time to put my thinking cap! v(",)v

Time to put a thinking cap!! My future classroom? Actually I am afraid to say it. Afraid I might be too ambitious…but then, I still want to imagine and dream on my future classroom….surely, I want a conducive classroom, not only for me to be comfortable to teach. But also for all my kids in the classroom. They need that more right?

As what Suhaili and I had posted in ADEC, we would like to have smartboard, a television and peripheral learning in our classroom.

Thus, I can conclude here that actually what I dream my future classroom to has is that both traditional and the latest stuff. I began to think what I have learned at IPIK and here. At IPIK, more on traditional method, still technology is not left behind. But then, here we focus more on technology as it is the latest. Thus, for me both are important. I remember what I have read in a book that mankind actually easily bored with the same things. It means that we can’t bear doing the same job forever. Thus, the variety of materials used in classroom as teaching aids should serve this basic mankind characteristic.

I also dream to have a classroom where my pupils can freely move and arrange their tables to suit any activities that I prepare, means I need a big class. There should be a space to put smartboard with LCD already fixed like in our lab. There will be also a televison set, a few computers and at one corner there will reading corner with all the reading materials and pupils’ work. On the wall, there should be updated charts and latest info that serve the peripheral learning. Is this too much? Hope not. And hope that could comfort all my pupils so that help them learn better. InsyaAllah…

FISH PHILOSOPHY

BE THERE + PLAY +MAKE THEIR DAY + CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE = FISH ATTITUDE…the four simple to write, simple to say practices yet difficult to practice. Still I do agree that the four practices of Fish attitude if practiced or employed could create a positive workplace. As in term of being a teacher, I think these are what I should learn and force my self to embrace. It is because and I do admit that I am not practicing all that fully yet. Back to the article on Fish Philosophy, I like to quote this favourite and I regard as beautiful sentence, "We're not afraid to use words like ‘love’ and ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’, because those are an essential part of our humanity”. Ermm..what do you think? Doesn’t this sentence strike you? From my opinion and experience, I think these most essential part of human sometimes are incidentally forgotten. Not that we don’t appreciate that part of humanity or in simple word, the human touch, but then we always think it already in us. But then, ‘human touch’ should be expressed or shown so that the people around us know how we appreciate them. Thus, the four practices of Fish philosophy could help us to improve this part. In teaching, knowledge and theory and lesson are not the only main focus. If teacher can’t be able to reach pupils' heart, it might be a tough job for teacher right? Teachers (especially me, as a future teacher) should always remember that children and even all human being has emotional state and effective filter that determine how much they can take what the environment gives to them.

There is also one more thing that I would like to share. As related to the Fish philosophy of the four practices, it reminds me on a book that I read entitled ‘Life is an open secret’ by Zabrina A. Bakar. She mentioned about what Federick L. Collins said which is ‘There are two types of people-those who come in into a room and say, “Well, here I am!” and those who came in and say, “Ah, there you are”’. Well, this make me questioned myself am I a ‘well, here I am’ person who always be there to those needed or am I just the one who is “Ah, there you are”? Now I know why one of the Fish practice is BE THERE. She also states an answer that came from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which is ‘Do not belittle even the smallest act of kindness, even if it were no more than meeting your brother with a smiling and cheerful face’. This can be related with one of the four practices which is MAKE THEIR DAY, am I right? Thus, after reading the Fish Philosophy, I get one more answer besides of what she has gave me.:)

