another special entry... M-Learning...

So, what is M-learning?

Well, M-learning is very new to me although I’ve heard of it before. This is because the implementation of it here in Malaysia is very scarce. M-Learning is the use of mobile devices that helps to attain knowledge other that the traditional method of paper and pencil.



M-Learning =

1) Learning takes place anywhere at any time.

2) Learning is done through a technological medium e.g. Mobile phone.

3) No more books and pen.

Today’s younger generation are rapidly attaining technology unlike us a decade ago. But try and ask anyone of them, what they really do with the technology that they have now, especially their mobile phones. A majority will answer, “To text”, “call”. Most of these youths never get the idea of using their mobile phones for instance, for learning.

And honestly, it goes the same for me. But I was raised with the traditional method of learning. This workshop has really open up a new horizon to me in attaining new knowledge. I have a smart phone, but all I do is the same with my old phone, texting and calls. But after this workshop, I started to use my phone to browse get information on topics taught previously and many more.

M-Learning is still new, but I do hope it catches on here in the Malaysian education system.





The Opportunities That You Think May Benefit You As A University Student.



For a varsity student like me, technology is very important as the knowledge moving a little bit faster than usual. It’s not only about books anymore, but the knowledge is available on the digital world. Moreover, the technology that keeps on improving day by day, and there are many apps that are develop to help us in learning. In today’s digital world, think these three item or services is essential, they are:

1) The internet

2) Laptops/Pc’s

3) Mobile phones

Out of all three items, I think mobile phones has a really huge impact if it were not invented in the first place. The evolution of mobile phones and all the apps that if offers to make lives easier are available within a single click of a button. This encourages the growth of M-learning as most mobile phones nowadays offer internet access wherever you want.

Now, what do mobile phones offer in encouraging M-Learning?

First of all, it offers us the luxury of browsing the internet at anytime and anywhere we want. This surely would help us to get the information needed on a certain subject easily rather than going to the library or switching on your laptop before starting to browse for information. Thus, time is saved.

Moreover, I could start taking notes using my mobile phones as it has a pocket Microsoft word application installed, and most phones has a note taking application. So, no more hassle with pen and papers anymore.

I could also now start to Moblog. Moblogging is taking pictures or videos using your mobile phones and uploading it instantly. During the lectures given, the teaching team once asked us to bring a camera along for the class. They then asked us to start taking pictures. Any pictures as it could help us when writing an entry for our googlesite as pictures tells a thousand words. But Moblogging requires some other platform to upload pictures or videos directly. But it’s not that hard.

Lastly, I could stream for videos over in Youtube with my phone. This help me in finding related video to the subject taught or just for me to watch any video during my leisure time that is available. Furthermore, if they were video conferencing done over the internet, this phone would surely enable me to join with the suitable application.

Overall, the topic has opened a new window for me in term of implementing technology into my own learning, and continuing it with my future student.

special entry!

Curriculum~

The challenges that will be faced when implementing the new curriculum is that it is mostly based on ICT. KSSR uses a lot of ICT in the practice of teaching. some might find it as a very good and advance step in implementing ICT since it will make learning more fun with loads of resources to be found on the web. but for others, it might be a burden, especially those in the rural areas. it is not that as if i'm trying to look down on those who lives out of contact of the updated world today, but it's to say that they will need to put an extra hard work since some of pupils or even teachers in the rural areas are not use to using ICT in the teaching and learning session. internet connection is also very scarce in these particular part of the country, so works is needed to be done to provide better internet connections. for those school in rural areas who is by chance is lucky to be equipped computers and so forth, they might not be enough computers to use in schools and some might be outdated. this indirectly will cost the government millions to keep the KSSR real and practical to be implemented.


Another challenge is on the assessment of the pupils should the UPSR be abolished once and for all.

For this new curriculum, UPSR will be abolished in this new curriculum and they will then be assess on their performance since year 1 until year 6. In my opinion, it is very good when they want to start assessing since year 1. This helps them to keep track of the pupils development and achievement over the years and the stress and burden that these young people shoulders will be taken off. I can say this as i've experienced it myself during the days when i was living in the UK. the only major exam that we were going to take was GCSE but I didn't take the exam since i was already back in Malaysia.

The UPSR as far as I can say is to satisfy the parents as they will be very proud if their child gets the most A's and then starts comparing it with their neighbours or anyone else when the fact is that, its their child who had to go through all the troubles going to extra classes and carries those extra heavy textbooks to school. Parents would also be only focusing on their child when they got into standard 6 as its then that their children will take the exams at the end of the school year.

