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Associate Professor

May LIM

Director, Centre for Learning Environment and Assessment Development (CoLEAD)
Associate Professor
PhD Occupational Therapy, The University of Queensland, Australia
Cluster:
Health and Social Sciences
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Biography

Dr May Lim is an Associate Professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). May is the Director of Centre for Learning Environment and Assessment Development (CoLEAD) that looks after the faculty development programmes in learning and teaching at the university level. In total, she has received around S$1.5 million grant in the different research projects that she is engaged in.  She won the SIT Teaching Excellence Award in 2016, 2019 and 2021. She has received a teaching research grant from the Ministry of Education to investigate the effect of experiential learning to improve students’ communication and empathy through learning from people with disability. May is also an experienced occupational therapist by profession, she has been working with children with developmental delay and disorders in Singapore and Australia. She previously led the Bachelor of Science (with Honours) in Occupational Therapy degree at SIT. She was involved in national projects such as providing consultancy to early intervention centres.

May plays a key role in sharing education policies such as Teaching & Learning policy, Assessment Policy, Academic Integrity Policy. In educational research she has experience in research projects on experiential learning, learning space, use of gamification in teaching, work-integrated study and cohort study of students’ traits and development. She pioneered the university-wide Freshmen survey that looks into students’ expectations as well as traits such as grit, growth mindset, resilience, and learning approaches. She leads a team that looks into studying the effect of traits on learning outcomes and the development of work-related skills for large cohorts of students. In 2019, she received the Ministry of Education Tertiary Education Research Fund (TRF) for the project Gamified micro-learning platform: An early intervention for at-risk freshmen. 

SIT Appointments

  • Director, Centre for Learning Environment and Assessment Development (CoLEAD)
    – Present
  • Associate Professor
    – Present
  • Assistant Provost (Applied Learning)
    –
  • Programme Director, SIT BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
    –
  • Deputy Director, Centre for Learning Environment and Assessment Development (CoLEAD)
    –
  • Deputy Programme Director, TCD BSc Occupational Therapy
    –
  • Assistant Professor
    –

Education

  • PhD Occupational Therapy
    The University of Queensland , Australia
  • Graduate Certificate of Higher Education
    The University of Queensland , Australia
  • Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons) - First Class
    St Loye's School of Health Studies, University of Exeter , United Kingdom

Achievements

  • SIT Teaching Excellence Award (AY19)
    –
  • SIT Teaching Excellence Award (AY17)
  • SIT Teaching Excellence Award (AY14)
  • Scholarship to the 2009 Australasian Human Development Association (AHDA) conference
  • The University of Queensland Research Scholarship
    –
  • Doctor of Philosophy Program Scholarship
    –
  • SingHealth Health Manpower Development Plan Award - 3 months fellowship in the USA, Vanderbilt Children Hospital & Belmont University, SingHealth
  • National Carnival of Quality Circle: Spring Singapore- Gold Award for Work Improvement Team project.
  • Public Service Commission Overseas Specialist Award, Public Service Commission (PSC)
    –

Professional Certification

  • Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
    International Coaching Federation
    –

Professional Memberships

  • Registered Occupational Therapist - Allied Health Profession Council - Singapore

Corporate Experience

  • Oribel Advisory Board Member
    – Present
  • Alzheimer’s Disease Association Academy Workgroup Member
    Present
  • SPD Service Committee Member
    Present
  • Allied Health Professions Council’s Review Committee for Additional Qualifications
    Present
  • Subject-matter-expert Consultant, Ernst & Young Advisory Pte.Ltd for SkillsFuture project –Healthcare sector
    –
  • MindChamps Medical Advisory Board
    –
  • Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) Therapist Development and Service Management Committee, Resource Person
    –

Research Interests

  • Early Intervention
  • Family Centered practice
  • Transition
  • Higher Education
  • Growth mindset
  • Approaches to learning
  • Learning Space

Current Projects

  • Co-investigator of project title: Supporting academically at-risk students by enhancing their metacognitive and project-based learning skills.
    – Present

    Grantor: Ministry of Education (MOE) Tertiary Education Research Fund (TRF) Grant

  • Co-investigator of project: Virtual Reality For Dementia Education And Training
    – Present

