Student Spotlight: Cindy Mariani Askara

Hi, my name is Cindy and I am an international student who came from Indonesia to come and study in Temasek Polytechnic. I am currently in third year.

I first came to Singapore to study when I received Temasek Poly’s offer letter. I decided to take the opportunity to come to Singapore even though I am unfamiliar to IT and rarely used the computer before. It was a new experience for me as I studied abroad and lived independently. It’s a very interesting experience and I never knew how much I would enjoy studying in Temasek Poly before I really experience it myself.

A good point about TP which I liked is that I never get bored with school. TP gives us lots of opportunity to participate and be involved in various events. Some of them are Overseas Community Project, Study Trips, Open House and many more. By participating in these events, I had the opportunity to know a lot more people and I am really grateful that I’ve known such great friends.

Cindy and her friends during Overseas Community Project in Cambodia

 

The classes are interesting and the lecturers are very friendly and approachable. This is one of the reasons I am very grateful that I am in IIT school. I have never met lecturers who are concerned, not only about your studies, but your family, welfare and social activities as well. We can approach the lecturers for any help and they would be really glad to help us. They can be serious in class but funny at the same time. IIT School lecturers are the best!

Studying in this diploma stimulates my thinking and made me realized how important IT is. I learned how to create simple IT solutions to solve people’s problem and make their life easier. Learning IT is not difficult as some people think. We need to put in our best efforts and work harder, and learning will be much more enjoyable!

Student Spotlight: Low Shuqi

Low Shuqi is currently a third-year student studying in Diploma in IT. She was formerly from Temasek Secondary School, with an “O” level aggregate score of 19 points for L1R4. This article talks about her thoughts on her diploma:

"Before joining this diploma, I was already quite interested in this course, and believe that IT is inevitable in every single industry today.

To me, Diploma in IT covers mainly the programming sector but fret not, you will get to learn a wide range of IT-related skills and also experience new technologies.

I am currently on internship with KPMG, a well-known global consultancy firm. I am given an opportunity to apply what I have learnt in school, and that by joining a well-known and established company, it will give me a career head-start. Besides, when you receive compliments from your employers, the satisfaction is beyond words can ever explain. :)

My greatest fear is mathematics. My grade has never been good: It has always been a “F” grade and this is my most fearful subject. After entering Diploma in IT, the first subject that I heard was Computing MATHEMATICS. The word itself really scares me and I thought it will be a “F” grade again. Nevertheless, after attending the lectures and tutorials, I was able to grasp the logic. The lecturers have been really helpful when I have doubts and also classmates who offer to teach me when I am facing problems. They have all been a great help to me.

My advice to students is firstly, be willing to learn. To me, if you are willing to learn, people will be more than willing to teach. Don't be afraid to ask when you are in doubt! Secondly, don’t be afraid to venture into various fields in life. If you don’t venture, you will never know what are the things there waiting for you to uncover. It’s also important to always have passion in everything you do, have faith and always believe in yourself. :)"

Thanks Shuqi for your insights! We hope that you will continue to do us proud!

Overseas Community Project - Cambodia

The memories of Cambodia will forever last with me. It was a community trip that I will not forget. From the trip, I have learnt and experienced a lot of things that I will not be able to experience in Singapore. I have also gained a better understanding on their environment and living conditions.

It was Sunday the 4^th of October which was the day that a group of us IT students were going on a community project trip to Cambodia. Arranging ourselves into groups at Changi airport, we checked our belongings and started to head for the check in. Upon touchdown, a lot of us were glad that we were finally off the plane as many of us were beginning to feel the effects of the long flight. We checked through customs and collected our luggage. Next stop was to our hotel. After about an hour of bus ride, we finally reached and started to check into our rooms

At the airport and in the plane.

All the groups met at the ground floor first and then we headed out to a Thai Restaurant for lunch. The lunch was great as lots of us got the experience the different type of foods in Cambodia. After lunch, we were brought to go shopping at a local market. For the next stop, we were brought to a shopping mall. We headed for the supermarket as lots of us want to stock up on the daily needs like water and food for the next few days. Finally done with our marketing of supplies we boarded the bus and headed out for dinner. After dinner we finally headed back to the hotel.

Feeling refreshed after a good shower, we sit down with other friends from other rooms to discuss about our project which was a study trip to a Cambodia school and the activities that we will be having.

On the second day we headed out to UDONG HIGH SCHOOL. As we got off the bus and walked into the school, we were warmly welcomed by the students of the school. The students were all lined up on both sides of the walkway and clapping and saying ‘welcome’ as we entered the school and into a classroom.

The Cambodian students with a warm welcome

A brief introduction of the teachers and the director of the school were given to us and after the director of the school gave his welcoming speech, we had a tour of the school with the students as our guide. Talking to the students was very motivating and interesting at the same time. I find out that the students are very hardworking and always eager to learn. They have planned their future as what they wanted to be and do when they grow up.

Us teaching the Cambodian kids.

