My future classroom

My determination is to ensure that my future classroom will be as exciting techno-savvy environment where learning acquisition take places all over the time.

In my opinion, the simplest way is to use technology to supply classroom instruction. Technology will help to meet the demand is by allowing students to interact with information within a different medium. There are numerous multimedia programs designed to meet the special needs of diverse learners. For example, since I am going to teach ESL for primary school, my pupils would benefit from a computer program such as applets or virtual learning where they could learn the language at their own pace and get immediate feedback. This will be more interesting if the pupils are able to communicate online with the teacher in forum or chatroom.

Yesterday, I have read an article by ERIK F. STROMMEN and BRUCE LINCOLN, which describes about technology and the effect of the learning in the classroom. It is really important to realize that if we are to give our children the education necessary to succeed in our technologically intense, global future a new form of educational practice must replace our existing methods. At the same ponit we do not totally forget about traditional method, meaning to say that i would likely to integrate latest technology in our teaching and learning method. I agree with the articles that some teachers are not realize that they have allowed their schools to remain in the past, while the children have been born in the future. The result is a mismatch of learner and educator. But it is not the children who are mismatched to the schools; the schools are mismatched to the children.

In future, I also would like to see if each pupil are allowed to bring own notebook or it would be better if the authority is able to supply the pupils with computer like each pupil is provided with desk and chairs in classroom nowadays. Through this, they could spend as much time as needed on the computer, without feeling pressured to wait long in the queue to take turn using computers in the computer laboratory.

Besides, I believe that technology should be used in my future classroom to teach students on how to manage information. Our generation has commonly been referred to as living in the 'information society.' Our students must become information literate so that they will be able to gain ideas, information, doing research and completing task by taking advantages from the technology. I strongly believe that there is no better place to teach our children these skills than in the classroom.

Finally, I want to see the pupils from my classroom are also able to interact with people around the world as well as gaining experience by using their knowledge and capability in technology-thanks to technology.

FISH! and my journey as a teacher-to-be

I cant really recall whether i have experienced in some kind of fish philosophy applied during my school days. However, i would really interested to integrate the fish philosophy into my own lessons. Here, i must make sure of some of the things that i would really do to ensure my students engage with the learning process.

The important thing that i really have take into consideration is the incredible synergy between the things that make an experience engaging and also those things that make learning effective. Personally, apart from the four principles listed under fish philosophy, below are some of the main criteria that i would like to consider if I am going to integrate the fish philosophy into the teaching and learning process in order to ensure that my pupils are really engage in the laerning process.

First, contextualized.It means that the learning should be in a setting where the learners actions make sense. As we know, learners learn best when it's in a meaningful context. In here, it is good if the pupils are provided with clear goal, in which learners know when to take action since they are trying to achieve the outcome that they are expected for.

On the other hand, appropriate challenge also able to generate interesting learning. Here, we have to make sure that the level of difficulty has to be a step beyond the learner's capability, but ensure that the learners can tackle the task. Learning happens best in the space just beyond the learner's capability, where some effort and support are provided in order for them to accomplish the task.

Another elements is exploratory, where the activity that we designed to be carried out in the classroom has to have a wide variety of possible choices and the ability to try different things and explore the internal relationships since learners learn best when they have to make choices and face the consequences of those choices. Plus, learners learn best when they get feedback about how they're doing.

Here, we also have to consider that the learning are included attention-getting activity. For instance, there needs to be some randomness and probability. Working in groups and collaborative learning also applicable for young learners. It is always agreed that learners learn best when their attention and curiosity is maintained.

At this point, i also believe that technology also helps in the implementation of the fish philosophy. The using of online games, electronic books, interactive applets, and puzzle are able to generate fun environment during learning process. All in all it depends on the teacher creativity and ability to apply the philosophy in the classroom asa to make the learning fun and lively.

Fish!... what do I understand by this?

"Not only as we hear in prognostications from James Gee, Marc Prensky, and others, but our own intuition tells us (as well as watching kids), that when learning is done right, it can and should be fun. Learning should be hard fun."
Clark N. Quinn


I went to the class a bit late. A friend to me that she started the class by "throwing" some toy fishes to us. Some of the friends who got the fish are supposedly to throw it to other friends. I was not in the class during the activity but it sounds exiting to me. I can imagine that they are having fun at the moment since there must be giggling and laughing during the activity. What a miss..

During this week, prof. Maznah introduced us with this Fish! philosophy, which was a new philosophy that i gained. i believe that she has introduced us with an example of how to apply the fish philosophy in the classroom. Personally, i think that the philosophy is really different from the philosophy that i have been introduce during previous semester. I realize that there are four FISH! principles:

Be There—When we interact with others, we need to really focus on that moment, with that person. We take responsibility for “being who we are while we’re doing what we’re doing.”