    Grantor: The Majurity Trust

  • Occupational transition of older adults into nursing homes
    – Present

    Grantor: Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) Intermediate And Long Term Care (ILTC) Research Grant

  • Gamified micro-learning platform: An early intervention for at-risk freshmen
    – Present

    Grantor: Ministry of Education (MOE) Tertiary Education Research Fund (TRF) Grant

  • Institution Wide Development Of Smart Classroom
    – Present
  • Students Perception Of Growth In Work-Related And 21st Century Skills Through Integrated Work Study Programme
    – Present

Past Projects

  • Co-investigator of project title: Understanding the lived experience of senior adults transiting from community into a nursing home in Singapore
    –
  • Getting Ready! Understanding Occupational Transition of Preschool children to Primary school
    –
  • Promoting Culture Of Professional Development As An Educator In Higher Education
    –
  • Guest Speakers as Dynamic Practical Knowledge Bases: Enhance Applied Learning through Innovative Engagement of Industry Professionals
    –

    SIT Advancement of Learning and Teaching Grant

  • Team-Based Learning As A Teaching Method In Occupational Therapy
    –
  • Principal investigator of project title: Experiential learning in occupational therapy education: Engaging persons with disabilities to develop competencies in students
    –

    Ministry of Education (MOE) Tertiary Education Research Fund (TRF) Grant

  • Pedagogical Innovation to Promote Critical Thinking in SIT’s Allied Health Degree Programs
    –

    SIT Advancement of Learning and Teaching Grant

  • Co-investigator of project title: Effectiveness of a variable air pressure vest in the regulation of attention levels in children with attention difficulties
    –

    Tan Cheng Lim Research Fund

  • Co-investigator of project title: VITAL Lifestyle Skills Program (VLSP): Development and pilot study of a health promoting lifestyle-based intervention for older Singaporeans.
    –

    NHG Research Support Scheme.

  • Co-investigator of project title: Project Title: Creating a collaborative healthcare workforce: Designing and evaluating a virtual hospital for collaborative practice across higher education institutions in Singapore
    –

    Singapore Millennium Foundation (SMF) 5th grant call

  • Principal investigator for project title: Research Grant for project titled "Development of a Comprehensive Occupation-based Assessment Protocol for Young Children's Social Competence in the Early Childhood Setting
    –

    Grantor: KK Women's and Childen's Hospital Research

Journal Papers

  • Devilly, O., Jasin, J., Lim, S. M., & Foo, Y. L. (2021). Experience of students in cooperative education – A case study of Singapore’s work-study degree programme. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/14779714211030950

  • Liaw, S. Y.,  Choo, T.W. , Wu, L.T., Lim, W.S., Choo, H, Lim,  S. M., Ringsted, C., Wong,  L. F., Ooi, S.L., Lau, T.C. (2021). “Wow, Woo, Win” - Healthcare students’ and facilitators’ experience of interprofessional simulation in three-dimensional virtual world: A qualitative evaluation study. Nurse Educator Today, 105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105018.

  • Lim, S.M., Nyoman, L., Tan, Y. J., & Yin, Y.Y. (2021) Transition practice before entering primary school: A longitudinal study of children with and without special needs across a year. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy https://doi.org/10.1177/15691861211013427

  • Tan, C.T & Lim, S.M. (1 Feb, 2021). Immersification - a fresh dimension to learning design. Times Higher Edcuation, https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/immersification-fresh-dimension-learning-design

  • Lim, S.M. (30 Nov, 2020). The future is now: Imagining university life in a post COVID-19 world. Aurecon, https://www.aurecongroup.com/thinking/thinking-papers/covid-19-reshaping-education-asia

  • Liu, V. Y.-Y., & Lim, S. M. (2020). A psychometric evaluation of the brief resilience scale among tertiary students in Singapore. Asia Pacific Journal of Education. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2020.1845120

  • Lim, S.M. & Lim, L.S. (21 Oct, 2020). Use technology to catch students before they fall. Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/use-technology-catch-students-they-fall

  • Lim, S. M., & Foo, Y. L. (2020). Promoting culture of professional development as educators in an Asian higher education institution. 2020 China-SOTL International Conference, 69-94.

