Category: Teaching

Bahan Bengkel EDD 22 – 23 Ogos 2022

Bahan sesi Pembelajaran Aktif (Active Learning) hanya di satu pelantar sahaja iaitu Wakelet.

Saya boleh menambah (atau mengurangkan bahan) di Wakelet tanpa mengubah pautan di Wakelet. Bahan berkenaan adalah bahan yang dibina oleh saya sendiri dan juga bahan yang dibina oleh orang (tetapi ianya boleh digunakan untuk tujuan pendidikan dan penyebaran ilmu yang diambil dari YouTube dan Genially).

Di dalam Wakelet, kita juga boleh meletakkan pautan lain seperti Padlet dan Genially. Sebagai contoh, sekiranya kita ada membina kuiz (tiada memerlukan rekod pelajar), kita boleh menggunakan Genially. Untuk melihat contoh, boleh KLIK DI SINI.

Part 4: Wakelet certified!

It took me longer than two days to study and repeat the Wakelet examination. As I waited for the badge, I watched YouTube recordings of former AKRI winners to gain insight on how to express ideas.

Those who are natural presenters with superior oratory skills choose for a presenting approach with little media graphics. Some individuals, however, with a background in multimedia, decide to combine recorded movies embedded in the slides with multimedia graphics.

Me and my team members? We opt for creating a video using a platform that we already know and familiar with. Nothing fancy. As long as the video can deliver the ideas well, nothing else matters. We might add some voice over too.

Part 3: Become a Wakelet superstar!

I had a workshop yesterday. I informed one of the team members who was down with a flu that I will revise again the version that I submitted to her. Even though she was sick, she looked at the latest version and gave her comments. I felt honored that she took a time to review it despite feeling unwell. But both of us agreed that we need to take a step back for a while from it and perhaps when we look at it again in another few days, we have a fresher look at the things that we have done so far. At the moment, it feels things are saturated. As if there is nothing more to add but we know that we still have to make certain changes here and there.

There goes my plan to retake the Wakelet quiz for certification.

I got a message from a senior that I befriended through FB. We had agreed that we are going to have a brainstorming session about action research. She is enthusiastic to conduct the session even though it began at 930pm. To be honest, I was feeling exhausted. But seeing her cheerful face on WebEx, I felt less tired and tried my very best to take notes from the session.

May be an image of 7 people, laptop and screen
I looked so serious while taking notes (tongue in cheek remark!)

This is an opportunity for me to learn something new about action research. Her critical buddies for her action research are prominent figures in teaching and learning. I know both of them even though I have never met them before. She was mentored by these two critical buddies. A final note that she shared in her FB is

When a toxic no longer can control you, they will try to control how others see you. the misinformation will be unfair, but stay above it, trusting that other people will eventually see the truth, just like you did.

Part 2: Become a Wakelet superstar!

While attending a session, I tried to self-study the materials in Wakelet. Normally, I would write my own notes like I did when I self-studied materials for MyDigitalEducator@MOHE program. But multitasking is too much, I guess, so my notes are less perfect.

When I took the Wakelet test, I did not score well. So, I did not get the certificate or badge. I have to try it again.

Moral of the story: Even though it is self-study mode, but I should take note.

Part 1: Become a Wakelet superstar!

Wakelet has offered me a training session to help me reach my full potential as a Wakelet user. If we successfully complete the programme, we will be awarded a badge (plus evaluation). It’s fascinating! However, I was surprised to see how packed my weekends already were when I glanced at my current calendar (this weekend, especially). My cousin is planning a wedding, I have a tutoring session and a two-day workshop (of which I can attend only one), and I feel the need to pause, take a breath, and think.

Perhaps I require a legitimate diversion, such as this Wakelet training, as I am in dire need of upgrading my technological skills. When I received a message from my colleague requesting me to substitute for her, I was eager to begin the training. Am I permitted to use my Wakelet training as an excuse? A conundrum indeed.

There are six modules (including one assessment). It is self-directed study. In each module (five modules), there are more than three materials that we have to self-study.

The Wakelet training could enhance my knowledge in using Wakelet, but the thing that I have to attend is just ________________ (fill in the blank).

