Friday, November 18, 2005
Hypnose
The new hypnotising fragrance! Hmm that is my b'day present to myself.
Woke up early today and had my sahur at 5 am. I'm determined to finish my puasa in Syawal, God permit. My literature review is rather slow. I'm distracted (hypnotized) by the books. In fact, I'm reading every page of the PBL book by Savin-Baden (2004). I'm attracted by the chapter on the application of learning theories in PBL. It is interesting how a theory can be made to suit your needs. PBL lends itself well to the applications of many learning theories, learning styles, and learning environment.
To engage a learner in learning you have to first know the learner, what the learner brings to the learning environment, match the pedagogy to the learner needs and monitor the learning by coaching and mentoring and see the results.
PBL has many variations, of which the implementation would depend much on the philosophy of the designer and the implementor and the vision of the organization. We saw TBL in Bandung, of which the components are pretty similar to the PBL. I use PoEIT (pedagogy of engagement integrating technology) in my class. The method is based on students working with real life problems and real clients in an environment where technology is a solution. It has the elements of group work, real problems, tutorial, coaching and interacting.
An interesting aspect of PBL which I feel is important for facilitators or lectures to know is how to manage conflict in group, which I notice occurs quite frequently in the group work in my class. An interesting report that I am reading from the students perspective they will not report the conflict to the lecturers for fear of the repercussion on their grade. It boils down to how their performace is assessed.
If the group grade matters then there will always be someone in the group who will be a sucker to work hard for everyone else, and of course the freeloaders are there for the ride. I suppose a way to overcome this problem is to ensure that individuals assess the other group members. I have done that, but what I have found is that not many people are again willing to tell on their friends. Often individuals will give a similar mark for everyone in the group. But there have been occassions where the individual student will come and report on the other individual in the group especially when that student perceives that she/he has put in more effort than everyone else in the group. I suppose as a lecturer we have to be vigilant and always be on the look out for these type of behavior to ensure that the experience benefits every individual in the group.
Back to the reading!
Woke up early today and had my sahur at 5 am. I'm determined to finish my puasa in Syawal, God permit. My literature review is rather slow. I'm distracted (hypnotized) by the books. In fact, I'm reading every page of the PBL book by Savin-Baden (2004). I'm attracted by the chapter on the application of learning theories in PBL. It is interesting how a theory can be made to suit your needs. PBL lends itself well to the applications of many learning theories, learning styles, and learning environment.
To engage a learner in learning you have to first know the learner, what the learner brings to the learning environment, match the pedagogy to the learner needs and monitor the learning by coaching and mentoring and see the results.
PBL has many variations, of which the implementation would depend much on the philosophy of the designer and the implementor and the vision of the organization. We saw TBL in Bandung, of which the components are pretty similar to the PBL. I use PoEIT (pedagogy of engagement integrating technology) in my class. The method is based on students working with real life problems and real clients in an environment where technology is a solution. It has the elements of group work, real problems, tutorial, coaching and interacting.
An interesting aspect of PBL which I feel is important for facilitators or lectures to know is how to manage conflict in group, which I notice occurs quite frequently in the group work in my class. An interesting report that I am reading from the students perspective they will not report the conflict to the lecturers for fear of the repercussion on their grade. It boils down to how their performace is assessed.
If the group grade matters then there will always be someone in the group who will be a sucker to work hard for everyone else, and of course the freeloaders are there for the ride. I suppose a way to overcome this problem is to ensure that individuals assess the other group members. I have done that, but what I have found is that not many people are again willing to tell on their friends. Often individuals will give a similar mark for everyone in the group. But there have been occassions where the individual student will come and report on the other individual in the group especially when that student perceives that she/he has put in more effort than everyone else in the group. I suppose as a lecturer we have to be vigilant and always be on the look out for these type of behavior to ensure that the experience benefits every individual in the group.
Back to the reading!
Thursday, November 17, 2005
My Birthday
Today I'm celebrating my half century! Is it supposed to mean something? well yes it does. I feel that I have achieved something having lived that long and survived many events that has shaped me as a person.
