Category: Teaching

What and how to upload for e content – 2023?

  1. Log in to UTMPORTAL
  2. On your left side, click ACADEMIC tab so you can scroll down and select T&L Delivery and Resources
  3. Click T&L Delivery and Resources (it is in the middle, in between Home and Measure of Student Learning).
  4. You will see several boxes: Blended learning, ODL, OBE, NALI & HIEPS, E-content.
  5. Click E-content
  6. On your right side (there is an icon with + button Add New). Click the Add New icon
  7. Fill in the information needed such as Project name (I normally add the Course Title) etc. To be on a safe side, make sure you have a variety of materials which you can put in different categories. We can only add ONE material in ONE category.
  8. Click the Submit button if you are ready to be evaluated. Please double check if you have submitted the materials. It should not be in draft mode (will not be evaluated)

Note: ALWAYS make sure the date start develop and date end develop is for the current year. DO NOT put the date start develop as previous year e.g. 2022, 2021 etc. even though you develop the materials on that particular year and only use the materials in the current year i.e. 2023.

Examples of materials (Make sure the materials can be accessible or set it into PUBLIC MODE):

  1. Video based learning = YouTube video or any other video that you create such as using Genially etc. (make sure you allow students to write their comments to get 2 marks) = video based learning category. For videos that I created in Genially, it does not have a feature which students can add their comments, or ask questions which I or other students can answer, so, the marks that I got is 1 mark.
  2. Gamification = Quizzes or tests in Kahoot! or Quizziz etc. with more than five questions. 5 questions is the minimum. So, better make it more than five. PLEASE make sure you create the questions. For Quizziz, you can take questions from existing sets which are created by other users, but PLEASE at least add your own questions. In my case, what I do is I would browse at existing questions and if it is relevant, I will add it in the set of quiz that I am creating. But at the same time, I will revise some wordings (change the verb), add answer explanation and add other questions that I create myself. So, let’s say there are 10 questions, half of it will be from me and another half will be from other users. For add explanation feature, it allows your students to read explanation about the correct answer, if they answer wrongly. So, without your physical presence, your students can still learn from the predetermined explanation. This is an example of a set (quiz) that I make it public which contains feedback that students can refer to (only available to some questions though).
  3. Collaborative tools = Padlet, Wakelet etc. which contains 80% of your notes/materials and 20% of activities (e.g. questions that students can answer and discuss).
  4. Communicative tools = Prezi, Quizziz (interactive slide mode) etc.

How many marks that we can get if let’s say we submit one materials based on the above categories?

  • Based on my personal experience, the marks are varied. For example, I got 1 mark for a YouTube video (which allow students to leave their comments etc.) but I got 2 marks of a similar video in another year.
  • For Prezi note, last year (2022) I got 2 marks but the previous year (2021), I got 1 mark. What is the difference? The evaluator’s evaluation. The rubric is the same. The evaluators are different. In both sets, I added questions in the notes which students can reflect and interact but only the 2022 version has better marks.
  • For gamification, I also got different marks of similar materials. For this material with Dungeon and Dragons theme, I got 1 mark (year 2021). But for this material (last year 2022), it was not approve. It is not considered as gamification but interactive content (which category is that? If you ask me, there is no INTERACTIVE CONTENT category in the e content. It is one of the criteria of assessment as stated in the rubric). Genially is an apps like Canva in which you can create video, gamification content, poster etc. It has many features that you can select and use to create variety of INTERACTIVE CONTENT. I am still learning about the features in Genially. It is trial and error as I do not attend any formal training except watching countless hours of YouTube videos that people create about Genially.

Tips:

  • If you are pair/team teaching with your colleagues and your colleagues do not subscribe to any platform such as Quizziz, Prezi, Padlet etc. (which can be costly), you can negotiate with them to use their class notes or materials and you create new digital materials using the platforms that you have subscribed. I do this with some of my colleagues. PLEASE add their names too and MAKE their names VISIBLE because it might be semi-hidden in some of the features.
  • When you revise your class notes (pair/team teaching courses), please inform your colleagues and ask their opinion about the revised version. You can discuss with your colleagues the things that you can improve etc. and you can include that in your OBE report (CQI part). With proper documentation, you can even write an article to share your teaching practices in journals like Action Research Journal, Action Learning: Research and Practice etc.

