網站評鑑 (Group 4 )

網站評鑑 (GROUP 4)

We will evaluate the following two websites:

1. http://www.moe.gov.my/ 

2. http://www.djz.edu.my/v2/

The evaluations are performed using the following five criteria:

•        Authority: This refers to the website provider’s position either legal or non-legal.

•        Accuracy: This refers to the information accuracy.

•        Objectivity: This refers to the unbiased of the information provided in the website.

•        Currency: This refers to the information is the current or not (update or not)

•        Coverage: This refers to the targeted readers of the website.

	1. http://www.moe.gov.my/ Malaysia Ministry of Education (Website 1)	2. http://www.djz.edu.my/v2/ 马来西亚华校董事联合会总会 (Website 2)	Comparison /Differences
Authority	This is an official website of Malaysia Ministry of Education. Thus, it has high authority in the information provided.	This is an official website of the Malaysia Federation of Chinese School. Thus, it also has a high authority in the information provided.	Both are high in authority.
Accuracy	This website provides some statistics about education sector in Malaysia, and other latest development/issues in education. Their published information is regulated and accountability is held strictly by law. Thus, it has high accuracy in the information provided.	This website provides some brief information about Chinese education sector in Malaysia, and other latest news related to Chinese education. Thus, it has moderate accuracy in the information provided.	Website 1 has higher accuracy than website 2
Objectivity	This website is hosted by the Ministry and regulated by government strict regulations. Hence, some information which has negative impacts may not publish. Thus, it has moderate objectivity.	This website is hosted by a non-profit organization and it is regulated by many stakeholders from society. Neutrality is very important. Hence, it has high objectivity.	Website 1 has lower objectivity than website 2
Currency	Apparently, the website’s information is updated daily.	Apparently, the website’s information is updated daily	Both are high in information currency.
Coverage	The targeted readers of this website are the Malaysian public and also anyone who are seeking for information relates to the Malaysian education sector. Thus, it has a high coverage.	The targeted readers of this website are the Malaysian public and also anyone who are seeking for information relates to the Malaysian Chinese education sector. Thus, it has a moderate coverage.	Website 1 has higher coverage than Website 2

My reflections after course (4 June 2012)

Reflection 1: How a teacher manage his/her student relationship?

Teacher educates students, using traditional and modern tools (including web 2.0 tools). However, educating is a simple task. We need 10 years to grow a tree, and 100 years to educate a person!

If a teacher is too strict, the students will be unhappy and resisted. If a teacher is not strict, the students will not learn at their maximum capacity. How are we going to achieve a optimum point between "too strict" and "not strict"? My experience is there is no rule or guideline to it. We need to learn by try and errors. Practice and experiene are the most important.

Reflection 2: Am I going to use internet tools in my teaching of mathematic?

I may use the internet tools gradually. The most important to me now is how to teach UEC mathematic effectively to students. I will explore how these internet tools can help and this takes time. Also, the resources of school in using the internet tools are limited, internet connection in school are limited. Some students may not have internet connections. They need to go to internet cafe. Even with internet connection, students may spend their time on internet entertainment, instead of doing assignment.

Reflection 3:  Is traditional teaching still relevant today?

I think traditional teaching still relevant and all the internet tools are only be used as suplement. To implement the online study, my school need to improve its hardware readness and mental readness, especially from top management.

Do you agree that traditional teaching is still relevant?

Total reflection on these five days

These five days, I have learned many new knowledge and internet tools. The most useful for me, is the learning of action research. Action research stimulates my reflections on my teaching methods, and my student problems. The process of action research cultivates reflections and a scientific inquiry into a teaching or student problem. However, there is still long way for me to go to learn the action research.

I was introduced to many internet tools which I can use for teaching, social networking and presentations. Surprisingly, these tools also can be applied into my daily life – for example, I created my family tree using Bubl’us. I created my own blogger – a free one! Furthermore, the Delicious website is yet to explorer (due to internet connection problem), but the name “delicious” is indeed very attractive. All these are new experiences to me and I personally feel that these internet tools add colours into my life.

Besides, I also learnt how to control the class and sharing teaching experiences. Many examples are given in class and these examples stimulate my reflection on my teaching methods. For instance, how to control the class and how to deal with students effectively. In short, I learnt many new teaching methods.

Finally, I learnt on the new approach in evaluate on student performance.

I am particular impressed with my professor’s determination in teaching us. She teaches us more than eight hours per day and still, she is marking/reading our assignments at night! Thank you, professor Hao.

