When will it end? Please do something. People are suffering

It was raining heavily at my place in the late afternoon yesterday.  I could not help myself from thinking about my aunt and cousins in Pasir Gudang.  Are they ok?  My aunt decides to stay for a while with one of her daughters at Larkin.  One of my cousins went back to Kluang (to take care of his mom) with his wife and a son. 

But how about the rest of residents who could not have any option to move or stay away from Pasir Gudang area due to various reasons?  From my observation (I am not an expert in this though), the air quality becomes worsen every time there is rain.  I am not blaming the rain.  I am blaming the people who cause this pollution due to their reckless act.  The rain is Allah’s blessing to show how bad things are than it is assumed.  It is bad.  Really bad.  

When they closed the schools last week, it was reported that only 16 schools were ordered to close.  Well, that’s not the case.  The school that I went for my Latihan Ikhtisas also was instructed to be closed.  I hope things are getting better.  

An offer they can’t hardly refuse

I taught them last year when they were form 4 when I did Latihan Ikhtisas.  Now, they are form 5 taking SPM.  Last year, when I offered them an external reward (using operant conditioning principle), only three of them got the reward.  This time around, I also make the same offer.  But, of course, it would be slightly different from last year.

Seeing the empty page with only “Target SPM” written, I bet they are thinking very carefully about it.  I know perhaps all of them are thinking how on earth they can achieve the target that they set for themselves.  I want to instill self-belief in them.  It is not easy to do so but I am doing my best here to help.

I went to school today.  Like what I have expected (based on previous experience), only the girls did the homework that I gave two weeks ago.  How time flies!  The second tuition would be this coming Friday.  Ita asked me what we should bring for them (another external reward).  I was thinking buying the biscuits that I bought for the teachers so they can eat that during the break.  They are 43 students.  So, a packet or two of biscuits won’t be enough for everybody.   Let’s see how it goes.  We plan to do summary activity.  I need to find some examples and make copy for both class.   I guess the SUB printing shop would be opened a bit late since tomorrow, we are going to have gotong-royong.  

What is wrong with me?

I had flu three weeks ago.  Quite bad.  I had stuffy nose and coughing.  My nose was no longer stuffy, but I am still coughing until now.  It is quite alarming because I feel like I am having a short of breath.  I notice this since the only smoker in the house came back from KL.   I don’t know how to approach this matter.  Every body except him has been trying to convince him to stop.  I thought when he went for Hajj two years ago he would stop.  Nope.  He does not stop.  He knows the effect of smoking on second hand smokers.  

I have been thinking about my late mom.  She had trouble with her breathing.  But it did not stop him from smoking either.  Remembering how she held her breath hurts me but what could I do at that time?   How time flies!  It will be two years since my mom passed away.  Al – fatihah to her.  

Help Desk at School of Education

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Academic Integrity: What is it?

What is academic integrity?  Well, there are so many definitions out there but for me, it is simply doing the right thing right as academicians.  There.  Simple definition.  The term was coined by Don McCabe and together with his colleagues propose the 10 principles of academic integrity.

It is a paradoxical situation.  With the yearly KPI and so many things that you need to fulfill (plus your own personal target to climb social ladder etc.), it is not a surprise if some academicians are resorting to “short cuts” and “manipulation”.  But they are the minority.  A minuscule organism in the academia.

I am not saying that we should not do anything about it and just take a stance of “wait-and-see” but it is something that not easy to be tackled.  When my old Durham neighbour said that he would look into the matter of plagiarism and whatsnot carefully, it is something to be applauded.  

Note: I had a bad experience of this in which a junior colleague “took” my class assignment instruction.  The junior thought that it is meant to be used by everybody whereas in fact, I crafted it few years ago (after many cycles of amendment) to be used EXCLUSIVELY for my own class.  This junior did this without having a pinch of remorse.   No action is taken based on what this junior did even though I have evidence of this junior doing that.  So, what can you say about such thing?  Of course, it is neither a journal nor a published work.  But still, it is my idea.  Looking at the definition given by MIT , it resonates with my unique case.

McCabe also published another article about academic integrity.  Please have a look at his article, HERE