The 14th Week, The Last Reflection

The whole blogging experience has made me a more exposed person in the world of technology especially in the www.blogspot.com where I share the moments of happiness and sadness as well as something educational which is closed to us as future teachers.
I personally like blogspot as it serves as a tool to make me express my ideas, feelings and thoughts. There are many times when I was very lost in the process of completing my assignments and I tend to throw everything out in blogs. How nice! It allows me not to show nor express my stress and tension. On top of that, through blogging, I can get to read other people's blogs and get to learn something new from people around the world. Teachers should know as many things as possible because they are to spread the knowledge to the future generations.
Well, I could not find a reason not to like blogging as it is something very useful to me. I believe I will continue blogging as it has become my weekly routine since July 2008.
Well, undoubtedly, I have gained more than expected from PBEY3102. Firstly, I have become more techno savvy. I am no longer the nerdy guy only knows how to use Microsoft Word solely for assignments. I learn more things such as software in education, video, photo, audio editing, E-book and so on and so forth. All these experiences have made me to become a better teacher as I have equipped myself with all these skills. Communition skills have also been improved whre I communicate with people via blog. In addition, language skills are improved as well because I tend to check on my grammar everytime when I post a blog. It makes me aware of the grammtical rules that I tend to make careless mistakes.
Well, I think this course has made me grow into a better person. I like this course because I have learnt most of the skills needed to be a teacher. Although I know there are more things to learn, I still think that I should learn more. Learning should not just stop here. Well, things which I do not like about this course? Perhaps the time allocation for each task really made me ( I do not know about the others) went crazy. I always tell meself that this is not an institution but a university and I forced myself to go further than I used to. Thank God, I still managed to complete evrything given on time. Hence, time managamenet was what I learnt from this. Isn't that a wonderful experience?
As mentioned, I have learnt a lot from PBEY3102. I learn to make videos, editing photos, audio, creating an E-book and other soft skills. As for now, I think I should improve myself from those basic skills that I have learnt throughout these 14 weeks. I learned many things that are unexpected such as soft skills like communication skill, time management, patience, leadership, cooperating with other group members.... All these are unexpected but learnt. Well, I have leanrt more than expected. So, I have no regrets of taking this course. It has widen my scope!
Changing this course? I don't see a reason to change the content of this course as this course makes us grow to be better person. This course is sufficient to equip future teachers with all the necessary skills needed in future teaching career.

The End of My Journey with PBEY 3102

Exam Exam Exam.
That's what I hate most yet I have to go through this!
Well, I could finally put a full stop for this course.
Indeed I have learnt a lot from this course as well as some soft skills which I could not learn from other courses. I am thankful to attend this course. I have gained more than expected.

Why Children's Software?

There are several benefits of using Children's Educational Software. They are :
-Available for different age levels (2-14+)
-Inexpensive
-Fun
-Entertaining
-Educational
-Tutoring alterative

Educational software is a valuable “computerized teacher” that offers children the advantage of interactive learning. Automatically correcting kids as they play the game makes learning fun because rewards and correction are instantaneous. Animation and sound accompanied with the traditional letters and numbers make a winning combination. Also, typing is a valuable skill that inevitably comes with the territory.

Each child has different learning capabilities and preferences which makes computer games suitable for anyone. Visual, audible and tangible learners alike are attracted to computer games so getting them to participate is so easy! Although it is not recommended that children rely solely on the computer as a teaching tool, using educational computer software as a supplement is ideal!

Although children's software can be children's 'computerised teachers', we, as teachers will never lose our importance as well. As teachers, we have to always remind us that we are the ones who facilitate learning but not the softwares. The softwares only help to make our teaching more fun, approachable!

My progression...

Selamat Hari Raya everyone!
Hope you guys are enjoying your the celebration to the fullest!
I have begun with my Assignment 3. Discussion was done with my partner who is doing the same topic with me. >.<
I indeed had a great time discussing.
In the beginning, it was really difficult for me to think of the activites and searching for materials. I went to goggle, yahoo, msn.com .....
Although some materials are there, amedments and other consideration needed to be taken into consideration such as suitability, syllabus, CS, LO and so on.
I really hope that I could do better in this assignment.
Same goes to everyone.
Great day!