FAQs (That I have asked Dr Nihra and others have asked me before which I asked Dr Nihra about it for confirmation)

  • Question 1: Can we claim a content which we created in 2020 but we never claimed it before as ELPPT evaluation and we still use the content in the current semester?

Answer 1: YES. You can upload the material in the E content for this year (2023) ELPPT evaluation. Make sure you put the start develop date and end develop date THIS YEAR. I made a mistake in 2020 when I put the start develop data in 2019 and the end develop data in 2020 because I developed the material during semester 2 which started in September 2019 and ended in January 2020. The material was not approved. But since it contained evidence of students’ interaction of asynchronous discussion which happened during the semester which ended in January 2020, I claimed the material for my 2020 ELPPT evaluation. It was approved and I got marks for that.

  • Question 2: Can I claim videos that my students created? It is a part of the assignments that I gave them.

Answer 2: NOPE. ANY material have to be created by you (or created together with another colleague who is the instructor of a course that you are paired with in either team or pair teaching). You need to make sure that you COLLABORATE with your colleagues to create, update and refine the materials.

  • Question 3: Can I upload the WebEx recording on YouTube and considered is an e content material?

Answer 3: You can record a video using WebEx and upload it on YouTube BUT NOT THE ACTUAL class session with your students that you recorded (in this case, the video will be more than 1 hour long). OR if you know how to edit the video and cut it into several parts, just try out your luck then! I am not the evaluator (*tongue in cheek remark!)

  • Question 4: Can I upload more than one material of the same category?

Answer 4: As of 2021 evaluation until now, we cannot upload MORE THAN ONE material of the same category. For example, if I have more than one set of test/quiz on QUIZZIZ or Kahoot!, I cannot submit more than one set (Gamification material).

TEACHING FROM THE HEART AND SOUL (12 September 2023, Tuesday)

This talk was by Prof Dr Abdul Karim Alias.

These are some of the questions that he posed at the beginning of his talk: “Are you passionate about research but finding teaching to be just another box to check? Do you wonder if there is more to being an educator than just delivering lectures and grading papers?”

The emphasis is on inspiring students who would carry the torch in the future to be “inspired, curious, and passion-driven scholars”. How can we not only embrace our roles as researchers but also “be change-marks, nurturing a new generation of brilliant minds and solidifying out institution’s legacy of academic excellence”?.

UNESCO’s four pillars of education: 1) Learning to know, 2) Learning to do, 3) Learning to be, and 4) Learning to live together.

Tips:

  • Project positive vibes to students regardless of what we experience at the moment.
    • “You are rainbow in clouds”. We can bring meaningful experience to our students’ lives. We can make difference in their lives. Refer to Maya Angelou’s poem “Rainbow in the clouds”. The analogy of rainbow symbolizes hope and renewal. Rainbow also symbolizes inclusivity, diversity and all embracing image of love and friendship.
    • Concern about the well-being of students beyond the compliance to OBE.
    • Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan is the beacon. It should be the guiding principle as it also includes the spiritual parts especially about the belief in God. Based on the Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan, the key message is “Learning is about being – not having”. It is not about having good results (CGPA) etc., but being human beings in its truest essence. “The quality of life is invariably related to the spiritual being first rather than the material being” – Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.
    • The focus should be about building character and values, not just focus on intellectual capacity and competency.
  • VUCA world (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity). It presents so many challenges that make us as the academics to feel overwhelmed, distracted and extremely busy.
  • Know your own self-worth as an individual who hold so many positions and responsibilities. Do not let yourself to be defined by figures and numbers of KPI etc. What matters most? Finding balance is not about 50-50 of things that we do but knowing our priorities without jeopardising our health (physical etc.)
  • Do personal SWOT analysis from time to time.

Pit-stop questions (Take a moment to think about these crucial soul-searching questions):

  • What is the purpose of education?
  • What does it mean to be a “good teacher”?
  • Who is your model? Can you recall a teacher who made a lasting impact on you? What made them special?
  • What does professionalism in teaching mean, and what does it entail?
  • What does it mean to teach from heart and soul?
  • How can I assist my students to find their own passion for learning?
  • Does the culture of academia influence your teaching style?
  • What is your best investment so far for your personal and professional growth?
  • How can I avoid burnout?
  • How do I achieve work-life balance?

