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