Assignment 3

Assignment 3 has officially given to us in Adec.
This assignment does not really diffecult as we have had done before as a task long time ago.
But, difficulty is always there to make us think and think. >.<
40 minutes for 1 period and 80 minutes for 2 periods lesson? How does it possible?
I could still remember when we went out for our prac, all the activities that we prepared could not be finished on time as pupils were slow and.... other unexpected circumstances. Yet, I believe there's always a reason behind. May i know?
I was not in a good condition this time around as something happened to my family when I got back to my hometown. My holiday mood was doomed!
I got no time to think, no time to sleep, no time to bath and no time for assignment. That was really a shocking news that my whole family couldnt bear, including myself.
I seriously do not know how can I go on for the rest of my life.
Assignment 3 has to begin right now. Well, I have finished an E-book. Just that I need to make all the links together.
Till my next blog.
Dear people, treasure what you have now so that you wont regret when you lose it!
This is what I have learnt during this break.
I paid the price of not treasuring!

Week 10

Last week, we were given tasks on Microsoft Publisher.
This programme is not new to me as I have used that to create invitation cards for event held in college. Somehow, I still found it a bit challenging to explore the tiny things in the programme as I am using the new Microsoft.
I was a bit confused in coming out with the brochures as we were instructed to work as a pair. I thought each pait should come out one. BUT, reality revelead when we were informed that we had to do two for each pair.
I was shocked and helpless as i was running out of ideas.
Luckily, I still managed to finish that on time.
Newsletter was a bit new for me. I did consult a couple of friends on how to do those little little things such as changing the style options, colour theme and so on. From there, I learned up the skill of using Microsoft Publisher.

Assignment 2

Finally, assignment 2 is completed.
When I got to know that 'new' assignment 2 is given, I was indeed very shocked as I had already started off with the assignment which was informed by Pn. Foziah. Yet, I still manage to get it through somehow or rather.
This assignment had made me learnt a lot! I am indeed gladful yet stressful.
First and foremost, capturing pictures from a video. I spent almost few hours to click on every single button in Windows Movie Maker to discover the function! Besides, extracting the music from the video took me weeks to discover! I asked my friends who are dealing with computers, my friends in college, my siblings..... And finally I got the answer - Music CANNOT be extracted from the video BUT we have to CONVERT into mp3 file type. Thanks to everyone who gave me all the opinions and ideas. I truly appreciate that from the bottom of my heart.
I searched from the net to search for a software that enables me to convert a video to music file. AhakS! I managed to find it as well.
Undeniably, this assignment took me quite sometime to finish it up. I had to search for additional pictures, musics, videos to make my teaching materials as interesting as possible.
On top of that, helping one another is very important especially in completing assignments. Although we may have conflicts and arguments, we learn! No man is an island. Undeniably, helping others and doing my own work at the same time made me ran out of time but, I can now tell people that I can do this, I can do that.
Isnt that amazing?
Trust me, TEAM WORK bring troubles and at the same time it brings unexpected results! (which may not be as good as expected at times). So, pray harder!

Assignment 2 The Beginning

I was so surprised to receive Assignment 2 as I was not sure on how to do it. We were told to use Michael Jackson's earth song for the first part of our assignment and our own choice of video for the second assignment.
I met up with my partner yestersay and I was supposed to do Michael Jackson's video as it was more complicated. Hence, I started working on it. The first thing I did was downloading the video into my computer. After that, I started listening to it again and again, thinking of what to teach... Well, a teacher has to know what to teach somehow.
On top of that, I searched for more pictures to be used in the E-book as well as the video. One of the reasons was that the pupils are not familiar with some of the animals. In order to make the learning objectives achieved, I decided to choose only animals which are familiar to the pupils.
Extracting the music? I am still thinking of how to go about it.
Will update with all of you when I got to know.
As for now, I have finally known how to capture pictures from a video. Though it may be blurry as the movie moves in the screen, I think it can still be seen somehow.

Four Skills - Listening ( The chosen One)

After finished dealing with the E-book, i thought we would have to start on the second assignment.This assignment was not difficult as before as we have already mastered the basic skills of each and single software.Listening skill was the chosen skill that I plan to do in set induction.Video making is my chosen task because in set induction, it is important to grasp the pupils' attention by showing them colourful pictures or something personal would be the best such as the pupils' pictures or stuff like that.Doing this video really took me quite sometime as I have to put in each audio files so that it matches with the pictures. (what i am trying to say is that the explanation and pictures can come out together coz I record the audio part by part).Music was not really my focus as in a listening task, there should not be any interference because pupils might not be able to listen to the reading clearly.Anyhow, i think this task is just to develop resources ro be used in ESL classroom.This task was really given just a week to produce and I really hope that our production as a group would become a wonderful lesson with lots of teaching aids.

