my last words before it really ends....

What do you like about blogging?
personally, i am not a person who like to keep a diary, so i was not interested in blogging that much, but i do write some poems or scribble something here and there. Too bad that i have gotten monkey hands, it just won’t stay still very long. And my best friends introduced me to the blogging world which i was a bit active be fore this, however, due to exam, stress and university life, i do not blog that often anymore. I like blogging because, it allows me room for me to pour out my feeling. I can also share knowledge, opinions, ideas and many more with people from all corners of the world. Blogging makes me feel less stresses as i am pouring out my feelings and i enjoy blogging.

2. What you do not like about blogging?
i dislike the fact that i can become addicted to blogging and some people who i do not like can read my blogs. I also dislike being grammartically judged in blogs, blogs are mainly to share ideas and knowledge, not to pin point on each other’s weaknesses.

3. What have you gained from blogging eg. Language skills, improved fluency, critical thinking, improved thought processes, technology skills etc.
honestly, i improved my typing skills, i can now type faster than before. My language has improved as i will always check and make sure that the grammar and other language rules are not offended. I learnt to think critically before jumping into the wrong conclusion.

4. How?
i weigh the pros and cons and then think carefully, i rationalize the scenario before arriving to any conclusion.

5. What do you like about this course?
The exploitation done on the resources. I like the fact that i am taught and allowed the freedom to do so.

6. What you do not like about this course?
Some complicated softwares must be taught in a more understandable manner.

7. What have you learnt from this course?
i have learnt a lot, photo editing, audio editing, video editing, how to use softwares like FxPhoto, Photoscape, Adobe and many more

8. What have you learnt from this course that you did not expect to?
i did not expect to be doing my own creations like my own video. I am so proud of myself for that.

9. What have u expected but do not learn from this course?
i was expecting to learn how to use technology to the maximum.

10. If you can change anything about this course, state what is and elaborate?
i want to change the way the instructions are given. Giving pupils a manual which has all the explainations of the softwares learnt and used in the course.

11. On a scale of 1 – 10, please rate your computing and technological skills for both before and after undergoing the course.
BEFORE- 5
AFTER - 8



with that my semester in UM officially ends....

the end

WEEK 14th. ……………………
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Honestly, i am so so so speechless. I cannot believe it, my first semester in UM is over!!!! I survived, am still breathing, am still in one whole piece, am still insane…. WOW!!!!! I feel like screaming on top of my lungs. I spent a whole lot of time back in “maktab’ wondering how thing will be in UM and now i know how things really work here in UM. I have no idea how the 14 weeks past, i still feel as though it was only yesterday we entered UM; the most prestige university in Malaysia. What I do know is that throughout the whole time I have learn a LOT of new things. I learnt new applicants and functions that will be helpful for me in future to use as part of my teaching in classroom.

I started with eagerness, but not ending it with sadness. I am going to miss the course. It was a very useful course as it taught me how to use the resources to my advantage in making my teaching and learning classroom activity a success. The only thing that i can promise is that i will make full use of whatever the course has taught me and offered me. Thank you so much to Pn. Foziah for her undying energy and effort. Without her, my learning would not been complete. Thank you so much ma’am.

Lesson Plan

Next up in the list is lesson plan. Many people have asked me what is lesson plan? Why is it important? lesson plans are actually a kind of manual used by the teacher that is prepared by themselves… it is important because, it is a framework that tell what need to be taught and when it needs to be taught. The lesson plan tells the teacher what to do at which point of the lesson, although it may not be 100% accurate, it is no doubt still the best way to keep the teachers on track.

And so was i to design lesson plans for my future lessons based on this very course, i am to use the resources knowledge that i have gained to design my lessons and see the practicality of carrying it out in classroom. Ma’am made our life easier by making the assignment as a group works. 4 people in a group. I felt more confident as i can discuss and share ideas before designing the lesson plan. Like what Vygotsky has said before, interaction is the best way to learn.

I have to admit that i am poor in time management so u suffered in handling not only this course’s assignments but also other course’s assignments. I find it difficult to juggle all at a time. But thank heavens, i manage to sail through the process…

next assign........

Work and more work….. can you name me a course that has no work, no assignment or no exam? I you can name me something that something is not worth being studied. A course which is being tested will make the pupils to study and understand it deeper. It proves that it has value and benefits that we need to master. Same goes to me, as a future teacher in this 21st century, it is not going to be an easy thing, kids nowadays are very smart and advance. So as a future teacher it is vital that i learn and equip myself with all the knowledge and skills that will be handy in my future profession.

A teacher has the vital weapon of changing, moulding, shaping and creating a person, an individual who is competent and fulfills the national philosophy. In order to do that i need my tool, a tecahers’ tool; TEACHING AIDS!!!!!!!!!!....this is the most deadly weapon that can make changes and shape someone. And my next assignment was to do a set of teaching aids that will be useful to us the future teachers in classroom.. we are to do it groups, we had the opportunity to brainstorm and share ideas, all these will come in handy when i am posted and became a full proper teacher. Thank you ma’am for guiding us to do our best. Till i see you all again,, bye………..

