Week 15: The Final Entry

So we had finally reached the end of semester. Time really flies, don't they? Well for the last entry, Mdm Foziah had asked us to answer a few questions. So here we go!

1) What do you like about blogging?
Answer: Well I like to blog because it allows me to express myself freely. Not only that, I am able to reflect back my learning process, thus allowing me to monitor my own weaknesses. Meanwhile I like blogging because I can record all my learning progress, such as what had I learnt, what had I done and so on.

2) What do you not like about blogging?
Answer: Nothing really. I am used to blogging and I really love blogging. Furthermore, Blogspot is really user friendly and I love using this website as my blog.

3)What have you gained from blogging ? eg: Language skills, improved fluency,critical thinking, improve thought process, technology skills, etc. How?
Answer: Firstly, blogging helps to improve my writing skill of course. By blogging regularly, I will monitor my own writing for grammar errors and many more. This will help to improve my writing skills. Secondly, blogging also help to develop my critical thinking skills and reflective skills. Every week I had to think creatively on how to begin my post. I must make my entry as interesting as possible. Not only that, I had to reflect back my learning journey. By reflecting, I will realized many weaknesses and errors made by me during the learning process.

4) What do you like about this course?
Answer: What I like about this course is I get to learn many useful things about technology. In this course I had learnt about photo, audio, and video editing skills. These skills are very crucial for 21st century teacher like me because they can assist me in developing the best teaching aids for my pupils.

5) What do you not like about this course?
Answer: I hate the modules. Sorry to say, but many parts of the modules are aimed for semi pro level, and not amateur like me. I found it hard to perform many task especially tasks that require Adobe Photoshop.

6)What have you learnt from this course?
Answer: As I mentioned earlier, I have gained my knowledge from this course. I have learnt many important skills such as photo,audio and video editing skills. Not only that, this course had helped me to improve my writing skills, critical thinking and reflective skills through the weekly blog.

7)What have you learnt from this course that you did not expect to?
Answer: Well I had learnt many things about photo editing using Adobe Photoshop. I did not expect we will learn it because I believe that Adobe Photoshop is for professional only.

8) What have you expected but do not learn from this course?
Answer: Nothing I would say. I have learnt almost everything about creating resources.

9) Comments regarding modules:

a) Internet and computing skills
i)What do you like about this module?
Answer: This module had taught me many technology skills that are very important in finding the materials needed online.

ii) What do you not like about this module?
Answer: There is too much to be done and very limited time given. Moreover, reproducing this module do cost a lot. We had paid for the photocopy,and we still have to reprint it again. Average cost ink rm200++, papers rm50++, photostat rm50++. This is A LOT!

iii)What do you like about the tasks given for this module?
Answer: Well the tasks give me an opportunity to practice the skills that I had learnt from the module.

iv) What do you not like about the tasks given for this module.
Answer: I believed that proper guidelines should be given because Mdm Foziah tend to reject our work.

v)What are the specific skills that you learn in this module?
Answer: I had learnt how to search for materials, how to download videos and audio files and how to search for documents
on the internet,

vi) How the skills learnt in this module can help in making and choosing of teaching aids for ELT classroom?
Answer: Well I had learnt how to find resources on the internet. With this I won't be wasting time searching for the materials needed.

b) Photo Editing
i)What do you like about this module?
Answer: This module taught me many wonderful things about photo editing. I had never know that photo editing can be so much fun.


ii) What do you not like about this module?
Answer: There is too much to be done and very limited time given. Moreover, reproducing this module do cost a lot. We had paid for the photocopy,and we still have to reprint it again. Average cost ink rm200++, papers rm50++, photostat rm50++. This is A LOT!


iii)What do you like about the tasks given for this module?
Answer: Well the tasks give me an opportunity to practice the skills that I had learnt from the module.

iv) What do you not like about the tasks given for this module.
Answer: I believed that proper guidelines should be given because Mdm Foziah tend to reject our work.



v)What are the specific skills that you learn in this module?
Answer: I had learnt on how to add effects to photos, how to crop photos, and how to edit photos using various software.

