Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Back to Life!!!
After months...finally this blog is back again. This blog is created for an assessment in my Master programme, and it went dead after finishing the assessment.
Well, I have graduated from NIE. And now finally I can settle down and find time for this blog again.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunrise at Cameron Highland
Hi people, if you like this photo...
Please vote for me at http://www.digitaldreams.com.sg/poty/vote.php
Let me thank you for your vote first..
This photo was taken at Cameron Highland. Just in case you have no idea where is it, it is in Malaysia. Have you heard of Genting Highland? Is just next to it..
A nice place to visit if you are the type of person who like nature..
The photo was taken at around 6.30am in the morning. The weather is cold but is nice with a cup of hot drink to go with.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tea at Earle Swensen
It has been awhile when I finish the module. Now taking a rest.Want to share this delicious dish.
Yesterday went Earle Swensen at Vivo City to have tea and I have ordered 'Banana Crumble'.
Yum Yum..it is sure tasty..nice time give it a try..
oh by the way, it is meant for 2...
Don't eat it all alone..
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The End?! Nope,it is just a Beginning
Today session is just like a war zone. Early morning we have to write a group report on our own class's perception about the learning environment that we have. Data is collected using WIHIC, and using SPSS to tabulate the result. How to finish everything in time?!?! Well as practitioners, nothing is impossible for us. Phew, we manage to make it!So now my mind is flooded with scale, item, scale mean, scale standard deviation, item mean, scale mean difference, actual, preferred and so on..
Wow! Do I really know what is going on for the whole module? Well, is just like a jigsaw puzzle for me. I have been searching high and low to get all the pieces to assemble to form a big picture. By the way, share with u a secret which is not a secret anymore since I put it on the blog. There is a fast way to assemble a jigsaw puzzle together irregardless of how many pieces. Try figure it out how. Is a learning process you know.
It is the end and also a start of a chapter in my life. The chapter that just ended is learning Learning Environment for the module MEd858. But the story don't end here. It is a start of another chapter in my life. I guess this course has really impacted me and make me think alot. Learning continues for me as it is a journey for me to equip myself so that I can give my students the best I can.
Am glad that Dr Quek has found the purpose in her life. She is once a science HOD in my school and now has moved on to be a researcher in NIE. I can see the passion she has in her - the fire that burn for education. The smile that she wears on her face. I believe she has found what she want.So have I find what I want? I believe I have found what I want.
Thank you Dr Quek. You have taught me far more than what is required for this module.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
MEd858 Lessons Reflections
Pre Session
I received an email by Dr Quek to meet up for a face-to-face briefing before the course starts and also to collect some reading materials. Didn't bring any stationery because i was expecting the session to last at most 1hr. To my surprise it ended around 9pm. Luckily Suhaimi stays in my neighbourhood, and he gave me a lift home after the briefing. Thank you so much. If not, the trip would have lasted 2hrs from Boon Lay to AMK.
I am told that we need to switch from a practitioner role to a researcher one. The need for this module is necessary. Why? For one simple reason: Our society revolves. Our children are influenced by the society. The society is the Learning Environment. So there is a need for us as educators to re-examine and alter our teaching practice to meet new demands and challenges.
I got a big surprise during the briefing, and that is to set up a blog as part of the assignment! I was struggling to get the blog up on that day. Other than blog, I have been introduced to Podcast, Wiki, Facebook, LessonBox, etc.
Session 1
Session 1 is a continuous online learning and reading. It has been written at my own time.
The posts in this blog are my continuous readings and reflections that I have thought through. Please take a look if you are interested.
Session 2
Keypoints on Learning Environment:
- School climate
- School culture
- Perception
- Learning environment
- School learning environment
- Classroom learning environment
This model was introduced to us on what is involved in a Learning Environment. The left half of the model are the factors that influence the human behaviour. The right half of the model shows two type of researches that can be carried out in a Learning Environment, as well as using the results to improve learning and teaching.
Please read Chapter 6 of the book "How People Learn". The reflection was done earlier in this blog on the four different perspectives on Learning Environments. From the activity, I have learnt a way to conduct my lesson on a topic. I can spilt the class into groups and assign each group one part of the topic. Then I would ask them to present and share with the rest the part that they have been assigned to read. As a teacher, I have to be facilitating the learning process in order to correct what the students have wrongly perceived.
