Part 3_Citra Karisma (Anugerah Webometrics) 2019: Tips untuk dikongsi

Ada orang tanya macam mana nak menang Anugerah Teknologi Maklumat (Webometrics).  Macam mana nak menang? (I rolled my eyes when I saw the question popping up on Whatsapp) Saya teringat tips yang saya dapat dari rakan-rakan (dua dari mereka merupakan pemenang anugerah ini juga bagi tahun 2016 dan 2017)

1) Niat menulis untuk berkongsi maklumat dan pengalaman. Sharing is caring. Contoh: Ada rakan yang mungkin tak dapat hadir ke bengkel yang kita dapat hadiri. Bagaimana nak berkongsi pengetahuan atau maklumat terkini yang kita perolehi dari bengkel yang mungkin berguna kepada orang lain juga? – zaman sebelum ada Webex. Ini adalah soalan yang diutarakan oleh Dr Norah (Pemenang Anugerah Webometrik 2016) kepada saya untuk saya fikirkan apabila menulis di people.utm.my. Alhamdulillah saya juga boleh lihat kembali (ingatkan diri saya) tentang perkara atau proses yang setahun sekali sahaja perlu diisi seperti TESDCP. Saya dapat lihat pertambahan elemen yang diperlukan bagi tahun ni berbanding tahun lepas berdasarkan penulisan tentang TESDCP pada tahun lepas.

2) Guna webometrics sebagai cara mendokumentasi pengajaran. Bukan untuk menunjuk-nunjuk tetapi sebagai ingatan kepada diri sendiri tentang aspek pengajaran yang boleh diperbaiki. Ini adalah tips yang saya perolehi dari Dr Asmawi (SKA) (Pemenang Anugerah Webometrik 2017).  Dalam hal ini, webometrik boleh digunakan sebagai E-content (bawah kategori blog). Webometrik Dr Asmawi amat tersusun dan padat.  Boleh dijadikan contoh sebagai rujukan.  Highly recommended! 

3) Untuk TESDCP, salah satu elemen yang perlu diisi adalah Falsafah Pengajaran.  Dengan kekangan karakter (4000 characters), Dr Nihra ada menyarankan saya “Kalau nak tulis panjang lebar, letak la kat kau punya webometrik.  Kat TESDCP ni nak yang ringkas dan padat je.  Letak URL link webo kat TESDCP tu.”  Saya mengikut saranan beliau sejak tahun lepas ketika mengisi TESDCP saya bagi tahun 2019 dan 2020 (tahun ini).

Part 2_Citra Karisma (Anugerah Webometrics) 2019: I feel cringe

After I replied the email to confirm my attendance as one of the finalists, I didn’t think too much about it.  I started to feel cringe.  So,  only few people know that I would attend the event.  Some even teased me that I would have a sleepless night before the event.

I know some might be perplexed why I cringe to attend such event.  If you can see the picture that they took, my face shows how I feel at that moment.

Friends from the school where I did my Latihan Ikhtisas even know about it.  One of the teachers has a husband who works at UTM.  He gave her the link.  They watched the event at school from FB live.  Eh since when Citra Karisma becomes my school’s event?  I rest my case.  So, how can I not cringe when I got such messages from my friends and students?

Part 1_Citra Karisma (Anugerah Webometrics) 2019: The food is delicious

When I first got the email from the organiser to confirm my attendance to the event, I wanted to decline without any specific concrete reason except “I feel cringe”.  Yup. I don’t like to be in the spotlight.  I know some are looking forward and even create opportunity to be in the spotlight.  Nope.  That is not me.

I revel in being nobody.  Yup.  I am so used of being nobody since childhood.  I was not the straight As student (academically outstanding) nor athletics.  Nope.  None of it.  But I asked one of my seniors that I am close with to get some opinions whether I should go to the event.  She said “Dijah, you need to go or ________________ (fill in the blank)”.  The way she said is like I will be doom to reject such invitation.  It is akin to decline the invitation from Don Corleone (if anyone is wondering who is Don Corleone, as a start, you can find more information HERE).   Seriously?  I never thought that we have Don Corleone at UTM.