What is my greatest gift? Well, I would say a call from my family especially Sam's pride in describing how his interview went today at the British Council. He spoke like a man who just turned 18 a week ago. Welcome to the adult world my son!
My other gift is from my husband who gave me a card with a bouquet of roses on it... there's always a first time. It is so touching. To be loved by someone who's been with me for so many years, who has put up with my many insecurities and ... I won't say more! Thank you sayang!
My gift to myself, well, I was up about 6 am today, took sometime to read books and to work on the literature review of which I have to get done soon. Spent some time on skype with Harith and read some more and talked to Sam later, and finally mandi about 11.30 am. That is a luxury!
What is my greatest gift? Well, I would say a call from my family especially Sam's pride in describing how his interview went today at the British Council. He spoke like a man who just turned 18 a week ago. Welcome to the adult world my son!
My other gift is from my husband who gave me a card with a bouquet of roses on it... there's always a first time. It is so touching. To be loved by someone who's been with me for so many years, who has put up with my many insecurities and ... I won't say more! Thank you sayang!
My gift to myself, well, I was up about 6 am today, took sometime to read books and to work on the literature review of which I have to get done soon. Spent some time on skype with Harith and read some more and talked to Sam later, and finally mandi about 11.30 am. That is a luxury!
Friday, November 11, 2005
Post raya and IWB
Having recovered from the raya feast now I'm back in Canterbury and hope to spend the last few weeks of my sabbatical here buried in work.
I'm still fighting the jet lag, hopefully by tomorrow I would be back to normal. My first day at work today was to attend the training on smart baord given to 20 High level teacher assisstants. These teacher assistants are attending 20 hours of training to qualify. They come to campus once a week. Today they are presented with the ICT components of their training. They learned to sign in to the CCCU IT services, learn about the smartbaord and the blackboard.
The trainer Nyree spent about 25 mins with 10 of them at a time. Though the time was short but it was useful as an introduction. Most of them have seen a whiteboard before in their schools and some have had experience in using them.
After the demonstration the trainees spent about an hour to explore the smart notebook software. They were impressed with the ease that they learned to use the software. They particularly liked the gallery. It makes their work a lot easier if they know how to access the many templates and activities that are available in the galleries. They were also impressed with the capture (camera) tool, which they tried to capture pictures from the web and saved them to the notebook pages.
I learned something new today, that you can move the object on the screen by tapping on it and tapping another part of the board where you want it to go. Hard to describe this though.
Though the interactive whiteboard has been around more than five years in some schools in UK, teachers are still learning to use it. One of the assistants told me that she helps a maths teacher in her school with ICT use, since the teacher has no time to learn new skills. She is keen to learn more how to use the IWB so that she can help the teacher.
An interesting observation... most of these teacher assistants are mothers who chose to be in schools because they want to help their children. They get to know what is happening in their children's schools and get to be with them during schools and holidays. Wish I could do that too... though according to the mothers the pay is not much, but they get the satisfaction that they are involved in their children's education.
I'm still fighting the jet lag, hopefully by tomorrow I would be back to normal. My first day at work today was to attend the training on smart baord given to 20 High level teacher assisstants. These teacher assistants are attending 20 hours of training to qualify. They come to campus once a week. Today they are presented with the ICT components of their training. They learned to sign in to the CCCU IT services, learn about the smartbaord and the blackboard.
The trainer Nyree spent about 25 mins with 10 of them at a time. Though the time was short but it was useful as an introduction. Most of them have seen a whiteboard before in their schools and some have had experience in using them.
After the demonstration the trainees spent about an hour to explore the smart notebook software. They were impressed with the ease that they learned to use the software. They particularly liked the gallery. It makes their work a lot easier if they know how to access the many templates and activities that are available in the galleries. They were also impressed with the capture (camera) tool, which they tried to capture pictures from the web and saved them to the notebook pages.
I learned something new today, that you can move the object on the screen by tapping on it and tapping another part of the board where you want it to go. Hard to describe this though.
Though the interactive whiteboard has been around more than five years in some schools in UK, teachers are still learning to use it. One of the assistants told me that she helps a maths teacher in her school with ICT use, since the teacher has no time to learn new skills. She is keen to learn more how to use the IWB so that she can help the teacher.
