Category: Uncategorized

Bring your own container, please

In accordance to Eid, UTM is organising an event to celebrate Eid with the whole UTM staff and students.   But this year, it is different.  We have to bring our own container.

Setiap tahun Universiti akan menganjurkan sambutan hari raya dan bersempena dengan penganjuran Majlis Tautan Ukhwah Syawal 1440H peringkat UTM pada tahun ini, adalah dimaklumkan pihak UTM akan melancarkan “Program Sifar Plastik Pakai-Buang (Single-Use) ke arah Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari (SDGs) UTM”. Program ber­kenaan adalah selaras dengan matlamat kerajaan untuk me­ngatasi masalah pencemaran sisa plastik melalui Pelan Hala Tuju Ke Arah Sifar Plastik Sekali Guna 2018-2030 yang diterajui Kementerian Sains, Teknologi, Alam Sekitar dan Perubahan Iklim (MESTECC).

Pelancaran ini dirangka bagi mengurangkan pencemaran dan melestarikan alam sekitar serta memberikan kesedaran, pengetahuan dan menjadi komitmen Universiti mengenai punca lambakan sisa sampah dan pengurusannya terutamnya bahan plastik pakai buang. Selain itu, ia bertujuan untuk mengubah minda warga universiti berhubung isu sisa sampah ekoran pihak universiti terpaksa menanggung kos yang tinggi bagi melupuskan sisa sampah dan menjadi punca kepada masalah pencemaran plastik di samping memupuk identiti Universiti Bersih, Lestari dan Proaktif.

Majlis Sambutan Peringkat Universiti ini akan memfokuskan kepada elemen utama iaitu:-

  1. Melarang penggunaan Plastik-Pakai-Buang pada majlis rasmi universiti bermula dengan Majlis Tautan Ukhwah sehingga disebarluaskan ke seluruh UTM selepas itu.
  2. Semua tetamu digalakkan/diwajibkan membawa bekas makanan dan minuman serta beg fabrik (woven bag) yang dibawa sendiri selain sudu/garpu yang bukan berasaskan plastik.
  3. Galakan setiap PTJ/Unit yang mengendalikan penyediaan makanan di setiap Lot Khemah menggunakan kaedah buffet tray dan mengelakkan/melarangpenggunaan sebarang beg plastik, penyedut minuman (straw), bekas minuman plastik serta sudu/garpu berasakan plastik.
  4. Menggunakan hanya bekas makanan/plastik terbiodegradasi dan berasaskan tumbuh-tumbuhan seperti kanji dan selulosa.
  5. Menggalakkan tetamu utk makan dan berukhwah sesama sendiri di lokasi berbanding terus membawa pulang makanan. Lokasi khas khemah akan disediakan bagi memudahkan tetamu.
  6. Memberikan kesedaran mengenai pembaziran makanan dan pelupusan sisa makanan yang sesuai semasa program. Lokasi tong sampah yang bersesuaian akan disediakan.

Justeru, pihak Universiti menerusi jalinan kerjasama Pusat Islam UTM dan beberapa PTJ/Unit yang mengendalikan majlis ini berharap program ini akan membantu meningkatkan reputasi serta imej kelestarian ke arah mencapai Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari (SDGs).

Lee Chong Wei retired

I am not a big sport fan.  But I do follow the development of sports in Malaysia (not religiously though).  

Lee Chong Wei has made our country proud.  It is not a shame to retire after 19-year career in badminton.  Not many can reach that level.   He wishes to focus his time more on his young family.  He has two children now.  Perhaps, this is best time for him to do so.  

UM – Ulang matapelajaran [Translated – Repeating Course]

I had students with the status of UM [Ulang Matapelajaran] before.  But, somehow another I don’t feel any attachment with them so when they fail a course, I don’t hesitate to retain whatever grade given to them.

This time around it is different.  Why?  I have known this student since 2012.  Yup.  We have known each other quite long.  I remember this student in particular because there was a male student in the same cohort who passed away drowning while saving others’ lives.   I have some emotional attachment with this cohort because I just finished my PhD at that time and excited to teach again after so many years of studying.  This class is also special because the students had swimming class before mine so, my class was the perfect time for them to take a rest after physically taxing swimming class.  Well, I tried to do some activities which required them to move around.  They moved around alright but the moment they went back to their seats, their eyes seemed to shut down automatically.  The faculty combined the class with TEASL students.  What a ying-and-yang combination!  Indeed.  