  • Lim, S.M. (20 Aug, 2020). Taking account of disabilities.  A practical guide to digital teaching and learning - Times Higher Education. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/use-technology-catch-students-they-fall

  • Lim, S. M., Foo, Y. L., & Loh, H. T. (2020). Application of five models of academic developer practice to develop educators for applied learning. In C. Hong & W. W. K. Ma (Eds.), Applied Degree Education and the Future of Work: Education 4.0 (pp. 41-48). Singapore: Springer Nature

  • Lim, S. M. (2020, Apr 30). Handling The Stress Of Caregiving While Telecommuting  Retrievfrom https://www.spd.org.sg/handling_the_stress_of_caregiving_while_telecommuting/

  • Lim, S. M. (2020, Mar 20). Educating despite the Covid-19 outbreak: Lessons from Singapore.   Retrieved from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/educating-despite-covid-19-outbreak-lessons-singapore

  • Lim, S. M., Foo, Y. L., Yeo, M.-F., Chan, C. Y. X., & Loh, H. T. (2020). Integrated work study program: Students’ growth mindset and perception of change in work-related skills. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 21(2), 103-115.

  • Lim, S. M., Goh, Z. A. G., & Tan, B. L. (2020). Eight tips for inclusion of persons with disabilities as standardised patients. The Asian Pacific Scholar, 5(2), 41-44. doi:https://doi.org/10.29060/TAPS.2020-5-2/SC2134

  • Lim. L.S., Lim, S.M., Avnit, K., & Ong, C. M. (2019). Basic competence in online teaching: Preliminary lessons learned from a university's approach to assure faculty readiness in teaching online. In Y. W. Chew, K. M. Chan, & A. Alphonso (Eds.), Personalised Learning. Diverse Goals. One Heart. (pp. 493-498). Singapore: ASCILITE 2019

  • Liaw, S.Y., Tan, K.K., Wu, L.T., Tan, S.C., Choo, H., Yap,J., Lim, S.M., Wong, L., & Ignacio, J. (2019) Finding the Right Blend for Technologically-enhanced Learning Environments: A Randomized Study of the Effect of Instructional Sequences on Interprofessional Learning. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(5):e12537

  • Lim, S.M., G.A.C. Carpio, & Ong, C.M. (2019) Evaluation of engagement in learning within active learning classrooms: Does novelty make a difference? Journal of Learning Spaces, 8(2). Retrieved from http://libjournal.uncg.edu/jls/article/view/1791

  • Lim, S. M., Tan, B. L., Lim, H. B., & Goh, Z. A. G. (2018). Engaging persons with disabilities as community teachers for experiential learning in occupational therapy education. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 31(1), 36-45 https://doi.org/10.1177/1569186118783877.

  • Lim, S.M.,  & Lim, H.B. (2016). Singapore’s perspective on applied learning in occupational therapy: beyond clinical practice education. World Federation Of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 72(1), 1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14473828.2016.1150019

  • Lim, S.M., & Stapleton, T.  (2015): Exploration of occupational justice in developed Asian societies, Journal of Occupational Science, DOI: 10.1080/14427591.2015.1112231

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2013) Model of Social Competence in An Early Childhood Envrionment. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 29(2), 114-133.

  • Lim, S. M., Palethorpe, N., & Rodger, S. (2012). Understanding the common inter-rater reliability measures. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 19(9), 488-496.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2011). Validation of Child Behavior Rating Scale in Singapore (Part 2): Convergent and Discriminant Validity. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 21, 2-8.

  • Lim, S. M., & Rodger, S. (2011). Getting students to set questions. Focus On Health Professional Education:A Multi-disciplinary Journal, 12(3), 30-33.

  • Lim, S.M. (2010). Invited commentary for “Will occupational science facilitate or divide the practice of occupational therapy?” International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 47.

  • Poulsen, A. A., Horswill, M. S., Wetton, M. A., Hill, A., & Lim, S. M. (2010). A brief office-based hazard perception intervention for drivers with ADHD symptoms. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44(6), 528-534.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2010). Investigation of young children’s social skills constructs using Rasch analysis. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 3(3), 207-225.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2010). Validity of Child Behavior Rating Scale in Singapore (Part 1): Rasch Analysis. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 20(2), 52-62.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2010). Learning related and interpersonal social skills constructs in two existing social skills assessments. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 26(2), 131-150.

