Author Archives: Khoo Soo Guan, Christopher (Assoc Prof)

About Khoo Soo Guan, Christopher (Assoc Prof)

School of Communication and Information

K6225 Knowledge Discovery & Data Mining

What the instructor, Dr Chris Khoo, says about the course:

There are two data mining courses offered in the School:

a technical course offered in the MSc Information Systems programme (CI6227 Data Mining)

a practical course (this course, K6225) using a how-to-do-it, how-does-it-work and how-to-apply-it kind of approach, with a minimum of mathematics.

This course seeks to develop the student’s commonsense ability to manipulate data from different angles. When I first taught this course more than 10 years ago, I focused on teaching methods and techniques, expecting students to be able to use commonsense to apply them. I was horrified at the end of the semester to find in the term reports and exam answers that students had many misconceptions and was applying the methods incorrectly. I gradually learnt then “commonsense” is actually uncommon, and that data analysis is an art, requiring knowledge, skill and creativity. The course now adopts a more problem-based approach where students analyse a particular dataset throughout the course of the semester — each week applying the technique they have learnt in class. Every week, 2 or 3 groups of students give a 3 minute presentation of their data analysis results — so that I can point out misconceptions, how the analysis can be improved, and subtleties not highlighted in the lecture material.

This semester, I’m experimenting with social media to supplement classroom interaction. A blog and twitter account will be set up for students to send comments, questions and reflections. This is in addition to the discussion forum in EdveNTUre.

The first half of the semester is devoted to statistical analysis, and the second half to machine-learning methods. This is because there is no separate statistics course in the KM programme, and I think it is dangerous to go into an organisation to do data mining without knowing basic statistical analysis.

PhD students have found this a good substitute for a stats course. I must caution students though the course doesn’t cover experimental design and Analysis of Variance, which PhD students doing quantitative research should know. (Courses on ANOVA are available in the Psychology Division.)

Welcome, 2011 cohort of students!

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We welcome the 2011 cohort of students in the Information Studies, Information Systems and Knowledge Management MSc programmes. Out of a total of 1,166 completed applications, admission offers were made to 278 applicants:

MSc (Information Studies) 83
MSc (Information Systems) 121
MSc (Knowledge Management) 74

Admission interviews were held in Beijing and Yangon, in addition to the interviews in Singapore. Student matriculation (registration) is going on now. The final number of registered students may be lower.

Orientation for new students was held on Thur. 4 Aug, at 6:15pm, in the Lee Foundation LT in the school.

Congratulations to the class of 2011!

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Convocation 2010 was held on 29th July. A total of 247 students graduated in the 2009-2010 academic year:

Ph.D. 1
M.Sc. Information Studies 79
M.Sc. Information Systems 106
M.Sc. Knowledge Management 61

Special congratulations to the Gold Medal winners:

Library Association Gold Medal (Information Studies): Grace Leong Wai Fun
LexisNexis Gold Medal (Information Systems): Hoo Hui Liang

As well as to our PhD graduates:

Dr Blooma Mohan John

We wish graduates the very best in their career!

NTU/WKWSCI convocation 2011

Father and daughter at WKWSCI

NTU/WKWSCI convocation 2011

International Night & Alumni Reunion 2010/11

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International Night 2010 was held on Sat. 15 Jan. 2011 at the ADM Auditorium (at the School of Art, Design & Media). The event was MCed by Info Studies grad and NLB librarian Pattarin Kusolpalin.

The programme:

1. Multi-ethnic Dance of Myanmar

Performers: Saw Hla Myat, Kyaw Zin Min, Hnin Wit Yee, Aung San Htoo, Hnin Ei Pan, Aung Lwin Phyo, May Oo Khaing, Pa Pa Win Swe, Ei Kay Khaing, Cho Mar Win, Swe Lae Hnin, Sakawar Yee Nyo, Khaing Mar Ko Ko, Swe Zin Thant, Win Lei Phyu, Mya Mya Thin, Thuza

Multi-ethnic dance of Myanmar

2. Thingyan/Myanmar New Year Song (Piano performance) — Thinzar Myo Myint

Thingyan/Myanmar New Year Song (Piano performance) -- Thinzar Myo Myint

3. Light piano music — Mira Tantri

Light piano music -- Mira Tantri

4. Indian Songs, with Guitar & Violin — Bhuvan Jalal & Chris Khoo

Indian Songs, with Guitar -- Bhuvan Jalal

Indian Songs, with Guitar & Violin -- Bhuvan Jalal & Chris Khoo

5. Chinese Flute — Chong Thong Yang (National Library Board)

Chinese Flute -- Chong Thong Yang (National Library Board), accompanied by Pang Siu Yuin