Making my OWN video...

OH MY GOD!!! That is exactly what i said upon hearing the task set my Pn. Foziah. Make my own video??? But HOW???? That was the main question that was doing a 100metres dash in my head. I have NO experience at all making a clip, a video clip. I admit i love to watch the video clips that are found online in youtube or metacafe.com however, it had never occurred to me that one day, i, THANUSIAA d/o NAGANATHAN would need to do so… nevertheless, a task is a task, i duty is a duty, the task set by ma’am for a future teacher like myself is a duty that must be carried out. so, i paired with Haziq and we brainstormed on what can possibly be our gist of the video.

Ma’am gave us time to discuss in class and told us to see her if at all we have any queries. Well, i at first had difficulties in deciding what will our message be in the video. YES, ma’am emphasized on a clear message-based video that can be used in the primary ESL classroom. There were a wide range of topis/messages that captivated my interest. I was browsing in my mind, mentally telling myself about all the possible choices that i have; love to parent, love towards animals, love toward plants, and many more on love. Conversely, i wanted to do something different, i my motto in life; DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.




My original idea was to put all the miseries that are found in the world in my video and ask the viewers to think and ponder ‘how lucky they are, that they are not in such position’.





However, when i consulted ma’am, she said that my idea ws good but the way i planned to develop it is not good. It is too scary and sad. Thus ma’am suggested that i do it on a smaller scale, in a story form. A story about a rich boy who is spoilt brat, neglects his education and wastes food, overall the boy is UNGRATEFUL to things that he has in life. The story revolves when the father of the boy decides to talk to the boy, the father takes the boy for a walk down a village. The villager are very poor and upon seeing the sufferings that they are going through, the boy realized his mistake and turns over a new leaf. That is basically my story for my video. Planning to put it in to action and hopefully it turns out to be good. Wish me LUCK ya friend, Ii will be back soon for more updates. And before I go here are some pictures used in my video.

MARCUS

LOOKING BACK…..

As the semester is at its end, when our very last assignment needs to be submitted, as i am looking through, looking at my blogs, i realized something. OH my, my…. I actually do not have enough blogs….wondered why, i did. and then i noted that i missed a blog in between the sixth week and the seventh. I made the eighth week blog to be the seventh, no wonder i did not have enough. I almost went hunting high and low for it. Isn’t this a common scenario among students? Getting confused, doing crazy things, forgetting events and activities, and many more. Looks like too many books have gotten into me these days. I have been dreading the day to come, to sit for my finals; my very first finals in UM. Phewwww…. That is the exact word that will describe how i felt when i realized which blog i missed and immediately blogged it, and the BiG, PHEWWWW is because, EXAM is over and after submitting the final assignment; the portfolio and the blogs, i will be FREE (atleast for this semester). Honestly, holiday is the main word that keeps me going, it is the one thing that is pushing me to my limits. Making me to hold on and not to slack along the way. It was not easy; definitely not easy, you can ask anyone in my cohort, they will tell you that they had a hard time. They will be lying a big time if they deny it. But the hardship is the one that SHAPES, MOULDS, and SHARPENS us and our abilities and make us stronger.

This week was task setting week and we were divided into groups that will be editing audios. Well, i have never done this but, there’s always a first time for everything and this is my first in audio editing. I came across a number of softwares that can be used to edit audios. Through learning this is realize that doing a rap song is not that hard after all. If you know the rule A-Z and you put in effort and time, you will be able to do it. I did try my very own so-called rap song. I rapped an old tamil song. Am i am very proud of myself for being able to do that. Never did i thought that i will be able to edit audios as i like. I am having a lot of fun with the course. Although for an outsider the course may look a bit awkward and weird and they may even be wondering “what is the use of this course?’ well for me, as a future teacher, it is important that we equip ourselves with all the possible knowledge, pupils nowadays are very smart and it will be a humiliation if the teachers are not capable of answering their questions. With the realization of my role and duty to the nation as a future teacher who have a strong influence on the future generation of the country, the future leaders of the nation, i am resting my thoughts and reflections for the time being. I will be back soon to share more of my thoughts and ideas, till thank mucho gracias and bon voyage. ;-p

Video viewing in class

This week, ma’am came to class and said she will be coming in only 40mins later. She was not feeling well, pity her. The terrible weather and haze made many people fall sick. And with H1N1, things were even worse. Not was she the only one sick, I was also not feeling myself. I am suffering from allergic rhinitis a.k.a sinus. My doctor friend corrected me sometime back. I realized even more these days that I am learning something new each and every week if not days. I am doing things that i have not done or tried before. The evidence is the short video clip that I and my pair, Haziq did for the resources class. So while waiting for ma’am, we uploaded our video into the computer as we were going to watch it together and enjoy the good job done by ourselves. We may come from different background and culture but we, future teachers think alike, anything that we do nowadays has an embedded message, just like the very video clip that we all did. Each and everyone had a message; not any message but meaningful message that are suitable to be used in the teaching and learning of English language in primary classrooms. The creativity and effort was clearly seen by the fantastic video clips made.

