My second attempt using BigBlueButton: SPPP1012/SHPP Educational Psychology

I really need to learn this new thing fast.  I really have to master it well.  These are my aims.  But when the reality starts to hit me hard, I know that there are some of things that are beyond my control: server congestion.

Kudos to CICT and UTMLead teams who work extra hard and go extra miles to make sure that we can use the available platform to conduct our class.  It is not easy to be done.  But everybody is doing their best job

I was starting to get panicky when thing happened like this. I got disconnected.  I had a crash course session with my colleague on using Google Meet.  We experienced some technical glitches.  But, never mind.  We will try again.

I just renewed my Prezi subscription.  I just learn that it has a new feature.  Video presentation with the usual Prezi notes.  Alhamdulillah.  A good news for me.  I have started to learn creating video-slides presentation using Prezi.  I know that it is a new challenge for me.  I know that I might need extra time to learn it well.  But I will not give up.   I am not in a race to get to any finishing line.  I will get it done somehow In sha Allah.   May Allah ease my journey to learn these new things.

First attempt of using BigBlueButton: My experience for MPPU1024 Research Methods in Education

Alhamdulillah.  I did my first online class with lots of technical glitches and whatsnot.  With no video sharing (I learn later on that it is due to restriction that the library imposes on its users) and just audio sharing mode, I just conducted my class.  Just do it!  The technical glitches are due to some unforeseen things.  Well, things happen when we are least expected it, right?

While I was struggling to overcome the technical glitches, some of my colleagues like Dr Narina and Dr Nor Azean tried to help me but there is nothing much can be done when things are just out of our hand.  Kudos to them for giving me support when I (badly) needed one.

I was feeling helpless and when things happened like that, my normal reaction is crying.  Alhamdulillah Dr Narina came with her husband just on time when I just about to shed my tears.  But I guess they can sense it looking at my pale panicky face.

Dr Narina captured some videos of me panicking.   Alhamdulillah, I can’t upload the video here because this webpage does not allow video sharing (tongue in cheek remark!).  But here are some pictures to see me while in action.

I created a feedback form on the elearning.  I told my students don’t hesitate to give their comments even though it is negative.  I know their comments is not attacking me personally but rather giving me valuable information to improve my teaching.

 

I bite my finger when I am in panicky mode. Caught red-handed of doing that
Still in panicky mode but I shifted it by typing some questions on the chat box
Taadaaa!!!!! Even though there were only about 20 students joined the session, but at least it is better than nothing. 20/25 students? Not bad, right?

 

New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI) Active learning: Carousel or Round Robin or Gallery Walk

Carousel or Round Robin or Gallery Walk?  Which is which?

Technique Task Movement from one place to another
Carousel Group Yes
Round Robin Group/pair No (student stays at their own place and takes turn to give ideas in a group)
Gallery Walk Individual Yes

For Carousel and Gallery Walk, it involves movement, discussion, and reflection. But in a Gallery Walk, students independently and move around the room to complete a series of tasks alone.  But in a Carousel, students have to discuss in their own group as they move around the room to complete a series of tasks together with team members.

For Round Robin, basically each member take turn to give ideas in a group.

New Academia Learning Innovation (NALI) Active learning: Using Tarsia

We discussed about teaching and learning approach (pendekatan pengajaran dan pembelajaran).  So, I demonstrated that in one session of teaching and learning, we can combine the elements of teacher-centered approach with student-centered approach and material/activity-centered approach.

In the first hour, I gave a lecture on the types of teaching and learning approach (this an example of teacher centered approach) and later on I did an activity using Tarsia puzzle (this is an example of material/activity-centered approach). Then, in a small group of five students, I gave them a set of Tarsia puzzle and they need to solve the puzzle together.

The concept is similar like peer instruction, but in this case it involves more than two students in which they have to work in group to solve the puzzle (this is an example of student centered approach).   In my class, there are six groups (since I have 31 students in my class).  So, there are six sets of Tarsia puzzle that I have prepared earlier.  Well, I only have to prepare one, make a copy of that and cut the pieces before I give the students to solve the puzzle as an activity in class.

The students were in group to solve the puzzle i.e. Tarsia
Tarsia in the making
A template which I made few copies later on
It works!!!!
My Tarsia pouch

Work balance?

After Latihan Ikhtisas, I aim to have a more manageable work-life balance life style.  Indeed.  In an article that I found, the author describes how as academicians we might fall into the trap of having ideal work-life balance life style, without actually having one when all what we have is in a form of IDEA.  This is not good.  So, I decide to stay firm when I receive ad hoc things that can jeopardise my work-life balance stance.

I got an email to inform that I was selected to be one of the facilitators for this modular course.  The thing is, I have classes every single day.  So, being me who never recycle old notes without making any tweaking or change of the old notes on every single semester, I need time to prepare for my classes.