I asked another senior.  Her reply “Pergi je la.  Bukan senang nak jumpa Datuk NC.  Nak naik pangkat kena la tonjol muka biar orang pentadbiran universiti kenal” .  Errr…. Meeting Datuk NC and making myself known by the important people is the last thing that I have in my mind.  Nope.

I was not convinced.  So I asked few seniors more including Norah.  Norah said “Dijah, rugi tak pergi.  Makan sedap.  Bukan senang nak dapat UTM belanja makan sedap”  Makan sedap?  It sparks my curiosity:  “What kind of food they will serve us?”.    Yup.  I made my decision based on food.  So shallow, right?

 

 

How to use Jamboard?

One of my friends told me that using Jamboard is easy and we can see students “interact” with each other when they post their ideas.  It is like having a digital mahjung paper.  But in this case, we don’t need a physical paper, but digital “paper” i.e. computer screen.

So, how to use Jamboard?  If you google it, you will find Google Support website. 

But being me, I need some visual (pictures).

1. Log in to your google account (need to do this first).

2. At the board, tap Menu (with the dots),  ""and thenselect Jamboard settings (you need to scroll down a bit).

3. Create or open a jam (the term used for the board is Jam), click the Plus icon (bottom right).

4. On the toolbar (left side), you will see variety of options:

  • Pen
  • Erase
  • Select
  • Sticky note
  • Add image
  • Circle
  • Text box
  • Laser (if you use Google Meet – synchronous session)

5. You may start the task/question that you want to assign the students to work on or answer by using the options available.  As a start, I use Sticky note.

6.  Once you have completed with the task/question, you can share the Jam with your student.  Click SHARE button (the blue button on the top corner – right side).  You may need your students email account to share the Jam with them.

For more information, you may watch a video about Jamboard on Youtube.  I like this video. How to Use Google Jamboard for Remote Teaching

How to change your writing for TESDCP (Self-Assessment and Reflection)?

In the Self-Assessment and Reflection part, there are 4 things that you need to fill in: 1) Goals of student learning, 2) Personal philosophy, 3) Belief and practices of assessment and evaluation, and 4) Self-reflection of teaching development over time

However, you need to make at least 20% change every single year (I know, it might drive you crazy.  But, let’s remain cool, calm and collected).  In my case, what I did is I change only some parts of the previous writing.

For this year, due to COVID-19, I use this sentences to show the 20% difference

“Due to covid-19, even though my teaching philosophy does not change much since last year, I realise that …..

“Due to covid-19 even though the goal of student learning remains the same yet for this year, I emphasise …..

Nothing can be stopped from happening with the Blessing from Allah: Part 3

It has been more than a month since it happened.  At the moment, since the ceiling was replaced yesterday (10 August 2020, Monday), I am starting to do the cleaning process.  Bit by bit.  Yup.  I need to move the old moldy book shelves out (I need to repaint one of the shelves – still can be used as the mold is not that bad).  But the moldy shelve?  Total lost.  The wood is damaged.  It starts to rot.

The smell of rotting wood is what contributes to the current smell of my room.  It will be better sooner or later once I start cleaning.  Alhamdulillah I have Pandanus amaryllifolius  at home.  So, I brought some to my office.  I also bought charcoal and put it inside the office. On top of that, one of my seniors lent me her air ioniser.  I put that as well.  This is my way to get rid of the smell au naturale. 

From the first day since it happened, I try to look at what I can gain from this incident rather than the loss.  It is not about the monetary compensation, but what I can “gain” from this incident is more about what I can do to move on with my life.  There are so many junk that I have been wanting to throw away but I keep on postponing it because I think that I might use it or some of the students have not graduated yet so I need to keep their assignment as evidence.  The incident gives me a valid reason to get rid all of those junks.  Alhamdulillah.  Finally, I am able to get rid of it.  A lot!!!!!

