Category Archives: Happenings

Jobs Available: Assistant Professor

Position: Assistant Professor

Employer: Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, NTU Singapore

Description:
The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at the Nanyang Technological University, offers graduate programmes in Information Studies, Knowledge Management, Information Systems, and Mass Communication, which admit 300 graduate students annually from the region. The school is research-intensive and is committed to a collegial environment that brings out the best in teaching and research.

We are seeking to recruit a tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant Professor level in the area of Knowledge Management.
For further information, please contact the Head of Division of Information Studies, Dr Chris Khoo at chriskhoo@pmail.ntu.edu.sg

Requirements:
Candidates must have a PhD degree, and an active programme of research in knowledge management. Preferred areas of expertise include knowledge sharing, communities of practice, knowledge assets and social network analysis.

Responsibilities:
The successful candidate is expected to teach courses offered in the Division of Information Studies, mainly in the MSc Knowledge Management programme.
• More information about the School is available at http://www.wkwsci.ntu.edu.sg/.
• Information about the Knowledge Management programme is available at: http://www.wkwsci.ntu.edu.sg/ProspectiveStudents/Graduate/Pages/Graduate.aspx
• Information on conditions and terms of service is available at: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/ohr/Career/terms/Pages/FacultyPositions.aspx

To apply, please refer to the Guidelines for Submitting an Application for Faculty Appointment and send your application to:
Office of Human Resources
Nanyang Technological University
Administration Building, Level 4
50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
Fax: (65) 6791 9340
Email: Acad-talent@ntu.edu.sg

To ensure full consideration, please submit application by 15 October 2010. If you need a bit more time, please email Dr Chris Khoo at chriskhoo@pmail.ntu.edu.sg

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

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!