6. Tango music (Violin Trio with Piano) — Pang Siu Yuin, Chris Khoo, Marina Tan (Development Office), Du Juan (National Library Board)

Tango music (Violin Trio with Piano) -- Pang Siu Yuin, Chris Khoo, Marina Tan (Development Office), Du Juan (National Library Board)

7. Karen Don Yein Dance of Myanmar

Performers: Saw Hla Myat, Hnin Wit Yee, Hnin Ei Pan, May Oo Khaing, Pa Pa Win Swe, Ei Kay Khaing, Cho Mar Win, Swe Lae Hnin, Sakawar Yee Nyo, Khaing Mar Ko Ko, Swe Zin Thant, Win Lei Phyu, Mya Mya Thin, Thuza

Karen Don Yein Dance of Myanmar

8. Belly Dancing — Wei Yu

Thank you! See you at International Night 2011/12 — Sat., 7 Jan. 2012

NTU/WKWSCI International Night & Alumni Reunion 2010/11

Welcome to the 2010 cohort of students!

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We welcome the 2010 cohort of students in the Information Studies, Information Systems and Knowledge Management MSc programmes. Out of a total of nearly 1,250 completed applications, admission offers were made to 273 applicants:

MSc (Information Studies) 80
MSc (Information Systems) 120
MSc (Knowledge Management) 73

Admission interviews were held in Shanghai and Yangon, in addition to the interviews in Singapore. Student matriculation (registration) is going on now. The final number of registered students may be lower.

Orientation for new students was held on Mon. 30 Aug, at 5pm, in the School of Biological Scences Lecture Theatre.

Orientation for Information Studies, Information Systems & KM students 2010

New faculty — Dr Natalie Pang & Dr Joanna Sin

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We welcome 2 new talented faculty members to the Division — Dr Natalie Pang and Dr Joanna Sin.

Dr Natalie Pang

Dr. Natalie Pang

obtained her Ph.D. in Information Management from Monash University in 2009, where her research was also awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for Doctoral thesis excellence and the Faculty of IT doctoral medal. Her research interests are mainly in information commons/common pool resources, digital heritage, records management, structuration theory and the philosophy of information. A graduate of Melbourne University and Nanyang Technological University, Natalie has served as a Research Associate of Museum Victoria (History and Technology), the Victorian Association of Tertiary Libraries, and Research Fellow of the Centre for Community Networking and Research (CCNR), Monash University. She will be teaching a new course on Storytelling in Organisations in Semester 2.

Dr Joanna Sin

Dr Joanna Sin

holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). Previously, she received her B. of Social Science degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in Geography and minoring in Anthropology. Her research interests include library services and uses, information behaviours, information organisation and retrieval, and information equity. She teaches in the information organisation area. Before joining NTU, Joanna was a visiting assistant professor at the School of Library and Information Studies at UW-Madison. She also has experience working in technical and reference services in academic libraries. She will be teaching Information Organisation in Semester 1 and Cataloguing & Classification in Semester 2.

Dr Chris Khoo at IFLA Annual Conference

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Dr Chris Khoo attended the World Library and Information Congress: 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly from 13-15 Aug 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

I met many old friends from around the world, including several librarians from NTU and the National Library Board! I had a reunion with Dr Abdus Sattar Chaudhry, who is doing very well at the U. of Kuwait, and Dr Cheryl Cordeiro (a.k.a. Miss Singapore), a graduate of our MSc Information Studies program who has now settled in Sweden. (See picture below)

I presented a paper on a collaborative project with three other information schools in Asia (abstract below). Nurhazman Abdul Aziz, a recent Information Studies graduate and a librarian at NTU, presented a paper on social web applications, co-authored with NTU librarians Mr Chia Yew Boon and Mrs Hazel Loh. Well-done, Hazman!

Paper abstract and pictures below.

Factors Affecting Re-Usability of Learning Objects Across National Boundaries: An Exploratory Study of Information Organization and Knowledge Management
By Christopher Khoo (NTU, Singapore), Abdus Sattar Chaudhry (U. of Kuwait), Sujin Butdisuwan (Mahasarakham U., Thailand), Joyce Chen (National Taiwan Normal U.)