vi) How the skills learnt in this module can help in making and choosing of teaching aids for ELT classroom?
Answer:Well photo editing skill is very useful because it allows me to create my own pictures that are not only interesting but meaningful and appropriate for the pupils. Moreover, I do not have to rely on the pictures found from the internet as they might not be appropriate for the pupils.

c) Audio Editing Skill
i)What do you like about this module?
Answer: This module had taught me many important skills on editing audio files for example how to make minus one.

ii) What do you not like about this module?
Answer: There is too much to be done and very limited time given. Moreover, reproducing this module do cost a lot. We had paid for the photocopy,and we still have to reprint it again. Average cost ink rm200++, papers rm50++, photostat rm50++. This is A LOT!



iii)What do you like about the tasks given for this module?
Answer: Well the tasks give me an opportunity to practice the skills that I had learnt from the module.

iv) What do you not like about the tasks given for this module.
Answer: I believed that proper guidelines should be given because Mdm Foziah tend to reject our work.


v)What are the specific skills that you learn in this module?
Answer: I had learnt how
remove background noise, how to crop audio, how to make minus one and how to add in background music into an audio clip.

vi) How the skills learnt in this module can help in making and choosing of teaching aids for ELT classroom?
Answer: Well I had learnt how to create my own audio files for my classroom. For example, I can make an audio book and make it more interesting by adding in sound effects and many more. These can enhance the teaching and learning process.


d) Video Editing Skill

i)What do you like about this module?
Answer: This module had taught me many important skills on editing video files for example how to create my own video using windows movie maker.

ii) What do you not like about this module?
Answer: There is too much to be done and very limited time given. Moreover, reproducing this module do cost a lot. We had paid for the photocopy,and we still have to reprint it again. Average cost ink rm200++, papers rm50++, photostat rm50++. This is A LOT!



iii)What do you like about the tasks given for this module?
Answer: Well the tasks give me an opportunity to practice the skills that I had learnt from the module.

iv) What do you not like about the tasks given for this module.
Answer: I believed that proper guidelines should be given because Mdm Foziah tend to reject our work.


v)What are the specific skills that you learn in this module?
Answer: I had learnt how
to crop videos, how to many my own videos and many more.

vi) How the skills learnt in this module can help in making and choosing of teaching aids for ELT classroom?
Answer: Well I had learnt how to create my own video for my classroom. For example, I can make a video about food by using windows movie maker. By creating my own video, the video will be more interesting, meaningful and most importantly suitable for Malaysian' pupils.

e) Software for ELT

i)What do you like about this module?
Answer: This module had taught me many important skills on creating poster, banners and many more.

ii) What do you not like about this module?
Answer: There is too much to be done and very limited time given. Moreover, reproducing this module do cost a lot. We had paid for the photocopy,and we still have to reprint it again. Average cost ink rm200++, papers rm50++, photostat rm50++. This is A LOT!



iii)What do you like about the tasks given for this module?
Answer: Well the tasks give me an opportunity to practice the skills that I had learnt from the module.

iv) What do you not like about the tasks given for this module.
Answer: I believed that proper guidelines should be given because Mdm Foziah tend to reject our work.


v)What are the specific skills that you learn in this module?
Answer: I had learnt how
make my own poster, banner and many more.

vi) How the skills learnt in this module can help in making and choosing of teaching aids for ELT classroom?
Answer: Well I can create poster and banners based on the topic of the day. For example I can create my own poster on fruits. With this I would not have to waste my time to search for the appropriate poster on the internet.

10)If you can change anything about this course, state what is and elaborate.
Answer: Well lecturer should teach the skills instead of just throwing us the modules. Lecturer should at least teach the very basis of the software. For example, I was struggling to find the button and icons in Adobe Photoshop. Next, financial aids should be given because we spent many money in buying the papers and ink. We know that we must spend money for education for this is too much. Luckily I have a printer with CISS, but about those who don't? Imagine those who dont have CISS and have to pay for original ink cartridge?


On the scale of 1-10, please rate your computing and technological skills for both before and after undergoing the course.
Before: 6
After: 9


Thats all for the final entry. So long my friends!

