Academic Profile : Faculty

Assoc Prof Victor Lim Fei
Deputy Head (Research), English Language & Literature
Associate Professor, National Institute of Education - English Language & Literature
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Dr Fei Victor LIM is a literacy researcher and an educator. His expertise is in multimodality, which he has applied to multiliteracies, multimodal discourse analysis and digital learning, including more recently on GenAI. He is interested in how and what we should teach learners in today's digital age and is guided by his conviction that literacy education must be future-oriented and should progress with the evolving contemporary communication landscape. Victor is passionate about education and its value in improving in both personal and societal well-being. His research has a strong practice orientation that shapes his teaching and service.
Victor is Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator of several large research grants. He has been invited to present his work around the world. Victor has published in top-tier journals on multimodality in education and is author of the book Designing Learning with Embodied Teaching: Perspectives from Multimodality (2021) , and lead author of the book, Designing Learning for Multimodal Literacy: Teaching Viewing and Representing (2023) , both published in the Routledge Studies in Multimodality. He is also lead editor of the book, Designing Learning with Digital Technologies: Perspectives from Multimodality in Education (2024) , published in the Routledge Research in Digital Education and Educational Technology and Designing Learning with Multimodality in English Medium of Education (EME) Classrooms Across Asia (in press) with Bloomsbury. For his contributions, Victor was awarded the NIE Excellence in Research Award 2024 and recognised as amongst the top 2% scientists worldwide in the sub-fields of education and languages & linguistics in a Stanford University study for 2023 and 2024.
Victor teaches pre-service and postgraduate courses on multimodality in education. He also supervises PhD, Masters, and undergraduate students’ research projects based on his research expertise. He has received several teaching awards including the Nanyang Education Award (School) in 2023.
Victor is an editor for Multimodality and Society and serves as an associate editor for Computers and Composition , and Designs for Learning . He is on the editorial advisory board for English Language Education Reviews, Digital Applied Linguistics, Frontiers in Communication, Insights into Language, Culture and Communication, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Journal of Studies in the English Language, Pathways to Multimodality (De Gruyter Book Series), rEFLections, & Visual Communication . He serves as the Awards Chair (2023-2024) for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Semiotics in Education Special Interest Group (SIG) . Victor also serves on the Technical Experts Network for the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) by SEAMEO and UNICEF. He leads the Literacies Research Group in the English Language and Literature Department and the Multimodality Special Interest Group at National Institute of Education to build up a community of faculty and students who share an interest in multimodality in education.
Victor started his career as a General Paper teacher in a junior college before his posting in 2011 to the Singapore Ministry of Education where he was Deputy Director, Technologies for Learning, and Lead Specialist (now Master Specialist), Educational Technology till joining NIE in May 2018. He has experience in translational research, policy formulation, and programme development, with a focus on how educational technology can improve teaching and learning. He contributed to the conceptualisation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Education Masterplan to nurture future-ready and responsible digital learners, the development of strategies and initiatives for MOE's translational research, innovations, and scaling efforts, as well as the strengthening of cyber wellness education in Singapore. He has previously served on the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competences (PIAAC) Expert Advisory Group, SkillsFuture Singapore (2018-2021) and as a consultant with the World Bank on digital skills (2019-2022).
Victor is Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator of several large research grants. He has been invited to present his work around the world. Victor has published in top-tier journals on multimodality in education and is author of the book Designing Learning with Embodied Teaching: Perspectives from Multimodality (2021) , and lead author of the book, Designing Learning for Multimodal Literacy: Teaching Viewing and Representing (2023) , both published in the Routledge Studies in Multimodality. He is also lead editor of the book, Designing Learning with Digital Technologies: Perspectives from Multimodality in Education (2024) , published in the Routledge Research in Digital Education and Educational Technology and Designing Learning with Multimodality in English Medium of Education (EME) Classrooms Across Asia (in press) with Bloomsbury. For his contributions, Victor was awarded the NIE Excellence in Research Award 2024 and recognised as amongst the top 2% scientists worldwide in the sub-fields of education and languages & linguistics in a Stanford University study for 2023 and 2024.
