Can perceived parental favoritism affects personality?

Environmental influence does affect one’s personality in one way or another.  The influence can be varied from one individual to another, so different individual might display differences and uniqueness.  

Does parental favoritism affects personality?  Well, if you look at personality traits according to OCEAN, there might be different spectrum of personality traits.  So, some researchers would look at link between one variable to another in a simpler form.  One such study is about perceived parental favoritism and its relation on narcissism.  What do you think?  

Swap challenge

One of my friends linked a video on swap challenge on Youtube.  I find it quite interesting.  I was thinking to do that with another friend.  But I don’t want to burden her to think about the things she should buy for me in exchange of what I give her.  So, I have this weird idea instead.  I asked her office address.  Since she is still doing her PhD, I got some relaxation stuff.  I can’t hardly wait to see her reaction.  

Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP)

Few months ago, my former student who works at Kolej Matrikulasi Pontian messaged me asking for my assistance to prepare an interview for HLP.  It has been a while since he went for the interview.  No news.  So, I messaged him asking if he heard any news about it.  He said that he did not get the scholarship.  He sounded sad.  

I remind him that Allah has the best plan for him.  Perhaps now is not the best time for him to further his study abroad, far away from his mom.  She suffered a minor stroke last year and is still on medication and has to undergo physiotherapy on regular basis.   To leave an ailing mom in Malaysia while you are far away in a foreign country is not easy.  I had been there.  I had decided to quit my PhD after my dad passed away in 2009.  I felt hopeless.   

But, Alhamdulillah, at that time I had my late mom, family and friends who gave me strong supports when I needed it most.   So, I persevered until I finished my PhD in 2012.  I never told this story to any of my students.  But he is the first one to know.  Well, of course I simplify the story because I don’t want him to think too much about the possibility of such thing to happen to him.  

To Z, the best timing will come sooner or later.  I always pray for you to be one of young academicians who will make difference in our future generations lives in Malaysia.  You are one of the gems.  

 

It’s her birthday today

I checked my FB just now.  On the notification, I saw a birthday notification.  It is her birthday.  But she passed away two years ago.  It breaks my heart.  Al-fatihah to Mimi Iznita Iqbal.  Mimi, you are sorely missed by many.  Indeed.  

Cooperative Learning: Student Teams-Achievement Division (STAD)

There are various activities that can be conducted to engage students’ team work and motivation.  In cooperative learning, we can use Student Teams-Achievement Division (STAD) where a small groups of students with different levels of ability work together to accomplish a shared learning goal.  In my case, I combine jigsaw activity with STAD.  So, the instruction that I give for jigsaw activity would also include instruction for STAD.

Cooperative learning: Jigsaw activity

I have done jigsaw activity for my class for several semesters.  At first, I just gave verbal instruction to the students on how to do the jigsaw activity.  But later on, I realise that it is better for me to give the students written instruction that they can refer to.  In this case, they can have a copy of the written instruction so that they refer to it when they want to conduct jigsaw activity in their class when they undergo Teaching Practicum (or after they graduate) for the undergraduate and for PG students who are teachers, they can use this activity in their class as well and they can share it with their colleagues at school through Latihan Dalam Perkhidmatan (LDP).  

So, HERE is the written instruction that I give to students when I do Jigsaw activity in my class.  

Pengsan nak menanda

Pengsan nak menanda.  That was commonly uttered by me when I was undergoing my Latihan Ikhtisas.  I was often frustrated with their English proficiency but what can I say.  They do not like reading even though there is Nilam program and whatsnot in school.  This student will take SPM in few months time.  I don’t know how she will perform in SPM for her English paper.  I hope she would get a better grade than now.