Week 14: Hectic Week

This week was a very busy week. It was indeed. We were bombarded with tutorial tasks, module 5 and also quiz. Talking about quiz, PBEY 3102 quiz will be held this week! Fuuuhh!So many things to be done!

Without wasting much time, I did my revision by reading the books suggested by Mdm Foziah at the beginning of this sem. There many things to read such as how children learn, what a teacher should do to facilitate the learning process and many more. My housemates were also studying hard for this quiz.

Finally it was time for the quiz. I was quite nervous because this was my first quiz taken in Malaya University. After everyone had been seated in Lab 1 and Lab 2, Mdm Foziah came in and distribute the quiz. My hand was trembling as I was writing because I had not written anything for quite some time. All this while I only used my hand to type and not to write. After two hours, Mdm Foziah collected the papers. To be honest, I had faith in my answers and I do hope I can do well in the quiz.


That's one quiz down, and many more to come! Have to go and finish up my module now, tata!

Week 13: Video Editing

This week was about becoming a movie director. ahaks! This week we were required to make our own video. We must choose a theme and then create a video based on the theme! Again, I work with my partner, How Hui Sun and we had decided on the theme "Determination".

Mdm Foziah had given us a storyline framework and asked us to write down our storyline first. This was because storyline will help us to plan our video better. Once my partner and I had sketched down the storyline, we begun to search for relevant pictures and videos. While Hui Sun was looking for pictures, I was downloading videos and crop certain parts of the videos. We decided to tell the story of Jay Chou, the Taiwan King of Pop. Jay Chou was an artist that had achieved many great accomplishment throughout his 10 years of career. He had faced many difficulties and challenges become he emerged to become one of the most influential person in Taiwan. Therefore, my partner and I agreed that Jay Chou was the best role model to deliver the theme "Determination".

Meanwhile, Mdm Foziah also mentioned that our video should be personalized, and must have plots such as introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and ending. This was to ensure that the video will become very interesting and meaningful to the audience.

So under Mdm Foziah's guidance, Hui San and I begun to put the pieces together. We added in the pictures and videos. To make our video more interesting, we added in many interesting effects and transitions on the pictures and video clips. After few hours of working, this was our end product.

From this task, I realized that video editing is a very powerful skill. This is because I as future teacher can make many powerful teaching aids with video editing skills. I can make various video on many topics such as fruits, food, animals, adjectives and many more. Moreover, interesting videos can help to attract the pupils' attention easily. Therefore, it is a must for 21st century teacher like me to master the skill of video editing.

Click Here to view my video.

Week 12: E-book


E-book? What is E-book? Well E-book refers to electronic books. E-books can only be read through electronic devices such as laptop, computer,
Iphone and many more. E-books is different from normal story book because it not only contain the story but may contains animations and sound effects as well. Therefore E-book can be much appealing to the primary school pupils.


So this week, Mdm Foziah gave us a task which was creating an E-book. Mdm Foziah told us that we can make E-book based on fairy tales, fable or create your own story. Not only that the E-book must have the beginning, rising action, climax, falling action and followed by ending. Without wasting much time, m
y partner How Hui Sun and I quickly drafted out our story line. We had decided to create an E-book based on the story "The Goldilocks and Three Bears". Once we had decided the story line, we went online and searched for pictures and sounds effects to be inserted into the E-book.

We had found many interesting pictures but sadly,
most of it had coloured background. Therefore, I applied my photo editing skills by cropping out the pictures that I want and also made the background of the pictures became transparent. Photo editing skills sure come in handly. Next, Hui San prepared the text while I arranged the photos. We also decided on how the photos should come in, and what sounds effect should be inserted. After few hours of work, our E-book was finally completed.


Here are a few snapshot of my E-book.


The front cover.
Click HERE to download our E-book.

Week 11: Module 2 (Part 3)

Okay this week we had a special task, which was photo editing skill. We must edit a photo and show it to Mdm Foziah. Mdm Foziah also said that the photo edited must not only be beautiful, but meaningful enough. After looking at some examples given by Mdm Foziah, I decided to put my photo editing skill into test.