Victor teaches pre-service and postgraduate courses on multimodality in education. He also supervises PhD, Masters, and undergraduate students’ research projects based on his research expertise. He has received several teaching awards including the Nanyang Education Award (School) in 2023.
Victor is an editor for Multimodality and Society and serves as an associate editor for Computers and Composition , and Designs for Learning . He is on the editorial advisory board for English Language Education Reviews, Digital Applied Linguistics, Frontiers in Communication, Insights into Language, Culture and Communication, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Journal of Studies in the English Language, Pathways to Multimodality (De Gruyter Book Series), rEFLections, & Visual Communication . He serves as the Awards Chair (2023-2024) for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Semiotics in Education Special Interest Group (SIG) . Victor also serves on the Technical Experts Network for the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) by SEAMEO and UNICEF. He leads the Literacies Research Group in the English Language and Literature Department and the Multimodality Special Interest Group at National Institute of Education to build up a community of faculty and students who share an interest in multimodality in education.
Victor started his career as a General Paper teacher in a junior college before his posting in 2011 to the Singapore Ministry of Education where he was Deputy Director, Technologies for Learning, and Lead Specialist (now Master Specialist), Educational Technology till joining NIE in May 2018. He has experience in translational research, policy formulation, and programme development, with a focus on how educational technology can improve teaching and learning. He contributed to the conceptualisation of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Education Masterplan to nurture future-ready and responsible digital learners, the development of strategies and initiatives for MOE's translational research, innovations, and scaling efforts, as well as the strengthening of cyber wellness education in Singapore. He has previously served on the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competences (PIAAC) Expert Advisory Group, SkillsFuture Singapore (2018-2021) and as a consultant with the World Bank on digital skills (2019-2022).
Victor's research expertise is in multimodality in education, that is the study of signs and meaning-making in the context of teaching and learning. Stemming from the focus on multimodality in education, he supervises research projects in the areas of multiliteracies/multimodal literacy, multimodal discourse analysis, and digital learning.
Completed Research Grants
PI (Joint), 2020 to 2024, A Study on Children’s Home ICT Use on their Language and Development (CHILD), Temasek Foundation, SMF Research Grant.
PI: Deepening Multimodality and Technology Research for Teaching and Learning, International Research Collaboration (IRC) Seed Fund Grant.
PI, 2019 to 2023, Integrating Multiliteracies into the English Language Classroom: Developing an Instructional Approach to Teach Multimodal Literacy: Teaching Viewing and Representing. Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) [Tier 2]
PI, 2020 to 2021, Multimodality and Pedagogy (MaP): A Systematic Review, Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) Planning Grant.
PI, 2018 to 2020, Harnessing Transmedia Narratives for Literacy Development: Drawing Pedagogical Principles from Approaches in Multimodality, NIE Start Up Grant for New Assistant Professor.
PI, 2017 to 2018, Multimodal Literacy in Science: Interpreting the Reading to Learn (R2L) Programme through technological and subject literacy lens, MOE Senior Specialist Track Research Fund (SSTRF)
PI, 2017 to 2018, Translating Systemic Functional Theory into an Approach for Critical Viewing, MOE Senior Specialist Track Research Fund (SSTRF).
Co-PI, 2020 to 2023, Designing School Libraries of the Future (LOTF Study), Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) [Tier 2].
Co-PI, 2019 to 2022, WiREAD+: Augmenting the validated prototype design of a web-based collaborative critical reading and learning analytics environment towards scalability readiness, Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) [Tier 2].
Co-PI, 2018 to 2019, Reading to Learn Science: Developing a Multimodal Literacy-based Approach for the Singapore Classroom, English Language Institute of Singapore Research Fund.
Co-PI, 2016 to 2019, Cultivating laterality in Learning Communities within a centralised education system- Scaling of innovation through networked learning community, Singapore Ministry of Education Academies Fund.
Co-PI, 2017 to 2018, Investigating the effectiveness of onscreen cyber wellness messaging, MOE Senior Specialist Track Research Fund (SSTRF).
Completed Research Grants
PI (Joint), 2020 to 2024, A Study on Children’s Home ICT Use on their Language and Development (CHILD), Temasek Foundation, SMF Research Grant.