Abstract. This paper reports an exploratory study of the factors likely to affect the re-usability of lecture slides across different LIS schools. The study was carried out in the context of a collaborative project to develop a regional repository of learning objects in LIS. Existing lecture slides on topics in Information Organization and Knowledge Management from four schools were compared to identify common content that suggest reusability of the content, as well as unusual, innovative or well-developed content that can be reused to enhance another instructor’s lecture presentation.

Lecture content on practical topics or that cover international standards and specifications tend to be similar across LIS schools and are likely to reusable with little modification, except for language translation. Lectures that provide a general introduction to a topic or address an abstract topic tend to be quite different because the instructor can address the topic from different perspectives and select different types of information. Introductory/superficial treatments of a topic are more likely to reused across different courses. The type of information on a lecture slide may affect its reusability. Core concepts and frameworks, and quotes from experts tend to recur across the schools. Well-developed examples, illustrations, diagrams and images can be reused by other instructors to enhance their lectures. Different countries have different strengths, and lecture material from a particular country may have more in-depth treatment of particular topics. A repository of lecture slides from different countries will be enormously useful both for instructors teaching a course for the first time, as well as instructors seeking to improve a lecture presentation.

Chris, Cheryl & Abdus at Gothenburg, Sweden

Hazman presenting at IFLA Annual General Meeting 2010

Dr Theng at IADIS Multi Conference

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Dr Theng Yin Leng attended the IADIS Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (MCCSIS 2010) in Germany, 26-31 July. She presented papers at 3 mini-conferences.

1. Investigating the Influence of Reading Habits and Design Features on Perceived Acceptance of E-Book Systems – A Case study on FlipViewer Xpress
By Yin-Leng Theng, Anu Prasad Ramany, Chua Jit Chee, Tan Kee Siong and Ho Seng Beng
Presented in the Interfaces and Human Computer Interaction 2010 mini-conference.

Abstract. Due to the variety of tools and devices available for reading e-books, readers are faced with a sense of ambiguity over what would best serve their interests. This calls for more studies on users to be placed at the forefront of designing e-books. Using FlipViewer Xpress as an exemplary e-book system, this study developed a theoretical model to investigate the determinants and effects of reading habits and design features on users’ acceptance of e-book systems. Findings show FlipViewer Xpress was useful for browsing and scanning as well as selective and linear reading, but in contrast to earlier studies on e-book systems, FlipViewer Xpress was also suitable for in-depth and concentrated reading as well as repeated reading. The paper concludes with a discussion on the factors that affect users’ perceptions of acceptance of Flipviewer, in particular, and e-book systems in general.

2. Usage of E-Health Services: Examining the Age Differences in Individual Decisions
By Pallavi Rao, Shalini Chandra and Yin-Leng Theng
Presented in the e-health 2010 mini-conference

Abstract. This study investigated the factors influencing consumers’ intention to continue using healthcare portals and the impact of age on it. Findings from prior information systems research were used to theorize a research model which considers satisfaction and trust as the key constructs and subjective-norms, preference (for human contact) and self-efficacy as their antecedents. Research hypotheses derived from this model were empirically validated using a field survey. Data collected (N=88) was first analyzed to see the significance of hypothesized paths. Further, this data was grouped on age and analyzed to see the effect of age on consumers’ continuance intentions. Results showed that generally satisfaction was the main factor determining continuance. But, compared to perceptions of the middle-aged users, young adults’ perception of trust in healthcare portals was influenced by their self-efficacy. In contrast, middle-aged users’ perception of trust in healthcare portals was influenced by subjective-norms and their preference. Theoretical and practical implications for understanding the effects of age differences in consumers’ continued use of healthcare portals are discussed.

3. E-Learning in Second Life: Opportunistic Virtual Spaces for Social-Collaborative or Deep-Reflective Learning?
Yin-Leng Theng
Presented in the E-Learning miniconference

Abstract. This paper describes an exploratory study to investigate whether Second Life is a viable social space for e-learning. A total of 361 Second Life users took part in the online survey. We first developed a theoretical model based on Technology Acceptance Model linking the antecedents into the key factors using information acquired from an extended literature review. We then undertook a survey of Second Life users. Data collection was carried out via a self-reported questionnaire. Through the use of statistical tests, our findings showed that system-input efficacy and system-output efficacy were determinants of social-collaborative learning and deep-reflective learning, leading to perceived satisfaction of Second Life as a virtual space for e-learning.

