Finale REFLECTION~

Seems like we are nearer to the end of course but it is not the end of learning process..For me, this is the beginning of learning that will never stop..

Life long learning is the most accurate phrase to explain this..I believe that as long as we live, we are learning in each angle of our life..From this course, I experienced new ways of teaching and learning..These strategies had broaden the way of thinking thus improvise the way we are living such as Fish Philosophy..
Communication is an integral part of learning..This class exposes me to communicate by sharing and caring with one another..I would like to express my gratitude to Prof Raja Maznah and all the tutors for being great models to us..Not only in class, but I find that Prof and our tutors had always put their best efforts to communicate wit us through ADEC..A lot of reminders and messages has been given which help and ease us a lot..Though I wasn' t able to reply them constantly but they did made my day=)
In addition, I also learn to communicate with the audience (Video making and Smart Board activities)..I start to think from others point of view..For instance,how to communicate with students through the materials?I believe that we had to know their characteristics, interests in spite of referring to the syllabus..Hence,I had improved my communication skills through Blogging, Chatting online..Hoping that I will improve my communication skills more and more..

Assignments of Blogging, Video making, Developing IWB activities really challenge my Critical thinking.. There are many considerations to be taken for all of this assignments..As for me, I questioned myself with (Wh' questions) to deal with assignments..

Here, Problem Solving coming into the session..Many strategies from different aspects would be thought of before making the final decision..These things had made us to be thoughtful.. Video making and Developing IWB activities were been assigned to be in group work..

Team Work are needed..I gained experiences from working with new friends..Respecting and accepting each other points of views gets in the way that I would like to describe as Ethics and Professional Values.. Working in group is a good idea for me in learning..Peer learning makes me realized the strengths and weaknesses of individuals..Thus, improved each one of us and complement each other.. Discussions were made through out the time given in order to produce the best works..
Leadership is also been developed from this course as we work in group.. In overall, I really satisfied and enjoyed my days in this course.. Thank you to Prof Raja Maznah and to all the tutors that had helped us a lot to discover new skills.. With that,I end my words here=)

Maximizing the use of COMPUTER LAB=)

Recently, most of the schools had been provided with a computer lab for each school.. This action had been taken as the initiative to fulfill the requirement as been stated in Syllabus and Curriculum Specification.. English Language, Mathematics and Science are among the subjects that had been emphasized for integrating Information Technology (IT)..

For this reason, first and foremost teacher should be well-equipped with all the related to Information Technology (IT) such as computer skills, software, web sites etc. This is to ensure the learning run smoothly, and teacher knows how to deal with the upcoming technical error.. Next, teacher in-charge of the computer lab should always take good care of the computer lab (make sure all computers functioning well).. Therefore, the computers are enough to be used by pupils ..

From my perspective, teachers are the responsible persons to maximize the use of computer lab..They should model to pupils to use the available Educational Websites.. Consequently, pupils will able to apply this knowledge to search the information they needed.. In order to support pupils' learning, teacher might provide them with the lists of Educational Websites that they can use for finding additional materials..

Next, teacher need to prepare tasks that require pupils to to use the technology..For illustration, making portfolio on certain topic by searching the information from the Internet.. Thus, teacher can bring pupils to the computer lab and facilitate them to do the task..

Blogging can be also applied to make the best use of computer lab.. Teacher should build their own blog despite of the school website..This will help pupils to keep in touch with the teacher.. Furthermore, this could be a way for pupils to ask help from teacher regarding their studies and also sharing the information with their classmates..

In the nutshell, there are many ways to promote the use of computer lab.. This is teacher's accountability to make the most of computer lab.. For that reason, we should upgrade our skills and put the efforts so that we manage to use the computer lab to the maximum=)

FUTURE classroom (^,^)

Classroom of the future should be reformed to be a place where the learning environments are imaginative and stimulating.. This is to inspire pupils to achieve more in their learning..

First of all, I believe that we should have more school so that there will not cramped too many pupils in a classroom..Nowadays each classroom, usually consists of 40 and above pupils..I think this condition is not comfortable for both pupils and teacher..As an example, my mother had been teaching Standard One pupils fr almost twelve years now..She told me that for every year,there must be about 43 to 45 pupils in her classroom..She found that, this condition had affected some pupils to focus during teaching and learning..They were easily distracted as they were quite playful..Moreover, with their short attention span, pupils could be uncontrollable.. Therefore, more schools should be built to make sure that pupils can be placed at least 25 persons in each classroom..

