Category: Teaching

What should I do?

I had a tuition class with the students.   Some of them are sad because of their trial results.  So, to cheer them up, I asked them to look at their exercise book where they wrote their targeted marks for SPM trial.  I told them before if they can get the marks that they set in their trial, I will give them RM100.  When I made the offer, I was prepared to spend RM600.  Of course, they don’t believe it.   After all, it is very rare for them to get such offer.  But I am not their typical teacher. 

Each of them was hesitated to let me know about their marks.  Alhamdulillah, I came well-prepared.  I looked at my handphone and searched the marks Ita gave me.  So, I read their marks one by one (well, they already know each other marks when Ita discussed their paper a week ago).   While reading their marks out loud, I checked their exercise book to see their targeted marks.  Ainsyah is the only one who able to reach the target.  She has improved a bit (well, from D to C is a good-enough improvement for her).  Let’s be realistic.  They know it is quite impossible for them to get a solid A (above 80%).  I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on them by suggesting they should aim that high.  I told them to renew their target for the real SPM.  But I don’t let them know about the monetary reward that I will give if they can achieve their targeted grade for SPM. 

Why do I give them monetary reward?  All of them come from B40 family.  I want to help them to prepare for SPM by having their own money to buy stationery, revision book or other things.  So, that’s why I gave them the RM100 reward.   I don’t know how I can assist them since I am no longer at school.   Last year, when I was at school, Ita and I bought stationery supply to give to all of the SPM candidates.   I am planning to do the same this year in sha Allah. 

The monetary reward that I plan to give them for their SPM is also to assist them to buy UPU form (yup, they have to buy the code at any post office).  Even though they no longer have to fill in the UPU paper-version form like I did back in 1996, they have to buy a password/code to get accessed to UPU online.  The UPU form that I had to pay back in 1996 cost me RM100 per form.  That’s quite a lot back then (and now).  At that time, I worked at MPH Bookstore with RM450 per month (or more if I did lots of over time or OT). 

When I just started my Latihan Ikhtisas, the SPM results were announced at the end of March 2018.  I still remember Cikgu Mun, the school counselor used her own money to buy the code for some students who did not want to apply to any matriculation centre or Asasi via UPU because they didn’t have the money.  Their parents could not afford to buy it.  It breaks my heart.  I don’t want the students to stop from furthering their studies to higher level feel hesitated due to financial constraint.  So, by rewarding them with monetary reward, I hope that at least I can help them in certain way.  As a teacher, it is difficult to ignore such predicament that your students are experiencing.  After all, it is not their fault to be in that situation.  

An example of learning management system for e-content: Flipgrid

I was searching for more examples of learning management system.  When I googled the meaning of learning management system, a good example of learning management system is our UTM elearning.  So, using Prezi is not enough to be considered as learning management system because there is no online interaction.  Prezi, Padlet, Trello and such could be categorised as collaborative tools.  

BUT, Flipgrid is different.  You can upload your note, link Youtube videos and such and ask students to discuss about a topic.  I am still a novice in using Flipgrid (I just found out about this today).  But, if you want to have a look an example of my activity (a trial and with no students, I could not show any interaction yet).  For Flipgrid, your students can provide a short video clip of their responses.  So, if you have very busy students who always on a go, they can stay engage outside classroom with you through Flipgrid.  

Unlike Prezi, Flipgrid is FOC (Free of Charge) [Note: It might change in the future though].  

P.S: Psssttt… Flipgrid is an example of e content [Learning Management System]  😀

 

Asas Pedagogi [Fundamental pedagogy]

On my TESDECP, I realise that there are courses that I will teach for next semester.  Wow.  That is early.  So, I will teach Fundamental Pedagogy [Asas Pedagogi].  I notice that I will get two sections, but none is TEASL group. 

How do I know?  Well, looking at the number of students, I can tell it is from different programme.  I guess it would be either SPPS (sports science) or SPPJ (technical and vocational group).  I think I want to request to change one of the sections to TEASL group.  Why?  I am thinking that it might be more relevant for me to teach them how to create the daily lesson plan (Rancangan Pengajaran Harian).  I also have a template that I can share with them.  If I don’t teach them, I don’t have opportunity to share my Latihan Ikhtisas experience with them, right?  What is the purpose of having me to undergo Latihan Ikhisas and yet I cannot share what I learn and gain with the students?   I think I will request it later on.  

Perkhemahan Akademik Fasa 3 SABK Madrasah Alattas Alarabiah Johor

PERKAMPUNGAN AKADEMIK FASA 3

Tarikh/Hari     : 31 Julai – 1 Ogos 2019 (Rabu – Khamis)

Tempat    : La Grandeur Palm Resort, Senai

Peserta: 111 pelajar (tingkatan 3, 5 dan 6); 20 orang guru dan seorang pensyarah UTM (Dr Hadijah Jaffri)

Perkampungan Akademik Fasa 3 merupakan progam pengayaan pencapaian akademik bagi pelajar yang bakal menduduki peperiksaan awam seperti PT3 – Tingkatan 3, SPM – Tingkatan 5, STAM dan MUET – Tingkatan 6. Para pelajar yang bakal menduduki peperiksaan Pentaksiran Tingkatan 3 (PT3), Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) dan Malaysian University English Test (MUET) di Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan Madrasah Alattas Alarabiah memerlukan persiapan rapi bagi menghadapi peperiksaan awam.  Perkampungan Akademik Fasa 3 merupakan program pengayaan yang melibatkan kesemua pelajar yang menduduki peperiksaan awam Malaysia seperti PT3, SPM, STAM dan MUET.

