Being in the education sector and as a teacher myself, I believed all teachers (does not limit on what levels of experience) must constantly open doors for learning. We all of the same kind must also be smartly brave to do trials & errors while having efforts to be creative and innovative in our teaching. Beside that, I love the idea of sharing and collaborating in education. That is why I am writing my 2011 self-reflection summary here publicly while being in a personal matter experience.

Communication & Teamwork

Whether how intelligent and brilliant you work solely; but if you are in any organization you still need other people energy. What is meant by people energy here is working in a team. Teamwork requires good communication. Once communication are faulty; well, jobs or project won’t work well until all communications have been fixed.

Your instruction is clear, but are they listening to you? To achieve a success in a program; all stakeholders should understand the vision, mission, objectives and its stages.

This will constantly requires learning.

Trust & Delegation

Know who to trust is still serious these days, whether you are running a business or not. But the pleasure of working with a trustful team is very gracious that I can’t even describe. Trust should always be revealed if it is in a positive settings. However showing your distrust to individual will be proven by its static delegation. Delegation may be seen as action and distrustful can be heard loudly and felt. Never enable sarcasm, never backstab, never gossip to which does not requires attention in your job. Remember the beginning of time of your dealt. Why did you become an educator? What were your purpose? What is the primary and which are the secondaries? Which are nonsense?

Delegation should be free from bias, dishonesty or injustice. But having said it; – not all process should be taken out from the manual of perfection. Empathy and sympathy and other complicated process required to understand between human in the team & teams in an organization. Understand the Journey Line of your team. Too strict will bring your organization success; but will the success be meaningful enough if it were to be compare to a humanely success? I’ve seen retired educators who was previously known for his cruelty and heartless; and I tell you the people concern will always be remembered as that, and less on their success achievement.

Efforts, Fairness & Sustaining it; as Integrity

Oh this is one of the toughest. I’m not crudely my mindset now, it is actually a natural disease in my own habit too. Maintaining efforts of any form such as creativity, being on time etc is one of those things requires discipline and interest. In reality, they are some people who can maintain their efforts and naturally being fair in their jobs. These people inspires me. You can see their genuine passion and efforts while they deliver their teaching; being fair on their judgement and decision. These are integrity which should be lifted and constantly be aware. At least these people requires attentions and appreciation from us. These people can be contagious in a good way.

Always Be Nice, Open, Care & Give Honesty

Why do you have to be mean? What wrong did that person did to you personally, that you wish the idea of revenge or vengeance. Seriously? What is the problem anyway? Jelously most probably happened in between.

Nothing better to say than simply saying “Always be nice, be open, offer care and always give honest feedback to help people improve rather than condemning”.

Resources & Environment

Besides the importance of lesson plan (which I still need to be in discipline), building teaching resources for learners is one of my weakness too. Decorating the class beautifully with education related is not my cup of tea too. Not all men are like this. Some are just born with talent to bring their classroom environment at best and bring it to the level of conducive.

So this, technically i need to learn and more efforts need to establish.

By God’s Will

What ever our plans are, sometime it won’t turn out to be as good as it was planned, nor will it be actually be happening. I’m not condemning hope, the possibility and its probability; I’m just stating – life is very unpredictable and cqn be awful. This is the reality; some can even turn out to be good or even greater than we anticipated.

What I’m trying to express is: The more we move forward, the more improvement we can as an individual, team or organization.

For 2012, I hope it will be a great and exciting year for me, my family, my friends and you. All the best and be safe always.

Always be or at least try to be honest & sincere.
We are here to help others too.

By God’s will, I’m pushing my students learning with ICT next year, by lending my Laptop (not my macbook; hehhe but this laptop used to cost $4K+!!) to each student for a night; to use at home. This will focus on literacy activities and maybe get a new economy digital camera for them to use at home. I understand who my students  are; but let just say I’m trying my best effort for them to give them the same experience like most modern and fortunate children in Brunei these days. I think I should get a Netbook, it will be convenient for little kids to carry it at home. Technically, my laptop is heavy :S

How does flexibility in learning through ICT affect the structure of a lesson? How can we continue the learning beyond the classroom and beyond the school day?
E-Hijrah

Lesson plan at home?

