~computer lab~

As far as I know, now we can see most of the school in Malaysia had been equipped with computer labs. But the question is how far teacher can maximize the usage of computer labs. It is the matter of how frequent a teacher will bring the pupils to the computer labs for their lesson. Teacher will always afraid to bring the pupils because the pupils might went out of control when they entered the computer lab. But it is important for teacher to realize how helpful a computer lab can be in playing its' crucial role in the part of the learning process.
Computer lab is where the pupils can used the computers and explore the provided software in learning. It is a place where the teacher can make a full use of technology and integrate it in the lesson. We have discussed the important of integrating technology in a lesson and in the computer lab; almost all of technological materials can be access by the teacher. by letting the pupils to have fun playing, exploring, learning and experimenting meaningful learning with computers, the teacher will eventually achieved the objectives of technology integration in the classroom.
There are so much that can be learn by pupils through the use of computers. Educational software is one of the alternatives that can be used so that the learner will able to learn, enjoy and apply their knowledge, all at the same time! Isn’t that great? It can help the teachers too by letting the pupils acquire their own learning and hence can become an independent learner. It is like killing 2 birds with 2 stone!
So, it is important for the teacher to make a full use of the computer lab. This is a good facility provided by the Ministry of Education to help the pupils to learn in a more effective and interactive way. Teacher should not just let the computer lab being abandoned without thinking about the potentials that the pupils can discover when they experienced learning with technology. So, teachers: good luck!

~GameS and Learning...?~

nowadays, some of the kids are obsessed with game. video games, especially like PlayStation, xbox and so on had become one of their best friend, ever. parents often become worried on how these games will affect their children's study or behaviour. it is true that gaming can brings negative effect on the young children but if we try to look it in the positive way, it can stimulate your child learning and cognitive progress. sometimes, games provided imaginary or fantasy situation where the children was playing with their imagination and put themselves inside of the game plan. don't you realize that this will eventually can developed the pupils' imagination and creativity? this is an important element in learning as they will bring that kind of imagination to the classroom and their cognitive process will perform better. we can't stop the children interest by avoiding the children to have their own fun. but limitation should be there so that these kids will not be too carried away about this kind of hobby.
when we talk about game, it is a great tool of teaching strategies to be integrated in the lesson as well. since games are always become one of the major interest for young children, teacher can use this opportunity to use game in any of the stages of the lesson development. eventually, this can help the teacher to find a perfect solution to grab and sustain the pupils' attention span and this will also help the pupils to enjoy the lesson at the same time. when they were having a blast in their learning process, they will feel motivated and interested to learn in order to acquire the knowledge. it is easy for the teacher to prepare games as game board is always the one step solution to it as it can be created easily. teacher can also surf the net and download a lot of game that can used in teaching the young learner. i am sure they will be trill to get their hands on experience by trying and play the game by themselves.. this can promote a healthy environment of learning as the teacher can of course, decrease the pupils' boredom.

for teachers out there, here are some cool sites that you can visit and download any suitable games for your pupils and let make their learning experience, the best that they can ever had!

http://www.esl-kids.com/eslgames/eslgames.html
http://www.marks-english-school.com/games.html
http://www.eslkidstuff.com/gamesmenu.htm

so have fun teaching!!!

here comes the future

yesterday i talked about my opinion regarding the future classroom and today i came across this video about the description how the future classroom would be like. my opinion about the video : the classroom is size is rather too big but the equipment that being portrayed in the video could be happening. each pupils will be provided a laptop or a computer and the classroom is condusive enough. so share your opinions, guys! is this video had answered all of your questions or there are certain things that you think is not necessary to be included in real classroom? or is there anything you would like to add on? come and share your ideas!

