In the face of the real deal, every fraud fades away.
Hi, it’s me again (who else?).
In one of my previous articles on Brainz – yes, ahem, I have officially been an Executive Contributor of Brainz magazine since December 2025 – I mentioned how the heart matters more than the part in the field of education.
In the article, I mentioned three people, one of whom operates from within the teaching faculty itself, and two of whom support the teaching faculty from without.
Usually, we would start from within, then without. Today, however, we will reverse the flow from without to within.
First, the Back Story
I first mooted writing the article in February this year.
If you looked at the time stamp, well ~ I only managed to get it out in March.
There were a few things holding me back, and I only managed to circumvent these problems after I was done dealing with myself.
The first was whether I had the right to write such an article.
I am a teacher alright, and yes, I have been in the field for the past 33 years, plus minus.
Time spent on a job doesn’t necessarily equate authority. So what if I am old, and have lasted in the field despite numerous attempts at prison break?
Just because I am inside long enough doesn’t mean that I can comment on the people in there, much less give them the stamp of approval for anything.
There are those who have lasted longer than me – whose sandals I am unworthy to untie – who have said nothing and done nothing of that sort.
Who do I think I am? That was the problem.
The second problem has got to do with my insistence on original writing.
Don’t get me wrong; I use a lot of AI, but I use AI more for my background and research work.
My main bugbear when I use AI to write for me? Well, the AI doesn’t sound like me enough.
There have been instances when the AI – Copilot is my favourite since it interacts with me the most – sounds almost identical to me in writing.
But if I sit and stare long enough, I would see how it can’t get the nuances that I am used to.
So my workflow tends to be: I will use AI to think with me, then I will pound on my keyboard to get the words out on my own.
If you haven’t realised it, this can be really time-consuming.
So literally, my February article became a March article.
This article has taken longer. I started in June, and only got it out in August. Beyond the bugbear with AI, and the unworthiness and all that, I was plagued with insecurities about this, of which I shall not mention here.
Our Vice Principal the AI Master
Since we are on the topic of AI, allow me to introduce to you our Vice Principal of Stalford Academy, Mr Sim Kwang Hwee.
He is the Vice Principal I mentioned in my Brainz article ‘The X Factor That Separates Real Teachers from the Wannabes’, and he is the Vice Principal who has been employing and deploying AI to assist us in our work.
Another Back Story
Just as a slight reminder here: I am not new to the world of the internet, and I am not new to the world of AI.
No, I am not a coder or programmer (that’s the old name ,right?) of any sort, but I have dived deep into the world of the internet and (since it began) AI in my own way.
For years in a row, I have been obsessed with the world of internet marketing, which is essentially the umbrella term for any business you want to start on the internet.
You see, I used to run a copywriting business. I have talked about it here, and there’s no business in my life which I am so proud of, but has given me so much pain that my body probably almost failed because of it.
At one point in time, I needed to reach out to potential new clients, and from about 2013 to about 2016, there was a tonne of workshops and courses that promised that I could become the next internet millionaire, if I signed up for their courses of course.
Well, I didn’t sign up for any of them. One of my clients at that point in time kindly reminded me that I was smart enough to pick up such skills on my own, and that signing up for courses that cost anything like $2,000 to $3,000 would be a waste of money.
Usually, I would take such advice to be pure bullshit. But for some reason, I listened to him. So I started Googling online, found many guys and gals (I just revealed my age huh) who would teach me their secrets for ~~~ (drum roll please…) US$9.90.
LOL.
And guess what? I paid the money. And they gave me ~~~ (more dramatic drum roll please…) PDFs.
I guess this was and is truly the most profitable business in the world. Selling hope.
So while I was (was I?) smart enough to have picked up the skills on my own, I wasn’t smart enough to stop.
I racked up a bill of close to US$5,000 (Estimated. I lost track after a while. I gave up updating that spreadsheet that documented these expenses) in less than half a year, buying PDFs, online courses, cheat sheets, success blueprints, plugins and whatnots.
I only stopped probably because my bank account was running dry. Because knowing me, I wouldn’t know when to stop.
But my friend was also right about it.
Because in the process of perusing all these overpriced PDFs, I actually learnt the individual ropes in the business of internet marketing, with SEO (now GEO) being one of them.
And because I bought so many plugins – I actually don’t know where they are now, and even if I can locate them, I will hesitate to deploy them, because ~ seriously ~ I won’t know what would happen to my website – I learnt, firsthand, what makes a plugin tick and what makes it suck.
And honestly, most of them suck. Bigtime.
Today, these same marketers have jumped on the AI bandwagon, and quite a number of them are promising the same thing: AI can make a millionaire out of you, so don’t wait because ~ money loves speed.
Yea, right? Money loves speed as long it is gushing towards you, the marketer selling me the hope.
How do I know these AIs don’t work?
You know the answer. I paid for one or two of them: about US$17.45 each. LOL. You need to pay for upsells so that they fulfil their potential, and by that time, it would have cost you about US$600 or so. And still, it won’t be working the way they marketed it.