Secondly, each teacher should have an assistant to help he or she during teaching time (manage group, prepare teaching aids).. The assistant also should help manage the clerical works for teacher..For instance, filling the report card, individually identification card for recording health, pupils' background etc.With the help of an assistant, teacher can focus on teaching process and they can mark pupils' work..This way, teacher is able to identify pupils' weaknesses and strengths.. Teacher can improvise teaching and help pupils with their problematic areas in learning..

Next, each classroom should have their own LCD projector..Last year when I went to school for practical, I noticed that almost each classroom had LCD white screen..However for each school, there was only two LCD projector available to be used for the whole school..This might be the problem for teacher to plan teaching aids that need the use of LCD projector..Additionally, technicians should be employed at least five persons for each school to take in charge of setting the LCD and so on..

Then, I believe in future classroom, each classroom should have a Smart Board..Therefore, pupils will be motivated and as Smart Board is a useful tool for visualization..Computers are also necessary to be provided to each pupils..Future learning need to be more on pupil-centered..Hence, wireless connection should be improved..Teacher can use online Educational Websites, Videos for learning purposes..Essentially, each school had been given wireless connection..But from my observations, it was not reachable to the whole school.. The connection can only been used in the office or staff room but not in classroom..So, wireless connections should be broaden and fixed to be used to the maximum.. Air-conditioned may be considered for each classroom to provide optimum learning environment to pupils and teacher..

These are things that pictured in my minds for my future classroom..I believe that our Malaysian School can be improved by testing out these ideas and construct of how should a school be designed in the future.. For me, it is not a waste to invest for Education Line because our children are the future of the nation.. To develop the nation, it should start from the early stage of childhood..So, these ideas should be considered=)
Finally, may our Education will progress from time to time..

Salam Aidilfitri=)

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to Prof Raja Maznah, all the tutors and fellow friends..
May all of you enjoy Hari Raya..Have a save journey to your hometown and take care=)

FISH Philosophy..

According to http://www.charthouse.com/content.aspx?nodeid=1066,

"FISH! is a skill that provides the process, tools and language to generate the skills necessary to design a workplace full of inspiration, creativity and innovation.
FISH! creates a common language. A language that will help improve your culture by using four simple practices – Be There, Play, Make Their Day and Choose Your Attitude™.
FISH! is a wisdom that everyone can embrace."

From my point of view, this article showed me a new way of living our lives..
It is simple, but had a deep meaning..I agreed that everyone could apply this philosophy in their lives.. As teacher to be, Fish Philosophy is a great model for us..
We should try to Be There for our pupils..Treat pupils as individuals..Therefore we could gain respect and trust from them..
Play should also comes afterwords..Games such as Guessing Game could improve pupils' learning..This will also attract their attention thus make learning as an easier and fun process..Additionally, this would motivate them to use the language..
Make their day can be done by knowing and acknowledging the pupils our such as call pupils by their names..This could simply show them that the teacher cares for them..
Choose your attitude..I believe that as an individual, we rule ourselves..Therefore, we had to choose our attitude..We are as what we are thinking and done..Choose to be POSITIVE person, think and act POSITIVELY..If our insidious is POSITIVE, automatically we will manage to bring POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE to people around us..Therefore, teacher must be a role model by posing POSITIVE ATTITUDE to pupils..This is essential in order to guide pupils to become a better person..
We need not wait till we get into school..What we can do are:
For example Fish Philosophy, we can adapt this philosophy into our life from now onwards

1Be there for our family and friends
2Play in sense of enjoying our moments together
3Brighten our life by making their day
4Choose the attitude to acknowledge others
as simple as 'smiling and hi!'

Its good to practice it from now on because
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE(^^,)

IWB..What's more should be considered??

Once again, this week we were asked to present the IWB activities..
I was afraid this time around..Prof. Raja Maznah had mentioned that she would randomly choose anyone from us to present our own built material..Luckily, the presentations was done just like the other class..Meaning a representative from one group=)huhu..That's more what I like..-happy(^^,)
From my observations, one more important element that should be considered by all of us was CREATIVITY..
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia creativity is a mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts. An alternative conception of creativity is that it is simply the act of making something new..
Therefore, I would say that creativity is divergent thought.. Creativity will differentiate one's work with the others..Besides, I believed that creativity is concerned with ORIGINALITY and APPROPRIATENESS..
So, how to foster the individual creativity namely producing IWB activities?