Choose Your Attitude—We can’t control what happens to us, but we do have a choice about how we respond. By accepting responsibility for the attitude we choose, we also empower ourselves to change it.

Make Their Day—Too often we ask, “What have you done for me lately?” instead of “How can I make your day?” If we turn the focus around and do little things to make others feel good, we can have a powerful, positive impact on the people in our lives.

Play—This does not mean goof off, but it does mean bring a light-hearted spirit to life. Think about how much little kids learn by exploring, experimenting, playing. Why shouldn’t we all approach life with the same curiosity and interest? Besides, it is more fun!

Through the article, I have come into understanding that fish philosophy is some other technique to arouse pupils' interest and inner spirit by introducing to them some activity or event that are catchy and playful which enable to bring happiness, stress-free and excitement in oneself. Thus, the important of this is to develop high spirit in oneself so that he or she are spiritually able to produce high-quality product. For example, pupils who are having fun and full of excitement will produce better result in the task given compared to the pupils who are learning in a stressful and threatening environment.

In addition, fish philosophy helps teacher to create the classrooms to be respectful and cool, where students are fully ready for learning.At this point, i believe that everyone has fun in a way that provide ideas and work together to the excitement of learning rather than being individualistic and selfish. Here, FISH! For Schools also helps teachers to build stronger relationships with students. It will inspire students to want to learn better and explore more.

My Class PresenTaTion is AveraGe..

I have presented my lesson to the class during previous lesson and it it lucky enough that nothing much to be condemned by. hehe.. Anyway, there is always room for improvement. This time, i have to look back and ensure that everything mentioned by the tutor should be considered.

In term of font, i may not having much problems with font size but have to change font type where the Times New Roman must be changed to the Comic Sans MS. This is more appropriate for the young learners. I have understand that the children may be having difficulties in reading the text; as an example the alphabet A of Times New Roman may confuse the pupils compared to the alphabet A of Comic Sans MC.

Choice of colours also should be the priorities in designing materials for school kids. Besides making sure that the colours can be seen, colour also play an important role in giving motivation for the pupils. Specific colours have different effects. Below are some examples that can be as a quick reference for colour theraphy - colour and the Brain (copied from Biopulse.org):

Black: self-confidence, power, strength
Blue: calming, lowers blood pressure, decreases respiration
Green: soothing, relaxing mentally as well as physically, helps those suffering from depression, anxiety, nervousness
Violet: suppresses appetite, provides a peaceful environment, good for migraines
Pink: used in diet therapy as an appetite suppressant, relaxes muscles, relieves tension, soothing
Yellow: energizes, relieves depression, improves memory, stimulates appetite
Orange: energizes, stimulates appetite and digestive system
Red: stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate

On the other hand, i am glad since my activities in the lesson are related to one another and purposely, I am providing the pupils with deminishing assisstance as the activity move from one to the other activity. It means that the activity become more challenge with less assisstance as the pupils follow the activity designed.

some tHings to be Updated..

I've change the input in the earlier screen. I replaced the Cookie Monster with the video of health reminder.

The ActiviTy

I have just really started my work last week. It looks late and procrastinating. Well.. they said students are always like that. It is not a very good statement but I agree for the time being..
Being in this course teach me a lot of new things with great application. I was introduced to the smartboard during my third semester but I have never realized that smartboard can provide teacher with enormous assistance until the assignment is carried out. I started to applied functions that contain in the software. I have not being able to apply and master all the functions, but I still believe that it will develop within time and through constant interaction.
My rough idea of constructing the smartboard activity is to include the sesame street video which presents Cookie Monster (MC) singing “Healthy Food”. It seems to be catchy and applicable to the activity since my content is generally on food. I used to enjoy Sesame Street when I was young. Here, I include lyrics (chorus) of “Healthy Food”, singing by MC.

(Chorus)
Healthy food!
Boy, it taste so good.
Me one healthy dude
'Cause me eat healthy food.
Me love it boiled or stewed,
Me love it whole or chewed.
You'd feel just great if you'd
Eat some healthy food!

Me promise that when you eat varied menu,
You get more out of every meal.
You need balanced diet,
Come on and try it!
Not believe how great you'll feel!

Munch some carrots or beans
Or poultry or greens,
Along with your chocolate chip.
And banana or plum
Will make you go, "Yum!"
Nutrition--- it really hip!
www.lyricsdownload.com/sesame-street-heatlhy-food-lyrics.html

Assignment Again...