Article research

During the short break (hari raya holidays) while searching materials for PBEY3102 assignment, I came across an article research which had captured my eyes...it was Prof Maznah's research paper on Deployment Of Ict: A Case For The Interactive Whiteboard. So, absolutely I quickly downloaded it and read it. From the article research I got to know how the development of the use of interactive whiteboard in UK. Surely they already advanced compared to Malaysia as the Smartboard is just being introduced here. Prof also mentioned how they were supported by the government, led by a national body – the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) – that oversees, manages and monitors the “ICT in Education” progress. This shows how UK is very concern on deployment of ICT in education and want to make it a success.
Throughout my reading on this article, I gave much attention on one subtopic which is "Teacher preparation". In my opinion, this topic is important for me as a future teacher in order to bring ICT in classroom where training and practicing should be main concern. It is true because how good technology depends much on how teacher implement it to make sure teaching and learning become better. Thus, I think that I should consider what Kelly (2005) said that teachers should develop four abilities in using ICT which are
-Subject knowledge – knowing what to teach.
-The way to teach – knowing how to structure lessons, and what interactions to build into
the lessons, especially when using the IWB.
-Attitude –- knowing that it is alright to make mistakes.
- Fluency in the use of ICT – learning one good skill then moving on to learn new ones.
These four skills are important as to ensure what we teach is effective and understandable and encourage pupils' participation.
I think, Smartboard that I am learning about now and that is slowly implemented in our schools can be useful software for teachers and students. Personally, I like to use it and found it effective as long as teachers know how to benefit it by preparing suitable activities that enable students become alive and interactive. I am not putting aside our traditional board, but then, this Smart Board do assist teacher's teaching and help in creating fun and interactive learning environment. but then, there were still a lot that i should explore and learn about this software. Really hope can use it wisely. Actually, every time I look Prof , tutors and Miss Fenny using Smartboard, I wish I also can use it one day..

I think, it is better for you all to read this article research for further reading.
so, this is the link for the article...

pppjj.usm.my/mojit/articles/pdf/0406/09-Raja-Maznah_UM-final.pdf

Presentation

This is the real presentation week. I am so grateful, at last I am able to complete this assignment. However, I am so nervous as my group members ask me to present representing our group. But then, we did not get the chance today as Prof gave all of us some more time to improve. There were only 4 groups that had presented their work. The others got another chance to fix and look over what should be improved. This should be an opportunity for all of us to come out with a marvelous and great job. From the comment given by Prof and tutors, I could say there are a lot to be considered. What I have mentioned in previous post, the knowledge of child psychology is very important. They are our audience and we should consider what they like, what they able to do, what motivates them and so on. One more important thing that I can say from the presentation is that this is a good way of improving the work. It is because, when we are doing the activities, we rarely see much what are the weakness or strength. But then, after other people see it and give their view, only then we sees our weakness and strength. It is so good. That’s one more the importance of grouping. Sharing ideas and discussing. :)

Assignment 3

This week we are still working on the Assignment 3 which is developing activities using Smart Board. I am still struggling to finish it. Preparing activities using Smart Board is different from using usual method or usual board. There are a lot techniques and tools need to be discovered to make full use of the Smart Board. When exploring what it serves, I just can say this is so good, marvelous. Children could like this technique where they can join during the teaching process. But then, it just does if the activities prepared are suitable and suit the learners and also the Smart Board’s function. Further more, the features teachers used in the activities should be interesting and welcoming to encourage pupils’ participation. That what need to be bear in my mind all the while throughout completing this assignment. Besides, other factors should be considered such as the font, the colour, the pictures and the instructions. All should be suit to my major audience, the little Malaysian who are their physical, cognitive and social growth yet to be full developed. Therefore, what I can say, it is not easy to prepare this interactive activities using Smart Board. Creativity and knowledge on children psychology play important part. I remembered what Tolley mentioned in his article, that this line somehow struck my mind….

“You cannot hold the butterfly (of excellent performance) inside a text-book – it is transient or ephemeral – it needs to be seen to be believed.”

Yup. Depending on text book per say does assure how far pupils understand what have been taught. When teachers can see pupils’ response, teachers can get immediate message whether they are on the right track. On the other hand, pupils also can get immediate feedback. Means, if they are wrong, teachers can correct on the spot and this can be shared with other pupils. Teaching what pupils can see and touch and do, make them understand better.

This week also, my group has been chosen to share what we have done. We chose one of our group members’ works to be presented. Actually, I am so grateful as after presenting and get feedback, we can see what should be improved and changed. As what I say above, they are a lot of factors to be considered in preparing this teaching aid. Luckily, there is still time for my group members and me to improve.

