COVID-19: CMap

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.

COVID-19: (Another) Sharing session with my former students

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).

COVID-19: FSSH FREE 2021 video competition

I know that I can be a bit bossy. Yup. So when the faculty organised a competition last May, my initial reaction was “Ok. It is just another competition“. Then, someone messaged me and reminded me that I need to submit a video. What a heck! In a midst of doing something else and now I had another thing that I required (semi-forced) to do, I was hesitant to submit a video for the competition.


Then I remembered a video (at that time, it was not finished yet) that I was creating for my class. A short video as another version of a class note. Rather than giving normal slides and whatever, I convert the notes, recycle some points here and there from the class notes and turn it into a video.


But I need pictures and second opinion. I was desperate. I asked some of the group members and most of them said “I didn’t use that in my class“. But, I know two people who use Gallery Walk in their class. So, I bugged them to give me pictures. Of course, they were hesitant. I told them something like this “You have nothing to lose. We need to do this as you will be the next in line to be bugged by you-know-who if we don’t get the video done. We need to help each other in this“. So, they shared the links to their Padlet. I screen shot it and cropped it and the video was done. Phew!


Of course, one of them feel guilty because as if I am the one who do all the work. Well, since I am using Genial.ly (paid some more, right?), I might as well use it to the max. What I need is someone to give me evidence in a form of pictures and someone who can double check the written texts in the video (context, grammatical mistakes, sentence structure and stuff). So, their contribution is in terms of giving me materials for my video and FOC of proof reading (tongue in cheek!).


Making a video is easier if we have materials, content that needed for a video. With my minimal skills of video editing, I use Genial.ly which does not require “technical” video editing skills. I do not need to know the “layers” of contents which can be found in Moovly, Powtoon and other apps when I use Genial.ly. There is nothing wrong with Moovly or Powtoon but for me, it takes me longer time to produce a video using it.


Note: There are only a few people who are responsible in creating the video though and RM80 is for me to cover half the cost of the annual fees I paid (tongue in cheek!). Without the support of my Sub Group Leader (Dr Doria who happened to be my former student long time ago), the video which was used for the competition will remain as my class material in which I don’t use for whatever competition. Thanks to her, I was motivated to finish the video.

COVID-19: CMap… what is that?

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).

COVID-19: A sharing session with my former students

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)

.Kudos to the organiser, Shafaza (the one with the live picture)

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.

COVID-19: Can you teach us how to use Genial.ly?

Since COVID-19, I aim to learn at least one online platform or application per semester. I know I should not set my target that low but, I know myself better. I learn better if I can focus one thing at a time. Multitasking is a thing of the past.

I posted some videos that I created using Genial.ly on my FB because I want to share it with my friends (an example of videos that I created using Genial.ly). One of my university friends and my former roommates during undergraduate asked me if I can teach her and some of her colleagues how to use Genial.ly. Rather than feeling flattered, I was scared because there are many things that I need to explore and so many things that I have yet to discover.

Since then, I make a point to allocate at least 30 minutes per day to improve my skills on using Genial.ly. It could be either watching YouTube videos on Genial.ly (an example of YouTube video) and immediately I will try out following the instruction while watching the videos repeatedly or I do the exploration myself – this is trial and error.

I should know better that sometimes, when solving a problem it is better to have a guidance rather having no guidance at all. So, when I set the time (to monitor the progress) learning while watching YouTube (by following instruction simultaneously) or learning without any guidance, I find that I learn better and faster after and when I follow instructions from YouTube.

This makes me realize that I need to do something about my teaching. So, I prepare some videos which involve steps by steps explanation and give it to students to watch it first before coming to class (synchronous mode) and discuss or have a hands-on session. However, I notice that some students are still struggling despite all the efforts that I have made to make sure that I provide the best guidance and support through online learning. I realize that it is not my lack of efforts that contribute to the lack of progress on their parts, but rather it is due to technical things that they cannot control i.e. lack of internet data-plan and such. What should I do now?

Oh my Padlet: Part 3

This is week 12. How time flies! Indeed. With ramadhan and Eid Adha, it seems that time passes by like a blink of eyes. Like last semester, I use Padlet extensively but unlike last semester, in which I did not explain much about why I use Padlet in my teaching, this time around I explained it to students earlier this semester i.e. first class and I also showed some examples of students’ work and class activities on Padlet pages.

Some students find Padlet as a new thing so, some are struggling to use it. When I gave an example of Padlet page, one student accidentally deleted some posts by previous students. Well, it is my mistake because I should change the setting first before sharing with the current students. But, I learn something from this incident.

Of course, the student was panicking but I told her, “Things happen. So, don’t worry. I have already evaluated the previous students but please make sure that when you want to copy-paste anything, don’t delete anything of the original post”.

There are many pages of Padlet that I have created since last year and I think it is worth to subscribe Padlet (as long as it is still affordable – tongue in cheek remark).

One example of Padlet pages that I created last semester for my MPPU1024 Research Methodology in Education class was this.

The Big #5 things to be focused in 2021 at UTM

01: People Management

02: Institutionalize I.S.E.S

03: Strengthening research impact

04: Governance

05: High Performance Delivery

These are the five BIG things that I need to internalize. It is not easy as each might have its own challenges but I will give my best shot for all five things.

I know that some things cannot be rushed. To produce students who are future-ready employers, they need to be adaptable. How can we make them adaptable to the world out there which is volatile, relatively changeable and fixed? That are the common questions that we are concerned with but the real challenge is how to develop individuals who happen to be our students as human being.

To make them adaptable, we as the role models have to adaptable as well. This is the real challenge as we may be complacent with what we have and how we do things. But we cannot overlook the fact that we are also the role models as human being. Sometimes, students learn values that are not measured and often than not are overlooked in teaching and learning process. There are so many examples around which are self-explanatory.

COVID-19 pandemic challenges me (personally) to review how I teach my students via online method. It is not easy to teach via online format but whether we like it or not, we have to force ourselves to change.

My stance: Just do it and never give up. Slow but steady.

Note: I know others are more into fast lane mode, but I am not like that.

COVID-19: Bengkel Penulisan Bab 1

Alhamdulillah internet ok. Pelajar aktif tanya soalan. Cuma ada beberapa hal yang aku rasa macam tidak adil untuk pelajar sebab sejujurnya, aku tiada pelajar penyeliaaan untuk PSM. Pelajar terakhir PSM yang aku selia pada tahun 2012/2013. Hampir 10 tahun yang lepas. Bila Dr Diyana memberi sedikit maklumat diri aku ketika kata aluan, aku rasa kecut perut seketika. Naluri hati berkata – kata “I am such an impostor. I am not like that. It is nearly 10 years since I had a PSM student as my supervisee. Not only that, the last time I taught Research Methodology for undergraduates was in 2012. I feel cringe with the thought that I have to present myself like an expert whereas I am clearly lack of experiences with undergraduate supervision”.

Aku cuba yang terbaik untuk menggunakan pengalaman mengajar pelajar sarjana dan menggunakan nota kelas peringkat sarjana yang aku kurangkan sedikit maklumat tertentu untuk disesuaikan dengan keperluan pelajar PSM. Aku cuba meringkaskan proses penulisan bab 1 sebaik mungkin. Harap pelajar PSM dapat mengikuti apa yang aku cuba kongsikan dengan mereka.

Apa pun, selamat maju jaya kepada semua pelajar PSM.