes in giving back to society. She loves music, enjoys nature , and exercises frequently
- 9:40 - 9:50 am Inn or Out: Yield Management Simulation
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Associate Professor Marcus Ang
Lee Kong Chieng School of Business
Singapore Management University Inn or Out: An Yield Management SimulationSynopsis
Students step into the shoes of a savvy hotel manager in Inn or Out! They attempt to navigate the challenges of high-demand holiday periods, strategically optimize bookings, and prevent costly empty rooms or frustrating overbookings.
Speaker Bio
Marcus Ang is an Associate Professor in the Operations Management Department of SMU. Marcus’s teaching and research interests are in inventory management, stochastic models, robust optimization and application of Operations Research Techniques on business-related problems. His research has been published in top business journals such as Management Science and Operations Research. He has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and has been on the Dean’s List of Teaching from 2014 to 2023. He is also the winner of the SMU Innovative Teacher Award 2018 and the winner of the SMU Excellent Teacher Award 2020.
- 9:50 - 10:00 am SMU Challenge
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Associate Professor Seow Poh Sun
Senior Lecturer Wong Suay Peng
Associate Professor Sterling Huang
School of Accountancy
Singapore Management University SMU ChallengeSynopsis
SMU Challenge is a fast-paced mobile game that puts students’ knowledge to the test with a series of rapid-fire multiple-choice questions. Race against the clock, earn double points for every correct answer. Trigger the fever mode for an exhilarating chance to earn even more points.
Speaker Bio
Dr Seow Poh Sun is Associate Professor of Accounting (Education) and Associate Dean (Teaching and Curriculum) of the School of Accountancy at Singapore Management University. His teaching and research interests are in accounting information systems, accounting data & analytics, behavioural issues in accounting and accounting education. He has received several international and local teaching and research awards. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore and Fellow of CPA Australia.
Ms Wong Suay Peng joined the School of Accountancy as a senior lecturer in 2010. She teaches Management Accounting and Accounting Information Systems and has a keen interest in innovation in education.
Dr. Sterling Huang joined Singapore Management University in 2014. He received his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Management from INSEAD Business School. Prior to his doctoral studies, Sterling was an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Sydney). He has published his work in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, Review of Financial Studies, Management Science, Strategic Management Journal, Review of Corporate Finance Studies, European Accounting Review, and Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance.
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10:00 - 10:10 am Escape Room Game
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Dr. Low Chin Heng
Lee Kong Chian School of Business
Singapore Management University Teaching Team Dynamics with Escape RoomsSynopsis
This immersive escape room game is designed to teach invaluable team building and people management skills! Engage in a race against time as student groups navigate the intricate puzzles and challenges within a Pharaoh's tomb.
Speaker Bio
Chin Heng teaches management courses at Singapore Management University and various institutions. Additionally, he does research as Honorary Research Fellow at Australian National University. His research interests include experiential learning, psychological contracts and career stage transitions. Mindful of giving back to academia, he is also serving as a reviewer of Human Relations, Small Group Research and Journal of International Education in Business.
- 10:10 - 10:20am iDecision Games
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Associate Professor Dorcas Quek Anderson
Yong Pung How School of Law
Singapore Management University Learning Negotiation with iDecision GamesSynopsis
In iDecision Games, students assume diverse roles and engage in dynamic, real-time negotiations with fellow students. They will hone their persuasion, collaboration, and critical thinking skills as they navigate complex scenarios, strategize, and strive to reach mutually beneficial outcomes.
Speaker Bios
Dorcas is an Associate Professor of Law in the Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law. She is also a mediator with Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC), Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), Asian Development Bank and the Office of the Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes. Dorcas has been teaching negotiation in SMU for more than 5 years. She has been awarded the School of Law’s Most Promising Teacher Award in 2017 and the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2020 to 2022, as well as been nominated for SMU’s Most Promising Teacher (2018 and 2019) and Most Innovative Teacher (2021). Dorcas has also conducted negotiation and mediation training for SIMC, SMC and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Dorcas’ research on dispute resolution seeks to inform dispute resolution practice. Her research has been published in leading journals including Harvard Negotiation Law Review, Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution and Civil Justice Quarterly. Dorcas is currently exploring the impact of communication modes on negotiation in a three-year research project supported by an Academic Research (Tier 2) Grant awarded by the Ministry of Education.
- 10:20 - 10:30am Game Based Learning and Gamification in eLearn
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Integrated Information Technology Services
Singapore Management University
Game-Based Learning and Gamification in eLearnSynopsis
Colleagues from the Integrated Information Technology Services talk will be talking about how Game-Based Learning and gamification can be integrated with eLearn, SMU’s learning management system
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- 10:30am - 12:00pm Game Showcase and Exhibition
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Please visit the accompanying Virtual Site for a full interactive experience with all the projects and games showcased in Learning Innovation Festival 2023
All timings listed are in Singapore Time (GMT +8).
Please cte [at] smu.edu.sg (contact) CTE at cte [at] smu.edu.sg if you are interested to find out more about the innovations showcased in LIFE 2021.