Three qualities: Integrity, Intelligence and Energy. Without the first, the other two are meaningless.

Teaching is hard work because it is “heart” work.

When u make time for Allah, Allah will give you time that you need. When you practice calmness and peace in solah, Allah will give you calmness and peace that you need. – Hussain Yee –

List of books to read

  • Unraveling Faculty Burnout: Pathways to Reckoning and Renewal
  • The courage to teach

Note: For more details, you may refer to the notes by Prof Abdul Karim.

Are you a lecturer or a tuition teacher?

One of the students that I teach tuition this year is the daughter of my primary school mate. So, I told him that his daughter made some silly mistakes (she was confused about grammar i.e. verb and noun). But somehow other friends who also have children who are taking SPM this year know about the tuition thingy. One of them asked me “Kau bukan mengajar kat UTM ke? Sejak bila buat kelas tuisyen? Ada pusat tuisyen ke?”

The answer to the first question is YES. The answer to the second and third questions is NO. I am not trained to be an English teacher. But spending one year at school teaching English for Latihan Ikhtisas gives me the chance to conduct tuition class until now. I am still learning from my colleagues and former students who are senior English teachers. They are the ones who share ideas with me and teach the students on daily basis. I am clearly cannot compare myself with them on that level. My stance is simple. I teach courses such as pedagogy, and thus I need to remain abreast of school-related stuff. One way is to be at school as regularly as possible. That’s it. It is that simple.

What is the difference between being a teacher and me as a tuition instructor (I cringe to use the word “teacher” at this moment)? If I can use an analogy, the teachers are the gardeners, I am just a lawn-cutter. I just come once a while to spruce up things a bit here and there. The plants cannot thrive well without the care of a gardener.

Wakelet is no longer free

Wakelet has its own community. After having being a member for about a year, I notice there are several changes in Wakelet. To be a member, I had to take a test and a certificate would be given as a proof of membership. However, the membership is valid for a year.

Honestly, I use Wakelet this semester to assign an asynchronous activity to my postgraduate students. They find Wakelet as a platform that easy to use. But, I notice that my students could not write any comment or feedback (unlike Padlet). At first, I thought it might be due to the settings. Later, I realise perhaps it has something to do with the new policies. Yup. It is no longer free.

Should I add another one more platform to subscribe? It is still affordable but unlike Prezi which I still use extensively for my class notes, I think having Padlet is sufficient for the time being. So far, since I started my subscription in 2020, the fees remain the same (the price is different for those subscribers who start their subscription in 2022).

I know that some of you might ask why should I subscribe these platforms whereas the UTM elearning is more than enough. The thing is, I want to enrich my students learning experiences. I know I can enrich their experiences without having to subscribe any platform but I believe that it is a good investment for myself to learn something new. I do not know how far I could keep up with the everchanging digital platforms, applications etc. But I try my best to something new every semester. This is my goal.

Pembelajaran Teradun Gantian

Semasa PKP, UTM menggunakan pembelajaran teradun gantian sebagai mod pengajaran. Pembelajaran teradun gantian (atau PTG) berbeza dengan pembelajaran teradun (atau Blended Learning). Perbezaan adalah dari sudut tujuan, cara pelaksanaan dan pemberatan pelaksanaan mod kombinasi bersemuka dan dalam talian.

Cara pelaksanaan bagi pembelajaran teradun dan pembelajaran teradun gantian adalah berdasarkan kombinasi pembelajaran bersemuka dan dalam talian. Sebagai contoh pembelajaran teradun, seorang pensyarah boleh menggunakan kombinasi mod bersemuka dan dalam talian sepanjang satu semester (14 minggu) dalam julat 30 – 79% pembelajaran dalam talian yang menyokong pembelajaran bersemuka. Dalam konteks ini, pembelajaran dalam talian tidak menggantikan sesi pengajaran dan pembelajaran bersemuka. Mod dalam talian berdasarkan bahan pembelajaran, aktiviti dan penilaian yang dilaksanakan mengikut nisbah 1:7:3:2.