One thing you must respect these people for, they are masters of marketing.
And by the way, I don’t pay up to US$600 or so. I now stop at US$19.99. If it can’t even fulfil its basic function, I won’t proceed further. But I did pay up to US$600 in the past, so that I can become older and wiser now.
Why the Back Story Matters
What’s this silly dude’s story got to do with education?
Specifically, what has it got to do with this Mr Sim, Vice Principal of Stalford Academy?
I have mentioned how he unleashes the power of AI to create apps to support educators in their journey. And he does it for free, and releases them for free so that everyone can benefit from them.
Having purchased all sorts of crap from marketers (a.k.a scammers; I know that’s a little unfair; there are responsible ones out there, but somehow, they are rare), I can immediately tell if an AI-powered app is worth its weight in gold.
Mr Sim’s apps are gold standard, perhaps even platinum.
I can’t decide whether they are gold or platinum, because his apps are getting more and more powerful, and if I accord the platinum status to any of his apps, the next app might override the previous one and I have no higher statuses to accord.
Since they are not for sale, and are available for free to anyone who wants to learn, I shall take the liberty of unveiling some of them here.
Remember Mr Sim, you gave me the go-ahead.
Here are the apps, not in any order of preference or ranking:
App #1: Stalford AI Encyclopaedia
The Stalford AI Encyclopaedia is exactly what its name suggests: a digital reference resource created to support learners, researchers and educators with academic content that is accurate, accessible and easy to use.
Now, I know what you may be thinking. Another encyclopaedia? Another website? Another AI thing?
But that is precisely where Mr Sim’s work stands apart.
Any respectable AI can give you answers to what you are searching for.
In fact, most people use AI – the behemoth of a monster in the computing world – like an advanced search engine.
I don’t know how you see it, but I call it abuse. Utilising such high-powered engines for such miniscule and trivial purposes.
Mr Sim’s AI Encyclopaedia unveils to you what you don’t know.
Like the old school encyclopaedia, it provides references to related topics. Essentially, when you query a topic in this AI, it suggests to you related topics, and before long, you are tapping into a web of knowledge associated with this particular topic.
And that’s what sets this AI apart.
To expand your (or your child’s) knowledge beyond your wildest dreams, visit https://encyclopedia.stalford.edu.sg to find out more.
App #2: Study Buddy
Not every student requires lengthy answers to a topic.
Sometimes, all that students need are just simple answers to simple questions, NOW!
That’s where Study Buddy steps in
Study Buddy is, as its name suggests, a buddy for studying.
Not the kind that sits beside you and quietly copies your homework, but the kind that answers your questions, explains things in a friendly way, and even helps you pick up new languages along the way.
It’s what your child needs when he or she needs simple solutions to a simple problem, with a friendly twist of course.
Visit Study Buddy at https://buddy.sa.edu.sg to find out more.
Apps #3 and #4: Vocabulary Practice
One of the biggest obstacles in the mastery of any language is the size of a student’s vocabulary, or what we would term as the lexicon.
Without enough words in the word bank, nobody would be able to communicate in that language, whether in the verbal or written form.
Apps #3 and #4, which are the Stalford Vocabulary 4000 and Stalford SAT 1000 respectively, address this gap.
App #3: Stalford Vocabulary 4000
The Stalford Vocabulary 4000 incorporates the most-commonly used 4000 words in the English language, categorises them into 40 major themes, explains the words and provides examples as to how the words are utilised.
So the Stalford Vocabulary 4000 isn’t a run-of-the-mill word dump you would see in the market.
In addition to what a quintessential dictionary would do, it also provides for translations into 10 major Asian and Southeast Asian languages alongside the standard explanations and examples.
Visit https://vocab.sa.edu.sg to experience the Stalford Vocabulary 4000.
App #4: Stalford SAT 1000
As an established educational institution (Monsieur Sim, would you be kind enough to enlighten me as to how long Stalford Academy has been around), Stalford Academy is no stranger to the trend of SAT word lists.
But unlike other word lists in the market, this app deploys flash cards and random flash cards to aid you in your learning.
Which basically means you have a choice as to whether you would like to move through the word list sequentially – from A to Z – or you would rather adopt a more laissez-faire approach, and move along with the ebb and flow of life.
Either case, you are learning.
There is a quick quiz and a ‘Type the Answer’ option to test your powers.
The ‘Type the Answer’ option is really tough. You should give it a try.
Visit https://sat1000.sa.edu.sg to have a go at it.
App #5: O-Level (SEC) English Oral Exam Practice
This has to be one of Mr Sim’s powerhouses.
In the past, oral exam-practice used to be a tedious process of coordination.
The English teacher has to be free of all encumbrances, and the student must be willing to participate.
Time is a scarcity, both on the student and teacher’s end.
Plus, the teacher had to manually compile all the topics and questions over the years, and crack their brains to project new, possible ones.
