Today I learn, today I question (week 6)

This week we learn about PLE, Personalised Learning Environment. First at all, Madam Ng asked us to write about the concept of PLE. I have to confess that after I  “scan” through the title and content given by Mdm Ng, I didn’t really understand what PLE is. I was quite worry but after listening to Pearl’s presentation and Mdm Ng’s explanation, it began to settle down, the concept become much clearer. From the discussion of class, I realized that actually we had unconsciously putting PLE in our teaching.In our understanding, PLE is not just about personal learning and ‘Personalized learning’ does not mean ‘individualized learning’.  According to Charles Leadbeater, written in his article, group learning may also involve PLE.

At first, I thought my online activity for my students is not an example of PLE. But after analyzing the activity using the concept of PLE, I realized that I did put the concept when I using TPCK in my online teaching. I asked my students to search material online and post it in my facebook study group. They worked in group, but they had finished it in a very short time. After that, they were expected to present the finding in class, and write an essay individually regarding different group presentation. After the essay, I marked it and asked them to post it on the webnodes learning platform. They write the reflection about this activity. In the process, students were actively involved in the learning activities. They were able to find out the problem they may be facing and solve it personally or in group. They were also cooperating among their selves and learn how to interact within their group. Just like what Charles Leadbeater said, personalised learning puts the emphasis on learning through interaction and co-creation. Students learn more effectively by participating more fully involve in their learning.  

 “Personalised learning schools equip children with better attitude and mentality to become more active, engaged learners, able to reflect on how they learn, what they find hard or difficult, how they best express themselves.”

     My question is, when we apply PLE in our students in or off class, does it really work? How are we going to evaluate the process and the outcome?  Are students really changing their attitude in learning or the other way happened?

Today I learn, today I question. ( week 5)

I really appreciate Te and Ezlin’s presentation today, it was inspiring and I learn a lot from it. Thanks, Te and Ezlin, they must have been working day and night for the presentation.

      There were lots of examples of online activities shown to us, including online learning website, online game and so on. That was really interesting. Cognitive activities are mental process such as thinking, memory, knowing, and problem solving which are challenging and interesting needed to be explored in online activities. The example of Cognitive that Ezlin showed us was the English online game. That game really got us so absorb in the activities that all of us were trying all out to answer   and try to solve it.

TPCK is not new for me. I have been used this module for my students since last year. The response were good, the students enjoy using the new and different type of teaching from me. But the main problem was some students are not allowed to access internet every day, so finishing their homework online were more difficulty. But anyway we had worked out, and I will continue to do it in future. Using technology tools in teaching and learning is a challenging task for teachers because we always come across new problem and get new solution to handle it. We actually don’t have much time to sit in frond of computer, thinking what activities that could help students, and activities which are more interesting than before. As for me, beside using online learning, when ever I decide to design a power point presentation for students, I am always so absorb to the work that hours and hours were spent designing the most appropriate background and animation, to serve the content and the teaching and learning activities I want to do. But after we have started to do it, things become easier and we can use the same activity and technology tools every year.

My question is, whether the environment of our school supports us to using technology to teach students? Especially for language teacher, we are not provided with laptop, no computer lap and no internet service. These are only given to science teachers. It is up to our own initiative to try our best for our personal growth as a teacher and most importantly, for our students.

Today I learn, Today I question. (Week 4)

Madam Ng shared with us about Instructor Role (Phases of Engagement Model by Conrad and Donaldson). As teachers we actually like an actor who changes roles in different play. As a teacher who is well trained in applying different approach of teaching, our role changes according to the pedagogy we want to use. The changes also include the shift from traditional role in traditional classroom to online delivery and virtual interaction.

When Madam Ng showed the power point of film timer, it straight away grabbed my attention. It was very interesting. There must be a lot of different type to start a lesson but it is always great to start with an impact, to inspire students to enquire, to think and to learn.  What a great example. Thanks Madam Ng.

I really appreciated it how Yee Hui and Te shared with us about Web node and Wiki spaces. I was so amazed at how Yee Hui could manage her time developing the web based learning for her students. I really want to learn from her example for organizing herself insisting of getting a master in her studies and her teaching.  From her explanation, we were exposed about how to make Wiki spaces a student centre teacher learning experience, how teacher act as facilitator, and how to develop a web based learning. Well done Yee Hui and Te.  It was informative and inspiring. I will think about to developed a web based learning website for my form three history class next year because I only have 3 periods one week teaching them and I can finish my lesson on time.

My question is, do we have the passion, the support and time to develop and manage a web based learning platform for our students consistently and persistently?

Maybe it depends on how strong is our determination toward “evolution of education” We recognize human flourishing is not a mechanical process but an organic process, therefore we are giving due concern to every student’s individual talent, strength and passion, facilitate them with the best environment for their growth. In my opinion, there is no other platform better suit for the process than the web based learning platform.

Today I learn, Today I question.(Week 3)

It is so wonderful that every time after we attended Madam Ng’s lesson, we always gain new knowledge about internet resources. This week we learn about online games and online learning. Even though the games are mainly for science students and are in English version, not so convenient for me to apply in my history and Chinese lessons, they are so inspiring. It may not be useful now, but I am exposed to the knowledge that I never know, therefore I have a brighter and wider horizon to explore what I could do in future.

Week 3, Madam Ng gave us an online activity, an online chatting on “Spectrum”. It was interesting. But when the chatting was going on, I found that my “second world war” computer cannot function properly. It could not cope with the advance in technology. I have to “refresh” every now and then so that I can see what others were writing.  After typing, and than send, I found that I was always left behind, unable to catch up with the discussion of the group.  I think it is time for me to upgrade my net book. Add some new memory or use a SSD perhaps. I do not want to be left behind in the same chatting in class anymore.

From the chatting, we know that many of us are not so sure about how to make good use of wikispace and webnode. We really appreciate Yee Hui and sailor who make the effort to share with us their experience how they design the website for teaching and learning next week.  Beside looking forward for their sharing, I am anticipating how Mdm Ng enlighten us about more uses of youtube beside download video, how to make it a tool for teaching and learning. That is an exposure for me which I am looking forward to.

During the chatting we were also discussing how we could make Power Point Presentation interactive.  That question keep me wondering because I know how power point presentation could attract attention of the students, but could it be a tool that let instructor and audients interact with each others?  I usually ask questions to the students during presentation, not only to get constant feedback from them, but also to get their attention so that they do not fell asleep. We could make attractive design for the power point presentation, but the important thing is the content.  The purpose to design teaching tool is for students to see more clearly and understand our lessons. If we stray from the objective, adding too much tricks or animation in the design which do not help students to understand the lessons could cause distraction to their studies. Then the technologies we use do not achieve the purpose and we fail in our teaching.

It is challenging to attend Madam Ng’s classes. We do not know what kind of activities she will give us and what topic to discuss. But we know that after the activities, we can learn something new.  Learning in her computer lab is never boring. But honestly, I am still tension about the assignment given online, because I do not know whether I can still handle the assignment every week online or not. But I will try my best to cover all the homework.  

Kong Joo was the first one who made his presentation. He had done good preparation. With the help of video clip and music, we enjoyed his talk and presentation. We have a whole picture about the history and development of the internet in teaching & learning .Well done, Kong Joo.