Singapore Polytechnic

Challenge

Emerging Technologies Require Scalable Upskilling Efforts

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) was established in 1954 and is Singapore’s first polytechnic, with a rich history and a leader in innovative pedagogical practices. SP faced an unprecedented challenge in upskilling faculty members with the rapid emergence of Gen AI. The upskilling efforts would include over 1400 staff members across the institution, from administrative personnel to teaching faculty.

Faculty would require a baseline understanding of Gen AI, including aspects like how it works, best practices for prompt crafting, effective tools for work enhancement, and, crucially, an understanding of ethical considerations and potential challenges associated with AI. They were also faced with various levels of Gen AI understanding, with some well-versed in Gen AI’s applications, while others had minimal exposure.

As students were beginning to adopt Gen AI tools, the need for SP’s staff to be aligned with emerging technologies became pressing, both to guide students effectively and to harness Gen AI’s potential within their own roles. Given the wide scope of the challenge, traditional face-to-face workshops, which could be limited in scale and accessibility, were not feasible.

Planning involved multiple considerations: balancing the diverse needs of stakeholders, ensuring a structured approach to content delivery, and selecting a platform that would support scalable, trackable training in an online environment.

Solution

Tailored Learning Pathways

SP’s solution was designing a self-paced online learning package, “Jumpstart your Gen AI Journey,” on Brightspace. It leveraged the flexibility and features of Brightspace, enabling staff to access training at their convenience while ensuring consistent foundational knowledge across diverse proficiency levels. By designing adaptive learning pathways and incorporating just-in-time learning, quizzes, and badge recognition, the team created a dynamic, engaging and scalable approach to learning.

To deliver this tailored learning experience, the team utilized several features within the Brightspace LMS.

Quizzes were used in both the self-assessment and throughout the course and provided a means to gauge initial knowledge levels and to track learning progress. Completion and success in these quizzes served as indicators of understanding.

Due to Brightspace’s compatibility with SCORM, the team had more flexibility over content layout and lesson design, allowing us to embed interactive activities that enhanced learner engagement.

To help maintain engagement and drive completion rates, the team used intelligent agents to remind staff to complete the modules. This feature provided gentle nudges and ensured that learners stayed on track.

Understanding the powerful impact recognition has on motivation to complete courses, badges were awarded to staff who completed the training modules. The digital badges celebrated achievements and incentivised participation, with many staff proudly displaying their badges on LinkedIn and providing a visible acknowledgment of their effort and learning achievement.

Result

Scalable Training With Adaptive Learning

With just three months of course development time, the Gen AI learning package rapidly launched in June 2024. This upskilling initiative has delivered a profound institutional impact, equipping staff with essential Gen AI knowledge while enhancing staff confidence, productivity and institutional readiness to embrace Gen AI tools.

The self-paced course has helped the team upskill over 1400 staff members without the need for 40 in-person workshops. This approach not only saved time and resources but also ensured scalable, institution-wide training without compromising quality standards or staff engagement.

As of December 2024, 94% of staff have successfully completed the advanced course, demonstrating the accessibility and user-friendliness of the LMS.

Beyond scalability, the adaptive learning structure further optimized staff efficiency by identifying and tailoring courses to their level of competency towards Gen AI. This approach minimized unnecessary training time for 38% of staff, who were able to advance directly to the advanced content, while ensuring learning remained relevant, engaging and efficient across the institution.

“Having prior experience with AI, I was able to save time and focus on the advanced content. Since completing the training, I’ve integrated AI discussions into my curriculum. It’s exciting to bring these tools to my students,” shares Kwa Lay Ping, Lead Teaching and Learning Specialist, School of Lifeskills & Communication.

Empowering Staff for Future Growth

The overwhelmingly positive staff feedback affirms the effectiveness of module design and practical relevance. Responses from the feedback survey indicates:

• 85% of participants agree or strongly agree that the learning outcomes were clear and relevant
• 83% of participants agree or strongly agree the package was well organized and planned
• 86% of participants agree or strongly agree the overall coverage was adequate

Furthermore, feedback showed that participants feel empowered to incorporate Gen AI into their work, whether for classroom instruction, administrative efficiencies or research purposes. Following the training, there was an increase in Gen AI projects initiated by SP schools, with four staff groups receiving national grants to further develop innovative AI-based solutions.

The program’s effectiveness in engaging staff and integrating Gen AI into educational practices has set a strong foundation for future expansion and continued impact. Staff are more confident and motivated to explore Gen AI application in their respective fields, actively engaging in broader Gen AI discussions and reinforcing Singapore Polytechnic’s position as a leader in adopting emerging technologies.