FINAL...

At last, the semester is at its end. It has been a lot that i have learn in this course. The bitter sweet experiences throughout completing this course are very hard to be forgotten as learning in this course taught me so many things. It were not just the knowledge but I also understand the meaning of friendship, group work, patient, tolerant, rational and etc. And I think this is also important as part good personality.
In this last post, there are a few questions to be answered. I think this is like a reflection for the whole semester..

1. What they like about blogging.

Blogging is like writing a diary or journal. The most important thing that I like about it is the practice of language. This is one good way of improving my language as the blog should be written in English. Besides, I also can reflect what I learned in the class every week. It make me realize the input that I got through out the lesson. Further more, I also can keep in touch with my friends and read what they write about the class. I also can know what they gain and any problems they encountered and how they solve it. So I know what happen to them and how they feel. We also commenting on each other and share our thoughts.

2. What they do not like about blogging.

Since the blog should has been updated once in a week, there is not much a trouble. So, I don’t really find things that I don’ like about it.

3. What have they gained from blogging eg. Language skills, improved fluency, critical thinking, improved thought processes, technology skills etc.

Since I have not try blogging before, surely this task on blogging not just a mere task for me. Indeed, it is a new skill for me. I explore many things from it where I learn some technology skill of creating own blog, design and decorate my blog. Since what I wrote in the blog is mostly reflective essays, thus it help me improved my critical thinking skills in reflecting back the events that I came across. This also improve my writing skill where I think I begin to love writing now.

4. How?

It gives me a feeling of belonging that I have my own blog which can be visited by anybody. I also can check my understanding by reading my own blog and others as well.

5. what they like about the course

This course offers me a lot of new knowledge that I am sure very important nowadays if we do not want to be left out.

6. what they do not like about the course

There were too many tasks. I know that when we talk about technology, there were endless list of it. But then, learning process should not at one whole only. If it can be put into stages, it should be ok.

7. what they have learnt from the course

There were so many new things such as photo editing, audio editing, video editing, downloading, converting, file storage, softwares, evaluation…

8. what they do not expect but have learnt from the course

-It haven’t across my mind that I will learn all these internet skills and of course they were very useful

9. what they expect but have not learnt from the course.

Actually, at first when looking at the name of the course I imagine the class will be decorated with variety of materials that we prepared. I thought I am going to learn on developing materials such as big book, flash cards, game board etc.

10. if they can change anything about the course, state what it is and explain.

-Send assignments using hard and soft copy – I found it really difficult to download any works since not all of us have internet access and even we have, it takes time. It should be enough to send hard and soft copy.

Everything in this life will come in a package, good and bad. Nothing is perfect. So, even there are certain things that are not liked, the most important is the lesson that i got from this course.

Besides, I pray that all the knowledge that my lecturer delivered to us will be benefited to the fullest and it should not stop here only. We can apply it later and in our daily life. I am pretty sure that we all need these skills....

Last but not least, thank you so much to Pn. Foziah for all the knowlegde she shared with us and her patient in handling us. I really appreciate her effort in teaching us. I also would like to thank to all friends, the cohort3 family for helping me since I am not technology literate. I am so grateful that at least, at the end of this semester, there are some internet skills that i knew compared to the first time I step into Resources class...

So, to all friends, good luck in your exam..wish all of us do excel...STUDY HARD, STUDY SMART...

Thanks to all....

Wassalam....

EXAM????

Alhamdulillah.....the exam is finally ends. For me, this exam was a tough one. May be, this is the first exam in this semester. The last exam I took was last semester. Usually, at IPIK, there were tests throughout the semester at least once before the final one. So, students should always be prepared. But then, I cannot compare the life there and here. Surely every place has own strength and weakness. University's life for me offer challenging path that always offer me a "road not taken". We have to be alert, decide our choice and then go on with what we chose no matter it is.
Back to the exam just now, I realized how important materials are for children in order to assist their learning. This exam really test my whole understanding on what i have learn about preparing materials for children. Besides, it also tests me on applying the understanding. On the other hand, I also realized that this exam taught me to work under stress. There was a question on preparing story board for designing a video. Frankly speaking, exam always affect me psychologically that gives me nerves and mind block. I felt so tense as it was very difficult to get any ideas on that. However, at last, I feel so grateful as I manage to answer the question. Even I was not so sure about the correctness, but that was the what I can did.
Hope and I pray that all of us will excel, not just for this exam, but for the whole of this course and also for the other subjects..Amin...

