Category: Random rambling

I am a cat lover

This cat was not mine.  I came back from school one day and there she was sitting in front of the door of my house (60 Steavenson Street, Durham).   I asked my housemate to take my picture with this cat.  I didn’t own any cat when I was in Durham.   I couldn’t afford to take care of a cat because the food and whatsnot are not cheap in UK.  A small packet of wet food could cost a pound (I could buy a packet of biscuit with the same amount).  

These two cats stay in my school’s compound.  Mother and daughter.  I just parked my car and haven’t get out yet from my car and both were already waiting for me.   When this thing happens, it always makes my day!

I met this tyke few years ago at Pagoh’s RnR.  I was on my way back from Putrajaya.  It was one long exhaustive week for me and I had no appetite to have dinner.  While waiting for the rest of my busmates, I stood nearby the parking area and suddenly, this little tyke started to rub on my leg.  What a big boy!  I just patted the head.   Not giving him the whole body massage (I was afraid of him to bite me, actually.  So, better takes extra precaution on this).  I still remember my feeling after patting him.   What a good (and cheap) stress reliever!

 

I had this cat for about five years.  He was called as “Merah” (Red).  He did not like any sort of physical affection unless he initiated it.  But normally, he would only allow me to pat on his head ONLY.   When the picture was taken, he and Hadif (my three years old nephew) were eating durian together.  As you can see from the picture, they had a little argument.  Who should get the last piece of durian!  How time flies!  Merah was no longer with us.  He died in late 2009 (not long after this picture was taken).   That boy?  He is 13 years old this year (2019) but he no longer likes durian.  He could not even stand the smell.  Welcome to non-eating durian club, Hadif!  (I also don’t eat and cannot stand the smell of durian even though there are around 10 durian trees around my house that my late dad grew more than 30 years ago).

This is Bubu (Kelabu  or Grey).  He died in 2008 when I was in UK.  He liked to sit on top of my car.  He liked to be held like that.  My two nieces, Halimah and Adibah were holding him in that position.  It is a bit uncensored though.  Please pardon me of that.  I would not photoshop this picture.  I leave it au naturale.  

This is my current princess, Robyn.   I had a little scary moment when something went wrong when I spayed her in 2015.  I spent more than RM1k for her medical treatment.  I even brought her to the office because I needed to bring her to the doctor’s appointment at Global Pet (Taman Universiti branch).  How time flies!  She is such a darling and my little princess even though she could not stand to be held by me (I guess it is due to the traumatic experience of being held when she was sick when I needed to feed her with medication etc.).  She is one of the most polite cats that I ever have because she would give me a little meow whenever she needs something from me (not the loud ear-piercing meow).

I call him, Batman.  He is Robyn’s brother.  He likes to sleep inside a box-shaped place like this.  He has this piercing loud voice.  He doesn’t like to be held like Robyn but I can still cuddle him for a few second.  I make it as a routine before I give him his meal.  As he grows older, he does not like strangers.  Normally, he would stay away from strangers.  [Latest update: he went missing on 4th day of Eid.  The last time I saw him was on Saturday afternoon.  I gave him his last meal around 6pm.  He was not around on Sunday morning.  He is still missing until now]

Formative assessment: Students take charge of their learning

For this semester, I tried using the quiz on the elearning.  So, I learned a bit about it by myself (googled the handouts and figured out how to do it through trial and error).  I tried it on different courses.  

I find that the quiz on elearning is easier to use like Quizziz or Kahoot!.  But unlike Quizziz, the quiz on elearning can be set for longer duration.  For Quizziz, I only can set the duration up to 2 weeks.  

So, for UG SPPP 1012, I set my 2nd quiz using the elearning.  I let the students to take the quiz as many times as they wish (multiple attempts).  Meaning, they can take the quiz several times as they want until they get the highest marks (5 marks).  I notice that many students use this opportunity to improve their grades.  Well, this is an example of formative assessment in which students can regulate their own learning.  Of course, I did not let them see the answer but they can get a feedback if they answer it inaccurately.  So, in this case, they know if they have answered a question right or wrong.

