Ada orang beri cadangan untuk letak senarai semak (checklist) untuk sesi segerak (synchronous session). Senarai semak ini digunakan setiap kali sesi segerak sebagai ingatan kepada semua yang hadir. Kalau dalam kelas, sebagai sesi induksi – sebelum memulakan sesi pengajaran dan pembelajaran.
Dulu aku tidak pernah terfikir pun nak buat poster macam ni. Tapi bila dapat tips dari Cikgu Sam yang hebat, aku cuba untuk ikut apa yang diamalkan. Cikgu Sam pun ada pesan untuk tiru apa yang dianggap amalan yang baik. Jadi aku cuba la untuk buat juga. Walaupun aku mengajar di universiti, tak semestinya apa yang cikgu-cikgu guna tak boleh diamalkan dalam pengajaran aku juga kan? Learning happens when we teach. Indeed.
Unlike the first dose, I experienced more severe effect. I got my second vaccine on 30 August 2021 (Friday) around 1130am. I didn’t feel any immediate effects few hours after that. My body was aching all over after maghrib. It was getting worst around midnight. I had fever. I had taken Panadol before I went to sleep. But it didn’t help much to curb the feverish feeling that I experienced around midnight and early morning.
So, I ended up having trouble to sleep on the first night that I got vaccinated. The next day (Saturday) after Subuh prayer, I felt worst. My body aching did not go away. My body was aching when I was lying on my bed and it didn’t go away when I tried to sit. I felt light-headed when I was walking.
There was a session at 2pm (Saturday 20 August 2021) that I wanted to attend. I just could not miss this session. I ended up lying on my bed with my laptop on my stomach to attend the session and write a note using this blog.
I decided to take a leave on Sunday (21 August 2021). Even though there was a panel meeting on Sunday, I decided to skip it. I just needed a rest. I just ignore whatever messages that came in that day. But somebody called and asked me about something which is needed for auditing purposes even though the course is not audited yet (it is just offered last two semesters – a new course). I felt much better after Asar so I tried to prepare the needed document. Just do it for once and for all as I have deadlines for other that I need to do.
Based on my experience dealing with the side effects of vaccination, it gives me a time to think about my life as I was lying down on my bed, looking at the ceiling – doing nothing. All of this while, I realise that I take things for granted. Small things matter and I should not ignore when my body starts to show certain symptoms. I should not be guilty to take a rest or take a break. I deserve it. Indeed.
It is a bit cliché to say that “Just do your best to create teaching materials for your class”. Well, everybody aims that but the real thing is, how far we are engaging students in learning process with the materials that we give or with the instruction that we give?
I never get full marks. That is the fact. But I never aim to get full marks when I create or craft my teaching materials for my students. It is just that when people ask me about “how to get 5 marks” for ELPPT bonus, I feel sad because I could not help them much in this thing.
But nevertheless, even though it is stated that the materials should be interactive yada yada yada, I do not know what it means. I am a bit slow in this but for this semester, one of the experiments that I do to improve my teaching is to use Padlet as a platform for students to showcase their presentation as well as discuss about the topic of presentation using asynchronous mode since some of them have to share devices and there are many of them have internet accessibility issues.
This is the example from one of my classes – CLICK. This is not considered as e-content.
Why does it not being considered as e-content?
ONE: Padlet is only used as a platform to collect and share students’ assignment. There is no interaction UNLESS we give an EXTRA instruction in which they have to give feedback on each assignment which is showcased in the Padlet. I did not do that. So, it is not considered as e-content.
TWO: The instruction given is too generic. You have to be more detail in giving the instruction. How to do this? First, think about “What is the thing that you want to accomplish – Is it students’ interaction? Is it just sharing information? Second, use simple, compact and concise wording. This is the most challenging part, for me personally. I am struggling with this. What I normally do is, I will brainstorm with another colleague how to rephrase the instruction. Sometimes, to have another person to brainstorm ideas is better than doing it alone. I am blessed to have such colleagues around me even though there are just a handful of them. Well, they are the best. It is most important. Quality. Not quantity.
*sigh* There is amendment (betterment??) for the e-content.
Previously, I was told that Padlet which is interactive/active can get 3 marks. But, now, it is 2 marks. What the _________ (fill in the blank of your preferred word).
The rules of the game has changed this year (2021). To whom it will benefit? How does it use to assess me as an instructor? Does it mean that if I able to produce materials whatever that I use in my class, I am a good instructor? What if I am so fed-up with this game and decide that I just could not be bothered by it anymore and do not upload any materials even though I have it, in this case, am I no longer considered as a good instructor?
I will stop asking existential questions. I rest my case.
I purposely put the title in Malay using one of the famous idiom: “Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga”. No doubt academic status especially being a professor is a goal that some people set as academicians. There is nothing wrong in that but in the current practice of academia, sometimes to chase fame and glory, some people do not hesitate to cut corners and resort to unethical practice even. It is kind of shame such practice happens. One of the latest is by a renowned researcher (or known as one before he was caught), Dan Ariely. I first came across his name through TED Talk. Unlike some other well-known researchers in psychology like Phillip Zimbardo, Carol Dweck and such, he is not that famous when I was an undergraduate students.