PI: Deepening Multimodality and Technology Research for Teaching and Learning, International Research Collaboration (IRC) Seed Fund Grant.
PI, 2019 to 2023, Integrating Multiliteracies into the English Language Classroom: Developing an Instructional Approach to Teach Multimodal Literacy: Teaching Viewing and Representing. Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) [Tier 2]
PI, 2020 to 2021, Multimodality and Pedagogy (MaP): A Systematic Review, Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) Planning Grant.
PI, 2018 to 2020, Harnessing Transmedia Narratives for Literacy Development: Drawing Pedagogical Principles from Approaches in Multimodality, NIE Start Up Grant for New Assistant Professor.
PI, 2017 to 2018, Multimodal Literacy in Science: Interpreting the Reading to Learn (R2L) Programme through technological and subject literacy lens, MOE Senior Specialist Track Research Fund (SSTRF)
PI, 2017 to 2018, Translating Systemic Functional Theory into an Approach for Critical Viewing, MOE Senior Specialist Track Research Fund (SSTRF).
Co-PI, 2020 to 2023, Designing School Libraries of the Future (LOTF Study), Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) [Tier 2].
Co-PI, 2019 to 2022, WiREAD+: Augmenting the validated prototype design of a web-based collaborative critical reading and learning analytics environment towards scalability readiness, Education Research Funding Programme (ERFP) [Tier 2].
Co-PI, 2018 to 2019, Reading to Learn Science: Developing a Multimodal Literacy-based Approach for the Singapore Classroom, English Language Institute of Singapore Research Fund.
Co-PI, 2016 to 2019, Cultivating laterality in Learning Communities within a centralised education system- Scaling of innovation through networked learning community, Singapore Ministry of Education Academies Fund.
Co-PI, 2017 to 2018, Investigating the effectiveness of onscreen cyber wellness messaging, MOE Senior Specialist Track Research Fund (SSTRF).
- Integrating Multiliteracies into the English Language Classroom: Developing an Instructional Approach to Teach Multimodal Literacy (Critical Viewing and Effective Representing of Multimodal Texts)
- WiREAD+: Augmenting The Validated Prototype Design Of A Web-based Collaborative Critical Reading And Learning Analytics Environment Towards Scalability Readiness
- A Study on Children's Home ICT Use on their Language and Development (CHILD)
- Designing School Libraries of the Future (LOTF Study)
- A Multimodal Learning Analytics Approach Towards Learner Dashboard Designs for Better Engagement and Metacognitive Regulation (LADDER)
- The Singapore Student Digital Literacies Profile
- Reading Futures Study: A Longitudinal Cross-Case Comparison of Adolescents' Print and Digital Reading Practices
- Assessment as learning in writing classrooms supported by technology and AI
- Does the Teacher Matter' University Students' Physiological Responses in Online Interactions with an AI-Chatbot and a Human Teacher
Awards
2024: National Institute of Education Excellence in Research Award.
2023: National Institute of Education Excellence in Service (Team) Award.
2023: Nanyang Education Award (School).
2022: National Institute of Education Excellence in Teaching Commendation Award.
2021: John Cheung Social Media Award for exemplary and innovative use of social media in teaching, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
2020: Nexus Team Award (Multimodality Special Interest Group) for outstanding collaboration in research, National Institute of Education, Singapore.
2018: Long Service Award (15 Years) Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2013: Associate of the Academy of Singapore Teachers for contributions to the professional development of teachers, Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2008-2011: Postgraduate Scholarship for PhD, Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE PGS).
2008-2011: Research Scholarship for PhD, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
2006 & 2007: Teacher Researcher Award, Jurong Junior College, Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2000-2001: Research Scholarship for MA, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
1997-2000: Public Service Commission Local Merit Scholarship (Teaching) Singapore.
2023: National Institute of Education Excellence in Service (Team) Award.
2023: Nanyang Education Award (School).
2022: National Institute of Education Excellence in Teaching Commendation Award.
2021: John Cheung Social Media Award for exemplary and innovative use of social media in teaching, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
2020: Nexus Team Award (Multimodality Special Interest Group) for outstanding collaboration in research, National Institute of Education, Singapore.
