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.