Children softwares

One factor that we should consider when working with Young Learners is that Children's instinct for play and fun. at their age, they just like to play and have entertainment. Thus, learning should be centered at playing so that they gain the input indirectly.
I wish i know this fact even earlier. Before this, i always mad at my younger brothers and sister if they kept playing games and ignoring their school homework. At that time, I thought games just wasting times. This fact is very important and every parents and teachers or anybody who deal with children should know this because it is crucial for the children's development and improvement.
The introduction to children softwares and games make me realizes how games actually stimulates learning. For example, my group had been given a softwares of a game entitled "Freddie Fish". This game is very entertaining and interactive. There were so many features that i found is meant for children for their cognitive growth as well as social growth. The characters are cartoon that surely catch children's attention as children like cartoon. The learning point that is emphasized in this game is PROBLEM SOLVING. It is indirectly taught while pupils play the game. the player should help Freddie the fish solves his problem by finding some clues.
Such games are useful and worth it to bring into the class. Pupils not just have fun but also learn something indirectly. I will surely introduce this kind of softwares to my younger sister,nephews and nieces. Surely they will enjoy it becasue even me myself was enjoying the game.v(",)V..

assignment 3

Alhamdulillah.....
At last I manage to finish Assignment3. This is the most tougher assignment for this sem, I guess....It took quite a lot time for me to complete it. This assignment really challenging for me in terms of creativity, patient, critical thinking skill, cognitive, child psychology and many more. This is because in order to prepare lesson plans, we have to consider many thinks. we have to foresee how the lesson are going to take place in the classroom. it is not just simply prepare a plan and expecting it to be well carried in the classroom regardless pupils' ability and emotional state.

Furthermore, this is my first time preparing 4 lesson plans one go. I wonder, it might be a tough work for teachers at school to prepare many lesson plans. And I will become one of them....So, this assignment taught me that, to prepare myself with workload. This remind me Malay proverb "Alah bisa tegal biasa".

So, now i am bit relieved the assignment is completed. Hope my lecturer is satisfy with my work.(",)

a thousand miles of journey begin with a single step....

The hari raya week was a break-for-any-assignment-week as I was very busy helping at home. Even my mind can’t put aside all the assignments…but hari raya still hari raya. It is once a year and that was the only time my parents, my 11 siblings and me can meet and be together. It was a priceless time that I always waiting for.
However, during the 3rd night of raya, I begin to switch on my laptop and start cracking my head and pleading to my siblings for any ideas to be contributed for my assignment as assignment 3 require me to prepare 4 lesson plans on topic ‘culture and tradition’. But then, raya mood still all around the air filling the atmosphere….its very difficult to have ideas that time. But then, at last I managed to have a draft of what I am going to do. Even, it was just a skeleton, but I think it should be helping a lot before creating the whole body. “a thousand miles of journey begin with a single step” right?

These words inspired me to start my work. Therefore, I managed to start on with the first two lesson plans. The remaining two I planned to do it after I reach college.
While doing my assignment, I realize one more thing. As I was doing this assignment at home, it was not as the same in college where at college I can focus more on my work. But then, at home, there were another task and chores that should be done where the chores should be done immediately. Thus, it was quite challenging for me. Then, I began to realize that this is the life. In the future, as being a teacher, it will not be only the teaching that I should do. Instead, there will be another task such as curriculum activities or sports day or outdoor competition. These activities should be lead by teacher. Therefore, doing assignments plus with other task teach me how to face the real life later. I began to realize that teacher is not only teaching…..:)

two heads are better than one?

