Category: Uncategorized

Marcia’s Identity Status

As I looked at the students’ response on a question related to this concept [Marcia’s Identity Status], I could not help from thinking why so many students did not able to answer the question accurately.  The application question is straight forward.

Question: After getting his SPM results, Rahim has surveyed several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results.  However, he has not decided to apply to any matriculation centre yet.  This example shows that Rahim’s identity status is 

A.  identity diffusion

B.  identity foreclosure

C. identity moratorium

D. identity achievement

Many students answered B [identity foreclosure] – wrong answer! 

For Marcia’s Identity Status, there are four types of statuses based on four types of matrices between exploration and commitment.  

1.  identity diffusion = No exploration, No commitment.  

2.  identity foreclosure = No exploration, Have commitment.

3. identity moratorium = Have exploration, No commitment.  

4. identity achievement = Have exploration and commitment.  

Analysis of Question:

After getting his SPM results, Rahim has surveyed [Have exploration] several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results.  However, he has not decided [No commitment] to apply to any matriculation centre yet.  

So, the answer is C. identity moratorium

If we change the scenario into the following:

Scenario A

After getting his SPM results, Rahim has not surveyed [No exploration] several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results.  However, he has decided [Have commitment] to apply to University Malaya Foundation Programme based on his parents’ suggestion to follow his siblings footstep who had enrolled in the same programme.  

Rahim’s identity status is identity foreclosure

Scenario B

After getting his SPM results, Rahim has surveyed [Have exploration] several undergraduate programmes at various universities that suit with his interest and SPM results.  However, he has decided [Have commitment] to apply to University Malaya Foundation Programme because he believes that he has better chance to further his study at University Malaya later on.  

Rahim’s identity status is identity achievement

Scenario C

After getting his SPM results, Rahim could not be bothered to search for information related to any programme available at various institutions [No exploration] that suit with his interest and SPM results.  In addition, he has not decided yet [No commitment] to apply to any matriculation centre. 

Rahim’s identity status is identity diffusion

It is kind of straight forward scenario, isn’t it?

The next question is, as a teacher how can you help the students who do not reach identity achievement yet?

It has been a while since the last time I watched a movie

Since 2011, I never watch any movie at cinema.   I only watch movies at home which means that whatever movie that I watch will be the “off season” movie.  I don’t feel like I miss out anything from not watching the latest movies.  Reading any movie review is good enough for me.

But, things are different for my nieces.  Apparently, one of them subscribes Netflix and thus, she is quite up-to-date with the latest movies and whatsnot.

Here I was, watching a scary movie called “The curse of La Llorona” on second Eid with the rest of the family.  With small kids as young as 2 years old who have started to know “the meaning” of ghosts and whatsnot, my home was loud with screaming and shrieking of all ages.  The oldest person who also watched the movie was my eldest sister.  After a while, she went to her room to have a quick rest.  After all, too much screaming and shrieking tired her out.  

I didn’t even finish watching the movie.  It is too much actions going on and I just feel too tired to be guarded at all times.  It is not worth to watch something to scare myself, don’t you think so? 😀

P.S: The kids who watched the movie ended up sleeping with their parents at night because they were too scared to sleep without their parents.  

Allah Knows best

Some of my colleagues and I had a chance to collaborate with several researchers from different universities.  This was my first opportunity to work with outsiders.  

Unfortunately, I received the news that our collaboration might not be materialised.  Our grant proposal was rejected.  Our leader was apologetic about it.   Well, there is nothing to apologise.  We had a chance to discuss and meet at UM last June (2 weeks before Ramadan).   This was a new thing for me.  

I am glad that I have such opportunity to meet with other researchers from different universities with different specialisation.  In sha Allah we will have a better chance to conduct research together.  After all, Allah Knows the best gladtidings for us and will always give the best things at the best time.  

Action research

I did a quick analysis on the students’ answers for SPPP1012 Educational Psychology.  I notice that some of them do not able to answer some of the questions well.  Unfortunately, it does not necessarily related to psychological theories.  

For example, one of the questions asked about a specific type of research that teachers conduct to improve their teaching.  It is a straight-forward question.  The answer is Action Research. Even though action research involves pre and post test assessment (looks like experimental research) yet due to the purpose of research is to improve one’s teaching practice, this type of research is considered as action research.  However, some students fail to see this unique characteristic that differentiate  action research from experimental research.  

For action research, unlike experimental research, it also involves teacher’s daily planning in which any teaching technique used will be carefully planned, implemented, recorded (through observation etc.) and analysed.  Then, there will be adjustment of the technique if need arises.  For experimental research, there is no adjustment of the technique used based on whatever need arises.  Thus, in action research teachers are required to reflect on the activities that they have planned and implemented.  

What kind of need arises? 

For example, some students might have difficulty to understand certain concept when you use certain techniques in class.  So, what should you do?   In this case, you need to closely monitor any change or challenge that students might face while you are implementing certain technique in class.  You don’t do this if you conduct your research using experimental research.  Because the aim of experimental research is to look at the end product (it could be students performance) of a process i.e. experiment.  But for action research, the aim is not only on students performance, but also on the process of learning itself (what students experience in class when teacher uses certain technique).  

For this matter, action research involves cyclical process.  For experimental research, there is no cyclical process involved.  There is no reflection/evaluation phase unlike action research.   

Always remember:

Action research = improvement of one’e teaching and students’ learning experience.  

 

Recycle baju kurung for raya? Normal

 

This was my last raya in Durham.  The year is 2010.   When I went to Durham, I only brought one baju kurung.   Since then, I never had any baju kurung for raya.  It is not that I don’t celebrate Eid.  It is just that I feel that it is ok to wear any baju kurung or jubah that I already have.  Sometimes I buy new baju kurung during “off season”, not during raya season.  My policy is, as long as I never take any raya picture with that baju kurung, I can wear it for any raya.  😀 

From left: Lutfi, Kam, Me, Amalina, Fiqah and Hafiz.

 

Eid: Diet went wrong and ……

Eid is one of the times when I find it difficult to maintain “healthy” diet.  Well, it is all about self-discipline, one might say.  But to stay away from overeating is challenging itself unless you don’t go visiting one another – which is the tradition of raya in Malaysia.   

This year around, I don’t know how it might be different from last year.  But one thing for sure, it will be less merrier than when I still have both of my parents.

Eid without my parents

My dad passed away in 2009.  It has been 10 years I celebrate Eid without him.  My mom passed away in 2017.  This year will be my second year celebrating Eid without her.  Since her passing, Eid is not the same.  I don’t have any baju kurung or things that I normally do since she passed away.  It is difficult to keep certain traditions when she was no longer around.  There are times when I feel that I don’t want to spring clean the house even though I know that there will be guests coming etc.  

I started my Eid break today whereas many of my colleagues have started their break since yesterday.   I don’t know why I feel different and I have this feeling since last year.  I know that it is not easy to deal with this alone.  So, I am grateful that I still have my siblings to celebrate the Eid together.   

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.