Dan Ariely’s research was about honesty. It is really interesting to know what makes people to be honest or dishonest and can one’s honesty be “changed”? His research provides an insight about that but later on when other researchers tried to replicate his work, they found out otherwise. This is when some people start to dig deeper. Later on they found out that Dan Ariely concealed some data and thus, ironically when though his research is about being honest, yet he is dishonest about his own research. The evidence that researchers found about his work is compelling. Click HERE to know more.
So, I would rather be true and honest to myself and others than being famous or getting the highest position of academic accolade i.e. professorship. I create this post as a reminder that what is important that I should focus on and do not jump into the bandwagon of unscrupulous practice.
I have thought about this issue since few years back. When the faculty was reorganized and we become Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, I was at school undergoing professional training (latihan ikhtisas). I was not feel the “heat” as I was practically banned from coming to the faculty without any reason (Ayat sebenar dari seseorang yang telah lupa akan hal ini: “Jangan jejakkan kaki ke fakulti sepanjang waktu latihan ikhtisas“). I was gladly complied his demand as I thought it might be a good thing to give myself a break dealing with some people.
When we talk about synergy, one of the things that comes across my mind is “Is it possible to be done?” On papers, it might look nice and clean but the practicality of synergizing might not be a bed of roses. Of course, in any collaboration, synergizing and whatsnot, we are not immune from challenges. The problem is how are we going to make things better through overcoming challenges. It requires efforts and sacrifices that many are not willing to make. With differences that exist among individuals and groups of people, to have a synergistically interaction of different individuals are not easy even though we are similar in terms of being humans. So, the synergy among humans are not like those who are halobionts.
“The whole is greater than sum of its part” – Aristotle.
If we consider ourselves like an alphabet, it serves its functions as an alphabet but combination of alphabets create words and combination of words create sentences. In short, as a unit, we might serve our own function but combination of functions from other individuals create greater functions.
Synergy involves teamwork, collaborative working and cooperative working. But it is kind of sad when synergy can be turned into parasitic in nature, rather than symbiotic relationship. In most cases, from my own experience, the former is common. Being in the bottom rank of hierarchy, of course I am not on the benefitting ones.
Essence of synergy like value and respect differences, build on strengths, and compensate for weaknesses are highly valued. No doubt about that. But when parasitic relationship exists, all effort go right to the drain. Sad but it is the truth that people often choose to ignore.
For those who got band 5 (the rating for blended learning), you can download the certificate which you can upload later on for your ELPPT – Bonus (Anugerah Pengajaran) here for 2022. You may find your old certificate for session 2020/21 onwards. So, if you want to find the older certificate for session 2019/2020 or 2018/2019, you might not find the certificate in the current system.
Log in by using your email and staff number
You will see the list of courses and blended learning level. Only level 5 will have the + button (blue color) activated where you can download your certificate.
Click the + button to see the button where you can download your certificate
Just do your best to improve your teaching. Remember: “We teach not to attain glory but to educate future generations for the betterment of ummah” (it sounds cliche, right? But it is one of the things that I learned from great mentors of IIUM).
Dalam memilih teknologi yang sesuai, perlu melakukan analisis untuk memahami tahap penggunaan teknologi dalam kalangan murid. Soalan: Adakah murid anda mempunyai bandwidth yang cukup untuk high tech solutions (Google Meet dsb?”, Adakah murid mempunyai bandwidth yang cukup untuk low tech solutions (Whatsapp, Telegram?”. Selain itu, memilih satu atau dua aplikasi yang sesuai yang akan digunakan untuk beberapa minggu sebelum memperkenalkan aplikasi baru. Akhir sekali, pastikan ibu bapa juga sedar tentang penggunaan aplikasi di dalam kelas.
Aplikasi dan amalan yang disarankan menggunakan high and medium tech:
Pear Deck: Murid perlu log in untuk menggunakan aplikasi ini. Ianya percuma, boleh digunakan bersama Google Meet. Tidak memerlukan muat turun aplikasi. Kena guna Google slides (tidak boleh powerpoint biasa). Boleh digunakan oleh 30 orang murid sahaja dalam masa segerak (synhcronous).
Sediakan peraturan yang perlu diikuti oleh ibu bapa dan guru. Contoh: waktu berkomunikasi dengan guru (hadkan masa), penghantaran mesej dan sebagainya.
Sediakan pentaksiran setiap minggu dan hantar kepada ibu bapa/murid supaya mereka tahu apa yang akan dibuat setiap minggu.
Gunakan # untuk memudahkan pencarian tugasan yang telah dihantar.
Guna voice note untuk ibu bapa yang kurang literasi teknologi.
Pastikan ada perancangan untuk semua pentaksiran melalui Whatsapp/Telegram.
Strategi no tech
Membuat pentaksiran melalui panggilan telefon
membuat jadual ringkas untuk pentaksiran melalui panggilan telefon untuk setiap kelas. Jadual harus dikongsikan dengan ibu bapa.
Panggilan telefon boleh dilakukan untuk: memberikan pentaksiran ringkas, membimbing murid membaca dsb.
NOTA: Yang paling penting, kita perlu ingat “teknologi hanyalah alat”. Laksanakan pentaksiran mengikut kemampuan kita dan juga murid kita.
