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.
LIFE 2025 is proud to be part of AUN-TEPL and welcomes its partners as we explore innovative and effective use of AI technology enhanced personalized teaching & learning.
Our Speakers
Associate Professor Tamas Makany
Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation)
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University
Dr. Kiruthika Ramanathan
Senior Lecturer of Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management University
Mr. Rafael Barros
Senior Lecturer of Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management University

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
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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
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Associate Professor Tamas Makany
Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation)
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management University
Introduction by Director, Centre for Teaching ExcellenceTamas 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
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Dr Kiruthika Ramanathan
Senior Lecturer of Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management UniversityAI 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
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Mr. Rafael Barros
Senior Lecturer of Information Systems
School of Computing and Information Systems
Singapore Management UniversityThinking 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 thinkingSpeaker 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
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Associate Professor Tamas Makany
Associate Provost (Teaching and Learning Innovation)
Director, Centre for Teaching Excellence
Singapore Management UniversityAI 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.
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10:40 - 11:10 am - Building AI Literacy Through Library Innovation: Integrating AI-Powered Research Tools into Student Learning
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Ms. Xia Wei
Principal Librarian, Instruction and Learning Services
Li Ka Shing Library
Singapore Management UniversityBuilding AI Literacy Through Library Innovation: Integrating AI-Powered Research Tools into Student LearningSynopsis
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
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Mr. Kumar Sivarajoo
Manager, Digital Learning Services Integrated Information Technology Systems
Singapore Management UniversityGen AI Tools in the Learning Management SystemSynopsis
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
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Wrap-upMr. 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.