Week 7 - Life Line for Module1

Here, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Pn. Foziah for being so understanding. She allowed us to complete the tutorials in Module 1 during her class. I felt very relieved as there were lots more that I have to complete.Though there were only 9 skills included, but there were quite a number of subtopics for each of the skills. Can you imagine with almost 20 subtopics for each skill plus all the steps of tutorials for each subtopic, I can't imagine how many slides are there for the whole completed module! Pheww~~

Therefore, I grabbed this opportunity to complete as much as possible all the tutorials during her class as there were many other assignments from my other 6 subjects in which I too have to meet the deadlines given! It WAS an abundance of works for me!!! Wise time management's all needed. How I wished that there's more than 24 hours in a day~~

Okay, stop whining! Back to business~Chiao

Week 6 - Module 1 ( Computer and Internet Skills)

As to what have been scheduled, we are going to do 5 modules throughout this course. And for this week class, we received Module 1 regarding to computer and internet skills.

So, basically this module comprises of skills related to:

1) Compressing files

2) Uploading files

3) Downloading files

4) Encoding materials

5) Storing files

6) Burning files

7) Scanning

8) Sending emails

9) Web search

With all these 9 skills, it is hoped that my computer and internet skills will gradually improve that I can use later in finding appropriate teaching materials for the pupils' learning. Overall, I can't wait to finish this very first module. With all the step-by-step tutorials for the 9 skills in the module, I really hope that I can finish this module just in time of submission. Aja-aja fighting!

week 5- Technological Teaching Aids~

Another week to come. This time around, we were told to expand the use of our teaching aids despite of the conventional ones that we used to do before. And for that, we were introduced to the wonders of technological teaching materials. How they can make our teaching sessions with the kids be better ones!Urm, aside from the board-and-chalk materials, why don't you integrate some technological use for the teaching aids?

And for us to get used to that, Pn. Foziah assigned us to find related teaching resources from the internet based on the topics given:

Year 4: Healthy Living

Year 5: Family First

Year 6: Wonderfully made

And to tell you, I was eager at first to do this task that me and my partner,Nazwan, have put our best efforts to gather the best teaching aids that can be integrated in the teaching of these 3 topics. There were various types of resources that were found useful to be used. Digital flashcards, videos, games, e-books, or even songs, well just to name a few.

Upon completing this task, I did realize that being as a 21st century teacher I have to be creative to vary my teaching aids to attract my pupils and make their learning experience be an effective one. In fact, using technological resources, I found that it is much easier and saves me more time.

As what I need to do is to google any related materials and with just simple clicks I can download or print out the resources found to be used in class. Perhaps, with combination of both kinds of teaching aids- technological and non-technological ones, can make the teaching and learning processes in the classroom be more effective, significant yet fun and interesting enough to suit with the pupils' learning preferences.

week 4- Class cancelled, peeps! ^_~

Got a call from our leader, Bahak. He woke me up informing me that the class for today has been cancelled! Yeehaw~!

Should I be happy? Of course, I AM. He he...Who would not want their morning classes be cancelled when you are not having enough sleep after you burnt the midnight oil completing your other assignments, right? I am one of the people. ^-^ Because I know that I won't be able to focus on the classes with my sleepy head.

Perhaps, after another hours of quality sleep, I can then start completing the rest of my assignments. Should not procrastinate time as abundance of assignments will fall on me sooner or later. Aja-aja fighting!

Week 3 -Susan Halliwell in the house peeps!

Oh, well. I mean she's NOT exactly in MK2. But, her piece of writing " Teaching English in the Primary Classroom" is what was introduced. It's totally different from our previous lessons before.

And for us to 'get to know' Halliwell better, we were divided into groups. And for this, we focused on chapter 1 which is ‘Working with Young Language Learners’. For me, I think it's a basic thing to do, first to know and to understand children's learning styles or natural attitudes in their learning process. How they behave and how they tend to respond and to react to situations around them. Only then we would be able to create lessons as well as teaching materials that are relevant to their learning preferences, right?

There are 6 points for us to ponder regarding to working with young LANGUAGE learners. And to understand them thoroughly, we then were divided into 6 small groups. Each group for each point. As for my group, we were assigned with this particular characteristic: "children's instinct for play and fun".

Okay, now spare me some of your precious time to read my words as I'm going to explain what is actually meant by this point. According to Halliwell, learning does take place in 2 ways: DIRECT and INDIRECT. For direct learning, it's a formal learning where the learners are conscious with that they ARE learning. Meanwhile for indirect learning, it is and informal learning where it's completely contrasted to direct learning in which the learners ARE learning unconsciously.

