NCO212 PCQ Assignment 2026

Question 1

Find an archival photograph of a place or building in Singapore on the National

Archives of Singapore (NAS). The archival photograph must have been taken before 1990 and should be extracted from the National Archives of Singapore online portal photograph section: https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/

Copy and paste the photo and the photo caption as part of your assignment.

Using a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool (Google Gemini, ChatGPT or others), generate a photo of the same place or building of the same year as the photo in the archive, using only 1 (one) text prompt (for example: “Generate a photo of xxxx in year 1960”).

Include the generated image as part of your assignment. Mention which generative AI tool that you use, as well as the one prompt that you utilise to generate the image.

With specific references to the two images, write a brief 100-word narrative to:
- describe similarities and differences of the archival photograph and the AIgenerated image, including how believable the AI-generated version, and
- explain the extent to which generative AI as a form of digital technology can affect people’s understanding of the city and its history, and how to address this situation.

In writing this 100-word narrative, you are not allowed to use generative AI. This part of the assignment should be your own original work. You are encouraged to build your narrative by reflecting your thoughts on the two images on existing academic literature, which would help to shape a more rigorous write-up. Provide a title that represents the images and the narrative.

Submit the assignment as a one-page Word Document on PCQ assignment submission link on Canvas.

(100 marks)

Student Notes

This is a simple exercise to submit two photos about technology-society relationship, with its accompanying narrative. You can think creatively about the formats of the narrative, but the most important is that the 100-word narrative has to be your own, not copied from elsewhere and not generated by an AI tool.

For the past photo from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS), you should indicate the date of the photograph when it was taken (at least the year) and indicate the source (provide the link to the photograph). For the AI-generated image, indicate the AI tool that you use as well as the prompt. Your submission should not exceed 100 words and should not be more than one single page (A4 size). If there is a need for a second page, it should only be for a reference list.

The following is a sample outline as an example of how you can complete this assignment. The example features an archival photo of an old place in Bedok.

Please note that you are not allowed to use the same images for your submission.

Image A (Past photo – 1981-1985)

Description of Photograph (NAS): “BEDOK NORTH SECONDARY SCHOOL – SCOUTS ON PARADE. This is a photo of Bedok North Secondary School scouts contingent forming for their first anniversary parade.”

(National Archives of Singapore, https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/recorddetails/3d7f48cf-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad).

[this caption and source are not included in the 100word limit]

Image B (AI-Generated) Description:

AI tool: Google Gemini

Prompt: “Generate a photo of Bedok North Secondary School Singapore scouts contingent forming for their first anniversary parade in year 1981.”

[this caption and information are not included in the 100-word limit]

The 100-word narrative for the above images could include the following points in a short essay format:

Description of similarities and differences between the two images.
Explain ways to identify that the second image is AI-generated, not factual.
How generative AI as digital technology, as shown by the second image, can affect people’s understanding of the city and its history, and any potential to generate misinformation.
What can be done to address the situation / to prevent the use of AI for misinformation.
Substantiate your position in 1-2 sentences.

[in-text citations and reference list are not counted in the 100-word limit]

NCO212 PCQ Grading Rubric

The assignment will be assessed according to the rubric below.

Criteria

Excellent

(A)

75%-100%

Average to

Good (B)

60%-74%

Somewhat meets expectation (C)

50%-59%

Below expectation (D)

40%-49%

Fail

(F)

<40%

Photos

(max. 20 marks)

Identifies an archival photo from NAS that

represents a place in Singapore in the past (before year 1990).

The AI-generated image is relevant to the place in the archival photo, generated by one relevant prompt.

Shows a very clear and critical grasp of ‘technology’ and its impact on people’s understanding of the city’s social life.

This clear and critical grasp connects with academic literature.

Identifies an archival photo from NAS that

represents a place in Singapore in the past (before year 1990).

The AI-generated image is relevant to the place in the archival photo, generated by one relevant prompt.

Clear grasp and somewhat critical of ‘technology’ and its impact on people’s understanding of the city’s social life.

This clear and critical grasp connects with academic literature.

Identifies an archival photo from NAS that represents a place in Singapore in the past (before year 1990).

The AI-generated image is relevant to the place in the archival photo. The number of prompts used to generate the image is more than one.

Somewhat shows a grasp of ‘technology’ as a concept, and its impact on people’s understanding of the city’s social life, but not sufficiently critical.

Identifies an archival photo from NAS that

represents a place in Singapore in the past (before year 1990).

The AI-generated image is not immediately connected to the place in the archival photo. The number of prompts used to generate the image is more than one, or the prompt is not really relevant.

Rather unclear about the concept of ‘technology’ and its impact on people’s understanding of the city’s social life.

Identifies an archival photo that represents a place in Singapore in the past, but was obtained from another third-party online source (not NAS).

The AI-generated image shows a place in

Singapore, but is too generic and not related to the place in the archival photo.

Fails to show a sufficient grasp of ‘technology’ as a concept and its impact on people’s understanding of the city’s social life.

Narrative

(max. 60 marks)

Very consistent with the photos

Shows a very clear and thorough understanding of the role of ‘technology’ in the city, and explains how it

influences modern

urban life

Critical perspective on how to address the situation / the impact of technology in society.

Focused and cohesive

Consistent with the photos

Clear understanding of the role of ‘technology’ in the city, and explains how it influences

modern urban life

Good but not

sufficiently critical perspective on how to address the situation / the impact of technology in society.

Focused and cohesive

Somewhat consistent

with the photos

Somewhat shows understanding of the role of ‘technology’ in the city, and explains how it influences

modern urban life

Descriptive explanation on how to address the situation / the impact of technology in society.

Somewhat focused and cohesive

Rather inconsistent

with the photos

Rather unclear understanding of the role of ‘technology’ in the city, and explains how it influences modern

urban life

Descriptive and generic on how to address the situation / the impact of technology in society.

Rather unfocused and lack of cohesiveness

Inconsistent with

the photos

Fails to show understanding of the role of

‘technology’ in the city, and explains how it influences modern urban life.

Generic and rather unsubstantiated claims on how to address the situation / the impact of technology in society.

Writing:

Readability

(max. 20 marks)

Very good to excellent linguistic ability (uses a wide variety of apt vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and excellent linking

of ideas)

Few slips or minor errors (punctuation, tenses, subject-verb agreement)

Well organised ideas

Good to very good linguistic ability (uses varied and appropriate vocabulary and sentence structure, but not necessarily

outstanding)

Some slips and minor errors

(punctuation, tenses, subject-verb

agreement)

Well-arranged ideas

Simple clarity and correctness is achieved though there is little variation in vocabulary

and sentence structure

Few major errors and some slips and errors (tenses, subject-verb agreement, structural errors in expression leading to misunderstanding at

times)

Sentences may be short and stereotyped but meaning is not in doubt

Faults in sentence construction, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, and tense leading to misunderstanding of meaning

Sentence and paragraph linking is inappropriate or

haphazard

Flat, limited, or

awkward expression

Gross errors in basic vocabulary and ideas

Communication is impeded by errors

—- END OF ASSIGNMENT —-

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University	Singapore University of Social Science (SUSS)
Subject	NCO212 The ‘Smart City’ and Society

NCO212 The ‘Smart City’ and Society Pre-Class Quiz Assignment 2026 | SUSS, Singapore

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