Reflection of day 5 (1 June 2012)

1. Reflect what you learned in class

Today, I learnt a new approach in student’s performance appraisal. This approach is different from what I have practiced before. Traditionally, student’s performance is assessed by examination, quizzes and exercises.  This new approach evaluates student performance from multiple dimensions.

The most interesting for me is in this new approach, we can use “ill-defined” performance appraisal. This ill-defined method provides a huge room for student innovation in their works – thus, students are not confined by the list of instructions on their works. However, in my class case, if I use this method, the students may have a “shock” and don’t know what to do. They will ask a lot of questions to ensure that their works are clearly defined! Nevertheless, I personally believe ill-defined method is a good method.

Today, I was working on my Prezi presentation, but in the middle of my work, the internet connection is not stable. My works were discontinues for many time! Indeed, some slides that I worked on are disappeared and this makes me sad (until now). This shows that internet tools are useful. However, we need to ensure that our internet connection is supportive!

2. 這樣的訓練課程, 有關培養反思科技運用在教學的能力,你認為自己到什麼程度?

(1-無,      2,      3,       4,       5,       6,      7-最大程度)

Answer: 6

This five day intensive course has introduced to me a lot of internet tools which are useful and facilitate student learning and teaching process. The tools open my eyes. Before this, I always believe no free lunch, but to my surprise, all these useful tools are free! What a beautiful life in internet!

While I am learning to use the tools, I always think on how to use these tools in my teaching of mathematics knowledge to students.

Reflection of day 4 (31 May 2012)

I answered 2-3 questions today.

1. Reflect what you learned in class & evaluate.

I had learnt how to combine technology and teaching today. We need to know what we want to deliver to our students before we prepare our class. I had answered 2-3 questions in class today and I found that lecturer really hear it and she tried to correct me to the right track. So, I hope from the mistakes, I will learn more. I also learned how to do action research report.

I also learnt what the negative impacts of internet are. Internet brings benefit to us. But, internet also can bring harms to us if you are not cautions. Therefore, we need to inform students about how to use the internet properly. Internet is a technology that students or teachers cannot avoid from using it. In this context, we need to guide our students properly on how to use the internet to their benefits and at the same time, minimize the negative impacts of internet. Learning the methods to appropriate use of internet tools are very important.

I had learnt many tools in internet which some of them are with costs, and some of them are free. We need to use the tools in internet in our teaching. Indeed, “online course” is getting popular in education sector. This online course integrates the internet tools and teaching into one, and the most important, it provides flexible time table for students (in particular, working student).

It is very important for teacher to play a good model for students. Teacher is a facilitator in student’s teaching and learning process. Students, as co-operators, need to collaborate with teacher to achieve their learning objective. We need students to engage into learning process.

It is very important that the tasks or assignments that we give to students are at a difficult level that suitable to students’ ability. Assignments which are too easy will make students bore. However, assignments which are too difficult will make students give up. Sometimes, students need to learn from mistakes. So, we shouldn’t afraid to let students make mistakes.

I also learnt the steps of implement an action research. It is very interesting to know the steps and indeed, it appears easy. But, I personally believe that its implement is not easy and only the practice will make the implementation perfect. I hope that I will have a chance to practice the action research.

2. How to combine the teaching methods with these tools in your teaching

I believe that students are heterogenous and thus, different students need different teaching methods and tools. There are two approach in teaching, i.e., teacher-centred and student-centred learning appoarch. We focus our discussions on student-centred learning methods, i.e., project-based, problem-based and case-based.

In project-based teaching methods, projects are provided to the students to solve. Bloger, wiki, Prezi, Bubl’us and other internet tools can be useful in design and implement the project. I believe that wiki can be used by students (and teacher) to discuss the project, and share the ideas on how to get the project done. For instance, in teaching mathematic, a project of calculating a distance between two building is given to a group of students, then, the students can discuss in wiki (while teacher can supervisor or facilitate their discussions).

I am teaching mathematic and problem based teaching method should be use frequently in my teaching. Mathematic teaching, by nature, involves posting questions to students to solve. Then, what I can use? Which tools are the most appropriate? A reflection has been made on these. At this stage, I believe, wiki can be an appropriate tool as well. However, this implementation needs a prior planning and also subjected to students’ readiness on using internet to solve mathematic problem.

3. 你已經開始在思考如何套用適當的教學方法及課程內容, 來使用這些科技工具上嗎?  

     (1-none,      2,      3,       4,       5,       6,      7-very much)

Answer: 4.