But, I find that some students didn’t even bother to try out the quiz more than once to improve their grades.  I trust their judgment in this.  There was one student who did not take the second quiz.  I have reminded them in class and through Whatsapp group.  But, apparently something is amiss in which he did not take the quiz.  I did remind them to let me know if they have anything to discuss but only some of them did so.  They would either leave a message on my elearning or through Whatsapp.  I could not help from thinking why this student acted this way. 

Is he struggling?  When I looked at his final examination, he did ok (22/40 – average marks).  I haven’t finalised their marks yet because I am still marking one assignment – concept map.  But, using simulation, he will get passing grade (60+/- over 100).  That could be B-.  Well, if that what he wants, what else can I do?  After all, I have given them chances to improve their performance.  Nothing else matters.  

Once upon a time, a neighbour of mine….

I have known him since I was in Durham.  A former neighbour.  He stayed at 21 Steavenson Street and I stayed at 60 Steavenson Street, Bowburn.   He is someone who has this charismatic qualities that I have seen when I was in Durham.  

When there was a little incident involving one of my housemates, he called for a meeting to discuss the matter.  Alhamdulillah, things were not blown out of proportion.  Well, I appreciate his concerns but the things involved my household thingy so I declined their offer to help me to sort things out.  

As I read the article about him on the newspaper, I know that it is not easy to hold a position like his and I can see that he is trying his very best to make sure that the education system will change for the better during his term in the office.  

All the best, my former neighbour!  In sha Allah you make us Dunelms proud with your achievement!

Rate my professors_Part 2

Calvin: “Here’s the latest poll on your performance as dad. Your approval rating is pretty low, I’m afraid.”

Dad: “That’s because there’s not necessarily any connection between what’s good and what’s popular. I do what’s right, not what gets approval.”

Calvin: “You’ll never keep the job with that attitude.”

Dad: “If someone else offers to do it, let me know.”

–Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson, February 13, 1994

As an instructor, I find myself always in a dilemma: to teach my students the right thing right or to teach my students what are considered as right depending on situation.  Right will be right no matter the situation is.  That should be the case.  But the reality is not like that.  We deal with lots of “grey” matter.

But when it comes to teaching, students’ rating do not related to how effective one’s teaching.  So, one of my seniors once said “Dijah, jangan fikir sangat kalau dapat komen teruk dari pelajar ni.  Diorang ni kalau tak suka kita, dia komen la macam-macam.  Cuba Dijah belanja dia makan-makan, ajak lepak sama-sama, diorang tak kasi la komen teruk macam ni [Translated: Dijah, don’t think too much about it if you got such comments from students.  If they dislike you, they would give bad comments.  If you treat them, hang out together, they won’t give such comments”]”.  That becomes my stance until now about UTM ePPP.  

A study has shown that even though those teachers/instructors who got the highest rating are perceived as the one who contribute the most to learning, but those who got lower rating are the one who are most effective in their teaching.  It is ironic, isn’t it?  Which is which? Do you want those so really good in teaching or those who perceived as “influencer” in one’s learning experience?

Of course, it would be better if we can have teachers/instructors who are excellent in teaching and at the same time contribute the most to learning.  It is not impossible but it takes time and lots of efforts for the teachers’ parts to consciously improve their teaching (this could be time consuming).  If teachers are bogged down with so many roles and responsibilities, teaching would lose its importance.   It can be seen in academia where teaching is not a core business of some instructors who focus more on research and publication, rather than teaching (unless these people focus on doing Scholarship of Teaching and Learning or SOTL).  

Well, at the end of the day, it is all back to the question of why do we choose this profession i.e. teaching.  One thing for sure, teaching won’t make us billionaires but many teachers have played their parts to nurture billionaires.  Indeed.  

 

Rate my professors_Part 1

I know that in the US, they also have similar practice like eppp, but unlike eppp which is internally controlled i.e. by UTM, there are some which are not controlled by any institution.   They have different websites which are independent from any institution such as RateMyProfessor, MyEdu.com and UniYu.  But, I have been wondering the effects of such evaluation on many aspects such as improvement of learning experience for future students.  