We have been given a pair work where we have to work on Microsoft Office Publisher. There are four tasks to be done individually which are pamphlet, book cover, business card and poster. Newsletter we have to do it in group of six. This is another Microsoft office that I am not yet fully discover it’s used. At first, it seems difficult to use it as I am not familiar with it. But then, after knowing its function, I begin to like it. At least it helps me moving a step ahead fulfilling my dream (just a dream…) where I can promote my product and business via business card, poster, pamphlet and book cover. It feels good preparing all these as I start to imagine my business in the future (pray it will come true…amen..).Besides, this task also develops cooperation among my friends and me as we help each other in the process of learning this tool. It is a great feeling sharing our dreams with each other and planning for our own organization.
One more important thing that I learn is that it is not easy to organize an organization. For example, during completing the newsletter, I feel it was quite tough. We should come out with creative ideas because this newsletter is going to be used to attract other people who read it. It should be something new and eye captured. Then, I realized, that is the used of group work. “Two heads are better than one” right?. How about many heads? It is absolute right. When many heads join together, there will be a lot of, a bundle of, a stack of…ideas…brilliant ideas…fantastic ideas…extravagant ideas…yup. Then, the difficult work can be handled. Group work is good.:)

working with a course book :)

This week we were being explained about the distributions of marks for every assignment. It is very important as we could know what is expected from us. It seems a lot more to do….
Later we had group presentation. My group presented on the topic “Working with a Course book”. I just knew that there were two other groups that did the same topic as my group. So, basically the input was most the same.
“Working with a course book” is a good topic to be discussed as this is the aid that teachers really need in assisting their teaching. Yet, teachers should not put full reliant on this assistant as it make turn the class stiff. What I am trying to say here is that teachers should be flexible. It is not wrong getting an assistant as teachers have a stock of work to do. Course book might help in giving ideas of activities to be done. Thus, teachers need not crack their head thinking what activities to be done. Course book usually serve activities that can be done with pupils. But then, using course book alone without putting ‘life’ to it make the class even robotic. Therefore, teachers should be creative in the sense adapting and adopting the activities prepared in the course book and make it realistic to pupils. For instance, in the course book the activities might require pupils to read in pair these sentences:
Pupil 1: What is your name?
Pupil 2: My name is Ahmad
Pupil 1: What is your age?
Pupil 2: I am 9 years old.
Instead, teacher may make this activity realistic. For instance, teacher asks all pupils to mix around and ask their friends a few listed questions. Such activity requires pupils to move around and find friends instead of just sit and read from the book.
Furthermore, before choosing any course book, teachers should consider a few things such as the coverage of topic, suitability of activities, pupils’ interest and also prices. These factors help in contributing to the effectiveness of the course book to certain target group of pupils.
Last but not least, I would like to stress that course book actually do help teachers a lot as teachers sometime might face ‘thinking block’ due to lot of work. Course book can be a good best friend as long as teachers know how to manipulate it wisely.

devising resources for teaching the four language skills

Another task to be done… Devising Resources for Teaching the Four Language Skills. I chose Reading skill. This task actually brings back the memory lane at IPIK. During Year 2, during semester 1 we took speaking and listening while during semester 2 we took reading and writing skills course. It was quite same as our lecturers there also encouraged integrating ICT in our lesson. It just different in the sense that during those times, we still allowed to use traditional method and lecturers also combine both materials, traditional and technology based materials. But now, our concentration is basically on integrating internet skills, photo editing, video editing and audio editing. For me, both are very important as I can learn two things for the same topic. It means when I am going to teach later, I know the various sources of materials can be used to assist my lesson. In fact, this 4 skills task actually the application of all the skills that have been learnt from the beginning of this semester. It just that we have to be more focused on to teach specific skills.
I was not facing any major problem during the completion of this task. I really use at the fullest all the skill I know. For instance, photo editing, audio editing and e-book. Frankly speaking, I can feel the difference when completing the tasks given by my lecturer. At the beginning of the semester, I really got headache learning all the internet skills as I was not techno literate. But now, I can use most of the learnt skills even I still face problems some time. But then, I am grateful as my friends all not reluctant to share what they know. It was a good experience. But, I can’t deny that each time learning new things, I have to struggle as I am too slow learning in this area.huhu...

the start of something new...

This is the first week after the break. The expectation for the second half semester seems more demanding as all the skills learned should be applied here and then. Most importantly, this time we are going to focus more on the producing of teaching aids, specifically relate to the curriculum. This is quite tough for me as careful plan and preparation should be done. Plus, creativity also comes in as to catch pupils’ interest, my future major regular customers. Besides, this week, our lecturer still was sharing some more skills that can be integrated into the teaching materials. For instance, easy gif animator and gickr.com. This website actually useful for teachers, not only the public people as teachers can manipulate it to make teaching aids. For example, teachers can use it to teach vocabulary.