So this was my original picture. This picture was captured during my pangkor trip.



This was my edited photo. I edited it using Photoscape.So after Mdm Foziah had looked at it, she said that my photo was lacking something. Then she suggested that I should add a poem in the picture. So this was my final edited version.


I edited this using Photoscape and Xiu Xiu Mei Tu . Hope you guys like it! Bye bye

Week 10: Module 2 (Part 2)

Well this week was about completing the module 2. We were given opportunity to complete module 2 in the class. As usual, Mdm Foziah walked around and lend us her hands. So here is an example of my edited photo.

Nice ? hehehehe..While I was completing my module 2, I realized that photo editing skill was very important. This was because teachers can make use of photo editing skills to create various teaching aids. Not only that by editing the photos can make the teaching aids to become more attractive. For example teacher can create poster or banners as teaching aids. There were so many things that can be done with photo editing. Photo editing was simple amazing! hahahahaha
Description


Okay now, off I go! wkaakkakakakakaa

Week 9: Raya+ Module 2??

Hello and welcome back! So this week we had just received our module 2. You might be wondering why we received module 3 first and then only module 2. Well you have to ask Mdm Foziah for that.hehehehe. Okay back to business, module 2 is about picture editing. In this module, we will be taught on how to edit picture using various software such as Adobe Photoshop CS3, Photoscape and many more. To be honest, I hate Adobe Photoshop. It was very difficult to use, not user friendly I would say.
I hate you


I always like photo editing. Normally I would use the software Mei Tu Xiu Xiu to edit my photos. You can choose all the effects, adds in, text and many more. The software is really user friendly and beginner like me love it very much! Too bad the software is in Chinese. Here is an example of my edited photos.


hahahahahahahahahaha

Okay, back to work! Sayonara!

Week 8: Module 3

Just after I had finished my module 1, another task had just arrived. Yes, another assignments during the raya break. Mdm Foziah had just given us the module 3 which should be completed just after the raya. Not only that, we needed to come out with teaching aids and lesson plan.

I'm dizzy again...=.=~~**

So this is what we needed to do during the Raya break:

Task 1: Module 3
Module 3 is mainly about editing audio using Audacity. Here we will leant about how to record sound, how to add in sound effects and many more. I never have thought that sound can be manipulated in so many ways.

Task 2: Teaching Aids
For this task, we were required to create teaching aids for year 1,2 and 3. These teaching aids must be both technology and non technology based. For example using a video is considered as technology based teaching aids while using picture cards is considered as non technology based. We were allowed to use anything to create the teaching aids, from video, audio, pictures, E-book and many more. The primary requirement was the teaching aids must be creative, interesting and suitable for the pupils.


Task 3: Lesson Plans
We must first form a group of 4 and then choose a topic from the text book. My group had decided to choose the topic food. Then we must come out with 3 lesson plans for single period (30 minutes) and 1 lesson plan for double period (1 hour). Not only that, our lesson plans must be designed to teach four language skills, which were speaking, writing, listening and reading skills.
Looks like I have to work hard for this holiday! Before I end, I would like to wish all my Muslims friends, Selamat Hari Raya!

Week 7- Module 1 (part 2)

This week, Mdm Foziah decided to help us with module 1. Therefore we were allowed to complete the module in the class. While we were doing the module, Mdm Foziah walked around and gave us guidance. Thanks to her, I had managed to complete many parts which I was not able to.So far, I had learnt few important things from module 1. For example, how to search and download pictures,videos, pdf and software. All these skills were very important for teachers because they allow the teachers to find resources easily. When the teacher had the sufficient resources, teachers then can make their own teaching aids out of this. With this, the teaching and learning process will be much more interesting and effective.


Thats all for this week! Bye bye!

Week 6: First Module?!

This week my classmates and I received a very tick assignment called the Module 1. Oh my God it was so thick and I had no idea of what to do about it. Then Madam Foziah explained on what should be done with the module. So the instructions were:

1) Firstly, you need to follow instructions in the module.
2) Before doing that you must write down the the date and the time (Starting time and end time)
3) If encounter any difficulties, state the difficulties in the module. Do mention the steps taken to overcome the problem.
4) Next,you must reproduce the instructions as a proof that you are able to carry out the instructions in the module.
5) Lastly, you must come out with new instructions which are different from the module. For example, new methods to download song.