Congratulations to the class of 2010!

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Convocation 2010 was held on 28th July. A total of 221 students graduated in the 2009-2010 academic year:

Ph.D. 3
M. Applied Sci. 1
M.Sc. Information Studies 88
M.Sc. Information Systems 86
M.Sc. Knowledge Management 43

Special congratulations to the Gold Medal winners:

Library Association Gold Medal (Information Studies): Fa’izah Binte Ahmad
LexisNexis Gold Medal (Information Systems): Gaurav Gupta
LexisNexis Gold Medal (Knowledge Management): Thara Ravindran Vallomparambath Panikkas

As well as to our PhD graduates:

Dr Chan Soon Keng
Dr Lee Shu Shing
Dr Wang Zhonghong

We wish graduates the very best in their career. Please keep in touch with your former classmates and with the school. And of course, don’t forget to make a contribution to the Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund. 🙂

LAS Gold Medal winner, Fa'izah Binte Ahmad, with her family at Convo2010

NTU Division of Information Studies Convocation 2010

DIS at ICADL conference at Gold Coast, Australia

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Drs Dion Goh, Lee Chei Sian, Schubert Foo, Chris Khoo and PhD student Kokil Jaidka attended the International Conference on Asian Digital Libraries (ICADL) held at Gold Coast, Australia, from June 21-25.

In addition to presenting a paper at the conference, Kokil presented at the Doctorial Consortium, chaired by Drs Edie Rasmussen and Schubert Foo.

Pictures below. Abstracts of papers that DIS folks presented:

Do Games Motivate Mobile Content Sharing?
     By Dion Goh, Chei Sian Lee, Alton Chua
Abstract. Indagator (Latin for explorer) is a game which incorporates multiplayer, pervasive gaming elements into mobile content sharing. Indagator allows users to annotate real world locations with multimedia content, and concurrently, provide opportunities for play through creating and engaging interactive game elements, earning currency, and socializing. A user study of Indagator was conducted to examine the impact of the usability of Indagator’s content sharing and gaming features, as well as demographic profiles on participants’ motivation to use the application. Participants felt that the features in Indagator were able to support the objectives of content sharing and gaming, and that the idea of gaming could be a motivator for content sharing. In terms of motivation to use, usability of Indagator’s gaming features, gender and participants. familiarity with mobile gaming emerged as significant predictors. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

A Multifaceted Approach to Exploring Mobile Annotations
     By Guanghao Low, Dion Goh, Chei Sian Lee
Abstract. Mobile phones with capabilities such as media capture and location detection have become popular among consumers, and this has made possible the development of location-based mobile annotation sharing applications. The present research investigates the creation of mobile annotations from three perspectives: the recipients of the annotations, the type of content created, and the goals behind creating these annotations. Participants maintained a two week-long diary, documenting their annotation activities. Results suggest that range of motivational factors, including those for relationship maintenance and entertainment. Participants were also more inclined to create leisure-related annotations, while the types of recipients were varied. Implications of our work are also discussed.

Imitating Human Literature Review Writing: An Approach to Multi-Document Summarization
     By Kokil Jaidka, Chris Khoo, Jin-Cheon Na
Abstract. This paper gives an overview of a project to generate literature reviews from a set of research papers, based on techniques drawn from human summarization behavior. For this study, we identify the key features of natural literature reviews through a macro-level and clause-level discourse analysis; we also identify human information selection strategies by mapping referenced information to source documents. Our preliminary results of discourse analysis have helped us characterize literature review writing styles based on their document structure and rhetorical structure. These findings will be exploited to design templates for automatic content generation.

Preservation of Cultural Heritage: From Print Book to Digital Library – A Greenstone Experience
     By Henny M. Sutedjo, Gladys Sau-Mei Theng, Yin-Leng Theng
Abstract. We argue that current development in digital libraries presents an opportunity to explore the use of DL as a tool for building and facilitating access to digital cultural resources. Using Greenstone, an open source DL, we describe a 10-step approach in converting an out-of-print book, ‘Costumes through Times’, and constructing a DL creation of costumes.

From left: Vilas Wuwongse (AIT, Thailand), Kokil Jaidka (NTU), Nisachol Chamnongsri (Suranaree U. of Technology, Thailand), Shigeo Sugimoto (U. of Tsukuba, Japan), Gobinda Chowdhury (U. Technology Sydney), Chris Khoo (behind the camera!)

Gold Coast skyline from Hilton Surfer's Paradise hotel