I had a great discussion with e-Hijrah MOE on Facebook, talking on flexibility and the effect of a lesson structure through Teaching and Learning using ICT. And what if learning is to be continued outside the school borders. I like the idea, it somehow motivated me to do it practically. Not for me, but it focus on students centered and how they can be independent learners at home, while using ICT as their learning partner. I want to give them opportunity, a different learning opportunity, a cutting edge in innovative style; beyond creativity.

E-Hijrah helps me to think critical. What if you provide lesson plans (instructional) for parents, when the students have homework, reports or project involving ICT usage at home. This will ensure a well managed informal lesson outside the school; parents can monitor and support their child learning, and ALSO it will create a strong bond between parents and child. However parents commitment and time are essential and the ICT tools requires availability at home.

As advice by E-Hijrah, calling it “Lesson plan at home for parents” won’t be a nice name. So let just call it Project guided parents? or Students-Parent Project check list? This will ensure a structured well organised learning which enables a focus lesson at home. E-Hijrah also reminded me, Lesson plan is still crucial, especially when ICT is involved.

Great points! Project guided parents?; Students-parent Project check list? This is a good start. True, Home-work degree was meant to establish practice and independent. From introduction and through level of maturity and guided development,I’m sure someday it will help these students of ours to reach to the point of (cognitive) field independent. In flexibility, more patience in time need to be acknowledge; but having said that, the journey still need to have its destination too, to acquired the objective and learning goals.

Why I believe this will work.

I trust my kids very much, I only have like less than 5 students per class. And they live closely in school. So, I have faith. So with this no. of students, it will takes around a week for my students to have the complete cycle of learning/project.

What am I waiting for?

Well, I’m still looking at the possibilities of what theme, topic and activities suitable for this kind of project. And again, by God will’s.

This soon Singapore trip got me thinking. I’ll be spending with the people who I was with in Brisbane years ago. Honestly, I miss Australia. It was my 1st country while being under age to travel alone by air. I’m greatly confident that my sister is missing Australia more than I am right now.

“I’m not really a disappointment, nor your worst nightmare, I’m just your curse. I am me, and I am beautiful.”

Speaking of Australia, I was goggling some Universities in Queensland. Yes, the idea is, would it be great to study Education there? Just a thought. Even though Australia is Commonwealth, but their education system is different than in UK.

These days, Ministry of Educaton, Brunei is ahead in specialising educators in Brunei. I end up being an English Educator. However I don’t want my teaching to be restricted in just Teaching English. I still love Psychology (Early years, Moral intelligent, Child development, Education Counseling, Mind process), Philosophy, ICT, Science and Recreational education. Having all of these in mind; it get me to a concept of holistic approach too. Yeap, combination of Knowledge, Skills, Values, Languages and Social in a process.

Being holistic. Someday I want to go back to School to study in a course of dynamic models. Kinda hard these day though. I’m thinking to do major Linguistic and minor Psychology. But between that I would also want to have a strength in ICT in Education. I won’t mind taking more than 3 years to achieve an undergraduate status. As long as I can be manage it, and I find it very pleasant and satisfying course; than that would be enough to be awesome. It is really a wish.

However even saying this dream out loud, I know I’m heading for Brunei Local University, which is Universiti Brunei Darussalam. I’m not saying this in a sad and bad manner.. but I wish to study abroad again for few years. Oh yes, my age versus a Phd and reality. I really would love if any sponsors would pay me for it to happen.

Or we can look into every corner of the world. And maybe, just maybe learn some lessons. Lesson that will benefits our children’s future. (By direct experience elsewhere) - Teddy Rist (portrayed by James Purefoy in The philanthropist).

