Action research

I did a quick analysis on the students’ answers for SPPP1012 Educational Psychology.  I notice that some of them do not able to answer some of the questions well.  Unfortunately, it does not necessarily related to psychological theories.  

For example, one of the questions asked about a specific type of research that teachers conduct to improve their teaching.  It is a straight-forward question.  The answer is Action Research. Even though action research involves pre and post test assessment (looks like experimental research) yet due to the purpose of research is to improve one’s teaching practice, this type of research is considered as action research.  However, some students fail to see this unique characteristic that differentiate  action research from experimental research.  

For action research, unlike experimental research, it also involves teacher’s daily planning in which any teaching technique used will be carefully planned, implemented, recorded (through observation etc.) and analysed.  Then, there will be adjustment of the technique if need arises.  For experimental research, there is no adjustment of the technique used based on whatever need arises.  Thus, in action research teachers are required to reflect on the activities that they have planned and implemented.  

What kind of need arises? 

For example, some students might have difficulty to understand certain concept when you use certain techniques in class.  So, what should you do?   In this case, you need to closely monitor any change or challenge that students might face while you are implementing certain technique in class.  You don’t do this if you conduct your research using experimental research.  Because the aim of experimental research is to look at the end product (it could be students performance) of a process i.e. experiment.  But for action research, the aim is not only on students performance, but also on the process of learning itself (what students experience in class when teacher uses certain technique).  

For this matter, action research involves cyclical process.  For experimental research, there is no cyclical process involved.  There is no reflection/evaluation phase unlike action research.   

Always remember:

Action research = improvement of one’e teaching and students’ learning experience.  

 

Recycle baju kurung for raya? Normal

 

This was my last raya in Durham.  The year is 2010.   When I went to Durham, I only brought one baju kurung.   Since then, I never had any baju kurung for raya.  It is not that I don’t celebrate Eid.  It is just that I feel that it is ok to wear any baju kurung or jubah that I already have.  Sometimes I buy new baju kurung during “off season”, not during raya season.  My policy is, as long as I never take any raya picture with that baju kurung, I can wear it for any raya.  😀 

From left: Lutfi, Kam, Me, Amalina, Fiqah and Hafiz.

 

Eid: Diet went wrong and ……

Eid is one of the times when I find it difficult to maintain “healthy” diet.  Well, it is all about self-discipline, one might say.  But to stay away from overeating is challenging itself unless you don’t go visiting one another – which is the tradition of raya in Malaysia.   

This year around, I don’t know how it might be different from last year.  But one thing for sure, it will be less merrier than when I still have both of my parents.

Eid without my parents

My dad passed away in 2009.  It has been 10 years I celebrate Eid without him.  My mom passed away in 2017.  This year will be my second year celebrating Eid without her.  Since her passing, Eid is not the same.  I don’t have any baju kurung or things that I normally do since she passed away.  It is difficult to keep certain traditions when she was no longer around.  There are times when I feel that I don’t want to spring clean the house even though I know that there will be guests coming etc.  

I started my Eid break today whereas many of my colleagues have started their break since yesterday.   I don’t know why I feel different and I have this feeling since last year.  I know that it is not easy to deal with this alone.  So, I am grateful that I still have my siblings to celebrate the Eid together.   

Once upon a time, a neighbour of mine….

I have known him since I was in Durham.  A former neighbour.  He stayed at 21 Steavenson Street and I stayed at 60 Steavenson Street, Bowburn.   He is someone who has this charismatic qualities that I have seen when I was in Durham.  

When there was a little incident involving one of my housemates, he called for a meeting to discuss the matter.  Alhamdulillah, things were not blown out of proportion.  Well, I appreciate his concerns but the things involved my household thingy so I declined their offer to help me to sort things out.  

As I read the article about him on the newspaper, I know that it is not easy to hold a position like his and I can see that he is trying his very best to make sure that the education system will change for the better during his term in the office.  

All the best, my former neighbour!  In sha Allah you make us Dunelms proud with your achievement!

Rate my professors_Part 2

Calvin: “Here’s the latest poll on your performance as dad. Your approval rating is pretty low, I’m afraid.”

Dad: “That’s because there’s not necessarily any connection between what’s good and what’s popular. I do what’s right, not what gets approval.”