The kids were adorable

Gearing into ‘hyped’ mood, we walked into the class and started to introduce ourselves with enthusiasm. Next, we asked the students to give us a brief introduction about them. After getting to know the students a little bit, we proceeded with the activities that we have planned out. The first item that we taught them was origami. Seeing them so engrossed into folding the items that we have taught them was a great sight. Next we played ‘Hangman’ to teach the students English and at the same time having fun as a class. To end the day, we gathered the class outside in the open field to play ‘Dog and Bone’. Seeing the smiles on their face, my group and I were contented that we have managed to bring fun and enjoyable to the students. Saying goodbye, we headed back to the bus and for dinner.

Origami activities and getting ‘physical’ activities

On the third day, we headed back to the high school. However we did not go into the school just yet as we were going on a tour of the village around the school. The tour of the village was an eye opener for us and at the same time an exhausting one for us as we had to avoid ‘landmines’ which were animal’s waste along the way. After the tour, we headed back to the school. All of us were tired and hot. After a long break and lunch, we again gathered in our groups and headed to the classroom. We could see that the students were glad to see us and were looking forward to what activities we have planned for them. Showing pictures and explaining of Singapore main attractions, the type of festivals we celebrate and the type of houses that we live in was the first thing we did. Next we asked them to share with us about the type of festivals that they celebrated. After learning about their cultural, we played games that taught them English at the same time. Interacting with the students was so fun that we did not know that time had pass by so fast and it was already time to end class. Cleaning up our stuff, we headed back to the bus and to dinner.

Day 4. This was the final day that we will get to be at the high school. To start the day, we climbed up a mountain to visit several temples. It was a difficult and tiring hike as the road was uneven and it was a very long way up. However when we got to the top of the mountain, words could not describe the scene that we saw. It was so beautiful that it was breath taking. With all the landscapes of the hills the trees as the background which we will never get to see in Singapore.

View from the Mountain Top

After seeing about seven temples, we started to head down the mountain and back to the school. Throughout the break, all of us were making sure that the final activities planned were all in place and was ready to be carried out. With final preparations done, we headed for lunch and rest before heading to the class. After lunch we all did a final check and started our walk to the class. We talked and played mini games with the students before heading outside to join with the group for the mass activity. Lining the students into groups according to the class under us, we demonstrated the game to them and making sure that they fully understand, we started the game. Seeing all the students competing with one and other with enthusiasm but with a smile on their face, made all of us leaders feel that we all have accomplished a big task by bringing fun and joy to the students of the school. After the games, we had a prize presentation to give donations and present to both the students and the director of the school. Finally it was time to say goodbye. It started to get emotional for both the students and us. Remembering all the time of fun that we have spent together and now it was time to part, a lot of us started to cry. To remember the students and the time that we had with them, we took pictures and souvenirs were gave and received from both sides. With final goodbyes, we boarded and headed back for dinner. It was an emotional day for a lot of us but we will always remember the three days that we had spent there with the students. Back at the hotel, we gathered together and went through all the photos that we have taken.

Activities between us and the cambodian students

Group photo at the top of Udong Mountain and a very cheerful pair of students

Game time!

Group photos after an eventful day

On the fifth day it was a day ride to Siem Reap so we were mostly on the bus but we got to experience the taste of fried spiders and crickets.

Eating fried spiders and crickets!

On sixth day, we went shopping in Siem Reap and a lot of us bought souvenirs for family members and friends back home.

On the last day of our trip we visited many famous temples including the famed AngKor Wat!

Entrance to Angkor Wat and the good looking palm trees that decorate it

Near the centre of AngKor Wat and a close up view of its walls

Taking a photo where Lara Croft (aka Angelina Jolie) once stood

Overall, our trip to Cambodia has been a meaningful and educational for my class and I. We all have learnt something from this trip and it was a great experience for us. If we were given a chance to go back again, what will our answer be? Of course the answer will be a resounding YES!!!!!!!!

Group photo at the top of Udong Mountain

Japanese Student Exchange – Programming Smart Lego Robots

 

During the holiday month of October, I participated in a “Programming Smart Lego Robot” workshop. I felt honored to be able to participate in this student exchange program. Through the program, we had the opportunity to interact with Japanese students from Kumamoto National College of Technology (KNCT).

On the first day before meeting the Japanese students

We were grouped into teams of one Singapore and one Japanese student and worked together to construct and program our own robot using Lego Mindstorms. On the last day, we then compete with other teams to see whose robot is the fastest.

Ice Breaking Session with my new found Japanese friend

‘Smart’ Lego Mindstorms Robot

Testing our robots…

The main purpose is not the competition, but the process of working together and interacting with someone from a different country. Even though there might be a slight language barrier, that did not stop us from communicating. When needed, we used hand signal, writing and drawing to express what we want to say.

and having fun while at it!

Our interaction did not limit to only working but also playing and having fun. We had the chance to bring them out to visit places in Singapore and we also brought them out for lunch.

Lunch with the Japanese students

Question: Share with us the knowledge you have gained.