This week also we were given one more task and assignment 2. The task I do in pair. We have to create an e-book for primary pupils. My pair and I decided to choose topic ‘Clothes’. Now, we are struggling to finish it. At this moment, it already 80% finish and we will do final touch after this. Actually, we burnt the midnight oil to finish it. Can’t wait to see the final product. Throughout the process, we try to use ‘gikcr’ but then, we failed to save it. Still do not know how to fail it. Our friends also face the same problems. Thus, we just use adobe photoshop and powerpoint presentation.

From my opinion, the skill of creating e-book should be acquired by all teachers especially primary school teachers. We know that children like to hear story and to tell story. Thus, e-book can be a good stimulus for them as teachers can create own interactive yet suit with the learners. As what we have learnt, the teachers know their pupils better. There fore, it is good if teacher can create own e-book that relates and suitable with the learners learning styles and cognitive, physical and social growth.

After this, we will start working on our Assignment 2 which is teaching resources. It seems difficult for me. But, I will try my best and apply what have been learned before.

pairwork

This was something that really taught me about learning. Exploring what had been taught about the theory by lecturer, applying what had been explored, sharing information and last but not least distant learning. Frankly speaking, all these factors are very important in moulding participative learner. Instead of just sitting on the chair and waiting for the lecturer to spoon feed, this kind of learning for me is more effective as I learn a lot by exploring what the lecturer had gave in class. For me, this is the best way to master technology skills as it acquires self experience and self exploration. By experiencing by myself, I learn a lot and remember better.
Ermmm…I really grateful and thank a lot to my business partner, Siti Suhaili for the wonderful cooperation she gave. I think, this was the first time we become partner and we did work well. Even we stayed far away; this was the time distant learning being incorporated in our learning. Luckily both of us had internet connection at home and it made our work easier. But then, “life without problems is dull”. Yet we still faced some problems. At first Su’s internet connection broke down but then can be repaired. We felt quite released then. However, our journey to complete the video clip was tested again as my internet connection suddenly broke down. It happened just two days before the due date where these last two days are very important as we want to combine our work. Thus, I end up went to cyber café. At last, we managed to upload the complete video as ordered. It was a great relieve!
So, I would like to invite all of you to watch our video at youtube entitled “Let’s Jalan-jalan Cari Makan with Sue and Lieza”. Really hope you enjoy it. Surely it will make you all hungry….:)

sorry my group members.....

It was quite a hectic week as it is going to be holiday. Even my soul already at my hometown. But then, work is still work…study is still study…there are two tasks that have to be completed which I do not know how much I can strive for it.sigh….but I will try my best as this is the nature of learning and being a university student. For me, video editing is quite tough compared to previous editing task. It is because video editing I think more complicated as it combined the audio, the text etc..as for my group, we have to edit episode 1 of So You Think You Can Dance. It was quite difficult for us because we were not so sure what part to edit as it was the highlight episode where there was no performance yet. Thus, we decided to just make it a video of chronology starting from the audition, top 40, top 20, boot camp etc. it was a challenging work as we had to complete it within 2 days because on Thursday it was already holiday, it was impossible for us to complete later as each of us stay far away. On the way to complete it and when the time we almost complete the video editing, I have done a big mistake where I accidentally delete the file.huhu…it was already 12 and I have class at 2.no! But, what to do. I have to redo it as it was my group’s work and I ruin it. Really sorry my group members…..but all my group members are very good as they did not blame me even it clearly my fault. But then, all of us sit together and do this thing together. This is the real teamwork! We support each other and finally we had completed the task. Thank God…really grateful… and now, I am struggling to finish my pair work with su.Gambate!!!!!