PS: Someday Australia again, for now let just wait for Singapore arrive. Enjoy Aston – The Monster Symphony Music Video. Starring Australian inspiring actor and actress: Ryan Harrison & Aimee-Lee Druett

I really love this series (The Philanthropist, 2009). Many knows me on my interest in multinational films, Comedy, Romance and Action genres. But not much on my so call secrecy interests in orphanage, philosophical, wisdoms, inspirational, charities, volunteering and the unfortunate events genres.

This series like some great movies I encountered (like The Peaceful Warrior and The lost and found family) gives another addition to the meaning in life. It helps you to define more what you can and willing to do for others; and also enable how you can appreciate, love and help them.

Philanthropy etymologically means “the love of humanity”—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of “what it is to be human,” or “human potential.” – Wikipedia

This series centered on Mr. Teddy Rist (portrayed by James Purefoy). He is a British-American billionaire, driven to do good works after the death of his son. His Co-CEO Philips Maidstone (Jesse L. Martin) and wife Olivia (Neve Campbell) helps Teddy along his challenging determination adventures. The Philanthropist is based loosely on the life of Bobby Sager. (And personally I would love to meet Mr. Bobby Sager!)

Sadly, this series was only went for 8 episodes in Summer 2009. I wish NBC could produce and lengthen its story; because this is worth to watch and understand.

What I learned from this series? Well many. But 1 thing that I would like to highlight is during Episode 6: San Diego. Towards the end of the episode, Teddy Rist is seen hanging photo frames. This gets my attention to follow his behavior.

 A photo frame of a meaningful friends; Sons and Daughter of HT of Medewa village hanged on my Study / Computer Room’s wall. (Part of 2013 New York Trip Motivation. hehe)

I want to continue to frame photos of people who gave my life happiness and meaningful. By this way, it will not only helps me to remember them and their contribution to my life; but somehow make easier for me to acknowledge and give appreciation towards them. Apart from this novelties sentiment, it will definitely looks gorgeous, filled by beautiful people’s face hanging on my study / computer room’s wall.

Teaching English Language to a foreign by nature is a tough job. Having to teach two levels of English Language already is dramatically challenging. Next year, with sadness my challenge will also be increase. I’ve been mapped to teach Lower Primary English. This mean, I’ll be teaching English for three levels; Year 1 up to Year 3.

So many criticism I personally built inside my doubt; but it is nothing but logic and feelings. I found a way for what really matters. What really still matters is the future of the children I touch. Educating and exposing them the world outside is primarily and all the nonsense must be skip which are not even the secondaries.

They have no time and interest to understand individual needs, and someday it will be returned. God’s vengeance is better than a passion revenge. Be mortified in eternity.

I’m taking my deep breath. This is the reality which shapes my future existence. I will miss teaching ICT and visualizing how the ICT room looks like. I will also miss science, the inquiry method approach and working with the Science Unit, CDD MOE. I think Mr. Ng a former Education Officer in Science Unit will be sadden the fact of these change. I believed he had hope on me to be a good leader in Science Brunei Education.

Taking deep breath again. What really concerns me on teaching English is the Syllabus and Scheme. I’m still learning them and trying my best to like it. I never experience in teaching English Year 1, so this will again put me to a situation in which I need to learn more and definitely will make it harder coz I need to learn it in warp speed for the Children sake. I love learning, but forcing to learn and like something which is not really glamourous can be very torturing. The most torturing will be its Lesson Plan. Planing and writing up your plans is two different things. For me, before you come to a class, the plan is already built up in mind if I’m confident to teach that subject. But if you have a syllabus and scheme which are in debt of perfection; you get lost and writing it on a paper is even harder. Some time it fit, and you can open the lock; but most of the time it feels like you have the wrong keys. These wrong keys are making me slow and delaying on my submission of my lesson plan every week. And having to write up 3 levels of English lesson plan will be O.M.G.