Di dalam perkampungan akademik tersebut, pelajar akan didedahkan dengan tips yang boleh diaplikasikan bagi memastikan mereka mendapat keputusan yang cemerlang, terutama bagi pelajar Tingkatan 5 dan 6 bagi tujuan permohonan kemasukan ke pusat asasi atau matrikulasi di Malaysia (bagi pelajar Tingkatan 5) dan bagi tujuan permohonan melanjutkan pelajaran ke institusi pengajian tinggi awam tempatan mahupun luar negara bagi pelajar Tingkatan 6. Ini adalah kerana pencapaian mereka perlulah menepati syarat kemasukan ke pusat asasi atau matrikulasi atau institusi pengajian tinggi.

Pelajar tingkatan 5 sedang tekun menjawab soalan dalam lembaran latihan yang diberikan
Cik Rafedah Mohd Rais kelihatan bersemangat menerangkan tips peperiksaan bagi kertas perdagangan kepada calon SPM
Cik Aalia Abdul Rashid sedang menerangkan arahan tentang aktiviti dalam kumpulan kepada sekumpulan pelajar
Ustazah Noadha Asma’ Shafie menerangkan format peperiksaan Syariah PT3
Dr Hadijah Jaffri sedang memantau pelajar yang sedang menjawab soalan kertas Kefahaman (Reading) – MUET
Pelajar bekerja dalam kumpulan dalam menghasilkan rumusan novel Captain Nobody
Antara komen pelajar
Antara komen pelajar

UTM code of ethics

I was asked my one of my senior colleagues to fill in a questionnaire in relation to teaching, supervision, research and publication.  There are 10 questions asked.  The questions are

  1. Do you know that UTM has code of professional ethics?  (you to answer either YES or NO)
  2. Have you read the UTM code of ethics?  (you to answer either YES or NO)
  3. Do you know what are the UTM code of ethics?  (you to answer either YES or NO)
  4. Do you think that you are an ethical staff by UTM standard or by your own standard?  (you to answer either YES or NO)
  5. Are you able to define what is “being professional” in your job? (you to answer either YES or NO)
  6. Please give 3 examples to prove that you bring ethics into your work
  7. Another 3 examples that you think you are not ethical in your work
  8. State a few example of your colleagues’ behaviour which you think is ethical and professional
  9. Please describe incidents or events of your colleagues which you think are not ethical and/or not professional in their work

What are my answers?   I already gave to the committee.  I don’t know the findings of this survey though.

There are news articles about Prof Wahid Omar’s thoughts about issues relating to academic integrity in reference to Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s claim about Malaysian academicians’ integrity which causes uproar among concerned Malaysian citizens and alike.  You can read one of the news articles HERE.

In addition, HERE is the UTM code of ethics [Just in case, some of you are searching for it]

Break a leg

Wishing all the best to individuals who have to perform in something might improve their performance.  This has been proven in research such as “Keep your fingers crossed” which has shown “activating good-luck-related superstitions via a common saying or action such as break a leg, or a lucky charm improves subsequent performance in golfing, motor dexterity, memory and anagram games”

But this does not mean the performers should prepare less for any competition or task though.  Relying on luck with lackluster efforts won’t result in high performance.  There is nothing wrong in dreaming, hoping or wishing but we have to take reality into consideration.  We have to face life’s challenges head-on, not to put our heads on sand like ostriches thinking the challenges, harm or whatever will go away or pass by without us doing nothing about it.

Prisoner’s dilemma

Social scientists like psychologists, sociologists and alike study the issue of trust using a game known as Prisoner’s Dilemma.  In this game, a scenario in which you and your friend are caught by the police and are interrogated.  But the results for both of you to be punished by the law would be varied depending on the confession by both of you (you and your friend).  So, which is which?

The scenario is like the following

Let’s say you and your friend rob a bank and you are not very good at robbing a bank so you get caught.  The police arrest both of you and put you in separate rooms to interrogate you.  You have no way to communicate with your friend.  The cops offer you a deal: if you testify that your friend was the mastermind and he does not testify against you, you go free and he gets five years in prison.  If you don’t testify against your friend but he testifies against you, you get five years and he goes free.  If you both testify against each other, you both get three years.  If you both refuse to testify, you both get one year.

The answer can be straight forward.  If you knew you could trust each other, you both keep your mouths shut and get one year.  But that might not be the case, right?  That’s what prompt researcher like Robert Axelrod to further study what makes us decide on whom to trust and not.  The answer might shock you.  Tit for tat.  Yup.