Reflection; The Finale.

Assalamualaikum and hello.

Successful learning stems from perseverance, hard work and determination in enduring various lives experience either bad or happy ones. This experience is part and parcel of life and one can never move forward and improved his/her self if they did not acknowledged the contributions of past experience in making them individuals who are unique in nature and characters. I have learned a lot from this course either in terms of improved knowledge and skills or characteristic deemed essential for life.

Blogging was considered a new thing to me. At first, it posed one of the tough challenges in adapting to the new environment as a university student. But as time passes, it changed into experience that enhanced self reflection and understanding of topic or lesson learned from the class. Furthermore, it helps to sustain pivotal points and activity that have been done in the form of diary besides encouraging critical and creative thinking skills as well as problem solving skills. Complementing on the good side of blogging was that I can use the words for writing reflection freely. English words and vocabulary are considered as unique for me. Therefore blogging provide means or as a platform for me to test various English words and vocabulary. In addition, I also realized the potential of blogging in the future classroom implementation, providing necessary elements of technology are integrated in the school.

In terms of what I do not like about blogging was its biggest obstruction namely internet connection. In other words, if we do not have internet connectivity like for example if the internet cable was stolen, the weekly reflection instructed by the lecturer can not be uploaded into the websites. However, this problem can be solved through the internet connection at the cyber cafes. Some of us prefer to write on the blog rather than drafting on the Microsoft word application. Therefore it was a matter of preferences and efficient planning of time to uploaded the weekly reflection. Apart from that, it was excruciating when the ideas for writing in the blog did not appear which in turn leaving the hard- earned money and time wasted at the cyber cafes.

In terms of the advantages of blog experienced by me, it helps me to pinpoint necessary strength and weaknesses of the class. This in turn provides better understanding that can be improved for the future. Besides that, the concept of sharing information and understanding of the topic learned are also replicated through blog. People can read and give comments about what they feel about our reflection besides helping us to rectify any problems expressed in the reflection. Apart from that, my communication skills have been improved through this technology as I am able to communicate with other people who read my blog even though it was not instantaneous. Moreover, I learned to be creative and critical in managing the blog since it acts as a personal website which in turn provides exposure to the way of marketing and business.

For me, the advantaged of learning in this course was nevertheless important and crucial for my development as a future teacher. This course has taught me a lot particularly in utilizing various technologies for English lesson resources and materials which I have never thought before. Besides that, it enabled me to improve on my computer software capabilities deemed necessary to complement the understanding of computer hardware. All this understanding and improved mastery of technology application helps in translating into better sources of authentic, enjoyable, interesting and encouraging materials for ESL classroom.

In terms of discouraging point of this course, there were overemphasized of technology-based instructional material designs. In other word, there were not sufficient balanced between the non technology based material construction with technology based one. This actually translates into over dependent of the technology in the teaching and learning process in the classroom which might posed difficult situation for teachers posted to the areas such as remote places in Sabah and Sarawak.

This course has provided me with ample information, skills and knowledge deemed essential for becoming successful teacher in the future. I have learned about various computer skills I have never thought before such as you tube videos downloading, video editing, audio editing and photo editing which all represents new segments of schemata in my knowledge. In addition, the role of the internet as a basic surfing tools for sources of information and knowledge have been changed into versatile technology-based tools enabling the realization of what have been perceived in the old days as impossible.

In terms of unexpected learning experiences, the e-book presented reconstruction of previous schemata. In other word, the e-book that I have known before was based on the PDF format. However, the unexpected seemed to be better as it is active in the sense that it can be added with sounds, videos and animation compared to the passive PDF format that shares the same characteristic with typical paper-based book, differentiated only by different platform which is technology.

At first, I expected to learn the non technology based materials such as flash card as well as technology based one, but the balance falls more on the technology-based side. I believe it shares the same essential role in providing pupils with successful learning experience in the classroom. In addition, in order to complement the gap, I believe that I have to take more effective effort and diligently finds out about the non technology-based instructional material from various sources and not relying solely on the lecturer.

