Today is a 'present'. The future? God knows...

We handed in our SmartBoard (IWB) assignment.. And then, we started on a chat thread.

What are our future classroom? Hm.. I have a dream...

New buildings, air conditioners and comfortable seats would be nice! But, I'm sure those would be impossible since I'm not building mu own school.. I guess, that is REALLY a DREAM..

Anyway... My future classroom.. Hm... Looking at my mum's life (she's a Year 1 English Language teacher), I could learn so many things. I love the way she uses songs in her classroom but for MY future classroom, I would upgrade this technique. Instead of having the class singing on their own, I don't mind bringing my own pieces of technology (radio, for instance) for the class. As what mentioned by Krashen in his Affective Filter Hyphotheses, the happier the pupils, the better they learn. So, what do kids like? Cartoons, games, songs and so on!

Suddenly, this reminds me of what my preschool teacher used to do. It is impossible to have a computer for each pupil but I think, as time goes by, the goverment would be able to provide at least one or two computers for each class. (I sure di hope. Let's pray!) So, what will I do? I shall divide the class into several groups (this was what my preschool teacher did) and do 'task rotation'. For instance, there will be 5 groups and 5 differents stations in the class. Each task would have different task, example: the computer corner, reading corner etc. Each group will then rotate from one station to one station so that everybody can try every task. Since it would be done in groups, pupils will have better chance and oppurtunity to participate and contribute in completeing the task. Having different stations also means that I can incorporate different teaching styles to the class. I can use both, the modern and traditional style. This ensures my lesson to be intregrative. The use of different stations is also to cater for all kinds of pupils; visual learners, aural learners and so on.

And.. If we really talk about dreams... (The impossible.. Here goes nothing!) I wish that all my pupils will have their own personal computers. Laptops would be better. And then, we abolish all the books. Save the environment! Textbook shall be downloaded (PDF format also can maa...) and all assignments shall be handed in online. This will surely make lessons easier for both, pupils and teachers. (Maybe hard on the parents' finance. Hehee) True, this may hinder pupils from developing certain skill, for example, writing skill. But, we can always go back to 'real' projects in certain situations. For instance, having pupils to create an advertisement and so on. Hm.. As if in a dream.. (a song by L'Arc~en~Ciel)

Anyway, before dreaming on and on, we as teacher-to-be should ready ourselves to fit into those dreams first, don't we? Are we prepared enough to make those dreams come true? Or those dreams are just dreams for us to keep on dreaming? Surely a thing to ponder, aye? Guess, I'll stop here. Mata ato de!

Smartboard! Screen 1, Take 1! Action!

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim... Hope that this would be a QUALITY entry..

Hm.. It's the 10th week.. We were supposed to present our 80% completed smartboard task for prof to check whether we were on the right track. My group did not present our material but, I was able to jot down few things for us to recheck: Are materials are clean from grammatical error? Does the font size and type suitable for our purpose? Are our materials interesting enough? What I'm trying to say is that in developing a material for classroom use, a teacher must consider lots of things. This is to ensure that the material is manipulated at it maximum and teaching and learning session would take place successfully.

The presentation made me realize that there were other aspects that our group has overlooked. Maybe we should have tried to discuss with the members of the other groups and made a proper checklist on the thing we should keep our eyes on.

Among all of the presentations, the one that grabbed my attention the most was a material from Tengku Nor Amirah. The way she used IWB to create fun games for children really amazed me. I did think of creating games but, after few unsuccessful trial (more of meddling here and there then a real try), I gave up. But, looking at how Amirah had created interesting activities using simple, basic tools gave me motivation to redo my activities. I came out with the 'Guess what am I?' activity. I remember as kids, we loved riddles and all sorts of 'teka-teki'. So, that was where I got the idea for my activity.

I guess, I'll stop here. The presentation helped me a lot in improving my materials, eventhough I did not present mine. Well, let's look forward on the final product! Tata!

Okay! Next is... Err... Still Terrible...

I feel like crying here... I really can barely remember what we learnt in the 8th week.. Well, prof said that she's lenient enough to allow us to have at least 6 quality entries.. So, I guess I'll pass this one. I'm so so so so sorry.. Ignore this entry and lets move on to the next one. Hope that it would be a really quality entry. Sayonara~ (>_<)

Errrtt.. Terrible.. Bzzzt.. Bzzztttt...