I have experienced getting not-so-good comments from students because I am strict and assertive.  For example, there are times when I would no longer accept any draft that students send for feedback/comments after certain deadline.  But some students perceive this as tyrannical.  It is as if I am not giving them ample chance to improve their work.  Well, if they send their draft on week 14, a week before their final exam on week 15, when do you think they will submit the “real” assignment?  Week 16?  It will be too late for me to finalise their marks.   Don’t they get it?  I also work based on deadlines.  It is not that I set the deadline based on my whims and fancies.  

Normally, those students who give bad rating and evaluations are not-so-serious students.  Serious studious students would appreciate having instructors who are willing to guide them within certain time frames because they have discipline and able to regulate their learning process.  Students who don’t belong to this category like easy things or prefer if you don’t give “challenging” assignments. 

What a heck!  They are not kindergartners nor school kids.  They are university students who should be mentally prepared to face the challenges of the world and life in general.  We don’t need softies strawberry cotton candy individuals who cannot withstand any challenge or problems.  We have lots of problems and challenges to face and we need to have endurance to withstand anything that might come in our life.  

So, what should we do with the evaluations that students give?  Well, I found an article which explains in detailed how we should use whatever comments that students give with “wisdom”.  There are also research on this.   That’s I will explain in the next post.

 

 

 

Is this a scam?

I got this email from a student claiming as my supervisee.  I never heard his name and I have never received an appointment letter which states him as my student.  Should I reply?  I have been thinking about it for about a day.  Nay.  I will not reply.  It sounds dubious.  A kind of cheesy asking me to pray for his financial clearance.  That’s a red flag.  Overly affectionate towards someone that you don’t know.  Is this a love scam?  There are so many types of scam nowadays.  From Macau to Love scam, I should be more vigilant and be extra careful.  

Rain or shine

It is a few days before Eid.  I haven’t made any Eid preparation yet.  No shopping.  No spring clean.  Nothing.  Well, I did wash the curtains and whatsnot few weeks ago at the self-laundry mart.   I did bake Brownie cookies.  This reminds me of the time when I was in Durham.  

I would still go to school even though it was Eid.  There was no break for me.  I went to school and then went to pray Eid prayer.   

The faculty seems extraordinarily quiet today.  I saw Prof Hamdan on his way to pray Zuhr.  I saw Dr Sarimah’s car on the parking lot and few others cars.  

It is raining quite heavily.  I plan to go back after Zuhr.  I guess, I have to wait for a while.   I am so spoiled in this case.  When I was in Durham, I would go to the school even though it was snowing.  At one time, I even saw a boat was stuck in a middle of the river due to the snow.  I didn’t take any chance to walk on the snow-covered river because I know the ice was thin.  It was not worth the risk to get wet and hypothermia. 

Alhamdulillah, now I don’t have to walk in cold winter days to reach my faculty.  So, a mere drizzle shouldn’t faze me, don’t you think so?  😀

BBQ chicken wings

This is one of my famous signature dishes when I was in Durham.   The ingredients are simple yet now it is difficult to find some of it in Malaysia.  So, I don’t make any now.   Well, I can easily go to Nando’s or Kenny Roger’s or Pizza Hut to eat this.  I don’t have to prepare it myself.   

The recipe?  I need to find my cook book where I wrote all the recipes of the dishes that I cooked in Durham.  Once upon a time ago.  Indeed.  

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!

At the point of writing this post, I am preparing my OBE report.  Alhamdulillah.  One course is finished.  Another two more to go.   In sha Allah I will try to finish everything before Eid.  

When I look at the students performance (i.e. marks), I could not help from wondering, do they study smart before the exam because apparently, some of them are not able to get good marks.  I know that I cannot assume their understanding based on the marks alone but it seems that some of them are not brave enough to challenge themselves to do better.  Perhaps I am wrong in this matter.  I have been wondering if it has something to do with reading (how much they read to make themselves understand certain concepts).