But since that happened, I know that I take quite a long time to start cleaning my room.  For obvious reason, the ceiling has not been replaced.  It is unsafe for me to be in the room, cleaning and whatsnot in which I know there are rodents lurking and overlooking me from the ceiling.  Something might drop from above due to their “movement”.  Well, there are traces of its existence every where.

So, for now, one thing at a time.  Slow but moving.  I will do things according to my pace.

What I like about the current working style?

Previously (before COVID-19), there are many events conducted through face to face like the monthly engagement with Datuk VC.  Now, we use online form such as FB live.  So, at the comfort of my colleague’s office, I can do my work such as writing a post here, finishing a newsletter article and attending (listening) the monthly engagement. 3 in 1.  I like my current working style: online plus physical format. 

Note: Some might wonder why I am still using my colleague’s office but the thing is my office is still not in a suitable condition for me to use it (not for long).  I will need to clean it first, get rid of the weird smell and so many things to be done.  Some might wonder why it takes me so long to clean up my room.  Well,  the ceiling was finally replaced yesterday (10 August 2020, Monday) after more than one month since the unforeseen incident.

This picture was taken on 8 August 2020 (Sunday). Yup. There were more than 10 ceiling plates that need to be replaced. So for safety reason, I don’t even dare to enter my room for long, just in case anything fall from the ceiling (uhuk uhuk.. there might be rodents lurking somewhere).

My to-do list:

1) Get rid of the moldy shelves

2) Get rid of some of the books (I have tried to salvage it.  I sent it for repair.  But it cannot be done.)

3) Shop for new books (I need to replace few books that are not mine too.  I borrow from my friend)

4) Spring clean (I will do it bit by bit)

What to write for the “Reflection” part in your OBE CAR?

What to write in the “Reflection” part in your OBE CAR?  To be honest, it is up to you what to write in this part.  But for me (since I am super lazy to think further), I will summarise what have been highlighted in the CQI for PO and CLO.  This time around, I use the three headings: Analysis of data, Areas for improvement and Action Plan to emphasize my views.

Here is an example from one of the courses that I taught.  Pssttt… if you want to copy-paste my example, it might be considered as plagiarism.   So, it is up to you to remain ethical and uphold your integrity.

Analysis of data:

The students comprised of teachers (primary and secondary school) as well as others (counselors and just recently graduated their bachelor’s degree).  I assigned them with assignments that challenge them to think outside the box.  They were asked to think about an issue related to a topic assigned to them and they have to discuss the issue from relevant perspective using personality psychology theories or models.  However, only some of them are able to relate relevant theories with personality traits.   This can be exemplified through their writing in assignment and final examination (take home examination).

Few of the students are less critical and analytical in explaining the various concepts of personality psychology.  Based on the assignment given to them, in general majority of students are able to explain, investigate and relate personality traits based on personality assessment scores and relevant theories.   Some of the students are able to provide insightful criticisms and evaluation.  Quizzes are given twice.  One of the quizzes is given through ELearning and thus they can take the quiz multiple times (as formative assessment).

Areas of improvement:

Some students are struggling to understand with some concepts such as psychoanalysis and humanistic views of personality traits.  They are not able to differentiate between various theories that explain various personality traits and domains.  This can be exemplified in their quiz and final exam marks.  This could be due to lack of reading since majority of them do not have a textbook (I have suggested the main textbook and other references that that they should refer to for this course).

Action plan:

To assist students to understand the various concepts better, I would encourage them to submit their report draft for feedback that they can use to improve the quality of their report (I have practiced this for several semesters but unfortunately, only few students took the chance to submit their draft for comments).  In addition, I would also encourage them to take any quiz that I assign on the ELearning as a means to self-regulate their learning.  Some of the students requested to have more than one quiz (but only the highest marks will be considered as the final marks for their quiz).  Unfortunately, only few of them took this chance.  So, perhaps, they need extra encouragement to try out the quizzes without feeling too much pressure while attempting it.  In addition, I will encourage or semi-force the students to have a textbook.