Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The End of the Journey...

Finally this course has come to an end not only for this course but all the courses for this semester. I fell so relieved because there are no more assignments and tasks need to be completed. As the time goes by, I can reflect that there are many things has happened during this course. There are bittersweet memories in completing the assignments and tasks with all of my friends. I have learnt lots from this course.

1. What I like about blogging

First of all, blogging is the place where we can express our thought, feeling and make reflection about anything. That is the main reason I like about blogging. In addition, through blogging, I can share my opinion and ideas with my friends. We can discuss about something that we do not know I also can get new useful information from my friends about new software or anything regarding this course. Indirectly, blogging also improve my communication skills as this is one of the medium to communicate with others. Since this is the first time that I used blogging. I think blogging is a good medium to express thought and ideas and share with others.

2. What I do not like about blogging

This is an educational blog, so it is quite formal. So, I can not express my true feelings that come from the bottom of my heart. I need to write educational reflections and thoughts. This limitation became something that is quite boring because there is no leisure in blogging.

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

Personally, I think I have gained lots through blogging. My language skill has little bit improved as I can practise my writing skill in order to reflect about everything that has been learnt in the class through this blog. In my opinion, I have develop my critical thinking a lot as I need to think critically before I can write my reflection after the lesson in the class. Then, sharing opinions and ideas with friends also make me gained my critical thinking. But there are the times when I can’t apply my higher order thinking skill because my mind has been block with something else. And the most importantly, blogging has improved my technology skills as I have learnt lots about technology became more technology literate.

4. How?

I think maybe by sharing opinions and thoughts. In addition, we reflection on the topic learnt need to considered many aspects and this will enhance or promote critical thinking. There is lots of writing and this will practice language skills in writing.

5. What they like about the course

This course has make me became a technology literate person as everything is done using technology. By hook or by crook, I must equip myself with the knowledge and skills of technology as we all know that technology has been integrated in the teaching and learning process nowadays. This course is really prepared me to become a good teacher in future.

6. What they do not like about the course

There are too many things should be learnt and completed at the same time. Actually, I am not a techno savvy person and I need to learn more after new skills such as photo editing, video editing have been introduced. But the time constraint sometimes made me stress in learning this course. But, this is the real live as a student.

7. What they have learnt from the course

Technology skills such as photo editing, video editing, audio editing and creating e-book and also create a video. I can create my own personal video too in order to practice the knowledge gained. Besides, there are many soft wares have been introduced and I can explored it.

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

I thought this course will teach us on how to use and develop materials in many ways both traditionally and using technology. But, actually it is really integrate the use of technology in producing the materials or teaching aids. However, it is really helpful for me as I gained lots of knowledge and skills in this course.

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

I expected that we can learn how to develop non-technology materials too such as create a story book, puppets, and etc. but, as I said earlier, all the materials that has been developed mostly is using technology.

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

If I can change anything about this course, firstly I want to minimize the amount of tasks that has been given to us. There are many tasks needs to do plus with the assignments that are quite though for me. In addition, I want the rubrics for the assignments or tasks is given in written form too because it is more rigid and I can referred it to fulfil the requirements of the assignments or tasks. I also not satisfied with the requirements to send the tasks and tutorials to different place such as emails, Adec and 4shared. This is because it is really make me confused. I also felt that it is such as useless and waste of time. Maybe next time, just send all the task in one place and hopefully this will make student clearer and not confused.

To put in a nutshell, actually this is not the end of the journey. It is just an experienced that i get along the journey. The journey is very long to be reach. However, I am satisfied with the overall performance in his course. I have gained so many things from this course. Lots of thanks to the lecturer because you has given me lots of inputs and useful knowledge in preparing me to be a better teacher in future. I also want to say thank you to all of my friends for helping me in the process of learning. Without your cooperation, I might have trouble to go through it. Thank you… love you all…

test.. the end of the journey?

Test….

I thought I will end this journey with flying colours. But, this test has make me upset because I can’t perform well in the test. I don’t know how to answer as there are no clues or hints are given before the test. I just write what I know and what I can remember. I did not satisfy with my answers. If I could do it again, I will try my best. But, it is just a hope.

I have done my best by putting all the efforts while completing the test. Now, what is the best thing to do is to pray so that the lecturer can accept my answers. So, I will pass this course successfully.

I don’t want to think about it anymore. It is just one of the memory for this course. What can I said about the test.. It is tough and I am really upset because I can't do well in the test. i just hope i will pass this paper.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

software for ELT

There are various types of soft wares that can be used to teach young learners in the classroom. Some examples of the soft wares are games, publisher and CRAYON. All these kind of soft wares are very benefit as all of them can be used in the teaching and learning process for primary pupils.

Games is one of the popular soft ware that always been used in conducting the lesson. There are many online games that can be getting in the internet. All these games are very good because young learners will be more attracted to learn using the games. They might not acquire the knowledge on the spot but they have the capacity to acquire knowledge indirectly. When they have fun engaging in the games, they also can absorb some useful input. That is also called a learning process.

Honestly, I am not familiar with other soft ware but there are many resources to get them. For example when madam Foziah brought some soft wares into the class, all of us get excited to try it. Unfortunately, most of the soft wares cannot be used. Some of them are very attractive and interesting and I am sure it also can attract pupils to try it too.

Asignment 3

Assignment 3 is just like what I imagine before this. It is the toughest assignment and there are lots of thinking and efforts need to be put in order to completed this assignment. The four skills task before this is really helpful for me in order to complete this assignment. It can be guidance for me as I can refer to it on how to do all the four skills to be taught in the classroom.

The requirement of this task is to design a lesson plan for each skill with the materials and also tutorials. There are many things to be done because this is an individual work. Everything must be done on my own.

I have got the topic “Beautiful Malaysia” which is to be taught for year 3 pupils. First thing I do is bought the text book in order to make a reference on what should I put in order to teach the content of the topic. Then, I apply all the skills that have been learnt before this to search, download, create, and develop the resources and materials for the whole lesson.

For listening skill, I have used recording tape as a teaching aid. For speaking skill I have used video as a material to be presented in the classroom. Video can offer many ideas to be a teaching aid in order to provoke pupils to talk in the class. Then, I created an e-book in order to teach pupils reading skill. And for the last skill which is writing, I used video and e-book.

I think I have put many efforts to complete this task. I also have applied all the knowledge and the skills in developing the materials for ESL classroom. At this point, I realized that all the knowledge that I have gained are very useful and give benefits to me not just for this task but also good in future as teacher.

In conclusion, became a technology wise person is very beneficial to that person because we can apply all the skills in developing the materials for ESL classroom learning process. Thank to god this asignment is done successfully.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

...Authentic Materials...

With the integration of advance technology in this new modern era, is it authentic materials still play important role in the teaching and learning process nowadays? Erm... It will be a big question to me.. But, in my opinion, authentic materials still can be used as teaching aids for teaching and learning process. the reason is because sometime we cannot rely on the technology for all the time. There are some time that pupils also want to enjoy the lesson with the used of authentic materials.

The definition of authentic materials from Peacock (1997): materials that have been produced to fulfill some social purpose in the language community. There are many link to read more about this topic. read about the advantage, disadvantages and also some example of authentic materials. Here are the links:

http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/authenticmaterials.html

http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Kelly-Authentic.html

http://www.eslbase.com/articles/authentic-materials.asp

Let us read together to get more information that is very useful as a future teacher...