Reflection on E-book

E-book!
Initially, i thought is was a very tough assignment. But, when the moment Pn. Foziah showed us a few examples, I have finally gained back my confidence a little.
As I have been dealing with Microsoft Power Point, I think I have mastered some basic skills like on how to insert pictures as the background, inserting music, picture transferring and so on. I found out another thing which Microsoft Power Point 2007 caters - Transition!!!
Hence, I think we have another alternative in movie making!
Well, as usual, gathering materials was a little bit in a mess. On top of that, seraching for the right music to be used is also important!
I found it very difficult when the music and the power point slides have got to end at the same time. Possibility is there but it is very time consuming. TIME IS GOLD IN UM!
I have finally realised this!
Let bygone be bygone!
I do not have the time to look back at the assignments handed in. But, the ones who are coming!
E book, I think I can manage it!

My Experience on Video Editing!

Huh!
Holidays had come to an end.
If you were to asked me what have I done during the holiday, I could tell you - I DID A VIDEO.
Creating a video is not as easy as we always have in mind. Think of the one hour movies that we watch everytime in cinema, think of the short video vclip available in YouTube... They are not easy to produce.
The task was to create a 4min video. It took my days to complete the whole video!!!
Searching for suitable photos was very tiring as not all pictures were what you favour and applicable for your team. After gathering photos, music had to be carefully chosen if not the video would not going to look nice. (it will somehow affect the whole production)
Compiling all pictures together took me quite sometime as the order of the whole video had to be taken into consideration. After that, putting transitions also took me quite sometime.
Yet, that was not the worst thing ever!
As my partner and I were from different state, it was difficult to communicate and share opinions. It was very inconvenient to call as my partner couldnt visualise what was I trying to do. Worse thing - we couldnt send coz the file was too big!
Erm, it took my one whole day to upload the video!!! That was utterly torturing.......
BUT, I MANAGED TO GET IT THROUGH!

Audio editing

Audio editing is indeed green when it comes to me. I hardly have any idea on how to go with it.
I started with downloading a software - audacity, which I found it very difficult to use initially.
I spent almost two hours to get familirised with this software on how to cut parts of music, where to drag, where to add effects....
All the trials and errors have made me learnt something new today on the 8/8/08. Isnt that amazing?
Well, you may click on the link below and listen to what I have come out with. That was my first production. Hence, any comments?

http://www.4shared.com/file/58280177/87aa41ef/My_heart_will_go_onI_will_always_love_you.html

Using Photoshop!

Based on the lecture last week, I finally regained my interest in 'creating' my own desired picture!

I was not in touched with the photoshop for a very long time. 10 years? Maybe...

Initially, I wasted the whole night trying to cut and paste some pictures into a new picture. Trying again and again till I got fed up and asked Bak how to do it.

Phew~ Cutting a picture really needs a good eye sight and skill.

Nevertheless, I have managed to do so (erm... I would give myself a satisfactory!)

The picture above is what I have come out with as a novice photoshop user!

Do give some comments on how to imporve it.

Children do not come to class empty handed

Children in primary school do not come to class empty handed. They have something in them and they learn from what they have.
Firstly, it is the children's creative use of limited language resources. In terms of the grammatical forms, children experiment with prefixes to express feelings. For example, the chilren would say 'Don't unring the phone' which means 'Don't hang up'. Children simly add the prefix 'un' to form a word. In term of concept, children generalised the concepts. For instance, children would say 'switch off the darkness' rather than saying ' switch on the light'. In order to encourage the pupils to create reative language use, teacher can have riddles in classroom.
Sedondly, it is the children's instinct for fun and play. Children have anm enormous capacity for finding and making fun. they bring a spark of individuality and of drama to much that they do. Fun and play is important as it promotes creativity abd imagination, lower affective filter, promotes subconcious learning and tackles the issues of short attention span. Teachers hsould keep a sense of playfulness and fun. In addition, teachers should avoid drilling and rote memorisation.
Thirdly, the instict for interaction and talk. Instincts and attributes of the children are important for the language teacher. The nature of children is they like to talk. their language are developing together with their age. On top of that, the teacher can benefit from this situation by giving them topics to be discussed and facilitated their discussion so that they will be in the right channel. Besides, the topic should be familiar ro the children since they already have prior knowledge about the topic such as real life events.
Fourthly, children's capacity for indirect learning. There are 2 types of learning which are concious direct learning and subconcious indirect learning. Concious direct learning focuses more on language and semantics. Subconcious indirect learning focuses on flunecy and spoken.
Lastly, the role of imagination. According to Piagetm they are in the concrete operational stage, in which they develop visualisation through concrete images and objects. Children are able to acquire langiuage easily through seeing anf exploring as well as imagining.