future classsroom~_^

this week is where we talk about a future classroom. hmm... of course, for me, classroom in the future is where everything should be technological and advance. the situation will be very different from today's condition of the classroom. it might be more conducive with small amount of pupils in 1 class. But what technology will do for the future schools is a question that many could talk about and we as a teacher will sure have our own opinion on how it should be done. there will be a lot of question that we would like to know about how the future classroom will look like. Would we still have a teacher talking at the front until his or her mouth goes dry and all the poor students will only sit there wondering why they are in that classroom? Does the future classroom mean that every teacher has a laptop and every student has a computer? Does future classroom mean that the teacher will only communicate with the pupils, online without having to go to the classroom? These are some of the questions that come into my mind when imaging the future education location-the classroom.
for me- we can imagine and dream of having a perfect classroom equip with the latest technological gadget of materials. maybe in our time, Smart board is one of the latest invention in classroom teaching materials but who knows in future, Smart board will also become ancient method like what happens to the traditional blackboard in the classroom nowadays. technology will becoming better and better where the invention will become more advance than ever. but will the teacher is up to the challenge? hmm...my worst nightmare when i think about the future is where we as teachers will be no longer needed in the classroom. instead, new and latest inventions such as robots will take over our place. maybe in this era, they had already invented robots and now we can say that robots didn't have any feelings like a real human-being teacher but if one day, they will invented robots with feelings just like a human being, who needs a teacher anymore? then we will lost our job, forever... scary? that's the negative feelings that i have but i know we should think positive, right? anyway, nobody knows what will happen in the future. we can only predict but we don't know about the reality in the future. but for me, as a future teacher, i only hope the very best for my pupils. hopefully in future, pupils will become more productive and successful in their learning process. with that, i rest my case!

~catch the energy ; release the potential~

2ND day of Hari RAya...never fails to update my dearieee blog! hehe... just want to reflect upon on last week's class where Prof Maznah taught us of Fish Philosophy... Fish and philosophy?? kind of funny at first when i think about it. but when Prof told us about what it is actually all about, i was impress and a BIG yes to fish philosophy! she started a class, unexpectedly with all her 'fish friends' all over my friends. luckily i'm not one of those that being targeted. hehe... so the motto of fish philosophy? catch the energy, release the potential... that's deep...
so what is actually FISH philosophy? FISH! is a skill that provides the process, tools and language to generate the skills necessary to design a workplace full of inspiration, creativity and innovation. this is what had been posted by Prof Maznah in Adec. this can be done in the classroom where as a teacher, you can implement this philosophy in the lesson. it will help the pupils to release their full potentials if the teacher was able to generate the lesson as interesting as possible. there are 4 principles in the FISH philosophy : A language that will help improve your culture by using four simple practices – Be There, Play, Make Their Day and Choose Your Attitude.
let me just simplify it according my own understanding regarding these principles. Be there- it is important for a teacher to always 'be there' for their pupils. we have to know their interest, needs and level of proficiency so that we can develop their potential to the fullest. Play- play is where you have some fun with the pupils. let them enjoy the lesson so that they will give their concentration in the lesson. let them play around (but only for your lesson purposes) and having some fun. so it is important for the teacher it self to be as creative as possible in developing teaching materials and activities. Make their day- this is a very important element of teaching process. always make sure that the pupils enjoyed the lesson. this will motivate them to learn. this is where teacher have to know the pupils' interest so that they understand the lesson. it will increase their potential and decrease the feeling of boredom in them. Choose your attitude- it is important for the teacher to apply positive attitude towards teaching so that it will promote positive behaviour of the pupils. if teacher was the one that applying negative behaviour, pupils will lost their respect towards the teacher and therefore, decrease their interest towards the lesson.

so hopefully that we as a future teacher can applied this interesting principles of FISH philosophy in our lesson. we could catch the energy of the pupils by promoting a meaningful learning to them and unleash the pupils' true potential. this will help the pupils to become a better person.

teacher as a teaching aids...??

I’ve found one article that I think is quite useful for us (trainee teachers) to ponder... in our obsession on designing and creating a bombastic teaching materials, we, as a teacher too can become one of the teaching aids? Funny, right? But when I’ve read this article, it makes me realize how to maximize my own potentials... (ehem...), in the teaching process. I believe with an interesting and cheerful attitude of the teacher itself may become as one of the tools in grabbing the pupils' attention, when we first entered the classroom. I still remember in my primary school years (a long long time ago), there's one teacher that i like so much. so every time she entered the class, I will give my full concentration and I having my own quality time even the subject is not that interesting. but the teacher's fun attitude, really make the lesson enjoyable. I wonder if I can be like her someday. hehe... so, to all of my friends, try and read this article. maybe it can be a turning point for you like it did to me!