  • Lim, S. M., & Rodger, S. (2010). Use of formative assessment to enhance learning. Focus On Health Professional Education: A Multi-disciplinary Journal, 12(2), 30-33.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2010). Assessments of learning-related skills and interpersonal skills constructs within early childhood environments in Singapore. Infant and Child Development, 19(4), 366-384, doi:10.1002/icd673.

  • Thorley, M., & Lim, S.M. (2010). Considerations for occupational therapy assessment for Indigenous children in Australia. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 58, 3-10, doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2010.00852.x.

  • Lim, S. M., & Rodger, S. (2010). The use of interactive formative assessments with first year occupational therapy students. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 17(11), 576-586.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2009). Using Rasch Analysis for establishing the construct validity of rehabilitation assessment tools. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 16(5), 251- 260.

  • Lim, S. M., & Rodger, S. (2008). An occupational perspective on the assessment of social competence in children. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(11), 469-481.

  • Lim, S. M., Kattapuram, A., & Lian, W. B. (2007). Evaluation of a pilot clinic-based social skills group. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70(1), 35-39.

Conferences

  • Lim, S.M., Foo, Y.L., & Loh, H.T. (2019). Application of Five Models of Academic Developer Practice to Develop Educators for Applied Learning. AETI Conference, Hong Kong, 17-19April, 2019.

    Lim, S.M., Foo, Y.L., & Loh, H.T. (2019).Students’ Perception of growth in work-related and 21st Century Skills through Integrated Work Study Programme. AETI Conference, Hong Kong, 17-19April, 2019.

  • Chua, C.P., Soon, T.C., & Lim, S.M. (2019). Using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure to understand the allied health undergraduate student journey. Advance HE’s Surveys Conference, Bristol, 8 May, 2019.

  • Lim, S.M. (2018). Evaluation of Team based learning in first year Occupational Therapy module. World Federation of Occupational Therapist Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 21-25May, 2018

    Lim, S. M., Tan, B. L., Lim, H. B., & Goh, Z. A. G. (2018), Focusing on ability beyond disability: Experiential learning from persons with disability. World Federation of Occupational Therapist Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 21-25May, 2018

    Lim, S.M. (2018). Team-based learning as a teaching method in Occupational Therapy. World Federation of Occupational Therapist Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 21-25May, 2018

  • Lim, S. M., Tan, B. L., Lim, H. B., & Goh, Z. A. G. (2017). Engaging persons with disabilities for experiential learning in occupational therapy education. Canadian Occupational Therapy Conference 2017, Charlottetown, PEI. 

  • Lim, S.M. (2017). Introduction to Team based learning. 3rd Chinese Mainland Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Education Congress (COTREC), Fuzhou

  • Lim, S.M. (2016). Transitioning from Preschool to Primary School for Children with Autism. Autism Exposed 2016, Singapore. 

  • Lim, S.M. (2015). Development of OT education in Singapore. 2nd Chinese Mainland Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Education Congress (COTREC), Shanghai

    Lim, S.M.(2015). OT educational programme in Singapore Institute of Technology. 2nd Chinese Mainland Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Education Congress (COTREC), Shanghai

  • Lim, S.M. & Hocking, C. (2015). Promoting Occupational Justice, Inclusion, and Participation: Embedding Learning about Human Rights within Occupational Therapy Education. Education Symposium during the 6th Asia-Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress (APOTC), Rotorua, 2015.

    Lim, S.M. (2015). Impact of one-year occupational therapy degree course in Singapore on professional practice. 6th Asia Pacific OT Conference, New Zealand Rotorua, 2015.

  • Lim, S.M. (2014). Evaluation of one-year occupational therapy degree course in Singapore. 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Yokohama, Japan

    Lim, S.M. (2014). Social Skills Assessments by Occupational Therapists and Teachers: Are we Observing the Same Thing? 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Yokohama, Japan. 

  • Lim, S.M. (2013). Assessing Young Children’s Social Skills in Early Childhood Environments. National Occupational Therapist Conference 2012, Singapore.

