Second week of learning how to use the IWB

Yesterday was the second lesson of IWB that we attended. Indeed, the feeling of excitement to learn to use IWB has never vanished from myself since last week. During the first session, our lecturer, Prof Madya Dr Raja Maznah had shown us some interesting activities that can be implemented in a primary ESL classroom, using IWB. I felt this session was so resourceful. This was because, one day before we had this lecture, my group members were trying to plan and consider the type of activity that can be taught using IWB. But, still, we could not visualize it in our minds. But after this session, we felt so happy that our doubt was being cleared and we felt more confident to create one.

But different from what we had last week, we didn't get the opportunity to operate IWB this time. Instead, we got the chance to operate this SMART notebook through computers. But i think this second session created advantages for us as we could interact with the assistants if there were any problems or to clarify doubts about IWB if there were any, while exploring it ourselves. So, i took this opportunity to explore the functions and what so ever being placed in this notebook so that i would get familiar with it, thus making it easier for me to develop an activity using it. T hese included how to use spotlight, how to change the colour of the pen, how to hide one word and disclose another, and how to hide pictures and words.

But one biggest thing that i learnt in this session was how to make 2 words ungrouped. Maybe this sounds silly to some but this was quite a big thing to me. Actually, i had opened a blank page and put two emoticons next to each other on this page. So, below each emoticon i wrote the feeling each expressed. But however, when i wanted to change my writing into font, somehow these two words were recognized and grouped together. So, i tried very hard to ungroup them but it turned out that all the alphabets were grouped individually.So, my friends and i were trying to figure out the solution. After we had given up on it, then only we sought the help from the assistant. And the assistant came up with the simplest solution that i never thought, which was to write those words so far away, so that the smartbook would never recognize them as one word! So, actually i really wanted to laugh at myself but this was a part of the learning process. We would never learn unless we make a mistake. And also, sometimes when we learn something so complex, we would easily forget the simplest and most logical thing in attending it, because we will push ourselves to try and see everything in a complex manner. Have you ever experienced this before?

Reflection on IWB session

Last Wednesday, our first real technology lecture had taken place..Indeed i was amazed by this first lecture..reflecting on the title of this course, which is 'technology in primary ESL classroom', this very first lecture had actually played a good job in portraying it...why?Because this was my first time being introduced to the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB). Sound so usual?But to hear might not be the same as to see. This whiteboard is not a usual whiteboard! It is so full of technology that i never thought there would exist such thing. Actually, before this, i've got some opportunities to go teaching in school in my hometown during semester break. But considering my place was a sub-urb's, this thing never came across me..and that's plausible. But even when we were doing school orientation in this one school in KL town recently, all the teacher never uttered a word of this IWB.. I think, there is still a long way to go before we could actually use it effectively in the classroom. I felt very honoured to get this opportunity to learn new ways to make my future lessons become more interesting. The big font, the links, the colours, the animation, really attracts me. During the lecture, the lecturer had given us important input to make this thing worked. Even the assistants were a big help in helping us to get more interactive with this IWB. For the second session of this lecture, i got the opportunity to write my name on this board..and i got very fascinated as i got to write my name really well! Well, for some of us, the writing might turn out to be in dotted manner, and that is why i was so proud of myself! But what i can say is that: Seeing it is easy but to operate it needs a firm hand.

In conjunction to its usefulness in ESL classroom, i really feel that this IWB may be a helping hand to ESL teachers. I can't comment much as i haven't learnt to operate it thoroughly. But i can feel that the IWB might be a useful visual aid soon. Firstly, the IWB might be new to the children. So i feel by using this in our teaching, it might arouse pupils' interests in learning, especially primary pupils considering that they like to experience new things!Second thing, i really believe that motivation really plays a big part in determining pupils' success in learning. So, even a simple matter might degrade their level of motivation, including the feeling of frustrated for not to see what is happening in front of the class. So by using IWB, the pupils, even those at the back of the class might get to see what is happening in front, as the screen is big enough to be seen, and there is no such thing like the teacher's back blocking pupils' views, with the aid of the IWB. And also, i think what fascinated me when i was first introduced to the IWB might fascinated the primary pupils as well (but in a longer term than me i guess). But there are some questions i have in mind: in maybe 3 years time, would all schools be supplied with IWB? And will there be a lab or one class(like computer lab) that pupils can sit comfortably with IWB in front of them?