Akan tetapi pembelajaran teradun gantian pula ianya dilaksanakan di mana seorang pensyarah akan menggunakan mod pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam talian sebagai gantian kepada mod bersemuka dalam julat 30-79% dalam satu semester pengajian (14 minggu). Contoh: Dalam tempoh 14 minggu, seorang pensyarah boleh menggunakan pengajaran dan pembelajaran dalam talian sebanyak 36 jam (30%) bagi kursus 3 kredit (120 jam). Mod dalam talian berdasarkan bahan pembelajaran, aktiviti dan penilaian yang dilaksanakan mengikut nisbah 40:40:20.

Akan tetapi sekiranya terdapat pelajar yang berada di luar kawasan Johor (seperti pelajar yang merupakan seorang guru yang berpindah mengajar ke Kedah ketika dalam pengajian sarjana), hal kes terpencil sebegini membolehkan pensyarah menggunakan mod pembelajaran dalam talian sepenuhnya sepanjang satu semester sekiranya perlu. Tetapi ianya perlulah dimaklumkan ke pihak fakulti atau sekolah.

Untuk maklumat terperinci, boleh rujuk slaid ini.

FSSH Strategic Talk 1/2023: Islamic engagement in Social Sciences and Humanities – 16 July 2023 (Sunday)

There is a strategic talk by two guest speakers from University College of Yayasan Pahang: Assoc Prof Dr Azhar Ramli – Deputy VC of Student Development and Community Diplomacy and Assoc Prof Dr Amran Muhammad – Dean, International Institute of Islamic Civilisation. The session is divided into 2 parts: a talk and a forum. FSSH dean, Prof Dr Arieff Salleh Rosman is the moderator for the forum.

There are some academic staff who were chosen to join the session i.e. compulsory. But there are others who come on volunteer basis. Other than academic staff, students are also invited. But it is examination week so it is understandable that some students could not come. Those who came are PhD students (with no final examination).

Strategic talk is meant for staff enrichment and enhancement of FSSH branding. This is aligned with FSSH 2030 vision. Thus, it is essential to be ready from now to fulfil FSSH 2030 objectives. One of the aims is to have 15% of academic staff with Professor status.

Among FSSH Itqan project’s aims are:

  1. Attractive branding.
  2. Great talent.

PART 1: Talk by Assoc Prof Dr Amran Muhammad

There is a movement in renewal and revival Islamic knowledge. One of the steps is through engaging research in Islamic revealed knowledge with sciences. There is a need of paradigm or platform in which the understanding of al fiqh al akbar as the fundamental of Islamic sciences should be enhanced. The root of Islamic sciences is known as kalam which comprises of usul al din, al fiqh and al akbar. This should be the fundamental knowledge. The root of Islamic knowledge is related to Iman (‘aqidah). The trunk of the tree of Islamic knowledge is usul al fiqh (al fiqh al awsat). The branches of Islamic sciences include fiqh (fiqh al amal and al zahir), tasawwuf (fiqh al qalb) and such which related to shariah (Islam) and akhlaq (ihsan).

All propositional knowledge is based on analytical knowledge (nazari, ‘aqli and mantiqi) which is related to realistism as compared to textual literary knowledge (based on naql, nassar and khabar) which is related to literalism and mystical/ metaphysical knowledge (zauqi, ilham and kashf) is related to spiritualism. The balance between analytical, textual and mystical knowledge is crucial to benefit human beings and civilisation.

As Muslim, being a consumer of knowledge is not enough. We need to be able to be analytic and scientific inviduals to ensure that we are able to navigate between logic, philosophy and revealed knowledge.

Phases of learning tawhid are divided into 3.

  1. ‘Aqidah: the discourse on the fundemantals of the ‘aqidah without the detailed discussion on the rational and textual demonstration.
  2. Usul al din: the discourse on the aspects of ‘aqidah in the light of rational and textual demonstration.
  3. Kalam: the discourse on various sects of ‘aqidah, particularly erroneous sects of elucidating their discourse, correcting their confusion and refuting their claims.

Go visit Kalam Research and Media.

PART 2: Strategic forum

Free floating discussion. There will be a seminar in collaboration of FSSH UTM and University College of Yayasan Pahang in September 2023.