Nickerson provides a summary of the various creativity techniques that have been proposed. These include approaches that have been developed by both academia and industry:

1. Establishing purpose and intention
2. Building basic skills
3. Encouraging acquisitions of domain-specific knowledge
4. Stimulating and rewarding curiosity and exploration
5. Building motivation, especially internal motivation
6. Encouraging confidence and a willingness to take risks
7. Focusing on mastery and self-competition
8. Promoting supportable beliefs about creativity
9. Providing opportunities for choice and discovery
10. Developing self-management (metacognitive skills)
11. Teaching techniques and strategies for facilitating creative performance
12. Providing balance

Nickerson, R.S. (1999). "Enhancing Creativity", in ed. Sternberg, R.J.: Handbook of Creativity. Cambridge University Press.

Hopefully these techniques will help all of us to develop our own creativity.. Not to forget the Originality and Appropriateness in building the IWB materials..
Best Wishes from me=)

Peer and Self-Assessment for SMART board Project..

This week, we had a chance to improve our own developed SMART board activities..
There are some selected group had presented their works..For my group, we were not been chosen to present but we had to point out the two good things for one of the group presented and two ways on how to improve the presentation for another group..
Through out this session, I found out that to produce a good material there are 3 main keys..
1Appropriateness: To the level of target group (Eg.language used, clear rubrics)
2Suitability: Content based on selected CS
(Eg. Topic that familiar and according to their interest)
3Creativity and Originality: Attractive to pupils and visible
(Eg.font, colours and background)
These criteria really helps me a lot to improve my developed..Thanks to all=)
huhu!!

The making of SMART board kit in process..

Haha..I think SMART board had make my life a bit 'saiko'..hihi..
Anyway, the most difficult time for me was to plan the activity..First, the activities which reflect the Curriculum Specification that I had chosen..Next, to generate the most appropriate activities and attractive to the level of the target group..
Hurmm..This assignment was not simple as we can see.. It needs passions,efforts..As well as mature thinking..For now, I will try my best to search meaningful materials for this assignment..Let us experiment with the SMART board tool!!!huhu=)

Developing Interactive Teaching activities..

INTERACTIVE..I believe this powerful word challenge our thought, skill, creativity and critical thinking to produce a good teaching material.. Developing INTERACTIVE teaching activities require us to be analytical, innovative and practical..

With referring to ASSURE model, analytical in sense of knowing the characteristics of the pupils targeted.. We have to analyze pupils’ learning style, their level of proficiency, prerequisite knowledge or skills, emotional, cultural or economic issues that might hinder them from learning effectively.. Therefore, this knowledge about pupils’ characteristics will help us to determine the Learning Outcomes to be achieved by pupils at the end of the lesson..

Additionally the second step of ADDIE model is designing phase. For me, we have to be innovative at this stage.. Innovative makes an activity to be appealing to pupils.. However, as teacher we also have to be practical with the graphic design so as to ensure that the presentation of the activity approachable to them..

Good luck to all.. I hope we all manage to create INTERACTIVE teaching activities for this assignment.. Gambate!!

Not just an ordinary board

Schools usually fulls with notice board, white board or black board..But maybe 10 years from now, our schools, universities and local institutions will be using the SMART board..I believe this SMART board is one of the latest educational project in Malaysia..huhu!

Knowing SMART board in this early time feels like the first time when Computer being introduced those days..A USEFUL and EFFECTIVE classroom should be provided for students..

SMART board as a tool in language classroom could be one of the solution for our schools..The teaching and learning process can be more INTERACTIVE and MEANINGFUL with the use of SMART board..However, as this is new for all of us..we should learn and explore first before using it in classroom..

This semester, we had the opportunity to get used with SMART board.. So let us grab this opportunity to master the skills..Therefore, we could be the GENERATOR for the future teaching profession.."DARE TO MAKE CHANGES" spirits should be in all of us..

Finally, after producing our own video for learning purpose, best of luck from me for our next task which is to produce an INTERACTIVE and MEANINGFUL lessson by using SMART board..Gambate!!

Video Editing in Process

Life changes as time changes..
Before this, we had to find, adapt or modify etc resources from library or internet..And now, we ourselves had to produce the material..Now I realized that to make one was harder than to adapt one..For my assignment, I had already taken few scenes..
But somehow I still could feel the worries..Worries of how well my production will be..I knew that this course will be challenging..Just like the feeling of fighting with my own self..Build up my own skills and endurance..As well as my passion in teaching..
That's interesting..that's really interesting..
We have to think about our client which is the STUDENTS..meaning this video is not for anyone ELSE BUT MADE FOR STUDENTS..This is to make this video to be a success..Now let's do our best shot guys..huhu..This is the experience once in a lifetime, being both producer also actor or actress..btw we have to try hard to convince our client..
Good luck to all =)

ME and Technology =)

This week, we had received our first assignment which is VIDEO EDITING..huhu, I felt just like in shoe of a script writer as well as a director's chair..I was thrilled yet very exciting to do all this stuff..Though I had no idea on how to use Window Movie Maker, I still curious to do this video thing..Thanks to Prof. Dr. Raja Maznah and Miss Ng as they really help me by giving me rough idea on how to proceed with this assignment..
So, friends lets do our best in our first assignment!! We'll see how does the product will be..As for sure, I believed all of us will give our best shot..Hoping all of us will support each other so that we could generate ourselves in becoming the greater person who possesses IT skill for teaching future children..

