Ding Yi

Introduction

July '12 Diploma in Music Education cohort

I am Ong Ding Yi, currently doing the Bachelor of Arts Programme (Primary), specialising in Music. I wouldn't say that my NIE journey is the toughest, but indeed, it has been one filled with ups and downs. I originally was enrolled into the Diploma in Education (General). However, I appealed and managed to switch over to doing 1-CS specialisation in music. I was able to secure a distinction at my practicum and a crossover to the degree programme. But, there wasn't any 1-CS degree courses. This would mean that I had to change to a general degree. Changing from a 1-subject specialisation diploma to a general degree resulted in various ramifications. However, I also grew stronger as a result. 

People who know me well will describe me as an easy-going, extroverted person. I will usually be less vocal in larger classes, only showing my extroverted side when needed (e.g. presentations, micro-teaching etc.). 

On weekends I will usually be in church, serving as the keyboardist on sundays for main church services or certain saturdays for the patient service in the hospital that my church is in (Saint Andrew's Mission Hospital). Sometimes I would wheel the patients down to attend service as well.

2008 TPJC Choir Concert @ Esplanade

I am currently doing Voice as my instrumental major. My love for singing started when I was a student conductor in my JC choir. Due to certain reasons, my conductor left the school and I had to pick up conducting to conduct my choir for the annual concert at Esplanade. That sparked of my "teaching instincts" as well which then became one of the main reasons why I chose to teach. I am currently a tenor in the Singapore Lyric Opera Chorus.

Teaching Philosophies

My teaching philosophies are largely influenced by my life experiences.

1) Experience, Conceptualize, Apply (ECA)

Be it Music, English or Maths, one of the things I would advocate in my teaching is ECA. As a student, my daily routine in class only consisted of conceptualising key ideas in a topic, applying them in the form of worksheets/tests etc, and then moving on to a new topic and the process is repeated. The experience part is often compromised due to "lack of time". However, students need that experience to construct their knowledge and teachers would also need to informally assess and observe during the experience part to know if students are in the zone of proximal development (ZPD).

Using Experience-Concept-Apply on a Pop Music module in school

2) Never shortchange the students

From my first teaching experience as a contract teacher in July 2011, I have met many teachers who were often not in school. Many of them do not have ready-made lessons that substitute teachers could deliver as well. This resulted in many "lost periods" which may be detrimental to student's future learning if the teacher tries to rush the syllabus as a result of the "lost periods". Whether the teacher is on MC, or have urgent important matters to attend to, I feel that students should not be shortchanged. I will strive to create ready-made lessons, those that students will have the motivation to complete and learn. This would mean that it is not just assigning work from workbooks etc. But things such as problem-based learning. Getting students to form groups and collaborate to find answers to certain questions. Ultimately, my aim is to improve the schooling experience of every student that I come across. In doing that, I hope to value-add their lives as well.