Teaching & Learning Lab

Education by Design

Education has the power to change the lives of people, and at the same time shape how our world can be at the present and in the future. In the development of responsible individuals to contribute to our world, and to support the Sustainable Development Goals to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, design for education and design in education can play a powerful role in education to:

• develop future teaching and learning tools and environments through design to support learners with different learning styles and abilities;
• develop 21st century competencies, that promote life-long learning, through design activities in design education; and
• develop future professionals in the use of design to respond to present and future issues in the context of education.

Vision of Lab

Creating a sustainable world by Design, through education

Mission of Lab

Our mission is to

• Explore all possibilities in improving education through design
• Explore all possibilities in the holistic development of learners through design

Lab members

Staff member (in-charge):
Dr. Leon LOH

Leon was with Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore, between 2001 and 2014. While he was with the MOE, he served as a secondary school teacher and had taken on leadership appointments such as Subject Head (Design and Technology) and Head of Department (covering) who oversees the development of the Art and Design & Technology curriculum and the professional development of the Art and D&T teachers in the department.

Leon arrived in Japan in 2007 under the AYF and Monbukagakusho scholarship. Before returning back to Singapore in 2013, Leon had completed the Master of Design (Environment and Heritage Design) and Doctor of Design (Environment and Heritage Design) in 2010 and 2013 respectively. Leon continued to serve in MOE as a secondary school teacher till the end of 2014. In 2015, he has founded DESIGN-RE-SEARCH LAB with the hope to continue to contribute to education through his research.

In April 2016, Leon has joined Kyushu University, Faculty of Design, as an assistant professor where he continues his education and research activities.

Research interest (but not limited to)

• Curriculum planning and development for design education
• Development of critical thinking, creativity and design thinking through design learning
• Study of learning environment
• Curriculum planning and development for integrative learning
• SDGs related design education
• Teaching and learning strategies
• Inclusive education
• Diversity in education
• Curriculum planning and development
• Design history in Singapore

Information on publications and presentations: Click here

Other education and research involvements:
Involvement in Undergraduate Course (from April 2020 onward): Design Futures
Involvement in Graduate Programme (Since 2017~2022): Environment and Heritage Design Course
Involvement in Graduate Programme (Since 2022~): Design Futures (Graduate Course)
SDGs Design Unit, SDGs Design School: SDGs Design School

Key collaborations:

• collaborating with Japanese high school in Fukuoka city to develop and implement design-based learning that promote problem solving and SDGs
• National Taiwan Normal University on various aspect of design and technology education
• collaborating with Japanese technology teachers on exploring design-based projects in technology lessons
• and others…

Student members:
(Interested in joining us? Please fill this inquiry form: click here)

Undergraduate (Year 4)

2017-2018: 2 members
Main research areas:

• The Developments of Tents used in Modern Japanese Mountain Climbing: Based on the Period from the Dawn of Japanese Mountain Climbing to Present Time
• A Research on the Effectiveness of Educational Facilities for Design Education in Elementary School: An Example Based on Art Subject in Public Elementary Schools in Fukuoka City

2020-2021: 3 members
Main research areas:

• A Study on Educational Factors to Raise Children’s Consciousness for SDGs by the Montessori Method: An Example Based on Montessori Preschools in Fukuoka City
• A Study of Learning Spaces for STEAM Education in Elementary Schools: A case study of Elementary Schools of Fukuoka
• Research on the Possible use of Online Whiteboard for High School Design Education: A case study in Fukusho High School during Covid-19 Pandemic

2021-2022: 1 member
Main research area:

• Research on influences on communication skills of students in high school which introduce iPad to the class: A case study in Fukusho High School (subjected to revision)

2022-2023: 2 members
Main research area:

• to be confirmed

Research student

2018-2019: 1 member
Main research areas:

• Redesigning learning environments to improve learning motivation

2021-2022: 1 member
Main research areas:

• the impact of visual designs of instructional tools for English language learning

2022-2023: 2 members
Main research areas:

• development of social emotional learning through design activities in Technology Education
• development of creativity through design activities in Japanese high schools

Master course

2018-2020: 1 member
Main research areas:

• Educational environment for design education in primary school

2019-2021: 1 member
Main research areas:

• Study on Active Learning Environment for Technology Education in Junior High Schools in Japan: An Example Based on Junior High Schools in Fukuoka City

2021-2023: 1 member
Main research areas:

• The study of learning environments for STEAM activities in Technology Education in junior high schools

2022-2024: 1 member
Main research areas:

• Influence of visual images on students' perspective during English learning