weekly report week 5 (13-feb-07)

a) Today I learn

On the 5th week, during the 1st session of the class, we were being brief and reminded about the 3 assignment; the Web Blogg continuous assignment, IWB Application assignment, and computer lab management assignment. The web blogg assignement should be done continuously every week after a class is done. Each and every activity in the class should be reflected in the blogg in the form of weekly report. For the next assignment, each group should prepare 2 mathematics subject and 2 english subject to be presented with IWB application. For the new assignment, each group must prepare 3 slides on the management of computer lab as well as how to arrange the structure in the computer lab in school.
After that, we were being introduced to the smart notebook software that is use together with the IWBs for Mathematics and English for primary school. This topic is mostly an advance application of IWB compare to the one we already know during the 2nd week lecture session. The example shown was highly interactive and engaging us. For sure the secondary and primary level students will be more interested in the materials, especially the way it is being presented. This will enhance the students understanding on the topics being taught besides engaging them to concentrate during the class. Furthermore, IWB will enhance critical thinking among student and increase the desire to learn because IWB make the situation in the class becomes more interesting.
The IWB session was very interesting whereby each group represented by 1 member called in front to hands on the IWB acting as real primary students in the primary school situation. Besides that, a lot of new functions of IWB are being introduced which for sure will engage the student to what is being taught in the class. Then, we were introduce to the Management of Computer Lab, this is very important for us just in case if we are assign to be person in charge of taking care of the computer lab in the school in the future. During this session, we learn that, the computer lab must be structure after considering several factors such as safety, convenient, security, maintenance, ventilation and so on. 3 group were selected to suggest the layout of a computer lab in using the IWB during this session, the 3 group were Fivestar, Moon and StarUM. StarUM was showing the layout of the computer lab in school nowadays whereby the wiring is installed under the floor. Fivestar and Moon group were showing a much improve layout considering many factors.

Then, each group were given and assignment on three topics about computer lab management;
Suggest a layout for a computer lab (3 group)
Activity that can be done in a computer lab (3 Group)
How to utilize the computer lab by promoting interesting activity that can be done involving the computer lab. (3 Group)

Our group was assign to discuss on assignment 1 which will be presented after Chinese New Year. This assignment must be done in 3 slides only which must include the layout and the rational of selecting a particular layout. Then, each group was given a 30 minutes to discuss in group the assignment given before the class is finish.



b) Today I question

What is the best layout for a computer lab in primary school or secondary school?

c) Your initiative to find more information on the topics discussed in the class

I search suggested layout of a computer lab in the internet and compare its advantage to find out which one is the best to be implement in schools nowadays. There were a lot of designs which are available to be selected that can benefit users of the computer lab in many ways.

weekly report for week 4 - 06feb2007

a) Today I learn

On the 4th week, we are ask to present the few topic regarding the smart school, latest hardware, webpage and standalone software use in the teaching and learning process nowadays in classroom. Each group is required to present a topic whereby 1 topic will be presented by more than 1 group. Below are the required outputs from each topic from each group:

1) Sekolah Bestari (2 Kumpulan)
Nota: Para pelajar diminta untuk mencari maklumat mengenai:
a)Apa itu sekolah bestari?
b) Apa ciri-ciri Sekolah Bestari.
c)Dan maklumat-maklumat yang berkaitan.

2) Perkakasan yang terkini dan boleh digunakan dalam bilik darjah untuk proses P&P (2 Kumpulan)
Nota: Para pelajar diminta untuk mencari maklumat mengenai:
a) Apa nama perkakasan yang terkini yang dipilih?
b) Bagaimana kegunaannya?
c) Dan maklumat-maklumat yang berkaitan.

3) Perisian yang terkini dan boleh digunakan dalam bilik darjah untuk proses P&P
i) Standalone software (2 Kumpulan)
ii) Web-base software (2 Kumpulan)
Nota: Para pelajar diminta untuk mencari maklumat mengenai:
a) Apa nama perisian terkini yang dipilih?
b) Apakah kegunaannya?
c) Dan maklumat-maklumat yang berkaitan.