Session 3
The Learning Environment consists of the following 3 elements:
1)Physical-seating arrangement, noise level, space provision for movement and work, ventilation, and resource provision.
2)Students-working in groups or individually, student behaviour towards each other, group sizes and composition, and student concentration.
3)Social-teacher's modes of instruction, teacher's acceptance or rejection, types of educational tasks required, and types of activities.
They are clearly divided into what I have encountered everyday in the classroom. This allows me to work on the individual element and enhance it. If not, teaching is just like a daily routine to me in my classroom.
(Theo) Wubbels
Prof (Theo) Wubbels developed the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI). He is concerned with teacher interpersonal competence in Learning Environment. His QTI allows us to measure the relationship dimensions and system maintenance and to change the dimensions of a Learning Environment with the help of Levy Model. Our group has studied about his theory and the contributions in education. We have created a Theo Wubbels fans site using WetPaint. That is how I am exposed to Wiki.
I am also being exposed to Moos's scheme which provides a holistic perspective. It is validated by many researchers in the past. It allows educational research to cross national boundaries that offer much promises for generating new insights.
Why is cross-national studies important? There is a variation in variables of interest (teaching methods, student attitudes) from the sample drawn from different countries rather than from a country. Another reason is the taken for granted familiar educational practices, beliefs and attitudes in one country can be exposed, made 'weird' and questioned when research involves two countries. With the quantitive approach, it is also used to provide valuable insights into the perceptions of students in each country.
Session 4
In this session, I came to know about CLES and WIHIC. I am taught how to modify and the reasons to modify the instruments. The same set of instrument may not serve all types of classrooms. We have to modify to get the desire results.
Attended a paper presentation at APERA conference on using Knowledge Forum (KF) in conducting D&T. The picture at the left can be found in the upper sec student D&T textbook. I perceive D&T to be more than a subject taught in the classroom. It is about thinking process, a survival skill that the new generations cannot miss in this fast changing world.
Also we went through 3 case studies of 3 different schools. It is obvious that different school has different learning environment. I am once again reminded that the school learning environment involves and affects not only teacher and students, but also different stakeholders (principal, parents and community)
Session 5
After learning how to gather data using different instrument, in session 5, we are taught how to use SPSS to tabulate results. I feel a sense of completeness because after learning all the theories, i have the chance to apply and finally get the results. Althought is it not a 'real' research, but I am exposed to different areas of being a researcher. Dr Quek's lessons are well organised and planned.
I can't deny that this module is running in tight schedule and there are many reading to be done. But at the end, I still enjoy myself because of the knowledge and skills that I have acquired. I would like to try to use some of the instruments that I have learnt in my classes. Also i would be integrating the platforms that I have into my lessons for teaching and students learning.
I received an email by Dr Quek to meet up for a face-to-face briefing before the course starts and also to collect some reading materials. Didn't bring any stationery because i was expecting the session to last at most 1hr. To my surprise it ended around 9pm. Luckily Suhaimi stays in my neighbourhood, and he gave me a lift home after the briefing. Thank you so much. If not, the trip would have lasted 2hrs from Boon Lay to AMK.
I am told that we need to switch from a practitioner role to a researcher one. The need for this module is necessary. Why? For one simple reason: Our society revolves. Our children are influenced by the society. The society is the Learning Environment. So there is a need for us as educators to re-examine and alter our teaching practice to meet new demands and challenges.
I got a big surprise during the briefing, and that is to set up a blog as part of the assignment! I was struggling to get the blog up on that day. Other than blog, I have been introduced to Podcast, Wiki, Facebook, LessonBox, etc.
Session 1
Session 1 is a continuous online learning and reading. It has been written at my own time.
The posts in this blog are my continuous readings and reflections that I have thought through. Please take a look if you are interested.
Session 2
Keypoints on Learning Environment:
- School climate
- School culture
- Perception
- Learning environment
- School learning environment
- Classroom learning environment
This model was introduced to us on what is involved in a Learning Environment. The left half of the model are the factors that influence the human behaviour. The right half of the model shows two type of researches that can be carried out in a Learning Environment, as well as using the results to improve learning and teaching.Please read Chapter 6 of the book "How People Learn". The reflection was done earlier in this blog on the four different perspectives on Learning Environments. From the activity, I have learnt a way to conduct my lesson on a topic. I can spilt the class into groups and assign each group one part of the topic. Then I would ask them to present and share with the rest the part that they have been assigned to read. As a teacher, I have to be facilitating the learning process in order to correct what the students have wrongly perceived.