Calvin: “You’ll never keep the job with that attitude.”

Dad: “If someone else offers to do it, let me know.”

–Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson, February 13, 1994

As an instructor, I find myself always in a dilemma: to teach my students the right thing right or to teach my students what are considered as right depending on situation.  Right will be right no matter the situation is.  That should be the case.  But the reality is not like that.  We deal with lots of “grey” matter.

But when it comes to teaching, students’ rating do not related to how effective one’s teaching.  So, one of my seniors once said “Dijah, jangan fikir sangat kalau dapat komen teruk dari pelajar ni.  Diorang ni kalau tak suka kita, dia komen la macam-macam.  Cuba Dijah belanja dia makan-makan, ajak lepak sama-sama, diorang tak kasi la komen teruk macam ni [Translated: Dijah, don’t think too much about it if you got such comments from students.  If they dislike you, they would give bad comments.  If you treat them, hang out together, they won’t give such comments”]”.  That becomes my stance until now about UTM ePPP.  

A study has shown that even though those teachers/instructors who got the highest rating are perceived as the one who contribute the most to learning, but those who got lower rating are the one who are most effective in their teaching.  It is ironic, isn’t it?  Which is which? Do you want those so really good in teaching or those who perceived as “influencer” in one’s learning experience?

Of course, it would be better if we can have teachers/instructors who are excellent in teaching and at the same time contribute the most to learning.  It is not impossible but it takes time and lots of efforts for the teachers’ parts to consciously improve their teaching (this could be time consuming).  If teachers are bogged down with so many roles and responsibilities, teaching would lose its importance.   It can be seen in academia where teaching is not a core business of some instructors who focus more on research and publication, rather than teaching (unless these people focus on doing Scholarship of Teaching and Learning or SOTL).  

Well, at the end of the day, it is all back to the question of why do we choose this profession i.e. teaching.  One thing for sure, teaching won’t make us billionaires but many teachers have played their parts to nurture billionaires.  Indeed.  

 

Rate my professors_Part 1

I know that in the US, they also have similar practice like eppp, but unlike eppp which is internally controlled i.e. by UTM, there are some which are not controlled by any institution.   They have different websites which are independent from any institution such as RateMyProfessor, MyEdu.com and UniYu.  But, I have been wondering the effects of such evaluation on many aspects such as improvement of learning experience for future students.  

I have experienced getting not-so-good comments from students because I am strict and assertive.  For example, there are times when I would no longer accept any draft that students send for feedback/comments after certain deadline.  But some students perceive this as tyrannical.  It is as if I am not giving them ample chance to improve their work.  Well, if they send their draft on week 14, a week before their final exam on week 15, when do you think they will submit the “real” assignment?  Week 16?  It will be too late for me to finalise their marks.   Don’t they get it?  I also work based on deadlines.  It is not that I set the deadline based on my whims and fancies.  

Normally, those students who give bad rating and evaluations are not-so-serious students.  Serious studious students would appreciate having instructors who are willing to guide them within certain time frames because they have discipline and able to regulate their learning process.  Students who don’t belong to this category like easy things or prefer if you don’t give “challenging” assignments. 

What a heck!  They are not kindergartners nor school kids.  They are university students who should be mentally prepared to face the challenges of the world and life in general.  We don’t need softies strawberry cotton candy individuals who cannot withstand any challenge or problems.  We have lots of problems and challenges to face and we need to have endurance to withstand anything that might come in our life.  

So, what should we do with the evaluations that students give?  Well, I found an article which explains in detailed how we should use whatever comments that students give with “wisdom”.  There are also research on this.   That’s I will explain in the next post.

 

 

 

Is this a scam?

I got this email from a student claiming as my supervisee.  I never heard his name and I have never received an appointment letter which states him as my student.  Should I reply?  I have been thinking about it for about a day.  Nay.  I will not reply.  It sounds dubious.  A kind of cheesy asking me to pray for his financial clearance.  That’s a red flag.  Overly affectionate towards someone that you don’t know.  Is this a love scam?  There are so many types of scam nowadays.  From Macau to Love scam, I should be more vigilant and be extra careful.  

UTM Open Day