If I were given the chances to change anything in the course, I would like to improve on the pro forma particularly on the non technology based material designs. The instructional material must be well balanced with the technology based one. Besides, tutors should also be provided to help the lecturer and students as this course requires lots of task that needs to be done.

All in all, these technologies have presented new experience that will help me in embracing the future of education. In facing the diverse attitudes and unique characteristic of the students, necessary, appropriate and balanced used of instructional material have to be used so that it will bring the best result which in turn affect their successful learning experience.

Fourteenth Class Reflection

Assalamualaikum and hello.

Development and creation of effective teaching and learning process covers the assessment of students’ ability to recall back specific information, providing solution and answering question through utilization of problem solving skills as well as critical and creative thinking skills. In addition, real world based problems and application are also presented so that it will provide necessary exposure deemed essential for future practice.

In particular, the fourteenth week class replicated this assessment process. The lecturer provided us with four questions which I consider to be tough for me as it tested on the practical aspect of the concepts and understanding of the knowledge concerned. In addition, the week where we have this exam was considered to be hectic and full of assignment submission date. Therefore it was physically (straining eyes and body to complete the assignments as well as reading notes) and mentally (trying to find the best solutions for the assignment as well as understanding and memorizing the facts) challenging for me as a university students. But, this trial and tribulations will provide helpful and encouraging experience if we perceived it as a constructive and positive side of our life.

Reflecting on the first question given, it asked us to select one of the characteristic of skills brought by children to schools which will help them to learn another language. This characteristic is deemed essential as it provide us, teachers as well as teacher to be with ample information that will help them acquire the language effectively. In addition, this characteristic represents different characteristic possessed by the children and teacher should take note of this information as they can utilized it for the effective means. Besides that, children should be perceived as an individual with unique differences that sets them apart rather than based on generalization. Without such knowledge of the children, teacher can never effectively and efficiently planned, implement and evaluate their lesson. This real world based question helps to prepare teacher to be like us with such problem and hopefully we will be able to rectify it and eventually produced successful language learning experience for the children.

The second questions points to the difference between modern instructional material and traditional material. In other words, computer based technology which represents the modern one are compared and contrast with the material such as paper based books and skills sheet which represents the traditional instructional material. Initially, in the same question, we were also asked to classify and make a list of the particular materials. I believe this is important as it helps us, teacher to be, to pinpoint the usual problem faced by today’s school teacher particularly in the finding the right, practical and useful instructional materials. Besides, without this knowledge, teachers will loose one essential element that will disintegrate the classroom. Therefore such understanding and mastery will help us to identify and use the instructional material effectively and efficiently.

The next two questions represent another level which I considered tougher than the first two questions. However, basing on the schemata and previous understanding, the questions were answered. For the third question, based on the various Malaysian stories which range from funny story to folktale story, we were required to select one and design a storyboard for an animation video. The safe and unthreatening classroom atmosphere as emphasized by Stephen Krashen through his affective filter theory will be able to become reality through this story based animation. Besides, other activities deemed creative as well as enjoyable can be generated, providing the teacher knows how to utilize and implement it.

The last questions asked us to identify and evaluate the mental and emotional engagement that is happening in the given situations. The critical and creative thinking skills as well as problem solving skills are applied in order to answer this question. In addition, the training replicated through this question help in providing exposure deemed necessary to cope with the diverse situations in the classroom.

In a nut shell, it is necessary to understand the use and implementation of specific instructional materials and resources so that effective and efficient means for creating successful learning experience will be achieved. In addition, further thinking and understanding are required in order to be up-to-date and practical. Thank You.

13th week class reflection

Assalamualaikum and hello.

Since the advent of the new era of globalization, knowledge and skills that are not possible before in the old days is now possible. Thanks to the knowledge explosion through internet and innovation of computers, our education sphere have revolutionized and this created a new generation of pupils who have technology awareness as well as demanding need for the use of technological material and resources in the their learning process. This in turn propelled teacher, school administrators, ministry of education and policy makers to adopt new approach which in parallel with the changes in the global educational scenario.