An interesting observation... most of these teacher assistants are mothers who chose to be in schools because they want to help their children. They get to know what is happening in their children's schools and get to be with them during schools and holidays. Wish I could do that too... though according to the mothers the pay is not much, but they get the satisfaction that they are involved in their children's education.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Everything Bad is Good for You
That is the title of the book that I bought today by Steven Johnson. He argues for popular culture helping children to develop cognitively (Please check his blog of the same title). So there's nothing BAD with playing computer games and watching TV, except when there's too much of it, you might even die! like the guy in China who played computer games for 50 hrs continuously, he passed away.
I have been visiting bookstores and running up my credit card bill in the last ten days. There's nothing like the sight and smell of books to make me go ga ga... they are so cheap! compared to the fish and chips. I wish I could just park myself in the book store and read to my heart content.
I've been buying research books and hope to teach myself as fast as I can and at the same time, I cannot resist the story books too... that is bad... but good for me. I've never read that many books in four weeks. How many? well, I am on my 13th. Now you know why I have not been been writing since the last blog.
Actually, I have been rather upset with my notebook, it has been so unreliable... it is definitely not happy with me. However, I'm fortunate I am staying with a family where everyone has a computer and everyone is connected and on skype... we actually use skype to chat with the person upstairs or in the other room... BAD? It is tempting, better than climbing stairs.
Just had kway teow goreng ordered from someone who works in one of the Malay eating places here. It was nice, lots of udang and ayam... BAD? Once in a while it is good to indulge in good food, especially, when you are so far away from home. Next week I will officially move into the college dorm... hmm can't imagine what it would be like to live with students... It should be fun... one of my nephews cautioned me not to cook for everyone... what does he know?
Will tell you more about the book once I have read it, in the meantime carry on doing everything GOOD!
I have been visiting bookstores and running up my credit card bill in the last ten days. There's nothing like the sight and smell of books to make me go ga ga... they are so cheap! compared to the fish and chips. I wish I could just park myself in the book store and read to my heart content.
I've been buying research books and hope to teach myself as fast as I can and at the same time, I cannot resist the story books too... that is bad... but good for me. I've never read that many books in four weeks. How many? well, I am on my 13th. Now you know why I have not been been writing since the last blog.
Actually, I have been rather upset with my notebook, it has been so unreliable... it is definitely not happy with me. However, I'm fortunate I am staying with a family where everyone has a computer and everyone is connected and on skype... we actually use skype to chat with the person upstairs or in the other room... BAD? It is tempting, better than climbing stairs.
Just had kway teow goreng ordered from someone who works in one of the Malay eating places here. It was nice, lots of udang and ayam... BAD? Once in a while it is good to indulge in good food, especially, when you are so far away from home. Next week I will officially move into the college dorm... hmm can't imagine what it would be like to live with students... It should be fun... one of my nephews cautioned me not to cook for everyone... what does he know?
Will tell you more about the book once I have read it, in the meantime carry on doing everything GOOD!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Day out at the museums
Woke up this morning, decided that I need to do something educational today. Not that I have not been doing work, its just that it would be such a waste to stay home and stare at the screen and the keyboard, when the sun is out and the weather is just so beautiful. So a visit to the museums is long overdue. I've always loved the atmosphere at the museum, the exhibits and the souvenier shops.
I was dropped off at the Nottinghill Gate tube station, bought an all day travel pass for two zones which cost about 4.70 GBP (do not convert!), well, it is more expensive than a sandwich. This is the first time that I have ventured into a tube station, on this visit to London, I have to brave myself and do it. Well, I bought the ticket and headed to the platform 1. Took the first train that came and realized that I was on district line not circle line, so hopped off at the next station, which was High Street Kensington. Waited for the circle line, after 10 minutes, then I overheard someone on the platform saying that there was a notice that said no circle line operating until .. whenever... ok, next best thing is to take the district line again and change at Earls Court station. So I hopped on the next train changed at Earls Court station and took another train, district line to South Kensington, wah that was really something, it took me 45 minutes to get to the Exhibition road.
