Learning Innovation Festival (LIFE) 2025

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Transforming Teaching, Transforming Learning: AI in Action

The Learning Innovation Festival (LIFE) 2025 brings together speakers, faculty members, and staff members to explore educational issues and challenges, and provides opportunities for faculty members to showcase their innovative use of AI in their teaching practices.

Our Speakers

Ms. Xia Wei
Senior Librarian
Li Ka Shing Library
Singapore Management University
 

Mr. Kumar Sivarajoo
Manager
Digital Learning Services
Integrated Information Technology Systems
Singapore Management University

Programme

10 October 2025 (9am - 12pm Singapore Time)

9:00 - 9:05 am - Welcome and Introduction to LIFE

Welcome and Introduction to LIFE

Mr. Bernie Koh
Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University
 

 

9:05 - 9:10 am - Introduction by Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence

 

Associate Professor Tamas Makany
Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation)
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University
 

Introduction by Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence

Tamas Makany is the Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation) and Director of the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at Singapore Management University. He teaches design communication courses in the Lee Kong Chian School of Business as Associate Professor of Communication Management (Education). He holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Southampton, UK, and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford on educational technology for underserved communities. A former Silicon Valley design researcher with Netflix, Microsoft, and educational gaming startups, his current academic research focuses on generative AI in education. He received SMU’s Most Promising Teacher Award in 2023 and was nominated for the Innovative Teacher Award in 2021.

 

9:10 - 9:40 am - AI Builder for Stakeholder Understanding in IS Modules

 

 

Dr Kiruthika Ramanathan
Senior Lecturer of Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management University

 

AI Builder for Stakeholder Understanding in IS Modules

Synopsis

IT Service Management augments learning by integrating AI-powered intent recognition into role-play scenarios, where students acted as IT support teams communicating with AI agents simulating real stakeholders using industry tools like Jira and Azure. The AI provided immediate, personalized feedback, which led to richer, more frequent student communications and a measurable improvement in understanding RACI roles and stakeholder management. Students found the AI-enhanced labs more challenging and enjoyable, while faculty benefited from streamlined, scalable feedback processes using automation.

Speaker Bio

Kiruthika Ramanathan is a Senior Lecturer at Singapore Management University, where she teaches and designs courses that integrate business and technology. She is passionate about using technology to make learning more interactive and relevant, especially through the use of AI tools in the classroom to aid in creating personalized learning experiences

 

9:40 - 10:10 am - Thinking Like an Analyst: Teaching with the ABCDEF Framework & Custom GPT Mentor

 

 

Mr. Rafael Barros
Senior Lecturer of Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management University

 

Thinking Like an Analyst: Teaching with the ABCDEF Framework & Custom GPT Mentor

Synopsis

In this hands-on workshop, Rafael J. Barros introduces the ABCDEF Framework, a structured method that empowers students to ask better analytical questions before jumping into dashboards and charts. Designed to combat a common learning gap—formulating clear, data-driven questions—the framework guides learners through six critical thinking steps: Audience, Business Question, Category, Data, Ethics, and Formulate.
Participants will also experience the ABCDEF Custom GPT Mentor—a tireless AI teaching assistant that models professional analyst thinking. Discover how AI can coach students to become active, ethical, and confident problem solvers. Whether you teach analytics, business, or data storytelling, this session will equip you with practical tools and sample prompts to elevate student engagement and critical thinking

Speaker Bio

Rafael J. Barros is a Senior Lecturer of Information Systems at Singapore Management University with over 35 years of experience in technology-enhanced learning, analytics, and enterprise systems. He leads innovative teaching practices that integrate AI to foster critical thinking and student engagement. With academic roots in Systems Engineering and Education, Rafael bridges pedagogy and technology to design data-driven, learner-centric experiences. His current work explores how generative AI and analytics frameworks can scale reflective learning in higher education.

 

10:10 - 10:40 am - AI Video Avatars: Augmenting Blended Learning with HeyGen

 

 

 

Associate Professor Tamas Makany
Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation)
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University

 

 

 

AI Video Avatars: Augmenting Blended Learning with HeyGen

Synopsis

Prof Tamas Makany will share how he augmented his digital communication class with AI-generated video avatars. He will demonstrate practical implementation strategies, including script preparation and avatar customization. He will also share challenges with voice modulation and movement limitations. With a live demo and discussion, attendees can learn to implement HeyGen in their teaching contexts.

Speaker Bio

Tamas Makany is the Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation) and Director of the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at Singapore Management University. He teaches design communication courses in the Lee Kong Chian School of Business as Associate Professor of Communication Management (Education). He holds a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from the University of Southampton, UK, and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford on educational technology for underserved communities. A former Silicon Valley design researcher with Netflix, Microsoft, and educational gaming startups, his current academic research focuses on generative AI in education. He received SMU’s Most Promising Teacher Award in 2023 and was nominated for the Innovative Teacher Award in 2021.

​10:40 - 11:10 am - Building AI Literacy Through Library Innovation: Integrating AI-Powered Research Tools into Student Learning

 

 

Ms. Xia Wei
Principal Librarian, Instruction and Learning Services
Li Ka Shing Library
Singapore Management University

 

 

Building AI Literacy Through Library Innovation: Integrating AI-Powered Research Tools into Student Learning

Synopsis

This presentation addresses the challenges students encounter when conducting research for courses and how to enhance students’ research skills by leveraging AI tools.
Comprehensive learning solution was curated for faculty members to support students in understanding key concepts, discovering and analyzing relevant literature, and effectively utilizing AI tools throughout the research process. This solution comprises three integrated components:
 Part 1: Digital Learning Objects and Quiz
Part 2: In-Class Instruction
Part 3: Research Consultations
This structured approach ensures students gain both foundational knowledge and practical skills, empowering them to conduct effective research with the aid of AI tools.

Speaker Bio

Wei serves as Principal Librarian in the Instruction and Learning Services Team at SMU Libraries, bringing over 16 years of dedicated experience to the institution. Wei has developed extensive expertise in designing, developing, and delivering impactful information literacy programs that enhance student learning outcomes. Her work spans both curriculum-integrated instruction and innovative out-of-classroom learning initiatives, coordinating seamlessly across teams to ensure comprehensive support for student academic success. 

 

11:10 - 11:40 am - Gen AI Tools in the Learning  Management System

 

 

Mr. Kumar Sivarajoo
 Manager, Digital Learning Services Integrated Information Technology Systems
Singapore Management University

 

 

Gen AI Tools in the Learning Management System

Synopsis

During this 30-minute session, IITS will present an overview of the Gen AI features and tools available or on trial in 2025. This presentation will address practical applications, usage statistics, user feedback, and identified limitations. Additionally, product roadmaps and upcoming features may be discussed. The session will also highlight workshops and support resources designed to facilitate adoption of these technologies.

 

11:40 - 11:45am - Wrap-up

Wrap-up

Mr. Bernie Koh
Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University
 

 

All timings listed are in Singapore Time (GMT +8).​

Please cte [at] smu.edu.sg (contact CTE) if you are interested to find out more about the innovations showcased in LIFE 2025.

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