  • Lim, S.M. (2012). IQ is Only Half the Picture: Developing Emotional Intelligence in the Early Years for 2 to 6 year olds. MCYS Child Development Network Parenting Seminar 2012. 

  • Lim, S.M. (2012). Collaborative Partnerships with Professionals and Families through using ICF-CY. Early Childhood Intervention Australia, 10th Biennial National Conference, 1st Asia Pacific Early Childhood Intervention Conference, Perth, 2012

  • Lim, S.M. (2011). Early Childhood Partnerships: The Collaborative Developmental Healthcare Initiatives. Leadership Forum: Policies that Support Practice:  Enhancing the Well-being for Young Children. 27 Aug, Singapore.

  • Lim, S. M. & Rodger, S. (2011). The Use of Interactive Formative Assessments to Enhance Learning. Occupational Therapy Australia 24th National Conference & Exhibition. 29 Jun-1 Jul, Gold Coast, Australia.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2011). Assessments of Social Competence in Young Singaporean Children. 5th Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress. 19-24 Nov, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

  • Lim, S.M. & Chien, C.W. (2010). An Introduction to the Application of Rasch Measurement Model in Occupational Therapy. 15th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. 4-7 May, Santiago, Chile.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2010). Development of the Model of Social Competence for Young Children. 15th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. 4-7 May, Santiago, Chile.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2009). Young Children’s Social Competence: From Theoretical Framework to Measurement. 16th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Human Development Association. 6-8 Jul, Adelaide, Australia.

  • Lim, S. M., Rodger, S., & Brown, T. (2009). Social Skills in Young Children: Construct Validation and Measurement. 10th OT Australia Qld State Conference. 21-22 Nov, Brisbane, Australia.

  • Lim, S.M., Kattapuram, A., & Lian, W.B. (2006). Effectiveness of Clinic-Based Social Skills Group. 14th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. 23-28 Jul, Sydney, Australia.

  • Lim, S.M., Tan, P.C., & Lian, W.B. (2005). Factors that Influence School Readiness Recommendations. 39th Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine. 2 Jul, Singapore.

Books

  • Lim, S. M., Tan, B. L., Lim, H. B., & Goh, Z. A. G. (2020). Experiential learning and its Impact on students’ attitudes towards persons with disability. In S. M. Lim, Y. L. Foo, H. T. Loh, & X. Deng (Eds.), Applied Learning in Higher Education: Perspective, Pedagogy, and Practice (pp. 101-112). Santa Rose: Informing Science Press.

  • Lim, S. M., Foo, Y. L., Loh, H. T., & Deng, X. (Eds.). (2020). Applied Learning in Higher Education: Perspective, Pedagogy, and Practice. Santa Rose: Informing Science Press.

  • Lim, S. M., Foo, Y. L., Loh, H. T., & Deng, X. (2020). Applied learning in action: Definition, perspectives, and practice In S. M. Lim, Y. L. Foo, H. T. Loh, & X. Deng (Eds.), Applied Learning in Higher Education: Perspective, Pedagogy, and Practice (pp. 1-13). Santa Rose: Informing Science Press.

  • Lim, S.M. & Jones, F. (2017). Occupational transitions for children and young people. In S. Rodger & A. Kennedy Behr (Eds.), Occupation-Centred Practice with Children: A Practical Guide for Occupational Therapists (2nd ed., pp. 111-132). Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Rodger S., Ziviani J., & Lim, S. M. (2015). Occupations of Childhood and Adolescence. In C. H. Christiansen, C. M. Baum & J. Bass (Eds.), Occupational Therapy: Enabling Performance, Participation and Well-being, 4th Ed. Thorofare, NJ: Slack Incorporated.

  • Lim, S. M. (2012). Adaptive Skills. In E.H. Lee, K. Lyen, K. Poon, J. Tham-Toh & M. Pathnapuram (Eds.), Rainbow Dreams (3rd ed., pp. 199-214). Singapore: Rainbow Centre.

  • Lim, S. M., & Chen, C. (2010). It's not just me: Enhancing the development of social-emotional learning in children. Singapore: KK Women's and Children's Hospital.