And it is mentioned that children often appear to learn at their best in an indirect way. They will subconsciously acquire knowledge and skills when there is some elements of fun in their learning. And the fun elements will define how is exactly INDIRECT learning

taking place in the children's learning.

In fact there are times where the children would be in their own world though the teacher is there in the class. What I mean is, the young learners would make the learning be as to what they wish it to be. This is where they will put some fun elements that would surely inject their learning process.

For instance, let's say the teacher gives a game for the children to play in order to practice their knowledge and understanding in giving directions to places. And that, there is a map with clues of places for them to practice giving out the right directions to the places mentioned. So, instead of making the game to be deadly dull for them, they sure would give some fun to the game. Adding sound effects of a honking car while giving signals here and there or even acting as if they are the taxi drivers while showing the directions to the 'tourists.

This proves that they are learning to practice giving out directions in an indirect way during their 'make-believe' play. They bring in whatever experiences they have from the outside class into their lesson to make their learning process be as fun as possible yet effective.In fact, through their sense of fun and play, the children are living the language for real. Also we can say that games do play a central role in individualizing personalities of the kids.

The discussion was completed by creating a slideshow for the given topic. Then each group was asked to present the topic and to explain it well to the class. We learned a lot from the clear and detailed presentations and explanations from each group.

2nd Week

A set of questionnaires to be answered for Mdm Foziah to have a background information on our knowledge and abilities in things related to technological skills.Though I found some of the questions seemed to be irrelevant to the main 'theme'-

"What is your plan for your future?"
a) futher your study
b) have a stable career
c) a plan for your retirement
yadaa.yadaa.yadaa.
(Warning:This is not the exact question,okayh~)

"Erk,is this related to PBEY3101?"That what I was thinking.But,never mind. Sure she has her reasons to include this type of question, right?

By the way,the main focus during the class was "How to type faster with NO errors." SUPER fast, okay!!! ;)

Oyeah~~That's what I want! You know what it got me annoyed whenever I have to do these 3 in one (shall I say)SHOT!-to type(making sure of the right letters),to refer to the notes,and to look at the text on the screen especially when I am at the final stage of completing my assignments.

She did give us a copy of the software on how to type real fast with no errors.Practice! Practice! Practice! Thanks to her after this those 3 become 2 just in one shot~heehee.

One significant lesson I learnt this week-It's not easy to get people to voluntarily lead other people.Only those with big heart are willing to take the burden.And one of those is the only Bahak.(You get my standing ovation,young man!)Though you seemed very reluctant at first.Ahaks!

And to our voluntary treasurer,Dominic, I hope we all won't give you a hard time this round,OK?
Money!Money!Money!

Till then,goodbye peeps~See you in next entry!

There's Always The First Time

NUR LIYANA BT DAHALAN . PEH 080055

First week.First class.First impression.

And all I can say,it was COOL. No nervous breakdown.No goose bumps.Well,mind you, that usually happen to me whenever I have my first class with a new lecturer because I don't know how exactly the style of the class is. OK,forget about it.Let's come back to business.

PBEY3102:Using and Developing Resources in Primary School

Hurm, what I like most about this class is that,we are going to deal with technology and softwares for our assignments. Does that mean I don't have to 'ambush' the library any more and borrow all the 'artifacts' from there to complete my assignments? (Uh, really pray hard for that~) Just give me a break from all those paper-and -pencil tasks. Not that I don't like them but just give me a break..(sigh).

And then when Madam Foziah, our dear lecturer mentioned that we have to create a blog and write our weekly reflections throughout the semester, I was more than happy. Don't know why,perhaps it is way different from my previous assignments.I just want something new for me to explore and that made me a novice in this blogging world. Well, I don't care as there's always the first time.Who knows one day I might join any gatherings for bloggers out there.Giggles. (gag.gag.puke.vomit.Yes you may. Hahaha)

And yeah,she also asked us to buy an 8gb pendrive to keep all those projects that we are going to do for the whole semester. At that time I was like "Oh my,an 8gb one??!!! What on earth are we going to do with that? " (Low Yat Plaza,here I come!!!) Yet,I am thrilled and I am looking forward for the projects. Perhaps I can give a goodbye kiss to the times I had to bury my head into those thick books.He he he.Another new way for me to complete my course works.Smiles.

Another thing she asked us to do was to download Adobe Photoshop CS3.Photo editing skills which I am not familiar of. To be frank, I AM eager to do all the works because in the end I will have better ideas about technology when it comes to using and developing my teaching resources for the next two years.

All in all,it was indeed a fresh start for me.Looking forward for my next class. Till then,annyong (goodbye)~