It's time to back on track and focus on the next assignment.. It is about developing activity for primary school children and my chosen subject is English. I have some ideas of what to be created but it is still in the initial stage. Prof. Maznah kept reminding us that not all activities are suitable to be used with SMARTBOARD. I agree with her since smartboard requires tasks that are interactive and full engagement..
i have read some of the articles and the level of interactivity attract my attention. There are level 0 (no control,view only)until level 5(return scores, diagnostics ). Of course, my mission is definitely to achieve Level 5. InsyaAllah...
However, I am still have not finished my reading especially on the 12-teaching techniques and it will be in progress..

Soft Skills

I started to recall the kinds of soft skills that are related to me when Prof. Raja Maznah mentioned about it. I believe that some soft skills that have developed in me. One clear thing is I learned how to manage the stress and problem occurred by reminding myself that everything would be completed in time. At this point, time management is very important that I have to be very strict with myself as the video in progress or else I failed to complete it on time. Being responsible for my own work and achievement that I can get is also essential for me. Thus, I have to take all the responsible seriously as it is my own project and my own product. Through it, I would always aspect that I can produce of something that can be proud of. Possessing self-esteem is another important soft skill that I gain in term of my confidence in using ICT for my future task and job. I believe that ICT is able to assist me in developing and completing my project as well as giving me new skills that are beneficial for long term journey.

SmartBoard Again...!

SMART Board interactive whiteboard is a product of SMART Technologies. It is a large, touch-controlled screen that works with a projector and a computer. The projector throws the computer’s desktop image onto the interactive whiteboard, which acts as both a monitor and an input device. Users can write on the interactive whiteboard in digital ink or use a finger to control computer applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, just as with a desktop mouse. Buttons launch a popup keyboard and a right-mouse-click menu for more input options. The interactive whiteboard is usually mounted on a wall or a floor stand and is used in face-to-face or virtual settings in education, business and government.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_Board_interactive_whiteboard

As others, i have been in the short course for the SMART board before. This time it seems to be more exiting and i feel like really really want to learn more. Maybe because i have the previous experience with that thing. Honestly, the knowledge that i have gain is just a small part of what the Smartboard will offer to me.

SMART Board provide an opportunity for teachers and students to communicate interactively. Everything can be shown clearly and interestingly. What i really mean here is the learning process will be more meaningful since the technology support reciprocal interaction within students and teacher. Every example can be shown in clear views. Plus, the functions in the toolbox and the templates that can be easily download from the internet making teacher's life easier and more time saving..! Plus no more worries for the dust from chalk and blackboard..!

Movie & tHe ProgreSSioN...

Through out the week, i have been sitting in from of the laptop, continuity complete my movie. Thanks to some friends who give me the Power Director, which is now replacing the Window Movie Maker. Thanks guys..
My strategies was i collected the materials needed for the movie, completed the story board, and then started to do movie editing. I asked my sister to become the "model" in the video and my brother as the only "production crew". Besides friends and course mate, it is really enjoying when sometimes, completing assignment with the help of own family members. Personally, the process of collection materials, capturing pictures, and recording clips are really valuable moments, especially when most of the things go smooth. Much more valuable when we get great score for the effort..! Hehe..
Until now, the movie is in 75% completed. I strongly hope that the objective of the movie can be achieved as well as applicable in the real classroom. The main idea of the movie is to guide the pupils to make their own photo craft. For me, the video is suitable for young learner. For instance, the video shows the pupils to paste paper using using glue neatly, to draw, to decorate and to paint. All this small elements actually able to enhance pupils creativity. This will also develop their fine motor skills since most of the activity in the video requires them to use their hands.
Here are some info about motor skills:

What are fine motor skills?
Fine motor skills are those skills which require a child to manipulate and gain control over a range of materials and tools. These are often for communication purposes both functional and expressive, eg writing a name or message, manipulating a computer mouse, creating a sculpture. Opportunities to develop these skills exist in all six key learning areas of the primary curriculum. The components of fine motor skills can be considered to be:

* Grasping -eg using a crayon, pencil, brush, glue stick, beater, blocks
* Manipulating - eg playdough, clay, paper, sewing, scissors, fingerplays
* Hand-eye co-ordination - eg writing, cutting,using a glue gun

Structured learning experiences such as developmental play and learning centres are opportunities for teachers to provide a range of activities which will help develop the fine motor skills of children. These will often include materials such as playdough, clothes pegs, sorting, Lego, construction toys, bottles and lids, paper, pens, paints and other media, computer-based technology.
http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/linkages/ContentLinks/links_fmskills.html

ToOLs of Century..