7th week

This 7th week, we learned about “ICT And The Learning Principles Of The Primary School Curriculum”. I think, this topic is really beneficial for all educators. In Malaysia context, the integration of ICT in education is not really vast due to certain unavoidable problems. However, towards the developing of ICT in our country, everybody especially educators should know about this. Firstly, we should understand the three fundamental approaches in using ICT which are Learning about ICT, Learning with ICT and Learning through ICT. Before able to use it, we should know well how ICT can help us. Then only we can exploit the use of it to the most. Yet, learners or children should be exposed to this approaches also as they were our core product. In order for our country to develop as an ICT country with ICT literate citizens, learning using ICT play great role. This is one ways for children to be more open minded in learning. For instance, through ICT, they can be encouraged to be more independent learner as to find further information in the internet. They also can be exposed to distant learning and conference. Thus, they will not feel reluctant to use ICT for educational purposes. It is not to be used as entertainment purposes only. Further more, using ICT, teachers can enhance their teaching as they can adapt and adopt various latest teaching and learning technique from internet and by using ICT tools. This will help them to ensure the progression of students parallel with the needs of current requirement.
So, start updates our ICT knowledge so that we can impart the knowledge to our students and share with them. We shoulder a great responsibility to ensure our next generation is ICT literate.

take a look for a while:)

Impact of animated cartoon pictures Animated cartoon pictures are targeted mainly towards children. They can have a positive as well as negative influence on children depending upon the theme and the content. The animated pictures contain a wide array of content matter and messages that may influence children in many different ways. There are some cartoons that are neutral and purely meant for entertainment, some are educational but some are violent to the core. Take a peek at the good side of cartoon pictures, they are fun, entertaining and a good way to rewind oneself. Moreover, some of them even have a positive influence on kids. In the year 2005, Sesame Street, the educational puppet cartoon series, launched its Healthy Habits for Life series. This was televised with an aim to encourage young kids to lead more dynamic and nutritious lifestyles. Healthy Habits For Life featured Wyclef Jean, the rapper, singing and applauding the benefits of fruits and veggies. The puppets and animated pictures in Sesame Street were an instant hit amongst children since the time it was first televised in 1969. Many parents insisted that their kids remembered each and every word that was taught on Sesame Street.There are many other animated cartoon pictures that inspire kids to adopt healthy habits. Remember Popeye the sailor man, who gobbles on spinach every time he faces a difficulty. This cartoon character actually inspired many toddlers to eat spinach. Keeping in view the positive influence that cartoons have, teachers started teaching kids through cartoons. They used cartoon character drawings to teach several subjects. Did the kids found this method helpful? Sure they did! Cartoon characters inspired them to study the subjects with a deeper insight.Children also have a tendency to consider some or the other cartoon character as their super hero. It is alright till the time the animated cartoon super hero they adore are cute and cuddly like Dido and Yappy , sharp and funny like Bel, Abby and Kewl or cute and wacky like Tumo and Ian However, they may become aggressive and snappy if they start picturing a violent cartoon character as their idol. The drawings of cartoon as stated earlier may have a positive as well as a negative influence. The images and storyline can have a enormous negative affect on kids because the violence and fury is honored without aftermaths, is extolled and idealized. Such violent cartoons should be avoided at all costs.The good news is that there are many cartoons that are simply made for pure entertainment, like Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, Mickey Mouse or even SpongeBob SquarePants, to name a few. Animated cartoon pictures are meant to entertain. It is more than acceptable if the kids learn a worthwhile lesson from them and are positively influenced. Utmost care should be taken to avoid young kid's exposure to violent cartoon pictures as it can harm their intellectual growth. Nevertheless, introduce them to the magical world of Dido, Ben, Kewl, Tumo, Ian and Yappy. With our six cool cartoon characters you simply do not have to worry about anything. They know how to make everyone smile.

http://www.d-six.org/Learn_Through_Cartoons/impact_animated_cartoon.asp

self satisfaction

It was a great relieve after completing assignment2 which is the video clip. Mine entitled “animals’ space / why animals are different”. Please check it out ya!....ermmm, actually this is my first time doing this thing, the video clip. Never came across my mind I can do it. Even it is not so good and so creative, but at least it does give self satisfaction that at last I succeeded doing it. At first and when I was doing it, it was so tough for me. Plus the thinking box was not functioning well. As the result, I kept changing my storyline.huhu…later, I had to face the challenging of converting different files which I just explored. Of course not really expert on it. But then, along the way of completing this first masterpiece, the lecturer, Prof Maznah, the facilitators and friends help me a lot. For me, Prof and facilitators were very concern as they kept reminding about the purpose of the video clip which I think is so very important. Whatever we want to do, we should have path right? It should be clear at first step so that we know how we want to proceed. I also had been introduced with new software such as power director which I think was my hero at that time since I really need this kind of software because I found moviemaker does not have many choices. To make it short, even though there were some difficulties in completing this assignment, but it worth when I got a lot of beneficial knowledge and the experience was so priceless.