I'm dizzy =.=~~**


Pheww! That was really a lot to do. Luckily Mdm Foziah gave us a lot of time to finish the module. Well in this module, we will be tested on our basic internet skills, such as how to download songs, picures,videos and many more. There were so many things that I did not know and I had to learn step by step. Luckily the instructions inside the module were very clear, and I was able to learn many new things. Thats all for this week, off i go!

Week 5: Developing Teaching Aids

Finally we got into some serious business, which was developing teaching aids. Today, Mdm Foziah asked every one of us to find a partner of the opposite sex. Then she distributed the topic to every pair. My partner was How Hui Sun, and our topic was year 3 My Body, Math is Fun and Underwater World. The topics sound easy right? Then Mdm Foziah explained to us the instructions of the tutorial task. She wanted us to find teaching aids for every stage in a lesson plan: Pre, While and Post. We have to find teaching aids that show the integration of technology.

Head and shoulder knee and toes, knee and toes, knee and toes...

Without wasting much time, my partner and I began our work. We tried to search online for teaching aids, and we have found quite a lot. Internet is really a wonderful thing, isnt it? Then my partner and I discuss on how to organize the teaching aids that we have found. I realized that technology can really bring a lot of benefits to teacher. For example when teachers want to teach parts of body, they can projects a big colourful and attractive picture cards to help their teaching. Not only that, teachers can also give online educational games to the pupils to play with. This will not only attract the pupils interest but also allow their to learn something as well. Therefore, teachers should really make full use of the internet!
You can find almost everything on the internet!

That was it for this week. Before I end, I would stress on the importance of integrating technology in teaching. This is because technology is really a wonderful tools that can make learning process much more interesting and meaningful than they used to be. Ok, buh bye!

Tutorial Task 2
Click here to download

Week 4: Oyea! Moyea is Here!

So, its week four, and today I have learnt about Moyea Youtube downloader. But before i go into details about that, let me re-cap what had happened for todays lesson.
So today started off with presentation of my group on the topic given last week, which was "Child's ability to grasp meaning." After the presentation, Mdm Foziah gave us her feedback. She stressed that it is very important for teachers to play their role in the class. Teachers must always always provide clues in order to help the pupils to achieve comprehension. A teacher who is dull, boring and flat (monotone, no facial expression) will make acquisition process harder for the pupils. Therefore I will always remind myself to be as creative as possible when teaching. I will vary my expressions and tones, as well as my teaching aids.
ame~ame~ ame~~apa benda tu

Next we proceed with others group presentation. TO be honest, i had learnt many things from them. There were many things that I knew but i had never paid any extra attention to. For instance, I realized the importance of "PLAY" among children. Children need to play, want to play and love to play. Therefore is teachers can integrate play in learning, the the teaching and learning process will be very very effective.
ahhhhh leave me alone!

After all the presentations, Mdm Foziah took over the class. She introduced to us Moyea Youtube Downloader. I have never heard of this software before, as I was using IDM( Internet Download Manager). Woa Moyea was really really fast! Oyeah! Mdm Foziah guided us step by step on how to use the software. Within 5 seconds, I have managed to download a video from youtube! That was very fast isnt it?

Moyea! Oyea!!!!!!

Before ending the lesosn, Mdm Foziah asked us to do some tutorial task, which was step by step tutorial on how to download video, mp3 and also lyric of a song! So this is the link to my works.

Week 3: Working With Young Language Learners

Heloo hello! Its already week 3, woa time really flies! So this week I had learnt about working with young language learners. What is working with young learners about? Well for teachers, we must be clear about this term. Working with young learners is not just about teaching them, but to facilitate them, encourage them ,motivate them so that they can become a balance, harmony and knowledgeable person.
Behold! The magical tree of alphabets!