From this program, I gained valuable experiences. These can prepare me to enter into the workforce and better interact and communicate with people not only from Singapore, but also people from other countries with different cultures. This is especially so with the increasing influx of foreign friends into Singapore.

Group shot together

I also had the chance to use new software that was not taught in class to program my robot.

Students hard at work constructing the best robots

This is the first time I am involved in such a program, but with our knowledge on Java learnt during classes in dip IT, and the training provided by our lecturer, we were able to use the software effectively to program our robot.

Question: Give a simple introduction of yourself.

I graduated from Pioneer Secondary School in 2005. After receiving my O level results, I got into Singapore Polytechnic with the course of Diploma in Interior Design. That was not what I wanted as I have always keen on business related courses, but I went on to give it a try.

I thought I could survive in the course. But I withdrew after three semesters and finally enrolled into the Diploma in Information Technology.

Question: What kind of advice would you tell the secondary students who are reading this article now?

My advice is to choose your course wisely. If you really can’t get what you want, why not try others. Even though I’m in Diploma in Information Technology, I get to study business related subjects. Through Cross-Disciplinary Subjects (CDS), I have a chance to choose subjects from other schools. Like what I did, I took Basic Financial Accounting as one of my CDS.

This article was written by Lim Yun Ni, currently a year 3 student.

Innovation for TP Students by TP Students : ProxiQit

Temasek Polytechnic students have to configure their browser settings to connect to proxy servers in order to gain access to our cutting-edge high-speed internet.

It can be confusing and somewhat troublesome for students and staff alike to configure these settings.

Now you can enable and disable these settings with just a single click! Our fellow Diploma in IT student Kenneth Ham has developed an application named ProxiQit to allow TP students to gain access to our school internet service more conveniently.

ProxiQit has been deployed in IIT school this week, and you are now among the first to know about it! The application is available for download at http://bit.ly/1PzQnA .

Should you have any feedback about the application, do feel free to send your feedback using a built-in Feedback function in the application.

With the skills and knowledge we acquire from our course, we can indeed touch lives and enable, enrich and enjoy IT!

Student Showcase: Linkstyle

Team Members (from left): Wilson Hery, Joel Ng, David Wang (supervisor), Kyaw Myint

LinkStyle, to us, is like "Facebook playing basketball or playing soccer"!

Ok, probably not. But our application Linkstyle is a sports social networking application, and works similarly to Facebook.


Interested users can register with Linkstyle, find people with similar sporting interests (like soccer or basketball) and link up with one another to form groups to take part in these interests.

We hope Linkstyle will serve our desire to motivate people to participate in sports. We also have a "reward point" system for users. The more activities you organize, the more points you get. And the more points you get, the more you will be recognized in our community and can redeem a prize!


This project was started when some of our team members (Joel, Wilson) took part in the Singapore Open Jive Competition. Working together with them, I understand the purpose of this project and how I could contribute to the project.

I am thankful to Mr. David Wang, our supervisor. He is very enthusiastic to see a good project: That’s why he motivates us when we feel down and confused. Thanks Mr. Wang!

About the author:

Kyaw Myint is from Myanmar and is the only international student in his class. Before coming to Singapore and joining Temasek Poly, he has developed a strong interest in IT and learnt some programming on his own. He strongly believes he is on the right track to excel as an IT professional one day.

His advice to potential students? "When you encounter any difficulty, don’t give up and avoid it. Grab it and taking action. Maybe it will take some time and pains, but you will get a good result in the end."

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Student Showcase: NDP - mypledge.sg

Team Members (clockwise from top left): Justina Foo Jiaxin, Tan Chun You, Esther Ng Shu Ping, Wu Jietong



"What significance does the pledge hold for you?"

mypledge.sg is a web site to support this year's MyPledge Short Film competition, held during the months leading up to National Day.

Our team created an online space where Singaporeans can show their dedication by uploading short videos. These short videos focus on Singaporeans expressing our Singapore identity through film.

Our web site integrates and runs with Youtube: Videos and content are dynamically uploaded and streamed using AJAX, PHP and Javascript. All this adds up to a dynamic user experience for everyone.

Our project has allowed us Singaporeans to express our feelings for the nation and also enabled Singaporeans to see what our citizens are capable of as amateur film-makers.


For our team, we have learnt much from this project, working together and helping each other along the way. We also experienced working with an external client, and for a project that is live and visible to the whole world. This provides us with very useful experience when we enter the industry.

We also attended media events for the launch of this competition and it is an exhilarating experience to be interviewed by reporters!

Finally, we would like to thank our lecturers in charge of our project for the guidance they have provided.


About the author:

Wu Jietong is currently in his senior year in Diploma in IT, and was involved in the creation of mypledge.sg. He believes being a software developer can help attain his dream: To invent something that can revolutionize our world. He also believes that the IT world is ripe for youths to change the world, or to make money through software. As the world progresses in terms of technology, he is certain that the IT industry will become a cornerstone in our economy.


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