“We’ve created a self-paced online course that will train you to become a Wakelet pro and help you share the magic of Wakelet with your learning community. The course takes around 30 minutes, and if you pass, you’ll get an official Wakelet Certified Certificate and badge that you can show off to the world! ” (this is taken from the email that I received)

The 30 minutes are for pros. I am not in that category yet.

Part 8 – MyDigital EDUCATOR@MOHE program: Final evaluation before the real one

The deadline for final evaluation before the “real” one is 29 July 2022. My mentor started to evaluate each of us by looking at the materials, activities and assessments in the Moodle one by one. It took him quite a while to check all of our works.

He gave us a prompt reply using WhatsApp. The comments that I received are: 1) Add information relating to the duration of the module, learning mode, targeted learners and requirement of prior knowledge and (2) Add self introduction.

When I created the welcoming remark video, I just mentioned my name. It was insufficient. Alhamdulillah I use Genially, so I just rerecord again the specific slide. I rewrote the script for the video after Subuh and rerecorded that part again while waiting for a sharing session with one of the members in my group.

In a panicky mode, we need extra assistance from each other and in this case, peer support does help to manage our anxiety. Indeed.

Micro credential? What’s that?

I have attended several sessions of briefing about micro credential. It is interesting, but I am not just into it. Why? This is a good example of commodification of knowledge. When I learned about the concept of commodification of knowledge 20 years ago, I could not imagine how it can be actualized but my mentor could foresee it. Reading his works again recently makes me feel scared because the reality is in front of me now. It is daunting.

Having a first hand experience of crafting a simple module for MyDigitalEducator thingy makes me ask myself again “Do I have what it takes to do this?” I am really struggling. I promise myself that I would no longer spend my weekends on creating videos and whatsnot as I am starting to have English tuition classes again starting this July. It is a little project, no grant, no official letter but it is an honor bestowed upon me by the school to make a little difference (if you may call that). I am not an English major but a stint at school for a year was resulted in me having lots of teaching materials that I crafted on my own. I enjoy doing that!

The teachers know and recognize that I am the best person to teach the tuition classes using my materials. Ita said “Kak, bahan yang banyak kau buat dulu tu, kau buat apa sekarang? Kak Imah tanya nak buat lagi tak kelas tuisyen sebab sekarang ni dah macam sebelum PKP. Tak ketat. Hari Jumaat atau Sabtu boleh tak? Budak-budak batch ni ramai yang B40. Tak mampu nak ada cikgu tuisyen yang berbayar macam dulu tu. Budak-budak tu dah tau kau akan ajar mereka. Diorang dah excited” Ita does know my weakest link.

To be honest, I need this in restoring my decreasing faith in myself.

Part 7 – MyDigital EDUCATOR@MOHE program: How important mentoring sessions are to scaffold one’s learning?

Learning, according to Lev Vygotsky, is a process that requires social support from persons such as parents, friends, and teachers. However, the social support does not end there; it can also come from the larger society, community, etc. In this way, social supports enable an individual to acquire knowledge and skills with the assistance, direction, and backing of a more knowledgeable and informed individual. This is the meaning of scaffolding. According to Vygotsky’s theory, when persons who are learning something new have the necessary support, they have a greater chance of comprehending and mastering the knowledge or skills they acquire independently in the future.

Even though I feel overwhelmed by the programme requirements for MyDigitalEducator, I remind myself to tackle things one at a time. Having a mentor who closely monitors our progress is beneficial, despite the fact that some may feel overwhelmed by it. Several members of our group have opted to withdraw from the programme owing to unforeseen events and causes.

This program is demanding in a way that we have to ensure the materials that we develop is not just good enough, but perfect (or almost perfect) to be showcased to others. This is not easy. “Janji buat, janji siap” adage is not applicable in this sense. Being me, I know well better that rather than doing something just for the sake of doing (Janji buat), I would rather not wasting myself to do it on a first place. So, once I have decided to do something, I will commit to it until its completion.

Some colleagues say “Ala, janji siap sudahlah”. I no longer feel annoyed hearing that from them, but if my students ever say that, they will know (or later find out) what I will do.

I am blessed to have a mentor who is willing to sacrifice long hours and even weekends to have mentoring sessions with us. May Allay grant him the best rewards for his efforts.