Although abolishing of the UPSR is somewhat a good thing, come thing that still lingers in my mind is that, how do they determines which school that these UPSR graduates will enrolled in. this is because most premier schools in Malaysia uses the UPSR to see whether they are eligible to be enrolled to a particular school. and also, with the UPSR gone, don't you think that the parents will lose interest in the achievement of their children and for teachers, they would lose the needs and interest to teach to the pupils since they will not need to prepare them for any exam and there is no more grades or the schools dignity to be kept high as most of the dignity comes from how good that the schools maintains the result.

Bear that in mind.


What strategies would you propose to overcome those challenges?

Ministry of Education(MOE) should held an ICT course for the teachers that is going to be involved in the implementation of the new curriculum. This helps them to be better equipped and enable them to help and teach other teacher with their expertise in ICT in their school. This will also makes sure that the government doesn't waste the citizens money by having a course for each batch of teachers.

For the places in the rural area, MOE could starts a place where the computer experts could teach the pupils and teachers computing and other ICT skills. All this will ensures that these people will not be lacking these particular skills since the implementation of the new curriculum will be mostly based on ICT and also ensures that all of the targets of the new curriculum is achieved. not to forget that the ministry must develop some kind of assessment that will replace the UPSR but does not mirrors what the UPSR is now.

To sum up, the changes implemented is done with the intention to moves us a step further to be a fully developed country as it will gives the future generation a better education. although the new curriculum is to paste a gaping holes in the current curriculum, it also has its flaw and still has a long way to go to prove its effectiveness. nonetheless, nothing is perfect, but try to take the positive out of everything in life so that you'll have a better one.

Thinking Outside the Box - A Special Entry

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX....THE WHAT??? THE BOX!!!!!!


Thinking outside the box is a helpful state of mind when trying to come up with a solution to a problem. It is a way of looking at something and turning it on it on its head in order to come up with a new answer. The technique of thinking outside the box has been used for many years by businesses and creative types in order to achieve originality. Thinking outside the box can also bring new life to old ideas.



Thinking outside the box is also taking a stand against the normal. Outside the box thinkers are open to new ways of looking at things. They are able to take risks and to look at things from a different perspective. Thinking outside the box does not mean designating the old way of doing things as wrong; it simply means not being afraid to try something that seems different.


Thinking outside the box is like solving a puzzle using an answer no one else has thought of. Using the normal route to a solution is called thinking inside the box and is usually the safest route. To think outside the box, you must be willing to face ridicule and scorn from people who cannot see things from a new perspective. In many cases, thinking outside the box is not an easy option, but some of the most inventive, brilliant and simple ideas have come from people who were willing to take a stand and implement ideas against the advice of others.


Thinking outside the box requires different attributes that include:

* Willingness to take new perspectives to day-to-day work.
* Openness to do different things and to do things differently.
* Focusing on the value of finding new ideas and acting on them.
* Striving to create value in new ways.
* Listening to others.
* Supporting and respecting others when they come up with new ideas.


So:

How Would I Guide My Future Students To Think Outside The Box?



Give freedom/explore




In order to assist the pupils to think outside the box, teacher should gives freedom to the pupils to think and do anything that they want. By letting the pupils to think freely, we are asking the pupils to think for themselves in order to solve something that they have encountered during the process of learning. Moreover, we are letting the pupils’ creativity runs loose which are a great thing for the young learner’s as they are still developing their critical thinking skill. All the teacher needs to do is observe from far and gives some guidance to the pupils should they veer of track. Let the children explore the world and all the possibilities for themselves.




Guidance



When the pupils are thinking creatively and critically outside the box to solve a problem, we as educators should be by their side, giving any guidance should we feel that the pupils are heading towards the wrong direction. Teacher could implement this by asking simple question regarding the topic taught. Remember, do not prompt question that will inevitably gives the answer to the pupils. Next step is to have faith in your pupils that they will be able to solve the problems by themselves. Furthermore if the pupils find it too easy to come out with a solution, challenge them with an even tougher question or problems to be solved. This surely will keep the pupils on their toes to keep thinking for a solution.



Mistake



If you notice that your pupils are making mistake, first of all, let them notice it for themselves. Don’t ever straight away tell the pupils that they are making a mistake. This will dent the pupils’ awareness of the mistakes that they are making and it is not helping the pupils to make mistake. Teacher could tell the pupils prior to giving the task out not to be afraid of making mistake because we learn best from our own mistakes.



Above all, God has given to us human a gift that no other living creatures got…and it is our mind. So we should we thankful and make full use of it because it is a priceless gift that is only given once.