A senior colleague lamented that she needs me to be one of the facilitators because I am one of the best.  Back in my mind “Whatever” because I know that in our school. we have never lack of any expert in anything.  You name it.  We’ve got it all, y’all.  Some even jack of all trades, but _____________ (fill in the blank).

The thing is, when I used to get a session for this modular course (long time ago), I normally will prepare my own notes.  But at that time, at least I have one day without any class so I can prepare notes for any modular course.  Now, things are different.  But somehow this senior does not get it.   Since I came back from my Latihan Ikhtisas, I have tuition classes almost every weekend.  How about those weekends without tuition class?  I will revise notes/worksheet that I want to use for my tuition class.  So weekends basically is a me time for the things not related to my official work.  Gone are the days when I would prepare modular courses notes on weekend.   It was something that I used to do.  Now, it is different.

Well, it is kind of weird because when I was not around, she could find others to replace me for the sessions.  I just don’t understand why out of nowhere I have become someone “indispensable”.  I must be stupid to be so gullible to believe what she said, right?

I took an action right away.  I never regret with what I did.  Attaboy!

 

BigBlueButton…. oh… BigBlueButton

I attended a workshop on using BigBlueButton last week.  It is very interesting until it dawns to me that I have a large group of students for my UG courses.   But the facilitators assured me that since all of the students will log in at different places, unlike the computer lab, there won’t be any internet glitch.

Suddenly, I remember the student that I had last semester who didn’t own a smartphone.  It makes me to start thinking further “Does this student has a laptop that can be connected to internet/wifi?”  or “What if there is a student like that this semester?”

So I decided to conduct a simple survey to explore this issue especially with regards to the ownership of a smartphone and a laptop/computer which is crucial if I want to use BigBlueButton later on.  It is like I am asking students to write using a pen whereas the students do not have any pen.  We cannot simply assume that students can afford to have smartphone or computer.

On top of that, since BigBlueButton is like Skype, you need a headphone (at least with or without the microphone).  You cannot get a headphone for RM5 to RM10.  Based on my observation on the Free Meal/Market, there was time when 50 pens were taken by students.  It means that 50 students need a pen that to us might cost pittance.   If they cannot afford to buy a pen, what more something like a headphone, smartphone or computer, right?

I met Hadi on my way back to my room.  He also just finished his class.  We talked about this possibility.  He said that he is aware about this too because back in the days when he was the student leader, he knows some students who would give all of their PTPTN loan to the family.  They would do odd jobs to survive at UTM.  Similar scenario is still happening now.

As an instructor, is it fair to conduct an online class where your students do not have the tool to get connected to you?  Anyway, I am still waiting for the students to respond to the survey.  So, until then, I will keep waiting before deciding on the next course of action.

Teambuilding FSSH 2020 – 15 January 2020 (Wednesday)

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) conducted a one-day teambuilding event at Hutan Rekreasi, UTM on 15 January 2020.  We had to park our car at Padang Kawad and there were buses to bring us to Hutan Rekreasi UTM (I only know its existence during this teambuilding.  I have worked at UTM since 2005.  It does show that I am not that athletic type).

We were suggested to bring our own stuff like extra pair of change and whatsnot.  I don’t have sport shoes and a red t shirt.  So, I borrowed them from my sister.  With borrowed shoes and shirt, off I went to this teambuilding without having too much expectation.

Of course, the teambuilding is meant to enhance bonding and whatsnot among us yada yada yada but being someone in her 40s, clearly the activities in this teambuilding were not meant for some of us.  I bear the consequences for the next few days of having my body aching all over.  I used analgesic cream to sooth the throbbing that I felt on my legs.  I clearly feel that I am old.  I am not in my twenties.  I have to admit that.

The camaraderie is clearly something that have to be started somewhere.  Teambuilding event like this clearly a good start to develop that for a long term run.  Kudos to everyone who put the event together.  It was not easy to organise this and for each staff to sacrifice whatever they were doing at that time worth to be noticed.  This event was conducted on 15 January.  Some of us had our last papers on 12 January.  So, it was “the marking season”.  With a short duration to mark (we have to present the marks on 19 January), majority of us made a point to allocate this one whole day for this event.  Some of us did not participate in this event due to medical reasons and others.  One of them said to me that she had slipped disk.  So, climbing uneven routes is not good for her spine.  She said that she wished such event was conducted when she first started working at UTM.

What do I learn from this event? 

  1. Trust and respect are two different things that need to be developed and improved over times.  Teambuilding like this allows others to know each other better but it does not affect much other things.
  2. Each of us needs to make sacrifice now and then but it will always come back to our choice.  We choose to make certain sacrifices and have to be accountable for not making any.
  3. No matter what we do, we need to give our best shots to the best of our ability.  I know that age is catching up so rigorous physical activities are something that I should not overdo.  But I will not give up of not trying at all.

 

Team Magenta…. We were the 2nd runner up