From South Kensington, I took the tunnel to the museums. The first exit was the Natural History museum, the Biologist in me always like this museum. As soon as you enter the lobby after having your bags checked, you are greeted by the Brontosaurus, somehow the impact is no longer like it was the first time I saw it with a 6 year old kid (Sam), the Brontosaurus is celebrating its 100 years anniversary as an exhibit at the museum. I had fun watching the children and parents engaged with the exhibits and the information, learning from each other. An interesting photography exhibit "face to face" was on. The exhibit features close up photographs of primates (faces only), these primates are from the primate sanctuary in Camaroon. After 1 and half hour at the nat sc museum, I moved on to the Science Museum.
It has been quite tiring walking the distance from the tube station to the museum and walking around the exhibits. Well, I spent the next 30 mins at the science museum, I decided not to go to the IMax movies, the 3D movies and the ride. It would be more fun if I have kids with me. May be next time. After debating whether to go back or go somewhere else, so I can sit down, I made up my mind to walk across the road to the Victoria and Albert Museum and walked some more. This is a museum which exhibits historical things and life from Europe, Asia, South East Asia, etc. The exhibits are themed. I managed to do the fashion exhibition, China and Japan, and western Europe. By two o'clock I was too tired to see more or to walk further, since this museum has 5 floors of exhibits to see, I decided that I should come another time.
Left V&A museum through the tunnel and caught the next train to Nottinghill Gate from South Kensington station. From Nottinghill Gate, I took bus number 328 to Chippenham, and walked home. Arrived home about 3. 10 pm. It has been a fruitful day, I have managed to do something educational and worthwhile. It was nice to be able to get out and to feel brave about it. London now is not the same as the London I used to know 26 years ago. The police did not carry guns then, now they walk around with machineguns. They are everywhere, the security is tight. I should feel safe however, there is always doubts.
Till the next time.
RM
I was dropped off at the Nottinghill Gate tube station, bought an all day travel pass for two zones which cost about 4.70 GBP (do not convert!), well, it is more expensive than a sandwich. This is the first time that I have ventured into a tube station, on this visit to London, I have to brave myself and do it. Well, I bought the ticket and headed to the platform 1. Took the first train that came and realized that I was on district line not circle line, so hopped off at the next station, which was High Street Kensington. Waited for the circle line, after 10 minutes, then I overheard someone on the platform saying that there was a notice that said no circle line operating until .. whenever... ok, next best thing is to take the district line again and change at Earls Court station. So I hopped on the next train changed at Earls Court station and took another train, district line to South Kensington, wah that was really something, it took me 45 minutes to get to the Exhibition road.
From South Kensington, I took the tunnel to the museums. The first exit was the Natural History museum, the Biologist in me always like this museum. As soon as you enter the lobby after having your bags checked, you are greeted by the Brontosaurus, somehow the impact is no longer like it was the first time I saw it with a 6 year old kid (Sam), the Brontosaurus is celebrating its 100 years anniversary as an exhibit at the museum. I had fun watching the children and parents engaged with the exhibits and the information, learning from each other. An interesting photography exhibit "face to face" was on. The exhibit features close up photographs of primates (faces only), these primates are from the primate sanctuary in Camaroon. After 1 and half hour at the nat sc museum, I moved on to the Science Museum.
It has been quite tiring walking the distance from the tube station to the museum and walking around the exhibits. Well, I spent the next 30 mins at the science museum, I decided not to go to the IMax movies, the 3D movies and the ride. It would be more fun if I have kids with me. May be next time. After debating whether to go back or go somewhere else, so I can sit down, I made up my mind to walk across the road to the Victoria and Albert Museum and walked some more. This is a museum which exhibits historical things and life from Europe, Asia, South East Asia, etc. The exhibits are themed. I managed to do the fashion exhibition, China and Japan, and western Europe. By two o'clock I was too tired to see more or to walk further, since this museum has 5 floors of exhibits to see, I decided that I should come another time.
Left V&A museum through the tunnel and caught the next train to Nottinghill Gate from South Kensington station. From Nottinghill Gate, I took bus number 328 to Chippenham, and walked home. Arrived home about 3. 10 pm. It has been a fruitful day, I have managed to do something educational and worthwhile. It was nice to be able to get out and to feel brave about it. London now is not the same as the London I used to know 26 years ago. The police did not carry guns then, now they walk around with machineguns. They are everywhere, the security is tight. I should feel safe however, there is always doubts.