Each group was given a chance to present their topic within 15 minutes, the presentation was going on well with every group able to present their topic using the Interactive White Board (IWBs). This is very important so that each person will be able to apply the skills in the future when they teach in the real class situation. They sequence of group presentation are as below:

1. Group: Star UM; Topic: Hardware – Interactive White Board
2. Group: Eneslee; Topic: Smart School
3. Group: Edu Exp; Topic: Hot Potatoes Suite
4. Group: 5 Stars; Topic: Geometric SketchPad
5. Group: Carrera; Topic: Geometric SketchPad
6. Group: Kreatif; Topic: Standalone Software – Flash
7. Group: Moon; Topic: Smart School Concept
8. Group: East Teachers; Topic: Hardware - PDA
9. Our Group: Panda; Topic: Hardware – Laptops
10. Group: Aufa Yusra; Topic: Web-base (Dreamweaver)

Then after all the presentation was done, we were given a short lecture by Ms Chin on the Teaching and Learning Science and Mathematics Programme in English (PPSMI). The topic was about activity to improve the efficiency of PPSMI in school by giving full ownership to school, launching the Intervention Programme and by improving any weakness in terms of preparation aspect especially training and equipment.

There are 9 diagnostics action which is very important to facilitate PPSMI in school which currently implemented discuss in the topics as listed below:
1. Diagnostic Test for
- Form 1 – 4 and Primary 4
2. Science and Mathematics Glossary Book implementation
3. PPSMI collaborative inspection to school
4. English orientation programmed for Learning Science and Mathematics
5. PPSMI semi-implementation at National School level 2.
6. State level Teaching and learning seminar
7. English programmed after UPSR
8. English self Learning Package for Teachers
9. Provide information for Principal

There are 8 strategies to improve the efficiency of PPSMI implementation as well as to improve specifically student’s performance in Science and Mathematics.
1. Improve teaching and learning in science and mathematics
n Teachers chance to master English, content and pedagogy through micro teaching
n Exchanging idea about teaching approach for a particular Topic
2. Improve teacher’s skills in English
3. Self - Improvement the English
4. Improve the student’s English
5. Enhance the situation that facilitate the PPSMI
6. Increase the understanding of Science and Mathematics content among students.
7. Increase the Teacher’s and student’s motivation towards PPSMI
8. Inspection of Teaching and Learning in classroom by the important people.

Bertujuan meningkatkan keberkesanan pelaksanaan PPSMI dan secara khusus prestasi murid dalam mata pelajaran Sains dan Matematik menjelang PMR tahun 2005



b) Today I question

What is the price of the PDA in the market nowadays, the price will determine how many people will afford to buy this hardware and who will continue to use it? How reliable is the hardware in terms of its lifetime, security, fragility or is it worth buying and be use in the classroom for teaching and learning process?

Another question I ask for another group is about flash as standalone software. Why is it call flash? How many people can use flash in teaching and learning process in classroom? How long does it take to train a personal to at least know how to use this type of standalone software before they could at least apply the very basic of flash application in the class?

c) Your initiative to find more information on the topics discussed in the class

I collected the any standalone software and web base software presented by a few group which I thought can be apply in the classroom especially the Geometric sketchpad which can be use in teaching the Mathematic Topic: Loci in two dimension. I downloaded the article regarding the PPSMI from the website “http:www.tutor.com.my/tutor/etems” to explore more on the PPSMI.

Beside that I download more standalone software from the internet which can be use the teaching and learning process in the classroom. The snapshot of the software can be found in the picture attach

1. Standalone software showing concept of fraction:

2.Standalone software showing the concept of angle calculation:

Weekly report for Week 3_30th January 07

a) Today I learn

On the 3rd week, we are asked to present on how to download a driver from the internet if the CD containing the driver is lost. Basically this presentation is to test our knowledge on presentation skill by integrating the knowledge that we learn on the 1st and 2nd week on the Interactive White Board. Each team was also given a chance to evaluate other group’s presentation and comments on the presentation. This will help the group that doing the evaluation improves their own presentation skill in the future after doing the evaluation. After that, we were being introduced to the Smart School.

Smart School, one of the main focuses in the Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan (PIPP) for Rancangan Malaysia Ke-9 whereby teachers will need to change their role in the electronic classroom. They are no longer providing information but becoming counsellors in helping the students selecting information sources and make judgements about what the students are downloading. This is because high tech requires high touch as the key to success in the Information Age will be making the right judgements of which information is useful. The new education system will encourage our citizen to learn how to learn.

Today the Smart School will be remodeled in such a way that they will be able to access the SchoolNet. With the ability to connect to the SchoolNet, it is hope that management and administration of smart school is much improved.