2018: Long Service Award (15 Years) Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2013: Associate of the Academy of Singapore Teachers for contributions to the professional development of teachers, Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2008-2011: Postgraduate Scholarship for PhD, Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE PGS).
2008-2011: Research Scholarship for PhD, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
2006 & 2007: Teacher Researcher Award, Jurong Junior College, Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2000-2001: Research Scholarship for MA, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
1997-2000: Public Service Commission Local Merit Scholarship (Teaching) Singapore.
Fellowships & Other Recognition
2023-2024: Recognised amongst top 2% scientists worldwide in the sub-fields of education, languages & linguistics, and communication & textual studies in study by Stanford University for 2023 and 2024.
2008-2018: Future Leaders' Programme, Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2007: President Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore (declined in favour of MOE PGS).
2008-2018: Future Leaders' Programme, Ministry of Education, Singapore.
2007: President Graduate Fellowship, National University of Singapore (declined in favour of MOE PGS).
Courses Taught
ASE40B: Current Trends in Language Education in the Upper Primary School
MAE901: Discourse Studies
AAE40A: Academic Exercise - English Language
EDEL902/MEL 901: Language and Literature Education
QED529P: Group Endeavours in Service Learning
URECA-NTU: URECA for NTU Student
PRACT: Practicum
MAE901: Discourse Studies
AAE40A: Academic Exercise - English Language
EDEL902/MEL 901: Language and Literature Education
QED529P: Group Endeavours in Service Learning
URECA-NTU: URECA for NTU Student
PRACT: Practicum
Supervision of PhD Students
Current PhD/EdD Students
2023-
Liu Yingxue (Sole Supervisor) Integrating Multilevel Learning Design and Learning Analytics into Digital Multimodal Composing for Multiliteracies Learning: A Mixed-methods Study of a Blended University ICT Course
(Candidature confirmed)
2023-
Sim Joo Jin (Sole Supervisor) The impact of planning and task sequencing on the syntactic complexity, accuracy, lexical complexity and fluency of written task performance among Singapore secondary school students
(Candidature conformed)
2023-
Matthew Ong (Sole Supervisor) Designing for the reflective composer: A case study of the use of reflexive multimodal composing in students' pre-writing (Candidature confirmed)
2020-
Qiao Ling Ling (Sole Supervisor) A study of in-service teachers’ digital multimodal composing practices
(Candidature confirmed)
2019-
Jiang Jingxin (Sole Supervisor) The use of metadiscourse and visuals in TED talks
(Candidature confirmed) (Awarded Dean's Commendation for Research 2024)
Graduated PhD Student
2018-2022
Liu Yanhua (Co Supervisor) Investigating metadiscursive and visual features in Three Minute Thesis presentations
(Awarded Dean's Commendation for Research 2023; Awarded British Association for Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP) Doctoral Studies Award, 2023 for Best PhD thesis)
PhD Thesis Advisory Committee
2021-
Janet Liang Wei Jhen, [NTU, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Global Asia Research Scholar] Investigating digital media literacy through the prosumptive practices of Singaporean youths in educational and leisure contexts
(Candidature confirmed)
2020-2024
Zhu Xuelian, [NIE, English Language and Literature Academic Group ] Cognitive dynamics in simultaneous interpreting test: An eye tracking study
(Graduated)
2020-2024
Wong Wai Lit, [NIE Natural Sciences and Science Education Academic Group] Using representations to develop conceptual understanding in heat and temperature: Insights from analysing teachers' pedagogical content knowledge
(Graduated)
Current MA (Coursework with Dissertation) Students
2024-
Pragya Chandel (Sole Supervisor) Generative artificial intelligence in education: A systematic review
Graduated MA (Coursework with Dissertation) Students
2023-2024
Xiang Yu, (Sole Supervisor) Investigating orchestration of multimodal resources in a primary school classroom in Shanghai
(Awarded the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship, Education University of Hong Kong, 2024)
2023-2024
Li Mengna, (Sole Supervisor) A comparative multimodal analysis of the homepages of Amazon and Shopee
