Sabah teacher on ‘20 to watch' list

The Star

12 hours ago

INNOVATION doesn't require perfection or a big budget - just consistency, creativity, and the willingness to share your journey, says Mohd Al Khalifa Mohd Affnan (pic).
The Keningau Vocational College (KVC) English language teacher, who is also a digital learning advocate, is proof of the power of this 'recipe', having recently earned a spot as an honoree of the ISTE+ASCD 20 to Watch Award 2025.
The award, organised by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) in the United States, recognises 20 innovative early-career educators each year who are transforming education in impactful and replicable ways.
The 39-year-old educator from Sabah - who specialises in integrating educational technology, game-based learning, and global citizenship education to create engaging, student-centred environments - is the only honoree from Malaysia and South-East Asia this year.
'I feel deeply honoured to represent not just Malaysia, but also the entire Asean region.
'Standing among 19 other global changemakers truly humbled me and reinforced that our efforts, even from rural schools, matter,' he told StarEdu.
Mohd Al Khalifa's recognition stemmed largely from his development of KVC Nexus, a digital ecosystem designed to optimise - rather than replace - existing national platforms like the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (Delima).
Instead of burdening teachers with new systems, KVC Nexus streamlines documentation and collaboration using familiar tools such as G Suite, he explained.
One standout feature, he added, is the Automated Report System, which converts submitted activity data into various ready-to-use report formats, significantly reducing clerical work for teachers.
'I saw how much time was wasted on paperwork and scattered information. That's when I knew there had to be a better way.
'What truly inspired me was seeing my diploma students' reactions during their final-year projects.
'They had always used smartphones and laptops, but they didn't realise that powerful tools like Google Docs, Google Drive, and other Delima-integrated apps were already available at their fingertips,' he said.
Looking ahead, Mohd Al Khalifa plans to scale his award-winning initiative by developing a free, beginner- friendly module for any teacher or school interested in adopting KVC Nexus.
He is also exploring the integration of tools like the Imago smartboard powered by ChromeOS to further support hybrid and interactive teaching.
He noted that by showing how digital tools can reduce workloads, more teachers would feel empowered to adopt practical, sustainable solutions in their own classrooms and institutions.
'If it can be standardised, it can be automated. Many clerical tasks in schools can be streamlined simply by digitising routine processes,' he said.
To his fellow educators, he had this advice: 'Start with your students' needs, not with the tools. Focus on solving a real challenge in your classroom.
'Even small efforts can create ripples of change when done with intention.
Mohd Al Khalifa's latest recognition adds to a string of accolades under his belt, including being a finalist of the 2024 Bett Asia Awards (The Pioneer Award) and winning the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher award.