5th August 08

Salam…
Today is the start of new topic again which is audio editing. I am going to fall in love with this subject as so many things I have learned here especially photo editing as it is what I really want to learn. And now, I now how to do it. Yet, still many explorations should be done. As the starting point of this new topic, Mdm Foziah let us hear a song which is has some distraction. At first I wondering, is this her favourite sing? But why, the track is distracted by some noise? Or, is she played the song to calm all of us? All these questions triggered my mind at first time. But then, when she played again the song with edited version where there was no more distraction, I realized that this is the audio editing. She was actually showing us the differentiation between before the audio editing and after. And this is the reason why we have to edit audio, to listen to our favourite music without distraction. So, our next task is to edit any music so that it become a “ear catching” music….give pleasure to those who listen…. And now, I am struggling to find the music to be edited.duh…. by the way, this is the learning process rite? :)

e-book

E-book is another resource that is useful and applicable to be used in classroom. In groups of five, we have to create our own e-book based on the topic in the text book. My group has chose year4 topic which is ‘more stories’. Now, we are still working towards searching for a suitable story to be used. I just realize that there are so many many many resources that can be found for teachers to design teaching materials. And at this part, the photo editing skill comes too. This skill is so important that I think it is really needed to avoid ‘static’ or ‘not so nice pictures’. Actually, young learners really captivated with these kinds of learning materials. At this stage the full use of their senses are important as they will be alert with things that activate their sense. With the creation of e-book, I think it will be more interesting for the pupils compared to usual story books. This is also a good step to encourage and sharpen their reading habit. Before, I just look this e-book in internet, and now I am learning to produce it. Surely, I am really excited.

photo editing

It was an awesome day where I learn photo editing. Before, I just admired and wish that I can edit photo that I like to make it more interesting but now I am learning it. Pn Fouziah showed us tutorial of photo editing and some fantastic examples of photos that had been edited. I wish I could do that also…..And now, during the weekend I already downloaded some software related with the photo editing. For instance, ‘Photo manager’, ‘Lightbox Image Editor’ and ‘Adobe photoshope’. Of course I am exploring all those software so that I know how far they can help me in producing marvelous fantastic pictures….a picture means thousand words and with photo editing skill, a picture means trillion words. Even though I had had some difficulty during the exploration, I managed to get help from my friends and we explore the skills together in order to be skillful in editing photo. It is not just editing photos per say, rather I look this skill as an opportunity for teacher to be (like me) to design quality teaching materials. Usually, materials that we found might not suit with our teaching objectives or rather not really captivating for our learners. Thus, this is where the skill of photo editing is needed. Teachers have to be more creative in designing teaching materials so that the lesson could be meaningful to the learners. There are a lot of resources for teaching materials that are waiting to be discovered. So teachers, use the resources wisely.

children's ability to grasp meaning

This week we were given assignment3. It was quite a hectic week for me as my group and me still in the process of completing our assignment2. However, I was quite relief as mdm Fouziah offer help if we have problem with it and also to assure we are on the right track. Besides the assignment, we were having a presentation on “Children’s ability to grasp meaning”. For me, this topic is the most important knowledge for teachers as well teacher to be to as they are going to deal with children. It is very crucial to know how children understand what they learn as teachers can use this knowledge in preparing and designing teaching materials and activities. For me, if we want to entertain and catch attention from somebody, we have to know that person first. The interest and the ability….thus, for teachers keep in mind that children grasp meaning through repetitive, routine, familiar, concrete, colourful and use a lot of their senses…

new technovocab...

‘lime wires’, ‘Ares’ ‘metacafe’, ‘syok.org’, ‘freddifish ‘flickr’, ‘keepvid’….this week technology vocab! That’s all what I expect to learn as soon as possible. It was quite frustating sitting in a class where I felt left out. :(…but I still have the courage to keep on learning. By the way, learning is ongoing process right? The far we go, more things we don’t know.
This week we were already in our group. And surely we were given the first assignment!
It seems difficult for me to find teaching materials from internet sources. It was because I have very limited knowledge on it. But, my group members and I had discussed what we are going to do for our assignment.
So, our project is still on progress. Each of the members is looking for any resources that can be used. I also is now searching for any pictures and songs that can be used.
I am now also is experimenting with the internet resources so that I know more about that. :)

the first time...

the first time...The first time entered "Using and developing resources for esl classroom" class really gave me a shock…a culture shock in terms that I have to cope with the culture of IT. And frankly speaking I felt this course is going to be a tough course for me. However, I am looking forward to learn more and be IT literate . Actually, I am interested to know about IT since this is the era and to cope with latest and up to date information and skills. But,any way, I believe technology makes our life easier and closer to the other world. really hope can learn from the lecturer and friendss.....