Session 3
The Learning Environment consists of the following 3 elements:
1)Physical-seating arrangement, noise level, space provision for movement and work, ventilation, and resource provision.
2)Students-working in groups or individually, student behaviour towards each other, group sizes and composition, and student concentration.
3)Social-teacher's modes of instruction, teacher's acceptance or rejection, types of educational tasks required, and types of activities.
They are clearly divided into what I have encountered everyday in the classroom. This allows me to work on the individual element and enhance it. If not, teaching is just like a daily routine to me in my classroom.
(Theo) Wubbels
Prof (Theo) Wubbels developed the Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI). He is concerned with teacher interpersonal competence in Learning Environment. His QTI allows us to measure the relationship dimensions and system maintenance and to change the dimensions of a Learning Environment with the help of Levy Model. Our group has studied about his theory and the contributions in education. We have created a Theo Wubbels fans site using WetPaint. That is how I am exposed to Wiki.I am also being exposed to Moos's scheme which provides a holistic perspective. It is validated by many researchers in the past. It allows educational research to cross national boundaries that offer much promises for generating new insights.
Why is cross-national studies important? There is a variation in variables of interest (teaching methods, student attitudes) from the sample drawn from different countries rather than from a country. Another reason is the taken for granted familiar educational practices, beliefs and attitudes in one country can be exposed, made 'weird' and questioned when research involves two countries. With the quantitive approach, it is also used to provide valuable insights into the perceptions of students in each country.
Session 4
In this session, I came to know about CLES and WIHIC. I am taught how to modify and the reasons to modify the instruments. The same set of instrument may not serve all types of classrooms. We have to modify to get the desire results.
Attended a paper presentation at APERA conference on using Knowledge Forum (KF) in conducting D&T. The picture at the left can be found in the upper sec student D&T textbook. I perceive D&T to be more than a subject taught in the classroom. It is about thinking process, a survival skill that the new generations cannot miss in this fast changing world.Also we went through 3 case studies of 3 different schools. It is obvious that different school has different learning environment. I am once again reminded that the school learning environment involves and affects not only teacher and students, but also different stakeholders (principal, parents and community)
Session 5
After learning how to gather data using different instrument, in session 5, we are taught how to use SPSS to tabulate results. I feel a sense of completeness because after learning all the theories, i have the chance to apply and finally get the results. Althought is it not a 'real' research, but I am exposed to different areas of being a researcher. Dr Quek's lessons are well organised and planned.I can't deny that this module is running in tight schedule and there are many reading to be done. But at the end, I still enjoy myself because of the knowledge and skills that I have acquired. I would like to try to use some of the instruments that I have learnt in my classes. Also i would be integrating the platforms that I have into my lessons for teaching and students learning.
Simply Delicious
I am not referring to any food that I have eaten lately. Instead I am referring to Web 2.0 that Dr Quek has shown us.I am totally attracted to the Web 2.0 Framework.
In order to quench my thirst, I take a futher search to find out more about what is Web 2.0. I have never heard of it till Dr Quek exposes it to us.
The framework is to provide a clear, concise view of the nature of Web 2.0, particularly for senior executives or other non-technical people who are trying to grasp the scope of Web 2.0, and the implications and opportunities for their organizations.
From what I understand, Web 2.0 does not have a hard boundary, but rather, a gravitational core. You can visualise Web 2.0 as a set of principles and practices that tie together a veritable solar system of sites that demonstrate some or all of those principles. I have found this video of Web 2.0.After going through the framework, I also have constructed my own list.
- Kel 1.0 ----------------------> Kel 2.0
- White board -----------------> Powerpoint
- Journal ----------------------> Blog
- StoryBoard ------------------> Wiki
- Video Clip -------------------> Podcast
- Notice Board ----------------> Online Forum
- Photo album ----------------> Photo Gallery
I have not tried some of these with my students yet. So I am looking forward to share with them from next year onward. I really envy the teachers in the past because they don't need to look for ways to engage their students to learn. However I believe that they have a total different set of problems to face.
Have you taken the step to allow yourself to be in touch with all these?I believe this learning journey will be a fun one for you.
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