I feel that the internet tools have their usefulness. However, its implementation in my teaching will subject to the availability facilities, readiness, and the most important – the need of the subject in using the internet tools. This means the usage of these internet tools should able to increase the efficiency of teaching of this subject, as necessary condition (but still not sufficient). For instance, some mathematic teaching requires only human interaction, not through internet. Mathematical skills are gained through practice.

A sufficient condition is these usages of internet tool should subject to readiness of students, teachers and schools. For example, if the students are not ready (without wifi connection in school), no matter how good this internet tool, it cannot be used.

 

My family tree (created using Bubl'us)

Reflection of day 3 (30 May 2012)

Today, I answered two questions in class.

1. Reflect what you learned in class and evaluate

(a)
Today, I have learned three important theorems in teaching and learning. First theorem suggest to us that learning can be throught external stimulations. For example, a teacher gives gifts to her/his students who achieve certain level of learning, to get reinforcement in learning process. Second theorem tells us that we should focus on internal force of learning. For example, we need to motivate student to have a good attitude to think and remember on process of learning. Third theorem focuses on interactive in learining. It is a student-based learning where student's previous learning, and authetic of learning are important elements.

I personally feel that these three theorems are pointing out three different perspective in a learning process. Therefore, we can combine them together and implement them simultaneously to improve our teaching and learning. Innovation is the most important in this context.

(b)
Today, I also have learned on some important things on student-centred learning approach. This is quite different from what I practiced before - which is more on teacher-centred learning approach. The first student-centred learning approach is Project-based learning, which using authetic project. This project can divide into small stages, where students can have their learning stage by stage. Finally, they will produce a product (which real, can be used, can be learned, can be touched) and they wouldnt forget what they have learned.

The second student-centred learning approach is Problem-based learning. In problem-based learning, we give student a authetic and real problem. Let them solve the problem. Student are actively solved the problem and from the problem solving process, they learn the new knowledge based on their existing knowledge. For example, if we want students to learn about commerce; we give students a project on how to register a company in Malaysia.

The third student-centred learning approach is case-based learning. In case-based learning, we provide student with a relevant and interesting case. Then, student will discuss the case and answer questions which are provative and fruitful in developing student's thinking and communication skills. Students will discuss the case in groups and guided by teacher.

I personallly believe that there are a different way of teaching. However, it can very time-consuming and it is not suitable for big class. So, we can combine both the teacher-centred and student-centred learning approach. For instance, in a subject, we can use problem-based learning apporach in certain chapter, while other chapter still use teacher-centred approach.

(c)
Today, I learned how to use WebQuest in teaching. This website is very interesting and very helpful in our teaching. However, I may still take a long time to learn how to use it effectively.

(d)
Today, I started to think "can we solve the problem of student in class (such as do not submit homework/project) using technology that i have learned in these three days?". It appears that these tool may able to help. For instance, blog and wiki can be used as platform for student to prepare, complete and submit their project/homework. This is because our students are in cyber-aged and lazy in traditional ways of preparing project/homework. The online methods of doing project/homework can be attractive to them. so, why not we have a try on this?

 2. 不久的將來，你會先試驗這些工具在私人事务上嗎? (非學生的學習上) .

(1-none,      2,      3,       4,       5,       6,      7-very much)    Why?

Required: Blog, wiki, Prezi, bubbl, delicious (Optional)

Answer: 6.

The tool that I will use the most is Prezi because it has a colourful picture, and easy to use (even better than powerpoint). For me, it is amazing tool and I will definitely use it.

I am still not familiar with wiki and delicious. I am not sure about what wiki's function and how it can be helpful for me in my personal life. For delicious, i still not able to log into this website and experiencing on it.

For bubl'us, i found that it is very useful in drawing graph. I have tried to draw a family tree of me. Anyone who are interested, pls go and have a look!

Beautiful Sunset

Beautiful Scene

Reflection of 29may2012

1 . Reflect what you learn in class and evaluate will you use the technology (1-7,very much)

I agree that sometimes when we give students a lot of things, this doesnt imply that they will absorb all the things that we give to them. So,I think we need to know what students need. Sometimes, lack of teaching materials also causes problems to our teaching.

A similar and repetitive teaching style will cause students feel bore. When we face some problem such as complaints of student, we should think or reflect what we need to improve. I would like to share what I faced before. I went to a form 4 class and this class student are indeed smart. When I entered into their class, they asked me, "Do you really know how to teach?"; this question was posted very rudely and it made me felt humiliated. However, I had reflected why they ask me these problem and I had found the answer...What I gave is not enough to what they want. Too direct, they want something new. They want me learn more before teach them. To put it in a simple sentence, my class preparation was not good enough for them.