Today, the oral examiner cum (not that cum) trainer is available 24/7, as long as the student is willing to learn and commit time to the learning, thanks to Mr Sim’s app.
And the topics and questions reflect the trend and pattern that have emerged over the years.
Most of all, it takes away the shyness factor on the student’s end. Many a well-intentioned teacher has – more than once – exhorted their students to take a video of themselves answering an oral exam question, and send these videos to their teachers for evaluation.
And many a time, many a shy and self-conscious student has resisted such opportunities to improve themselves, because ~ well ~ they are too embarrassed at doing such a stupid thing.
It’s funny how they don’t mind dancing and prancing around and uploading such antics to TikTok, but they hold back on sending videos of stuff that matters.
This app removes that problem.
Words can’t express my awe with this app. And I am an English teacher/tutor.
See it for yourself here: https://oral.sa.edu.sg.
And That’s Not All
What I have just listed here are only five of the apps we possess.
At last count, we have 35 AI apps in our arsenal, with 17 targeted at learners and the remaining 18 tailored for teachers.
I don’t know what you think about this. But possessing 35 apps? If we are not the OG of AI in Education, I don’t know who is.
Kudos to Mr / Master Sim for employing his engineering skills for the benefit of education. We couldn’t ask for more.
(Most recent update: Mr Sim has created an app that can answer English Literature questions. That’s really a first.)
Queen of Chemistry, Ms Selena See
In the same Brainz article, I mentioned a Chemistry teacher who would go the extra mile for the benefit of her students.
And there are three things she does that make her the prima donna of Chemistry — and I mean that in the old-school, leading-lady sense, not the modern ‘difficult diva’ sense.
Firstly, she demystifies O Level (SEC) Chemistry.
Parents and adults out there who are reading this rather lengthy post of mine, you would have known how baffling O Level (SEC) Chemistry can get.
All the covalent bonds, balancing of equations, mole calculations, electrolysis, organic chemistry, acids, bases and salts — I might as well drink acid instead of coffee for breakfast (wait…coffee is acidic!).
Based on what the students say, attending Ms Selena’s classes has opened their eyes to Chemistry, to what the subject is all about.
That’s what good teachers do: open their charges’ eyes to appreciate the subject more.
The next thing she does is to popularise O Level (SEC) Chemistry.
On her own accord, she has been producing videos and posting them on TikTok and Instagram. Suffice to say, she is the face of Chemistry on TikTok and Instagram; as well as Stalford Learning Centre.
Thirdly and lastly, she truly cares about her students, and not just the O Level (SEC) Chemistry students.
From what I heard, in October or November 2025 (I don’t know the exact date), on the day/s (I am not sure too) of the Chemistry exam, Ms Selena was at the exam venue, armed with calculators, rules, pens and pencils and every other kind of stationery you can imagine, in case the students have forgotten to bring their own exam gear.
I don’t know what you call this, I call this love and care.
This reminds me of what the great Lord Jesus said: “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:17, 20)
And I think that is how we know. Not by the noise, not by the title, not even by how impressive a teacher sounds when she speaks, but by the fruit that quietly grows from what she does when nobody is paying her to perform. Students who stop fearing Chemistry. Students who begin to see sense in a subject they once thought was designed to destroy their childhood. Students who walk into the examination hall knowing that someone has thought of their calculators, rulers, pens, pencils and nerves.
If these are not fruits of a good tree, then I seriously don’t know what fruit is anymore. Maybe I should go back to drinking acidic coffee for breakfast and stop commenting on O Level (SEC) Chemistry altogether.
I am actually clueless about where she gets the energy from, but based on my limited exposure to the world, she’s likely to be a part of what I term to be ‘people of the Pentecost’.
It takes more than just technical competence to do what she does. The drive and the passion ~ they can only be fuelled by a power far beyond what we humans can naturally generate.
Which reminds me: all of it probably springs from the greatest love of all.
Where O Level (SEC) Chemistry is concerned, she has to be the Queen.
To follow the Queen of Chemistry on TikTok, Instagram and Stalford Learning Centre’s TikTok account, follow the links below.
How about Me? Am I the Real Deal?
As far as I am concerned, I am a real fraud.
I have been plotting and executing my prison breaks from education since 2005 (even this I am not sure; it depends on when I start counting) and for some reason, I have not succeeded.
And the harder I dig my way out, the deeper I accidentally dig my way in.
I have always believed that we humans control our own destiny. From the looks of it, that’s bull crap.
But I will leave my ranting for another day.
I have hesitated to publish this blog post for as long as I could, because – going by past experience – a move like this can either be the beginning of a brand new day or the beginning of the end.
No, I don’t have any plans, but I can’t help but feel some form of reckoning. Since I can’t put a finger to it, I shall just roll with it.
In the meantime, enjoy my latest offering: download my e-book by clicking on my banner below.
P.S. One person from my Brainz article is missing from this blog post of mine. Can I ask if this one person wants to appear on my website?