Replicating this effort of revolutionizing the education scenario in our country was the use of software that contains interesting games and activity. In particular, children educational software provides effective means for the pupils to enjoy the experience of learning suitable with their age level, interest as well as learning preferences. The thirteenth class explores on this technology benefit by introducing the characteristic of effective educational software such as the need for the software used in the classroom to be in congruent with the curriculum and the lesson taught. Software that contains simple and easy games promotes improvements of learning from the ordinary traditional method of chalk and talk. In addition, it also promotes critical and creative thinking as well as problem solving skills that are deemed impossible with the use of old method. One of research finding suggested that, pupils are able to improve their learning of specific knowledge and skills, better concentration and effective utilization of critical and creative thinking skills much better in the longer term than the pupils who did not experience the technology use in their classroom.

Even though it has been a while since the introduction of this technology in school, it is apparent that some school was not able to fully utilize it in order to improve their teaching and learning process in the classroom. This may have been due to some inevitable factors such as teachers’ incompetence in the computer utilization, lack of facility, constrains of time and copyright matters. All this hinder the progression of our education move towards world class education standard.

In a nut shell, technology utilization in particular through children software will keep on changing and evolving. It is up to all the parties concerned to take on the wise decision and effective effort in order to produce best result for the benefit of our education field.

12th week class reflection

Assalamualaikum and hello.

Optimistic in enduring the trial and challenges of life particularly as a university student is an essential paradigm of shift towards creating successful and holistic individual in terms of intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical. In other words as University Malaya students and a future teacher to be, I must take on the example of the successful individual such as the Prophet Muhammad which optimistically endures the challenges and trial in conveying the message of truth to His ‘ummah’. This praised characteristic should also be adopted by everyone including pupils in school. I believe that without such characteristic, we will never be able to step forward which in turn plummeting ourselves into degree of self inferiority, stagnation and many more of the negative effects.

The twelfth class revolved around completing the given assignment. Some of us were just coming back from the hometown and some others did not make for the class. However, that did not stop us from exchanging ideas and information that were deemed important among others even though we were not in the same group. I managed to improve some of the information regarding the assignments which in turn helps to propelled me towards completing the assignments. In relation to the optimistic characteristic which I emphasized on earlier, the trial and challenges in completing the given assignments must be looked from the positive side that is improving my understanding, knowledge, skills as well as endurance in life as a student and teacher to be.

All in all, the praised characteristic must be replicated by everyone including me so that we will be able to withstand the challenges facing us for today and the future. Life is nothing without trial and challenges. Thank You.

11th class reflection

Assalamualaikum and hello.

The eleventh class was particularly revolved around presentation. In other words, based on the notes given on previous class, we were asked to present the notes so that everyone can share the knowledge. Initially, the class continued the last presentation from Raziman’s group which is particularly on topic six. Besides that, we were also introduced to a new task which is on research paper. It is to be included in the portfolio. In addition, the lecturer also planned to introduce software for kids which are deemed necessary for this course. Unfortunately, due to the time constraint, the software was not able to be shown.

The presentations helped in adding new knowledge to my schemata as well as reconstruction of the previous prior knowledge. This involved improved understanding of the what, why, when, how and where to utilize and find the sources of appropriate material regardless of the authenticity, originality and adaptability of the material. All of this sources and knowledge can be obtained through internet.

It will not be long until we celebrate ‘Hari Raya’. The fasting month becomes the witness of our patience, hard work and effort in fulfilling our role as God’s servant in this ‘transient’ world as well as student in this challenging heart and mind university life. Hopefully, we can be better and improve ourselves so that we will be able to ‘fly through the heavy storm’ and arrived at our destination with the ease of mind and happy feeling. Without the brave spirit and steadfast commitment, we will never be able to endure the ‘storm’.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to Puan Foziah and my beloved fellow friends. Sorry for any mistake, physically and mentally. : ) Thank You.

