Associate Professor Bing Ngu

Biography

Dr. Ngu has extensive experience teaching secondary mathematics and science both in Australia and internationally. Over the course of her career, she has identified key challenges in mathematics education, with a particular emphasis on algebra instruction. This focus has shaped her current research, which explores instructional design informed by cognitive load theory, learning by analogy, and learning by comparison. Her work aims to improve students' understanding of linear equations, percentage problems, and trigonometry, particularly in relation to algebraic transformation skills.

A key aspect of her research is its cross-cultural dimension, as she explores cognitive processes and mathematics instruction in diverse educational settings. She collaborates with scholars from Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan to develop a theoretical understanding of effective student learning, including cognitive processes, motivation, subjective well-being, and psychological factors that optimize learning outcomes.

Dr. Ngu is committed to translating her findings into practical applications for educators. She has shared her research with local teachers in Armidale as well as with international educators, such as those in Malaysia, as part of their professional development. Her research has also played a crucial role in the development of high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate pre-service teacher education programs as well as Master of Neuroscience and Education program at the University of New England (UNE), further demonstrating her dedication to advancing the field of mathematics education and educational psychology.

In addition to focusing on cognitive load theory and optimal best practices (e.g., Ngu, Phan, Hasbee, & Usop, 2023), recently,  Dr Ngu has collaborated extensively with Professor Huy P. Phan on research in the area of life and death education. Our work in this field explores critical themes surrounding existential understanding and personal philosophization, as reflected in recent publications (e.g., Phan, Ngu, Hsu, & Chen, 2023, 2024a, 2024b).

Dr Ngu’s teaching and research contributions, both individually and in collaboration with Professor Huy P. Phan and others, have elevated UNE’s ERA profile in Educational Psychology to an internationally recognized level of excellence (e.g., ERA 4), comparable to leading institutions. Moreover, Dr Ngu’s leadership in teaching and research, demonstrated through single-author and lead-author publications in high-quality journals, has allowed her to provide valuable mentorship to early career researchers and students from diverse regions, including Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Taiwan.