This week, I have watched some of the videos in the 21st Century Connections Presents the Winners from the “Be a Video All-Star” Contest. The contest challenged students to create a two- to three-minute public service announcement that illustrates why digital tools and technologies are important in the schools and curriculum The one with the title Century Tools attract me much. Personally, I dare to say that the video was successfully developed with sincerity of the students and the pureness of the messages. I only watched the video once and they were already able to make me understood that the students were demonstrating their desire to use technology in the classroom to make learning fun, interactive, and meaningful. I agree that they are simple yet have a big impact...! Then, my thought slowly moving into my video development assignment. It is not much different from the “Be a Video All-Star” Contest, except there is no a laptop from Lenovo featuring Intel® Centrino® Pro processor Technology and Adobe Digital School Collection software given to the winners. Huhu… In the progression of developing the dynamic video, I feel very stress out because of the problem that keep on happening… I don’t know whether window movie maker gives me the problem or because of me myself, the one who gives problems to the window movie maker. Sometime, the storyboard cannot accept the video clip that I wanted to put it. At another time, the sound that I want to include was rejected. Stressfully, the window movie maker cannot read the project that I have saved and some of the video clips that I have included in the video clips cannot be opened. I don’t know what the problem really is. I told Izzudin about this difficulties and he replied by asking me to read his blog. He wrote:For those who want video editing software, Cyberlink PowerDirector Ultra 7. Just tell me. I think this software is much more better than MS Windows Movie Maker. For those who want to try it, just bring your pendrive later :D

Movie MakiNg..

At the moment, I have a feeling of comfy as Prof. Raja Maznah entered the computer laboratory; she was very sweet as she was talking to us with her calm voice. Honestly, it’s true..! After this two week, the technology class seems to be more interesting and exciting to me as I gladly view the lesson as hands-on and trial and error activity. Moreover, it is really supportive with the classmates who are willingly sharing their familiarity and expertise in the technology, especially when I am stuck with something that I am not used to. Thanks..!

This week, there are about tutorial for movie making and how to do storyboarding. It is really helpful for those who are not yet mastered with the use of movie maker application. The only software that I am used to in making movie is Window Movie Maker. I would like to try other software such as Power Editor. At the same time, I have never take into consideration about what “dynamic video” is all about until Miss Ng explained that dynamic video is a video that consist of clips that have movements, animated cartoons, and not just static pictures.

I am glad since my intended objectives for the video is accepted and I can proceed to the next level of video development. So as my other group members. All five of us are planning to develop the interactive education videos for children. The remaining period of the subject has been used for discussing n sharing ideas of own plan in developing the dynamic video. Correcting and commenting each other is very essential in the process of gaining the best material before we develop the storyboard of the videos. We are working together as a group to develop individual video clips. It is interesting, isn’t? From now on, I will start gaining stuffs and ideas in developing this dynamic videos with the hope that I will move on without much shortcomings..

Thought on technology..

This is my thought on how technology is going to affect the students and how me, as a teacher will be learning.

At the moment, i am thinking about learning in 3D laboratory. what i mean here is students just have not to listen to lecture and taking notes but they can feel the joy of learning in the real situation of what they are learning on. Let me put this in an example, as primary school pupils are learning about wild animals, especially those animals which are going to be extincted, the teacher may prepare the students with materials that can be presented in the 3D laboratory, such as the habitat of wild animals in Africa. I am wondering whether this kind of laboratory is existed or not. There are many reasons for this kind of application to be highlighted .

I believe that many of us may argue that it is better to bring the pupils into the real environment compared to the 3D laboratory. i totally agree but if the environment is harmful (wild animals) or poisonous (chemical stuffs), it is better to use technology of 3D instead of the real nature. As i surfed the internet, Barney Dalgarno, Lecturer in Information Technology of Charles Sturt University agrees that the 3D virtual learning environment has a big potential in educational method, "the 3D environments, which have become almost ubiquitous within the computer games industry, have the potential to harness these technological developments and facilitate new levels of learner-learner and learner-computer interaction".

I agree that technology is changing our life. In term of teaching and learning process, technology really gives us benefits. through technology, i can easily get knowledge and keep in touch with friends universally, sharing ideas to upgrade our related knowledge. What i mean here is current software application, method of teaching, and latest skills that is really help for our job. At this point, we can always ask and share with one another in chat room and forum. Through this, teacher are exposed to the other's style of learning and teaching. At this point, i feel that teacher should urge themselves to improve skills and knowledge in technology through short course, reading, workshop, etc. This is for the sake of the students achievement and their overall performance.

In the end, even though we are moving into sophisticated technology, i still believe that traditional method like flashcard and OHP are always have their own benefits especially when the failure of technology happen.

i am done....!

i'havn't done this kind of stuff b4 but i've done it with only 20minutes plus2... yuhuu...