Chemistry Seminar with Dr. Fun Man Fung from University College Dublin at 4:00pm
Abstract:
In this seminar, I would like to share some of my group’s work in the Science of Learning and Educational Technology, applied as case studies in Chemical Sciences courses.
Because of today's interconnected social landscape, the application of technology-enabled education has become widely recognized. Surprisingly, the primary challenge of digital teaching and learning lies in its social dimension. The current methods of digital instruction have resulted in diminished student-faculty interactions due to the absence of non-visual cues and a longer response time for inquiries. Moreover, the reduced physical connections among peers have hindered collaborative learning and raised concerns about students' mental well-being. We showcase a facile and affordable approach by building vibrant learning communities within existing popular digital platforms.
About the speaker:
Fun Man Fung, Ph.D. earned his graduate degrees from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Technische Universität München, Germany. He is an Assistant Professor at the School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Dr Fung is a YSEALI Professional Fellow (2019) hosted by the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana for his work in civic engagement. Honors and awards include Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2024), NUS High Inspiring Research Mentor Award (2023); CAS Future LeadersTM Program (2020); Institute of Advanced Studies-Nanyang Technological University-SNIC Chemistry National Meeting Singapore Award for Chemical Education (2020), and D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Canada (2019).
Dr Fung is the lead co-editor of two books. The first, titled "10 Things You Must Know About the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)," published by World Scientific, serves as a comprehensive guide to this competition. The second, "Technology-Enabled Blended Learning Experiences for Chemistry Education and Outreach," published by Elsevier, serves as a resource for educators and researchers seeking to incorporate technology into STEAM education and its impact on fostering engaging learning experiences.
In 2022, Dr Fung was elected as a council member of the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC), re-elected in 2024. He served as the National Representative of Singapore on the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education (CCE) from 2020-2024.
Since 2024, he has been serving as the Associate Editor of Chemistry Teacher International (CTI), an Open Access journal by the Division of Chemistry Education of European Chemical Society and IUPAC CCE.