The more you are positive and say “I want to have a good life,” the more you build that reality for yourself; by creating the life that you want. It is not always the case that things will fall into your lap or that life will be great, but it is all about perspective and having a positive outlook. If something goes wrong, you say, “That happened for a reason, what can I learn from that and how can I grow?” – Chris Pine

On being focus. Rather than assimilating this negative vibes which never turns helpful, I decided to move forward and keep my chin up. Be positive and accept the challenge. Just get the job done with quality. The goal is simple: For the best of Children’s English Lesson. This is what I want to do, and this is what I want to focus. “Focus all your energy to something which is rather important is the key.” This same sentence was personally advised by Mr. Bob (Robbert) Knowling Jr (Chairman of Eagles Landing Partners and lead facilitator of Brunei’s School Leadership Programme)

Being focus. I need to let go, in order to be focus. I need to return back all my ICT and science resources to my school’s resource room. Need to revise all the English Language teaching pedagogy. I need to arrange all the linguistic and teaching reading methodology neatly on the bookshelf.  I want to be ready for next year. I will learn and never give up. I will learn, never give up and never defeat. Technically there are plenty to learn now. In summary I need to master how to teach Reading; Thinking & understanding; Writing and communication skills.

Last but not least, I want to be the awesome teacher; just like my past teachers who inspires me. They taught me the subject contents and they taught me on living. Until now, they are still helping me out.

“You’re cruelty, and injustice. Waiting by the heaven doors to drag you to hell. You cost a life a living pain, they’ll cost yours in eternity.” – The one you murdered a dream & a life. Who’s worried now? Bitch. Even in death, forever they speaks. 

Sometime. I wonder how life is so different from one person to another. Between easy and hard. Happy and sad. Wealthy and poor.

Photos such as above makes me feel very blessed by the Almighty. It also makes you appreciate more on what you have; and understand that, your life is much better than certain people on this world.

I questioned myself how will I ever help these people with greater impact. Donation contributed is literally invisible. You literally don’t know how and when will it reach them. You can only pray and hope for the best, it reaches to them well and safe. Sometime, I wish I could be more practical in efforts to help this misfortune.

No war and no poverty is a dream. Lets make them history.

Someone asked, if im a billionaire guy, what would I do? Get a Phd and built a Reading Room. Then seeing this photo, it added 1 more to the list, I want to help these unfortunate. Technically we don’t have to wait to be a billionaire to help them.

So yeah, why not? If I can afford to have a family, adopting a child or two is not impossible. Would be glad to help and give a child a living space and a good life education like all human being should have. I’m not trying to be Brad Pitt here, but I still love his sincereness, love and determination.

I understand, there are plenty of millionaire and billionaire on this planet; but why not all rich people helps the poor?

I’m new, but i dont want to let Time to define my experience. So I’m always fuel up for learning. In this era, we teachers cannot only depend and awaits MOE’s HRD to develop us; but in time we need to have and find motivation, determination and discover ways how we can get learning opportunity through smart partners to speed up experience.. Like wise, i love my previous teachers and my lecturers who supports my profession. Hope the leaders in the ministry continuously be positive and give provisions on these sort of potentials and initiative.

I did a presentation last Sunday on behalf of my team no. 4 of venue 2 workshop; during the two days – Inaugural National Conference of School Leadership Program (Brunei) at the Chancellor Hall, Universiti Brunei Darusalam (UBD).

It was not the best presentation. I think it was awful. My nerve won, and I mispronounced ”stakeholders” as “stockholders“. In which these two words are distinguish in spelling and meaning. It was very shameful; witnessed by hundred of other school leaders. But they handle with humour, so I was ok. Though Sitting right now, it does make you want to redo it again.

But the worst of me comes when Dr. Jainatul Halida, a very respectful UBD lecturer and SLP team organiser somehow stopped my presentation with the unconventional way, by covering my presentation slide. I was actually coming to say my final keynote. It was very humiliating haha, coz I did not even say “thank you for listening“. I felt sorry for myself, but I viewed it positively. My presentation pace (speed) was slow, and I may had elaborated too much. However, as a presenter, you always wish you can finish your presentation magnificently. But then again, Time management is also very important especially dealing with other people.

