Tag Archive for Brunei

Lending my laptop to my students; if 30 students, it will takes more than a month cycle.

A plan.

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.

The idea is, going back to Queensland, Australia. Holistic Education.

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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.

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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.

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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

Digital Technologies Fostering Brilliant Learners In Education

It was in May, and I received a notification email to participate in the 2012 Innovative Educator Entry. However at first, and maybe psychologically I missed out the “competition” word due to excitement (well I think the form’s font was small too or my eyes are too blurry! haha). The deadline was coming soon.. So technically I just rush my head to think of a catchy title for my project and think of what subject to focus and which students year (level) will it be involved. After deciding it, I immediately send it to the organiser.

I end up naming my project “Digital Technologies Fostering Brilliant Learners In Education” with English language as my choice of subject and my Year 3 students as my audience.

It wasn’t a competition in mind until I had to submit another form which should contain full details of my project. This time I was motivated to read through all the requirements thoroughly. So it was a competition. Well, it still doesn’t  really bother me. All I need to do at that time was finish the project on time. However, it was rather a last minute submission too. The project implementation was ok; but writing and compiling the project report was another story. I end up finishing it till dawn. I did not get enough sleep before the 1st day at the STEPs centre.

It was still not a competition to me; I felt more like an opportunity to share my innovation pedagogy to others. My id say, its a sharing session. However that mindset did not last longer. Last week; I received a memo with the heading: “Judgement for Educator Innovation Competition Project”; and it stated to bring a laptop.

I was in shock. So I emailed the organizer for my curiosity on why do I need to bring my laptop. Their responds was: there’ll be a presentation. Honestly, there were no earlier information on doing any presentation. Hence I’m new to this whole idea. It was creepy. I was having cold feet. So I had to hangout with a friend to neutralize it.

I was nervous more than I could remember the last time. I like doing presentation; but I never like enrolling myself to a presentation to be judge to win. It creeps me; its not my comfort zone.

Today was the day of my presentation. I kept telling myself that, I came to share not to compete. Well at least it helps the nerve. I arrived safely to STEPs Centre, and to my arrival I witness few teachers was already working on their presentation slides. Their slides looks very gorgeous. I can feel their effort of winning.

My side? Well, honestly my efforts was  focusing on my share; my pedagogy and methodology. It was presentation for both teacher and students centered. I felt slight sorry for myself; I wish I could have done better if I set winning as a goal. But as I said, certain competition do give me the creeps.

What I learn from today was pretty satisfactory. I have a good time with seniors and experience teachers (8 teachers) from Chung Hwa Middle School BSB; 1 teacher from SR Jerudong, 1 teacher from Chung Ching Middle School KB. They are not shy to share their teaching and experience. It was good. I have high respect for them. They have been teaching for almost 30 years! And for me, I just hit my 2nd year anniversary. I would love to learn from them again. Their pedagogy are unique and I want to embrace it. I also meet up with a teacher who did educational flash software. And she truly wonders me. They also help to cool down my nerve too. I also envy their determination and spirit. Yes, I was glad to be there. Its like I was meant to be there. I’m glad. I’m really glad.

Sometime your actual purpose is not the only thing that will make you happy. The route along the journey to achieve that purpose give another meaning to life. The ICT guy, told me that the winners will be selected and invited to New Zealand for ICT Conference. Frankly I wish I could be one of them. I love educational conference; thus it would be a nice experience.

The lady asked if I work at CDD or a TESL graduate

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

Early Childhood Education and Counselling foster teaching in Lower Primary

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).