Hadijah binti Jaffri

I know that some of you might be expert users of this. But I create this post as a reminder to myself the steps. Transfer of learning takes time. Even though I have learned how to use WebEx, Zoom and Google Meet (all can be used for online meeting), yet there are specific features which are unique for each provider.

Like WebEx, Microsoft Teams Meeting also has similar function for breakout room, recording and transcription. You can also change the background by adding your institution logo or picture that you like. There are free samples of background that you can use. This feature is similar with Zoom and Google Meet too.

So, what are the differences?

1. If you have Microsoft live account, you can store it in a folder (don’t ask me how. I need to review the recording of the session to learn this)
2. You can create a Team (such as for each of the section that you teach) and it is easier to set meetings and also to organize notes, manage your students assignments and such because Microsoft Teams also has a “live” chat feature for the specific group or team that you have created. So, you can minimise using the official ELearning (but I don’t suggest you fully utilize this if you want to make sure your Blended Learning rating is high – tongue in cheek). Google Classroom has similar features like this but if you do not subscribe the premium version for Google, you might have certain limitation.

How do I know that I have successfully set a meeting with this student?

I am an old lady. So, I asked her via Telegram. She replied by giving me a screen shot.

Learning new things are not easy and challenging at times. Indeed. For CMap, I find that I need to learn about certain features and functions embed within CMap. After watching several videos relating to CMap, I realise that trial and error might be helpful in making me understand CMap better. Even though I follow the steps (while watching a video relating to CMap), and yet I notice that the steps are for basic things.

If I want to make the mapping fancier than the first version, I need to explore certain things on my own. That’s what I have been doing since yesterday after I had a supervision session with one of my PG students. While double checking her chapter 4, we find certain things that needed to be corrected (I force her to double check together with me – tongue in cheek). After finalizing the framework that I created using CMap, I asked her if she wants to publish her work in a journal. Well, I never force my students to publish in any journal but I always give them options. It is their right to choose.

Upon hearing the idea of publishing her work in a journal, she waved her hand frantically indicating that she does not want to do so. But I gave her another option saying that I would revise her writing and redo the analysis if needed to make it publishable. Then, she laughed and said “If you are going to do that, I am ok. I think doing a Masters is enough for me and I do not aim to publish my work any where“. Sigh…. I need to encourage her more on this.

Another sharing session by my former student who is now my teacher to keep myself updated with the current situation and trend of home-based schooling. But, today’s session is a bit different. What is it? Oh, I know. I get it! It is a bit formal.

Her tone and language that she uses are formal unlike last week. Then I notice some unfamiliar names. I think unlike last week who was attended by my students, this time around it is attended by her colleagues from the same school and few friends. I know that this session does not have any CPD points or whatever for me, but I like this kind of session. I learn new thing: Mylink.la (this is a Malaysian company, if I am not mistaken).

I admit that I am a slow user, adapter, adopter to new things. So, when Prof Khairiyah introduced CMap to us last Friday. I started to google and watch YouTube videos about it. Well, I am a true laggard indeed. CMap has been around more than five years but I am just know about it this year, 2021.

Never mind. I just need to take a small step, one thing at a time. At first, I think that I do not have anything worth to be converted into a concept map (that is what CMap is all about. A tool to organise points or ideas through concept map illustration). At this point of time, I do not want to go through my class notes to extract points and such. I am just need a break from looking at my class notes (tongue in cheek). I need to get a refresher.

So when I had a supervision session with my masters student who is still struggling with her qualitative data analysis yesterday (22 June 2021, Tuesday), I offered to teach her CMap even though I never used it before. What a great pretender, don’t you think so? An impostor. Indeed.

But the thing is, by looking at her qualitative data, my mind started to think the data in visual form. I can no longer stand anything in lengthy wordy sentences even though she has simplified the data in table form. Nope. My mind demands something simpler than a table (still too wordy to me).

So, I opened a new CMap file and I started to create one thing after another. Before we knew it, a framework-like illustration was produced. Both of us were amazed. My student did her part by looking at the raw and semi-analysed data that she has from her computer while I did that scribbling part on my computer using CMap.

Here is the result (not perfect but it is better than nothing).

I got a message from Shafaza or Lord Zara aka my former student on Saturday afternoon (19 June 2021) “Salam Dr. Esok kalau Dr free jam 10 pagi, jom Dr. Hihi. Nak email boleh? Saya nak invite Calendar” [Roughly translated: Salam Dr. If you are free tomorrow at 10am, let’s join (sic). Can have (sic) email (sic)?”]

So, with that message and with less preparation for slides or whatever, I joined the sharing session that she organised. Even though there were only 6 of us who could make it to the session, yet we have a fruitful and impactful session. Immediately after the session, I tried out Baamboozle (but I have not finished creating a game yet. It is a slow and steady process for me)

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At the end of the session, they asked if I could provide a certificate for them (palm on face). But I reminded them that not all things important can be quantified and documented. The session was a personal, mini reunion thingy and sharing information and skills that we learn in our teaching practice. So, I think it is much meaningful than any session with certification but less interaction. In this session, we shared other things (not to be shared here – tongue in cheek) about the current situation and dilemma that we are facing as educators. But despite all challenges, we know that we are not alone in this journey.