Tenth Class reflection

Assalamualaikum and hello.

The tenth class explored the use of Microsoft Publisher application in producing product such as the book cover, template or brochure, news letter and many more. Before that, we have to submit our assignment 2 to Izyan. All the necessary hard copy and soft copy was collected and put in an envelope which represented specific pairs. Thank you to Izyan for helping us with the process of submitting the assignment.

The exploration of some of the Window’s application is crucial for me in the sense that there are still lots of basic applications that can be put into good use of the teaching and learning process in the classroom. Before this, I thought that the Publishers application was insignificant compared to Word and Power Point. But as we go along and gain new knowledge and skills, all the applications created are definitely have their own specific use and advantages that differentiate it from the others. Since my Microsoft office does not have the Publisher application, I have to install it and this actually gives me opportunity to learn new knowledge of adding the feature or part of the whole system to the Office application.

In the context of the teaching and learning process, the publishers can be optimized its utilization, by proving the teacher and pupils resources, material as well as ways to produce something that can benefit all the parties concerned. In particular for the teacher’s part, they can use the brochure for instance, to grab the pupils’ attention in the specific part of the lesson by making it attractive, colourful and importantly meaningful for the pupil. For the pupils part, they can learn to produce the specific product like for example, news letter that can be used as a writing activity, published and pasted either in the classroom or at a particular advertisement board. There are still a lot more of the application that can be explored and utilized in order to produce a successful and meaningful learning experience for the pupils as well as teachers.

All in all, every application has its own advantages as well as disadvantages. It is up to us, the ‘homo sapiens’ created by the God, to think and use His knowledge for the positive side. Thank you.

Ninth class reflection

Assalamualaikum and hello.

Patience and strong optimistic spirit in enduring the fasting month trial and challenges becomes a good experience in this life endeavor. It helps to mould a person to become a person with good characteristic in terms of spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional. In other words, fasting month is a place to train my hearts and mind besides practicing myself to become subservient to the right path which can help me to become a successful individual. In the context of learning, it is crucial for every individual to train their hearts and mind so that they can cope with today’s globalization and knowledge explosion. One of my favourite concept of motivation in enduring life challenges is being optimistic or in the Islamic approach known as ‘husnud dhan’ which means thinking good.

In the first part of the ninth class, lecturer talked about the evaluation or in other word the assignments. It helped to pinpoint some of the problem and misunderstanding regarding the assignments. Hopefully there will not be any more confusing matters in myself regarding the task and assignments. I believed I have to take more effective and push myself to complete the task. I must use the optimistic approach in order to effectively complete all the task and assignments.

Learning involves adding and constructing new schemata or knowledge apart from reconstructed previous knowledge. I learned new things in the ninth class which include theoretical aspects of the teaching and learning process particularly on the suitability and appropriateness of applying specific teaching and learning materials, methods, style and approach which in turn affect the future learning experience of the primary pupils. Besides that, lecturer also introduced about new website named http://www.onetruemedia.com. Its is an alternative video making website which utilize three simple words namely ‘upload’, ‘choose a style’ and ‘wow everyone’. It was new and interesting for me. The interface looked beautiful and what most attractive is that, its easy and free (the main criteria). Instead of mind boggling thinking about what to choose and how to apply the effects and all sort of animation, this website lets its user to just choose the style as in its simple terms applied, and latter leave the rest for them to do the work. The product was good in the sense that, it looked professional even though the people who upload the pictures for the video making was just a computer newbie or beginner with a very little scanty knowledge of computer (more than just knowing about basic computer skills) like me. Furthermore, it can be used for the teaching and learning material in the classroom. Besides that, we can also teach other teachers in the future schools about the use of such application for their personal gain of knowledge or improving their teaching and learning process.

All in all, it was beneficial and learning new things definitely challenges the minds and heart. Motivation supported with good characteristics helps to cope with the trial and demanding situations. Thank you.