Practice makes perfect!!!

Smart Board

Salam and hi everybody..
Today is a quite miserable day for all of us, I guess. I am just making my own interpretation as me saw the sleepless face of my friends and everybody looks so exhausted. Actually today we have to hand in our assignment and I think most of us had burn the midnight oil to finish up our work. Duh….this is the students’ life. Even me myself was so sleepy….even though I have to go to the class with this kind of high affective filter, still I manage to fall in love with today’s session. All My friends also looks enjoyed with this course especially during presentation where some of us get the chance to use Smart board. The Smart board course. So cool… effective…applicable…interactive….fun…..encouraging…..Words that can be related to Smart board. I think this course is very useful for the teachers as this software is begin to be used widely nowadays and in the future. This is the tool to help teacher promoting interactive learning. At the same time teachers also can assess their pupils’ understanding by letting the pupils involve during the teaching process. I really hope can use this tool but actually still not have the confident to do so. huhu…. It looks so easy to use it but when we want to use it seems distracted. But, I know the answer is only 1…PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! "Knowledge without practice/application is like tree without fruits" .I hope when time we were given the assignment, I will able to explore the use of Smart Board and able to use it effectively. Not to forget, Thanks to Miss Fanny!

This week, the information I got was really teacher based. Actually, I was impressed that teachers can find so many information and resources via eduweb, tvpendidikan etc. At some point, I felt quite shame because I already 4 years at teacher trainee college but never take effort to check on it. But, better late than never right?hehe.. By the way after Miss Chin explain the way to find information via those web, I already determine and wish could get benefit from it and use them wisely.
At the same time, I am still in progress completing my video clip. Even though at some degree, I face difficulty, I am so grateful that my friends always help me. And now, I really thank iman and azirah as they introduce me ‘Power Director’ as initiative to ‘Windows movie maker’. Power Director relieve me a bit as it help me a lot in editing video, pictures and lastly to produce interesting video clip. Even though I have not explore all yet, but I will, step by step. For me, this course really helps me a lot in knowing all the software and link to improve my skill in IT. From a person who is not really know about IT, I am now learning towards it. Gambate!!!!!

ASSURE + ADDIE :)

The theories and model of instructional design; ASSURE and ADDIE model presented by Miss Chin were very beneficial as guidelines for me in preparing and completing my assignment which is video clip. For me, both models are practical and very useful especially for teachers before prepare any material to be taught to pupils. Both models start with analysis phase where I think is very important. We have to really know our learner and their characteristics before we design activities for them. Like Malay proverb, ‘tak kenal maka tak cinta’, thus knowing our pupils help us identify the purpose of our activities and what we want to achieve from them. Then, we end up with evaluation. Whatever we did, we have to think back and reflect whether it is success or not. If not, why so? And how we are going to improve it later. I think the steps involve in both models are useful guidelines so that we know what we are producing and later our pupils also benefit from it. And now, I am trying to apply the models while preparing the video clip. Throughout the process I keep reminding myself about my target learners, their proficiency, my leson objectives and the effectiveness of my video….really hope I’m on the right track….

the sunny bright day...

second week

I felt more comfortable this week. Even though it is still difficult, but I manage to cope with it. I get the key that I have to be hardworking to explore the internet sources in order to know it. And I also feel relieve when my group members willing to help each other and they are very encouraging. Surely I will work hard and put a lot of effort to produce and effective and interesting video clip. This week we had tutorial on moviemaker. Before, I do know about moviemaker and had try it. But my knowledge about it is still limited. I don’t really know how to covert pictures or video. So, I am looking forward to learn about it and really hope to get help from those who know…:)

Get Next Generation Learning

We are in the era of ICT where everybody is going to be round the world at the tips of his finger. Many people believe that technology makes life much easier. Malaysia is not left out. And now in Education field Malaysia also is working hard to make sure the teachers and students to integrate technology in classrooms so that to mould technology literate citizens who are standing as tall as other citizens in other countries.