Till the next time.
RM
Monday, August 01, 2005
skype
Finally downloaded the skype software. Borrowed the mike from fi and used the creative earplug, now I am connencted by voice and video. Spoke to my family in PJ a few times, having done that, I found that there's nothing left to update them through email. Kind of miss the emailing..
If you would like to contact me through skype, I am at rmaznah. If you would like to download the software, go to www.skype.com and register for the voice only, or you may go to www.vskype.com for video. Try it, it is free. BTW you may need the broadband (tho they say dial-up can also be used), a mike and a headphone, then ur set, or if u want to send video of course u will need a webcam too.
I could say that I am rather productive the last two weeks. I have finished reading 4 books. Now I'm going to have to put aside the books and concentrate on the writings. I have a few things in the pipeline. Actually there is no such thing as too much realxing, however, I am feeling rather muak with it, especially, when London is so unsafe to explore right now.
I attended the Jumaat prayer at the mesjid in Westbourne Park last friday. Before the prayer, I had the opportunity to sit in a session organized by the Arab speaking community, a meeting with their lady parliement representative or their YB. It was interesting to hear the views from both sides. I suppose it is not easy to find a solution to the current problem. In a way for the community it is a worrisome matter, 'cos they do not feel safe anymore. Their children are being harassed in schools and their women are targeted by bullies and verbal abuse. The government is doing their best to overcome this problem and they are looking at changing some of the rules to manage the problems.
Did I tell you that there are two policemen stationed outside the mesjid at any one time. They are also checking on people going in and out.
I finally met up with my British Council friend last Wednesday. I managed to catch her between her busy schedules of meetings and signing letters. She comes to London at least once a week from Manchester. We had some tea and cheesecake with ice cream at W&W in Trafalgar Sq. it was sinfully rich, but it was worth it. That was my first cheesecake in London. We had to walk in the rain to go to covent garden afterward to look at souvenier shops. I'll be arranging more meetings with her and her ICT expert in the next few weeks.
Till the next entry.
If you would like to contact me through skype, I am at rmaznah. If you would like to download the software, go to www.skype.com and register for the voice only, or you may go to www.vskype.com for video. Try it, it is free. BTW you may need the broadband (tho they say dial-up can also be used), a mike and a headphone, then ur set, or if u want to send video of course u will need a webcam too.
I could say that I am rather productive the last two weeks. I have finished reading 4 books. Now I'm going to have to put aside the books and concentrate on the writings. I have a few things in the pipeline. Actually there is no such thing as too much realxing, however, I am feeling rather muak with it, especially, when London is so unsafe to explore right now.
I attended the Jumaat prayer at the mesjid in Westbourne Park last friday. Before the prayer, I had the opportunity to sit in a session organized by the Arab speaking community, a meeting with their lady parliement representative or their YB. It was interesting to hear the views from both sides. I suppose it is not easy to find a solution to the current problem. In a way for the community it is a worrisome matter, 'cos they do not feel safe anymore. Their children are being harassed in schools and their women are targeted by bullies and verbal abuse. The government is doing their best to overcome this problem and they are looking at changing some of the rules to manage the problems.
Did I tell you that there are two policemen stationed outside the mesjid at any one time. They are also checking on people going in and out.
I finally met up with my British Council friend last Wednesday. I managed to catch her between her busy schedules of meetings and signing letters. She comes to London at least once a week from Manchester. We had some tea and cheesecake with ice cream at W&W in Trafalgar Sq. it was sinfully rich, but it was worth it. That was my first cheesecake in London. We had to walk in the rain to go to covent garden afterward to look at souvenier shops. I'll be arranging more meetings with her and her ICT expert in the next few weeks.
Till the next entry.
# posted by Maznah @ 3:02 AM 
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Pasar tani
It has been ten days into my sabbatical in UK. I have been busy sorting out the files and work that I have procrastinated. Managed to finish one anylysis of the post-evaluation feedback from PXGT6103. Very interesting data. Now I have to try to make sense of the feedback. Thanks to all who gave the feedback. I have also finished reading two books (novels), they keep me awake till 1 or 2 am.