The implementation of Smart School is a process to achieve the vision of the country’s education by providing ICT for schools, ability of teachers to integrate ICT in the daily teaching processes and improving the management in school with the use of ICT. Several main Components of Smart Schools were also being highlighted. The objective of the Smart School has a wide scope; to name a few is to produce students with knowledge in technology and improves the skills in all aspects of life.

The Main focus of Smart School is to combine the knowledge of teachers and students in ICT to produce self knowledge in ICT. The 3 main components needed in the smart schools are the Wetware, Courseware and Hardware. During the lecture, we were given the National Blueprint Book regarding the Smart School Implementation. One of the Courseware is the teaching Science and Mathematics in English or PPSMI. Whereby Wetware means, teacher need to have knowledge on the ICT. Hardware are like the computer lab, SchoolNet and so on.

b) Today I question

What is the latest hardware use in Teaching at school nowadays besides interactive white boards?

c) Your initiative to find more information on the topics discussed in the class
I download the “Konsep Pembestarian sekolah” file from the Dip Ed Yahoo Groups and explore more to understand the concept of Smart school. Besides that, I also download the “Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan” article and access the SchoolNet website.

Weekly report for Week 2_23th January 07

a) Today I learn

On the 2nd week, we learn the topic “Thinking of the Future ICT Scenarios”. This topic was given during the 1st week lecture, but reviewed again on the second week due to few students still couldn’t make it to attend the 1st class. Some agenda highlighted in this topic are
Engaging learners
Personalized learning
New pedagogy – PoEIT and
New Tool - IWB

The ICT scenarios being discuss here is focusing on the people who use the ICT tools, what they do with it and how they do it. It is a matter of how well we facilitated the learning process to “ENGAGE” the student involve in the two way learning process and not “ENRAGE” the students, which means making the students loose concentration on what is being taught. The Pedagogy of Engagement Integrated Techology learning stated the “know IT, PoEIT and SEEIT”.

Then, we were introduce to the “Class Seedwiki” and the term Free Online Group or also known as “Frog”where teachers can share their notes or even conduct a class through online using a website provided for free. The website provides a medium for students to share their knowledge among themselves and teachers can access and assess their assignment online. Clearly, the management is much improves through paperless documents.

On the next section of the class, we introduced to the Interactive White Board or commonly known as the IWB. It was first introduce in 60% of Primary Schools at United Kingdom. Here we will see the role of teachers change from providers to facilitator providing the ways to retrieve information instead of giving information.


There are four confidences to use ICT to support the curriculum:

Subject knowledge – knowing what to teach
The way to teach – knowing how to structure the lessons, and what interactions to build in the lesson, especially when using the IWB.
Attitude - knowing that it is OK to make mistakes – NO FEAR
Fluency in the use of ICT - learning one good skill then moves on and keeps learning new ones. (Kelly, 2005)

5 distinct phases that teachers are adopting the IWB

Familiarization
Utilization
Integration
Reorientation
Evolution

If IWBs is successfully utilize, we will see teachers will
• moving away from the materials provided to them
• developing their own in partnership with other teachers.
• creating resources in the classroom with the pupils
• modeling high quality conversations with the use of IWB.

Whereby students will
• happy to talk about IWB,
• learning is fun and the pace of the lesson is faster.
• like the visibility
• they can see what is going on in the class
• like the fact that they get more time with the teachers.

Therefore, creative teaching requires that teachers have secure subject knowledge and effective pedagogy and ICT can add flexibility, innovation and creativity to teaching and learning.

On the final section of the class, we were being expose to the Digital camera, how to operate the camera and some introduction on its main component. Every one is given a chance to take a picture using the camera. After doe with the camera session, we were being introduced to the Interactive White Board (IWB), how to use it, the general function of the IWB. After that, we were taught on how to set up the presentation equipment, the laptops, projector as well as the printer. We were also given the homework where everyone is assign to download a driver for a printer.

b) Today I question

I ask 2 question today:
What is the latest hardware use in Teaching at school nowadays besides interactive white boards?
How to create a personal Blogging?

c) Your initiative to find more information on the topics discussed in the class
My initiative to find more information on the topics in the class is by going through the articles on The Use of Interactive Whiteboards in Schools. Besides that I also download few articles regarding the use of IWBs and how to fully utilize it.