In order to improve our understanding on this term, Mdm Foziah had given us 6 principles to read on. Then she asked us to choose one topic and then do a presentation on it. So the topic for my group and I was "Children's Ability to Grasp Meaning". This theory was about children's ability to understand adults even tough they might not understand every word in the sentences. This is because children were not born empty, but come with the skills to understand adult's utterances.

Hey I got brain, ok?

But how exactly can children understand us? This knowledge is very important for teachers, because we need this skills in order to teach effectively, especially when teaching second language (English). So children can understand our utterances through our intonation, gesture, facial expressions, actions, and circumstances. For example when the teachers use their finger to point down and say "Sit down", the pupils will understand the order, even tough they might not know the word "Sit" or "Down". Therefore, every teacher must be a good actor/actress! When we are teaching, we must make full use of our facial expression, gestures and intonation in order to help our pupils to grasp meaning.
Nightmare at petaling street

But thats not about it, teacher can use teaching aids as well in order to enhance the meaning. Teaching aids such as pictures card, word strips, and puppets can improve the pupils understanding, as they can easily link the meaning of the words with the teaching aids. For example teacher use the picture "Elephant" to teacher about "Elephant".

A for ant! not apple!

In summary, I had learnt many things today! Teachers can be anyone, an actor, singer, chancellor, and many more! I am glad i am future teacher! Cant wait for next lesson! Till then, sayonara!

Week 2: Lesson Number 1

So it was the second week in MU. Time really flies, dont they?! This week, Mdm Foziah introduced us to few Website which i think is very important, especially for future teachers.

First of all, she introduced us to the website called "Skydrive". Seriously I have never heard of the name before, and I believed the same goes with my classmates as well. All of us were wondering what Skydrive was. With a big smile on her face, she kindly introduced to us what skydrive is by projecting the image using LCD projector. Well, Skydrive or the full name is "WIndows Life Skydrive" is an online hosting website. It allows its' user to upload and save things on its' server for up to 5gb! wow that really is something! The best part is, Skydrive is totally free! Woa!

Behold.... Skydrive! I thought they have wings!

Next, Mdm Foziah introduced to us the term of touch typing. SO what is touch typing? Well touch typing is the ability to type (using laptop of course) without having to look at the keyboard. What did Mdm Foziah emphasized on this term? This is because she noticed that most of us were not a literate typist. Most of us were still typing with one or two fingers. In order to overcome this problem and to improve our typing skills, Mdm Foziah had kindly offered us an software which can help us to improve our typing skills. Thank you Mdm Foziah!

Finger A: Check! Finger B: Check! All finger ready? Ready! Full speed typing gogogogo!

Before ending the class, Mdm Foziah gave us our very first assignment, which was our weekly reflections (20%). We have to type our weekly reflections at our blogspot on the details of every lesson, just like what I am doing right now! I think thats all for week 2! Buhbye!

Week 1- Using and Developing Resouces For ESL Classroom

Name: Teh Ban Leng
Matrix no. : PEH 080068

This week was my first week in MU. When i first entered the computer lab for the course PBEY 3102, I was wondering what will i be learning. Looking at the computers all around me really excite me. I really have great interest in computer, and I have always believe that teachers should always integrate ICT in the teaching and learning process. Then she came, our lecturer Mdm Foziah. Very big smile on her face she welcomed us to her humble lab.

MU- A New Beginning

Without wasting much time, she introduced herself to us. Then she showed us what this course is all about. Just from the introduction that she gave I was already excited! I just realized that there are many things that can be done with the help of ICT. For example, I just realized that we can create our own minus one. That is a huge bonus for teachers out there, and I simply cant wait for that lesson to come!

Next she also informed us that we will be doing a lot of photo editing in preparing teaching aids. I have zero background knowledge in picture editing but I cant wait to learn about it. Mdm Foziah also asked us to prepare three things for her course, which were one 8gb pendrive, Adobe CS3 software, and a academic blog hosted on blogspot.
8gb Pendrive: Check!

Adobe CS3: Check!

Blogspot: Check! Do visit me at my old blog !

Lastly, Mdm Foziah shared some experiences with previous cohort with us. Looks like our senior had set a high target for us to follow up! I know it aint easy but I'm not going to give up! Till then, chow!