Being positive doesn’t mean you completely feel satisfied. When the workshop ended, I just swift myself headed to the basement for lunch with some sorrow feelings. Then comes two ladies walking side by side. So we somehow talked. She asked me if I work at the Curriculum Development Department (CDD), and I said, No. She continuously asked me if I’m TESL graduate, and I said, No, too.

She complimented my presentation and thus asking me with those questions. Personally I was like: OMG, she’s making fun of my presentation especially the part in which I mispronounced a word. Or maybe she’s just being friendly and have pity, since I did not have the chance to end my presentation well. After all, the rest 9 teams have presented until their end. So its surely my bad. And it is actually unusual to get a compliment when you actually have not finished a task. lol

Whether of she is sincere or not; I will never know. But, from my end, the most important about this experience is, I need to ask how much time do I have to present my keynotes. And yeah, thank you for “listening”. :D

This video is old (posted in 2009) but it still help to live up my passion, when i suddenly feel lost. My interest in ECE begin while assigned to teach two Pre-School classes during my teaching practice. Well, technically I was inspired by the two of the ECE cooperative teachers. I see the different teaching styles use, and i was very curious about it. It was challenging to teach Malay phonic (literacy) coz I was more comfortable by English and it was the 1st year that they introduced Malay phonic officially (SPN21). Through observation and practical, I think i did well for a starter. Its hard (teaching about 50 pre school kids a day), but the cuteness of these little children help to overcome it. Both ECE teachers had help me a lot. Because of its excitement, I can be found at the preschool class most during my free periods.

Management, caring and fun are the keys. The same year, I helped to organise a reading room “Sehati Membaca”, and a community outreach workshop on Malay Phonic; attended by parents and the community from Belimbing and Subok Village. I worked with the best of the best of ECE expert. She is now currently the leader of ECE in Brunei Education. Am I lucky and proud? Heaven yes. Through these experience, I find my love to teach Lower Primary especially on reading. I still have respect on ECE and Counseling in my profession. Sometime you touch a student’s life through academic; but sometime its the love, caring, social intact and the good rapport with them that means a lot. Trust me, as for my own experience, being not so excellent in Chemistry subject, does not mean i can’t appreciate and love my Chemistry teachers. They are the great and always at heart.

I wish I could take this course in the future, for the great understanding of teaching children in Lower Primary. FYI, NAEYC, define ECD from 0-8 years Old. ECE psychology, care and pedagogy does not limit benefit for ONLY in Preschool. Continuous care and handling by ECE methodology is encourage towards the age of 8. However differential and increases of learning styles through age (development stage) should be expected. 1 of my interest is using ECE understanding and ICT tools for developing Critical thinking – Lower Primary learners; specifically on teaching Literacy (Reading).

1. I miss Steve Jobs very much. Watched his 10 iconic moments on video. Incredible. Speechless. Then that, I miss him even more.

2. I’m shocked to find out Zachary Quinto come out as gay. Literally I’m not an anti gay. I have many friends who are the same. One of those things you learn from a sister who is a doctor is, everyone will always be human; so everyone is the same. This just shocked me, not ill me; Coz I genuinely did not expected that to come.

3. Chris Pine next movie will be out next year, 2012 on February 17th (US President Day – weekend). Entitled “This Means War”. Also starring: Reese Whiterspoon and Tom Hardy. Filmed in Vancouver, Canada; last November 2010. And I keep telling, yelling to the world and you guys..

“I’m a very huge big gigantic fan of Chris Pine”

4. I think I’ll be visiting Singapore this end of year. First I thought of it; but then I felt lazy. But my sister’s fiance have some agenda for me there. So will just see what happen. What I really want to actually happen when I’m in Singapore is, I want to meet, be friend with Eduardo Saverin (Co-founder of Facebook). And have some coffee and enjoying educational advices from him. 1, 2 tips on web developing and investment.. etc..

Alright, Adios!

A great guy, Rest In Peace Mr Steve Jobs. You will always be remembered.

I sent my project report to STEPS this morning and I’m honoring SJ too. Not really sure if its appropriate.