Years passes by quickly and before we know it, I met this student again in my masters class.  I had a quick chat with her after class.  She seemed a bit shy around me. When I asked her if she took my Educational Psychology class in 2012, she sheepishly acknowledged that.  Then, I asked if she was in the same class as the late Miji (only a nickname), her face went pale and gloom.  Without looking at me, she looked down on the floor before replying “Dr still remember Miji?“.  I told her that I normally remember my students’s faces.  It is just that I don’t remember their names.   To lighten up the atmosphere a bit, I asked her if she has settled down.  Looking down at her shoes again, she replied “I am still single, Dr.  I am busy with my work.  Many of my friends have got married.   I further my masters because I want to improve myself as a teacher“.  With a light pat on her hand, I assured her that the time will come for her to settle down.  She told me that she teaches Malay Language now even though she majored in Sport Education.  She is still a sport education teacher though.  So, she has the opportunity to teach what she learned at UTM.  Since that quick chat, I never have any chance to talk to her again. 

When I graded her assignment, I notice that she only took the quiz once and she did not get good marks for the quiz.  She did not get good marks for her final as well.  So, relying on her proposal assignment alone, she got below 60 marks.  To be exact, her final marks are 58/100.  Just a shy away from getting a passing grade.  I crack my head to increase the marks.  I can’t simply increase the marks unnecessarily and without any valid evidence.  I look again the quizzes that I have given them (some are graded and some are not graded).  I notice that she never tried to take the ungraded quiz unlike others.  This makes  me feel sad.  Others took the opportunity to improve their grades by using whatever things that I provide them to the fullest.  I notice that there are several students who took one ungraded quiz more than three times.  Since I don’t give the answer, they have to try as many time as they could until they get the right answer themselves.  So, in this case, they will “force” indirectly to refer to their notes to find the answer.  This is a part of self-regulated learning.  

What should I do with this student?   After all, she is in her 8th semester.  A dilemma indeed.  

Read this prayer when we are afflicted with calamity [Doa ditimpa musibah]

It has been 5 days since my cat (Batman) went missing on Sunday 9 June 2019.  I try very hard not to cry because I am having on-off fever.  Feeling feverish at certain time but feeling better after taking medication.   So, even though I search for him around the house (up to the neighbours’ houses), I still could not find him.  Robyn (Batman’s sister) seems to know that he is missing.  She does not want to eat her biscuit when I feed her every morning.  She will linger around and lie down instead.  Only after I leave her alone, she will eat. 

I try to search any prayer to find my missing cat.  Well, there is no specific prayer but I found this instead.  A prayer that Rasullullah SAW taught Ummu Salamah’s husband and he later taught her this prayer.   She lost her husband in the battle of Uhud.  She later married Rasullullah SAW and became one of the important people to narrate his hadith.  

Batman went missing is a tragedy for me.  Why?  I am so used of having him to bug me when I am doing my work or chores around the house.  He would always linger around me, nearby.  I really hope I will find him soon and he would be back to bug me again.  

 

 

A teacher? Or a hero?

I have been thinking about this long time ago since I was doing my masters at IIUM.  I had a chance to be supervised by a great mentor who teaches me about value and ethics.  I learn that from him.  Taking several classes under his tutelage was a privilege that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  I would email him quite regularly when I have qualms about my teaching practice.  I would always get a straight-to-the-face kind of answer.  No filter.  Nothing.  It always serves as a reminder why I am in this profession.  He had retired now.  No email.  Just occasional Whatsapp message.  But, it helps me to feel better when I am feeling blue.  

Now, I am no longer have the privilege to email him like I used to do.  He rarely checks his email.  With a younger wife, he is pretty much preoccupied with his retirement life.  So, I normally will find motivational videos about teaching.  One of my favorites is a TED talk by Rita Pierson.  She passed away not long after giving the TED talk.  To know more about her, this is one of the articles written about why it is important for teachers to know their students better in order to make impact on their lives.