This is my 8th entry.. Well, putting aside my 'Welcome' notes, this should be the entry for the 7th week, right? And what week are we know? (Pssst.. Dear friends who are online... Please reply my YM...) What? Week ELEVEN??!!! I have FOUR blogs to catch up. Uhuhuuu... Serves me right.. I should have listen to my mum when she said 'Jangan bertangguh kerja...'.. Die la...

Anyway, lets reflect. What did we learn on the 7th week? (Scroll scroll the performa) Using the Internet for Teaching and Learning? Wargh!!! I've forgotten whwt we've learnt!!! But, I do remember the tutors explained about ICT and the Learning Principles of the Primary School Curriculum. The three approaches really made me ponder. The word 'about', 'with' and 'through' could brinf such big difference! I realized that teachers have to be flexible and be able to adapt the teaching based on the pupils' nature of learning (based on principles of learning). Teachers should be able to manipulate their knowledge of these principles in order to come out with effective teaching strategies. There were 14 principles for teachers to be considered. Well, I'm not going to explain further on the principles. You can check it out at the Power Point Presentation posted by our tutors in ADEC. Yet, all I can say is that, a good teacher should master these principles so as to create a successful learning environment.

Well, I'll take a short break. Will be back with the next blog in few minutes.. Tata...

The Board is Getting SMARTER...

Well, got our 2nd assg today.. Thanks maam for allowing us to recharge our batteries! Hehee.. And thanks Mark, for posting that in the ADEC.. Hehee.. Erm.. The assg was about applying our knowledge and skills in using the SmartBoard.. And.. We have to create some materials to be used in our teaching. Well, that really make me feel like a teacher! And I'm really glad that we were to complete the task in groups of five. That really lighten the burden. Hehee.. Thanks so much maam! And of course, the example that was shown really inspired me so as to produce even better materials. Well, who knows? Maybe next time, it would be MY materials that we be shown to my juniors as one of the example.. Huff huff (oo) Hehee.. I'll stop now.. Not feeling really well actually. Maam, sorry for not being that participative (I even slept at cirtain time) in your class just now. Hontou ni gomen nasai!!! Saa, mata ne! Jya!

Get Smart! Er.. Board...

Well, I always like whan it comes to the application of the SmartBoard in classroom. We were explained on the basic use of the SmartBoard. It was so interesting and mind refereshing. Well, literally, since we DID learn about all those things ealiear on (a year ago, mayhap) and it seems that many of us has forgotten on how to use some of the tool. So, as I have mentioned, it was MIND REFRESHING and we wee also introduced to new application from the latest SmartBoard software. Hm.. It would be nice if we can use all those application in doing our short assignment. We also did not have ample time and the PC... Well.. I don't think I need to mention it.. Anyway, the lesson was fun especially when we were invited to present our task. I just hope that next time we would be better equipped and have more time so that we would produce a better presentation. But, it's okay. Next we would have our third assignment which IS about SmartBoard.. Hahaha... NOW I can show my real talent, right? Hehee.. But still, don't expect much.. I'm not that creative.. Well, see ya'! Jya!

Ridiculous Webpage

This week, we were taught about "Instructional video in teaching and learning". Thus, the lecturer introduced us to some website that are relevent and useful to be applied in conducting our lesson. Some of the websites provides us with some resources, such as video clips and so on, while others offers us online information such as a place to download the Curriculum Specification.
One of the webpage that we were introduced was very interesting yet, quite ridiculous. It is our own malaysian education webpage. It provide teachers with information and videos that could be used in their teaching. However, we could not browse in since we have to register. In order to register, one must key in the school's code. What?! Non of us is teachers so, how should we know any school's code number? In know. My parents are teachers so I can easily use their i.d to register. But, how about others? This webpage was supposed to be for public use. For example, trainee teachers like us or any other researchers who would like to view or get some opinion from the videos. Though they may be doing that to find out which teacher, from which school, that come and view their webpage, they should also consider having some 'guests' visiting their page. It is okay to restrict some content only for the teachers but not all. It is quite irrelevent for the Education Department to conduct such website.
Hm.. What else should I write about... Hm.. enough with my mumbling. Guess I'll take a halt and start calling my mum for her id..Mata ato de!