I think this is all i can share with you as i still have more lessons on the IWB to be reflected..So better save the best for the last...till then.

Has technology really changed the way we do things?

Previously, the issue of Malaysian primary and secondary school students getting permission to bring handphones to school has really caught my attention. I guess parents nowadays really do not want their children to be left out in this technology world...

When heard of the word 'technonlogy', automatically what was my mind visualizing were computers, handphones, handycams, internet, Ipod, and MP3. Not to be denied, all these equipment have made people's lives easier.In my opinion, technology has really changed the way we do things. But, dire consequences may result if we are too depending on it. Take an example, handphone; it can be considered as the most 'in thing' that people crazily crave for. For some, handphone is just a handphone.So long they get to call and to give SMS, it would be enough. For some, handphone is regarded as a multi purpose equipment as it can function to get in contact with someone, to gain information, to listen to songs and radio, to play games while waiting for someone, to take pictures or to record an event.From these, we could actually see this particular technology tool really change the way people do things.Compared to those days, people nowadays could make a call outside home. People would not have to read newspapers to get the latest news. People would not have to carry along cameras to take pictures.But, try to ponder on this upcoming question..If the hanphone got lost, what will happen?

Not to forget, for some, handphone is regarded as tool to portray status.Sometimes, friends would compete to get the latest handphone with the most updated technology. In conjuction to the issue of students bringing handphones to school, are we so sure it is a good privilage for them as they get to contact their parents if anything happened in school? What if they play with the handphones while the teacher is teaching in front? Will this matter change the way students do things in the clasroom? Try to think on the flipside. In my opinion, students motivations, especially primary school students are the utmost important aspect in determining their success in education. If this matter deprives schools from serving students a place for them to be 'in the same uniform',don't you think their motivation to learn will get distracted as well? Remembering back those days when I was in the primary school, i could still survive without a handphone in my school bag, so why shouldn't they?

But somehow, i could not resist the fact that i really support the effort of integrating computers to schools' subjects. The teaching and learning methods applied in school are changed. If those days, learning would be so teacher centred, now student centred learning is introduced using computers so that all students will get the same learning experience as well as to support the idea of constructivism in Malaysian classroom. Don't you think this has made teachers change the way they do things? Following this path, i'm so sure our students would not be left out in this technolgy world, as they get the knowledge of technology everyday and to experience to learn in a global manner (using different kinds of resources, not only books!)

the word 'first'...

First? I'm sure this word would be very popular this week among the B.Ed TESL students, including me. To all the readers, announcing the arrival of the 3rd year B.Ed TESL students into the Faculty of Education of University Malaya! Okay this is my story.When i was asked to sign up a blog and to post a blog, the word 'first' firstly came into my mind..d you want to know why? that's because this is my first week in the Universiti Malaya, my first time ever posting a blog in the net, my first experience of having to learn a subject totally with a computer in front of me for three hours and my first time to be introduced to the gigantic smart board! i've never thought there exists such thing. Well you can call me a computer- blind person but i hope through out this technology-centred semester, i would be able to learn abundance of new things and catch up with every technology 'things' that i have never bothered before. Looking at my title, 'newlife, new ways',i'm sure you can link this word 'first' to our new life, and to learn new ways to live our lives in this new place. So, to all my cohort mates...don't be afraid of this new surrounding, don't be afraid to try new ways to survive in this new surrounding and never afraid to enjoy your lives to the fullest ok(these advices would be very beneficial to me..haha..)!Good luck!