Hey people!

I am back!
It has been three weeks since we stepped into this college.
Still adapting to this new environment!
There's something which I think UM is better than IPIK - that is we are able to access to the internet once we registered ourselves in Faculty of Science.
Isn't that amazing?
Well, back to business.
I have downloaded keepvid but I didnt know why it could not work as promised.
>.<
Frustrated!

Downloading, Uploading & Searching

It's the first week of the semester. I was so eager to learn more from this course. There were many things that we had discussed in the first lecture. As for the first task, we were told to do a little search in the internet such as searching, downloading and so on.
Throughout this process in completing task, I have discovered that in order to find material that you want precisely, the appropriate key word should be keyed in. You may also use the '+' to help in linking all the key words.
Downloading was a very tough job for me as a beginner as I hardly download any softwares in my computer. Unfortunately for this semester, I have and I must download all kind of softwares in order to complete tasks and assignments. Well, I think the best and most user friendly downloader is Real Player. It is easy to use for a novice like me.
Hard time would pass and indeed i had gone through all these little things.
I wouldnt say I have learnt all but I am proud to say that I leanrned something which I never been in touched for the last 21 years of my life.

Dear myself

Dear Myself,
Suddenly, I just couldnt breath! Work is piling up!!!
Just miss those holidays which I could do whatever I can, sleep how many hours I can...
Technology has become a nightmare for me. I need a break. Just a short one. Can I? Once I have recharged, I think I will be fine.
Yet, the clock ticks every minute and every second. No man could stop it! It has to go on until... when? 2010?

Hello everybody!

Warm welcome to my first blog ever!
I have been hearing the word 'Blogging' long time ago but I was just so reluctant to get myself into it because I had been busy with my work, studies, outing... Well, I think this is the time for me to get into the world of blogging.

What can I tell you about me? Yes, Mark is what people have been calling since I was born. I am from a small family which consists of my parents, two sisters and my brother-in-law. Despite all the nagging, my family is still a place which I just love to be!

Let's talk about myself. I am currently studying in University of Malaya. A third year student. After hoping to get myself into local U for years, now, I could tell people that 'Yes, I am indeed a uni student even though I don't look like one.' Hahaha. nah, it's fine as long as I have done my part as a student, a son and a friend.

Studying in university is a total different experience compared to college. I think all of you (esp my coursemates) would strongly agree with me. Time table is flexible, which I kinda like it. Dress code- casual ----- I just love it. (Don't even bother to take a look of formal shirts and pants after wearing it for 4 years---- ewwww!) Challenges are definitely there. I had a pretty awful experience when I stepped into my faculty on the first day itself. The feeling was just unexplainable. Is like we are losing something or missing something? Can someone figure out for me?

Challenges that we are going through now are tough but remember, CHALLENGES HELP US GROW. Do you people remember, '75 as 1, United We Stand' (That was what we used for our Foundation Day) Don't forget. I really hope that we help out each other no matter what happens because that's what friends for. I don't know how much you people would agree with me but that's what life should be.

There is a chinese saying by someone whom I couldnt recall his name.
He/She says 'When you are at home, you rely on your parents. When you are outside, you rely on your friends.' Is does not mean that we rely our friends to help us to complete assignments but we need to ask help from them because our parents are not beside us when we are not in or hometown. If we don't have a friend, who should we turn to?

Therefore, let's help each other until the day we graduate. After graduating, we shall step into another path of life which is even tougher. Do help and share because friendship is priceless!

After typing so much, drop by and say ' You are with me!'

Till my next blog! Cheerio.