This morning I had answer 2 questions in class. I think the teachers are more willing to do the action reseach if it does not require a lot of paper works.

I may use the technology but only when it is neccessary (so, I choosed 5). I probably use the seach engines to find out some online exercises and make some powerpoint when it is needed.

2 Explain what you know about Blogger,Wiki, Prezi, Bubl'us and Delicious?

Today I had learned many things that I haven't learn before such as wiki,delicious (that hard to access at that time),blogger (I had used it before but in other subject). The tools I like is Prezi and Bubl.us .Actually the most I use before is only google search, yahoo mail, youtube, facebook and some other websites.

Blog is the websites that opens to public to share some readings, articles, comics, pictures, video,and so on. But, it has limited feedback or interactive system among the users. Wiki has many tools that easy for the teachers and students to share their works, knowledge and new ideas. It also helps them to create new ideas. Prezi is a smart tool that helps to prepare the slides in many atractive ways. It helps to create slide in more creative and colourful picture. The pictures are very nice to see and I believe many people will like and appreciate Prezi, especially my students. It gives a very effective and convenience function to prepare the slides. Another online technology, Bubl'us, helps us to draw pictures. Inside Bubl'us, we also can select some pictures. Delicious help us to collect others people ideas that similar to us.When we want to share food or find food, we just need to click on the title and the others similar ideas will "pop up". We all now are using pbworks that share the ideas in group.

However, before today's class,  the online technology that I use the most is Google and Yahoo search engine, and email. I have a facebook account but I seldom enter it.Google is qiute familiar for me because it can help me to find out the articles, meaning or places in a short time.

This is the first day of my class and this is my day one's reflection:

1. What I have learned?

今天上的课让我学到很多新的知识和观念。首先，郝讲师介绍TED，wiki 和delicious网站给我们。我们也在课堂上讨论了几道问题。其中有老师们在班上做到老师所提到的几个重点，分享一项让我们自以为豪的教学成就和在班上遇到的问题。郝讲师让我们有更多的思考的空间。老师们在班上不同的意见和见解让我获益不浅。

下午，我们上行动研究郝讲师为我们介绍行动研究的其他称呼。之后，郝讲师要我们想一下行动研究已经这么久了为什么没有老师做行动研究。休息十五分钟后，我们根据行动研究的文章的5个步骤做出简解。接着，剩余的时间我们到pbworks的网路和blogger的网站开新的户口。I had answered around 3-4 questions in class.

 2. My evaluation on what I have learned.

我学到的是我们老师要做足功课，解决学生们对课程 的学习动机。让学生们了解科目的重要性。老师也要时常做反思活动，引导学生正面思考，老师们不要因为一时的懒惰而影响学生们的学习进度。
我认为班级经营做得好或多样化不一定会引起学生们的学习动机，因为学生们的学习态度会影响整个教学过程。科技要善用才会有效的引起学习动机。

这是我第一次接触到行动研究，我对行动研究的评估是可以让老师们对本身的教学方法，环境和学生问题做出更深刻及有系统和科学化的研究，对老师们而言，行动研究是一个提升教学的工具。从行动研究的步骤及其螺旋循环特点，我们可以看出行动研究的实际应用价值。在这方面，老师们可以应用行动研究来提升本身的教学。

我对老师们没有做行动研究的理由感到很惊讶，其实老师们每天的工作都是和行动研究息息相关。在这方面，我个人认为没有做行动研究的原因比较倾向对于行动研究的不了解。

3. Do you consider technology as one of many tools for teaching and learning content?
   (1- none, 2,  3, 4, 5, 6, 7 - very much), why and how?

答案： 5。

原因：科技工具对教学与学习有很大的帮助 ，例如：Microsoft powerpoint 帮忙提高教学的效率并吸引学生的注意力。网上教学更是教育的一大创新，让不同区域的学生可以同时上课及交流。不过，教学的基本基础还是不能科技工具完全取代。人与人之间的交流与学习绝对不能完全科技化。

如何：我们可以善用网际网络来寻找教学材料并与学生交流，这将降低教学准备的成本。同时提高教学的效率。在电脑笔记本的应用方面，它让我们存放教学材料及分析教学数据。此外，电脑笔记本的多媒体应用也可以让教学变得多姿多彩和彩色化课室经营。