How you as a teacher will be learning?

Life is a learning process..
Technology need COURAGE AND PASSION for a person to master the skill..Therefore, I think that's is what i would have to do now..This course really help me in build mine..
I have to learn many stuff from our respective lecturer,tutors also friends..Thanks to all..
Now and than I will keep up my effort to learn this skills..So that we can use this as a tool in our teaching and learning..It's better to learn and make use the technology now than never..Am I right? Adios =)

How technology is going to affect how your students are going to be learning?

In previous days, when I was still in Primary schools, technology was not been such an issue like these days. However, as times change, the educational emphasis is also changing. Our Government had invested on technology in our nation's school systems. Therefore, I think as teachers we will be held the accountable for these investments.
The question now is, how this technology will affect students learning? For me, we should be WISE in selecting the materials to be used in classroom in the right way and time so that this technology could be used WISELY. For example, if we were going to be teach English in period of one hour, we have to make sure that Video clips should not be too long. Therefore, students able to learn something from the Video clip and talk or write about the teaching point showed.
Relating to PLEASE, through ICT student learning will be improved. The need for students to develop learning skills that enable them to think critically, analyze information, communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve can be achived when they themselves actively engage in learning especially in group discussion session.
However, do you think students able to catch up with this technology? Technology may affect student learning both in positive and negative side. For instance, we can get pupils' attention through the use of technology as well as to give clear picture when dealing with abstract concept eg. showing sympathy that can be showed in Video clip through the acting of a character. But if suddenly there is no electricity, the technology could be hard time to be used in learning and affect students' learning. So, once again we have to be WISE by always to have back up plan.
As with most things in life, technology can be both a bane or boon. Nevertheless in my point of view, the benefits of technology is far outweigh the weaknesses. We must think and act WISELY so that we can make sure technology affects students in a good way..

Knowing You, PKEY3101

Assalamualaikum and a very pleasant day I bid to you all of you. Alhamdulillah, again we all meet in University Malaya after a long semester break. New course has come with more challenging requirements and demands for me and all of us. In this case it was PKEY3101 (Technology in Primary Education).

Frankly, I was freaking out when the moment I had to register this course. Technology sounds so good anyway as I was no so good in it,haha I got so nervous. Someway, somehow I will try my best to catch up and do well in this course.

The class was a bit chaos at the beginning of it. However, everything went smoothly when Prof. Dr. Raja Maznah, our lecturer came in. Her smiling and friendly style when communicating with us just calmed us down. She had introduced me on PLEASE

So, I had learnt new meaning of PLEASE which is also defined:

PersonalizeLearningEnvironmentAndStudentEngagement

From my point of view, I do agree that the concept of PLEASE is relevant to be used in Teaching and Learning process in Malaysian Primary Education System as in this time-being;learning process has changed towards learner-centered. What I am trying to say that learner is the center of the learning process. Pupils are responsible of their own learning by voicing out their decisions on the content but I as becoming teacher would always facilitate them.

I think, 12C's of Smart Teaching and Learning could be done in the classroom for instance,teacher could provide a task on problem-based which to be done in group of pupils as many 5 person in a group. From discussion held to solve the problem that has been posted, interaction between mix ability of pupils will definitely can be observed.

As teachers, we could made informal assessment on pupils while they were working within the group especially about pupils' social and communication skills and also their language proficiency. Do you agree with me friends?Huhu, that is just what I felt. You might had different point of view..

Reflecting to the real world of Primary Schools in Malaysian context, I had come across in my mind on how far does the concept of PLEASE can be achieved? This issue might been questioned by some of the community which could be the parents.

However, I personally believe that we as the leaders of the community in school must model this concept through learning process in order to prove and convince them that PLEASE can successfully upgrading the potential in individuals. The use of technology should be applied to gain pupils' interest so that pupils learn meaningfully and be updated with the new era of Information Technology.

Therefore as teachers-to-be, I hope all of the educators must work together in realizing the objectives of PLEASE.So, I hope we all will take the benefit from what has we learned and apply it in our daily lives. Hope we will enjoy this course of PKEY3101 and our new lives in University Malaya. Till we meet again=)