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

Before, in school, technology was introduced or known mainly by the use of computer using basic MS tools such as MS word, Power point and Excel. These are what most of students know and familiar with. But, technology is not just that. Technology is beyond that. If it is discovered and used wisely, technology potentially offers tremendous advantages to students and teachers as well. The teaching and learning process will be more interesting and varied. In my opinion, technology is one of teaching tools that is different and can be used widely.
First of all, as what in the article “Get Next Generation Learning”, it is believed that technology driving up standards of students. ‘Some 11 years old at school using interactive whiteboards are more than 7months ahead of those at school which don’t’. From this quotation, it shows that technology helps students to learn beyond where they are not just academically improved but also they will master the skill, for instance the use of interactive whiteboards and also socially improved where they will get involve more in classroom. In Malaysia recently The Smart Board is just introduced and is planned to be used in classroom. I think this, is one way to start the integration of technology. Teachers might have been using slideshows before, using LCD, laptop or OHP. But with the invention of Smart Board the participation from students are more welcomed where students can involve themselves actively while teacher is teaching instead of the teacher keep on explaining by referring to the slideshow. I believed that Smart Board is the starting point where teachers can indirectly introduce the world of technology to the students when they are learning. Perhaps students can use this skill to learn independently at home so that they will not have to wait to computer class to learn about technology.
If you were at a teacher’s shoes, do you think teacher has enough time to prepare teaching aids to bring into the classroom? How about if the students still not participate in classroom after you have burn the midnight oil? How can you assure the students will like it? Technology is the solution. It is able to make learning more exciting, rewarding and enjoyable. Compare if a teacher use a picture in classroom to explain the word “running” and the use moving picture using technology staff. The students surely want to see the moving pictures that seem more realistic and concrete. Technology helps teacher to make lesson interesting by using clip video, picture editing, or video editing. This stuff also encourages students to pay attention in the classroom and avoid boredom. Besides, the view can be clearer and appeal to the student if we integrate technology in the lesson. It is because the traditional way such as pictures, flash cards and display sheet can be a distracting where students at the back cannot see it or the stuff are not able to catch students’ attention. That is why technology helps teachers and students to have excitement during teaching and learning process.

How you as teacher will be learning

Practice makes perfect. That is the way teacher will be learning. Without practice and frequently use of technology, teachers or anybody is difficult to master any field and the same goes to technology area. Thus, the best way is that teachers have to be brave enough and frequently integrate technology during teaching and learning activities. For me, attending courses is just not enough as technology is the place where we have to explore and discover anything that we like to learn. By the way, for the teacher trainees nowadays, they are attending courses where many approaches in teaching are introduced and learned. And fortunately those approaches foster teachers to apply technology and latest stuff. This is not just to make learning more interesting but the most important thing is to cope with our new generation that are born in IT era. The demand to keep up with latest knowledge and move parallel with the recent world make technology is very crucial to our students. Therefore, to teach them, we also have to keep up ourselves with the recent era. Integrate technology in lesson does not mean we have to leave out the interest of our students. Teachers should know how to capture students while practicing integrates technology to suit with students’ interest, cognitive growth and proficiency so the lesson objective will successfully achieved. . It seems useless to have all the latest stuff but the lesson is not effective.


In my opinion, technology do help teachers a lot to encourage students’ learning. Everything is in front of us. In fact, we can use so many stuff such as Smart Board and LCD in classroom. Just use what we have wisely. There is no use to invest million dollars for buying technologies stuff but at the same time we fail to explore it. However technology also has its drawbacks. I am just wondering that teachers might have difficulty when time electricity problem or the electric stuff might have broken. But, we have to always bear in mind, nothing is perfect. Technology helps us a lot and just takes the positive side of it. So, to cover the negative side, always be prepared with plan B :) .

wow!!!

wow! this is my first time create a blog and really it is an interesting tools. eventhough my knowledge on this is very limited i'll try to make this as my first step to discover more on techno stuff. so guys, do visit my blog frequently ya.hehehe..any comments are welcome :)