2021-2023
Maisara Binte Mohd Mahadi (Sole Supervisor) Unveiling identities: A multimodal discourse analysis of Instagram stories of hijabi influencer
2020-2021
Wan Zhong Hao (Co-Supervisor) Building a reading school through the school library: A case study of Commonwealth secondary school
2020
Bui Le Huong (Sole Supervisor) A multimodal analysis of a social media influencer's YouTube video
2019-2020
Debbie Wong Mei Ying (Sole Supervisor) Teaching multiliteracies in the Singapore English language classroom : uncovering teachers' beliefs
(Awarded Educational Research Association of Singapore (ERAS) Gold Medal, 2020 for Best MA in Education dissertation)
2019
Janet Liang Wei Jhen (Sole Supervisor) Developing a framework for the teaching and learning of representing skills through media production in Singapore
(Awarded the Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme (IGP) - Global Asia PhD Scholarship, Nanyang Technological University, 2021)
2023-
Liu Yingxue (Sole Supervisor) Integrating Multilevel Learning Design and Learning Analytics into Digital Multimodal Composing for Multiliteracies Learning: A Mixed-methods Study of a Blended University ICT Course
(Candidature confirmed)
2023-
Sim Joo Jin (Sole Supervisor) The impact of planning and task sequencing on the syntactic complexity, accuracy, lexical complexity and fluency of written task performance among Singapore secondary school students
(Candidature conformed)
2023-
Matthew Ong (Sole Supervisor) Designing for the reflective composer: A case study of the use of reflexive multimodal composing in students' pre-writing (Candidature confirmed)
2020-
Qiao Ling Ling (Sole Supervisor) A study of in-service teachers’ digital multimodal composing practices
(Candidature confirmed)
2019-
Jiang Jingxin (Sole Supervisor) The use of metadiscourse and visuals in TED talks
(Candidature confirmed) (Awarded Dean's Commendation for Research 2024)
Graduated PhD Student
2018-2022
Liu Yanhua (Co Supervisor) Investigating metadiscursive and visual features in Three Minute Thesis presentations
(Awarded Dean's Commendation for Research 2023; Awarded British Association for Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP) Doctoral Studies Award, 2023 for Best PhD thesis)
PhD Thesis Advisory Committee
2021-
Janet Liang Wei Jhen, [NTU, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Global Asia Research Scholar] Investigating digital media literacy through the prosumptive practices of Singaporean youths in educational and leisure contexts
(Candidature confirmed)
2020-2024
Zhu Xuelian, [NIE, English Language and Literature Academic Group ] Cognitive dynamics in simultaneous interpreting test: An eye tracking study
(Graduated)
2020-2024
Wong Wai Lit, [NIE Natural Sciences and Science Education Academic Group] Using representations to develop conceptual understanding in heat and temperature: Insights from analysing teachers' pedagogical content knowledge
(Graduated)
Current MA (Coursework with Dissertation) Students
2024-
Pragya Chandel (Sole Supervisor) Generative artificial intelligence in education: A systematic review
Graduated MA (Coursework with Dissertation) Students
2023-2024
Xiang Yu, (Sole Supervisor) Investigating orchestration of multimodal resources in a primary school classroom in Shanghai
(Awarded the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship, Education University of Hong Kong, 2024)
2023-2024
Li Mengna, (Sole Supervisor) A comparative multimodal analysis of the homepages of Amazon and Shopee
2021-2023
Maisara Binte Mohd Mahadi (Sole Supervisor) Unveiling identities: A multimodal discourse analysis of Instagram stories of hijabi influencer
2020-2021
Wan Zhong Hao (Co-Supervisor) Building a reading school through the school library: A case study of Commonwealth secondary school
2020
Bui Le Huong (Sole Supervisor) A multimodal analysis of a social media influencer's YouTube video
2019-2020
Debbie Wong Mei Ying (Sole Supervisor) Teaching multiliteracies in the Singapore English language classroom : uncovering teachers' beliefs
(Awarded Educational Research Association of Singapore (ERAS) Gold Medal, 2020 for Best MA in Education dissertation)
2019
Janet Liang Wei Jhen (Sole Supervisor) Developing a framework for the teaching and learning of representing skills through media production in Singapore
(Awarded the Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme (IGP) - Global Asia PhD Scholarship, Nanyang Technological University, 2021)