Since my last trip down Regents St. I have stayed in and been under "house arrest"... not that I have not been out, just that I have not taken the public transport since. I may have to go out tomorrow to meet my appointment at the British Council, which is in Trafalgar Square, and see the pigeons too. Bus number 6 will take me there.
Last Saturday, we went to the Church St. market, a pasar tani, just like our Thursday morning pasar at section 17. We wanted to find kepala ikan, tapi sudah habis, so we bought cod and sea bass. The cherry and plums were so good, and sooooo cheap (I mean in GBP). So bought a kilo of cherry and 2 baskets of plums... hmm been eating those for the last few days. I found out that plums get better after you leave them to ripen, just like mangoes. I had the first basket which was so masam. The second basket is so sweet and juicy, now I know the trick. Eh you learn something new everyday. We did not cook any of the fish we bought that day, for there were just the two of us left for dinner that night, so we decided to go out and get the Domino pizza. Waah.. the price in GBP is cheap (9.99 for a large pizza) but after conversion we could get 4 pizza in KL for the price of one here... must not convert!! good to hear that the pounds are going down...
Oh talking about the fear, someone was mugged down the road on Saturday afternoon. The couple just arrived from Iran about an hour before. The man pushed the husband to the wall and grabbed the wife's watch. She took the watch and flung it under the car parked on the road side.. and screamed. Well, neighbours came out and chased the mugger away. He was a white man. What was scary for me was that the policeman who came to investigate rang our doorbell. I had the good sense to check from the window, well, it shocked me quite a bit. But he left and went to the right house. I really thought that they were going house to house checking for terrorists.
I've been spending most of my time in front of the notebook, I hardly watch TV, not yet, may be later. I've been checking the BBC news online, to know the latest development in London. I've been busy, in touch with so many people through email, tak terjawab email. (For those of you who are worried about me here, please don't worry, I am alright and I am managing the risk well). I have to really budget my time carefully, so that I can finish some of the projects that I have started, before I start something new at CCCUC.
Till the next installment.
END
Since my last trip down Regents St. I have stayed in and been under "house arrest"... not that I have not been out, just that I have not taken the public transport since. I may have to go out tomorrow to meet my appointment at the British Council, which is in Trafalgar Square, and see the pigeons too. Bus number 6 will take me there.
Last Saturday, we went to the Church St. market, a pasar tani, just like our Thursday morning pasar at section 17. We wanted to find kepala ikan, tapi sudah habis, so we bought cod and sea bass. The cherry and plums were so good, and sooooo cheap (I mean in GBP). So bought a kilo of cherry and 2 baskets of plums... hmm been eating those for the last few days. I found out that plums get better after you leave them to ripen, just like mangoes. I had the first basket which was so masam. The second basket is so sweet and juicy, now I know the trick. Eh you learn something new everyday. We did not cook any of the fish we bought that day, for there were just the two of us left for dinner that night, so we decided to go out and get the Domino pizza. Waah.. the price in GBP is cheap (9.99 for a large pizza) but after conversion we could get 4 pizza in KL for the price of one here... must not convert!! good to hear that the pounds are going down...
Oh talking about the fear, someone was mugged down the road on Saturday afternoon. The couple just arrived from Iran about an hour before. The man pushed the husband to the wall and grabbed the wife's watch. She took the watch and flung it under the car parked on the road side.. and screamed. Well, neighbours came out and chased the mugger away. He was a white man. What was scary for me was that the policeman who came to investigate rang our doorbell. I had the good sense to check from the window, well, it shocked me quite a bit. But he left and went to the right house. I really thought that they were going house to house checking for terrorists.
I've been spending most of my time in front of the notebook, I hardly watch TV, not yet, may be later. I've been checking the BBC news online, to know the latest development in London. I've been busy, in touch with so many people through email, tak terjawab email. (For those of you who are worried about me here, please don't worry, I am alright and I am managing the risk well). I have to really budget my time carefully, so that I can finish some of the projects that I have started, before I start something new at CCCUC.
Till the next installment.
END