Although we now live in a high tech world and have access to a variety of teaching aids, there is one aid that is convenient, portable, uses no electricity, can be used effectively in light or dark and is available all the time. Yes, the teacher him or herself! In my experience as a teacher I have discovered that I can involve students more in classroom discussion and activities if I follow certain simple steps.

• Movement

• Use body language

• Eye contact

• Gesture

• Facial expression

• Speech

• Student talk

• Names

Movement Sitting behind a desk or standing on a dais creates a "distance" between the teacher and the students. Try to have an aisle and enough space between the rows so that you can easily reach those at the back. This way you can talk to individual students, allow the shy ones to ask questions quietly without the fear of embarrassment, as well as check their work and help them . Some movement on your side is essential, because it allows the students to focus on you.

• Stepping forward to emphasise a point, small steps towards different sides of the class lets the student feel that the teacher is taking genuine interest in what he or she is saying.

Use body language Your body should be in your control. Hold it in such a way that you look alert and awake. Avoid slumping and sagging. Just as too little movement is boring, too much movement can be a distraction.

• When your posture is erect it puts the you in control of the situation and the students realise this. It also encourages the students subconsciously, to become alert as well. You may notice the lazy ones sitting up and paying more attention to what is happening around them.

Eye contact
Make an effort to keep eyes lively, aware and interested. Move them around to take in everything. Fix them on specific students, but not for so long that they become uncomfortable! Avoid focusing on the worst or best students.

• Knowing that the teacher demands eye contact keeps the students alert. It also gives the teacher a feedback on the impact of what he or she is saying. This is particularly important in large classes, where "distance" between the teacher and learner is greater, and individual attention is more difficult.

• An effective teacher can control class behaviour to a great extent by the expression of his or her eyes.

• Make sure that you make eye contact with each student, so that it seems you are talking to him or her individually.

Gestures
Arms and hands are a very expressive visual aid. They can be used to describe shapes, actions, movements etc. but, remember to keep still while listening to a student . Otherwise the message sent to the student is that he is being long winded or boring.

• Habits such as fiddling with notes and books, playing with pens , key chains, or doodling with chalk on the black board can be both distracting and irritating for the student.

Facial expressions
There's nothing worse than a constant frown, which discourages students from asking questions, feeling free to discuss a problem or coming for help.
A smile can work wonders.

• It encourages the student to participate more actively and dispels the notion that the teacher is over critical.

• Look interested while a student is speaking.

• A smile, a grimace, a curl of the lips, raised eyebrows etc. at appropriate moments will send messages as needed.

• Send positive vibes and cultivate a sympathetic and encouraging expression!

Speech
Have you ever heard yourself speak? Do you know what your voice sounds like to others? A low monotone or a high-pitched voice can be difficult to understand or grating to the ears. Does the sound of your voice send students to sleep or running for earplugs?

• Be critical of yourself. Try taping your voice - listen to yourself. Where are you slipping up?

• Make your own personal checklist:
  • Are you speaking at the right volume?
  • Does the end of your sentence fall so low that students sitting at the back cannot hear?
  • Are you hemming and hawing too much?
  • Are you speaking too fast?

Student talk Break the monotony and give students plenty of time to talk! It will keep them alert. Make small jokes, be friendly. Names Call students by their name. It sounds warmer and friendlier and lessens the distance between the teacher and learner. The teacher is the best teaching aid. Be sure that you are using yourself to the full effect.

the key of success

today's class is about presentation... one representative for each group, presented their smart board developed material in front of the class. the one that is presenting, basically who is the one that create the best material in their group. talking about secret weapons of the group. the best?? some of them have to repair their work after they receive feedback from their friends. positive comments as well as critics on the materials, given by selected group that prof pointed, before the presentation. i enjoyed today's class as their presentation gave me some ideas on how to improve my materials. this is not plagiarism, guys! it's a process of learning...hehe *wink* I'm not the best of my group, of course but still, i am glad because i was given a chance to improve my work! hopefully, i will be able to produce something that is useful and interactive enough to be use d in classroom teaching. hopefully, insyaallah...!