We had many interesting and awesome videos, some were on love; love for dad, some were food for thought; do not take life for granted, and some were memories that can never be forgotten; COHORT 4, ONE BAND ONE SOUND….
Weather is it still the same or not does not matter, what matters is that we learnt a lot together and it made each and every single one of us wiser and ready to face the real world as teachers, as citizens, as human. I am proud to say that each piece of video was unique and we had a great time watching it together and laughing and a few of it. We commented on the videos as we were watching them. We shared our point of views and ideas on the message delivered through the video clip. We even had a discussion among ourselves of how to make the clips better and what were the weaknesses and strengths. Ma’am was happy and impressed with our work. She was smiling and nodding; approving our concept n way of presenting our ideas and message. No doubt, ma’am was helping us since the beginning; from the storyline, the storyboard, and others. She taught me how to edit a video and even to make my very own video. Never have i thought that i will be able to make my very own video. But thanks to ma’am, i did n i will in the future for my lessons. I am going to stop here for this time and will be back again, updating my progress in this course.

Video Editing

After learning photo editing, audio editing now we have progressed to video editing. I used to wonder how others edit video that I watch at youtube.com; this lesson answered my question/wonder.

Time to submit our very first set of tutorial for this course since the semester started. We had to submit three sets of individual work (photo editing, audio editing and e-book) and a set of group work on audio editing. We colour printed all of the tutorials; we also burned each and every set of work in a CD to be submitted to ma’am. I taped the tutorials together with the CD at the back of the tutorials for each set of work. And we compiled the group work for audio editing in class.
The week’s class did not just end with the submission of the tutorials, Ma’am also set us task which was to do power point presentation of the following chapter in the book and mail it to ma’am. That was the first task; the second was for us to do a summary of the research article that ma’am gave us in groups. That was all for the week’s lesson in MK2.

Tutorials.....

This is the week where I felt the course being a course that we are being assessed. All the while I have been having fun learning new thing and software till I almost forgotten that I am being assessed. Ma’am told us that we have to submit our tutorials for photo editing, e-book and also audio editing the following week. She told us to choose a picture that we feel is our best of all that we have uploaded in photobucket.
As for me of course I am going to use the picture of water lilies that I have edited. I am proud of that piece. I love it a lot. We have to ‘print screen’ the page and explain the steps taken in editing the pictures and audio. It is more like teaching another person how to do what I have done by typing and using pictures of the step through ‘print screen’ button instead of talking.
And the same goes for all the other tutorial; e-book. I used goanimate.com for my e-book, my rationale for using it is because it has more colourful pictures, characters. It is also user friendly. We also have to do a group audio editing. I was the leader of my group which consists of Haziq, Helmi, Fikri, Faizal, and Syafizee. There were altogether 22 songs that we have to edit, so we divided the songs and edited it. That was most of all for the week. Thank you for reading

E-BOOK

After editing photos and playing with FxPhoto the previous week, now we are doing something else. This week it is ‘E-BOOK’, I would not lie and say I do not know what and ‘e-book’ is but I never thought I would be doing one myself. I am a HARRY POTTER craze person. After watching the movies, I wanted so much to actually read the book(s) however I could not afford the books and could not also borrow any from my friends. Hence what I did was; I started saving money to buy the books. In the mist of my disappointment, I saw a shout out in ‘friendster’; a friend of mine who is also a ‘harry potter’ craze invited me to join the ‘Harry Potter’ Fan Club.

It was then, after joining the club that I was mailed the ‘e-books’ of harry potter. I was very happy and read the whole set more than 10 times since then. This is how is got to know about ‘e-book’. So I was expecting something similar to what I had read in the class and begun wondering how young language learners are going to enjoy it. That was my question, nevertheless ma’am answered my question by showing some samples of ‘e-books’ done by some seniors. Only then I realized that ‘e-books’ can be in a few formats.

The class was on what and how we are to do our ‘e-book’ based on the topics found in the KBSR syllabus. Ma’am asked us to personally consult her on our ideas of how we are going to do the ‘e-book’ and what is our focus. She helped me a lot by suggesting ways I can do the ‘e-book’. I, being a bit curious looked up in the net for more information on ‘e-book’ and this is what I found in Wikipedia.

It says that an e-book (short for electronic book, also written eBook or ebook) is an e-text that forms the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book, sometimes protected with a digital rights management system. E-books are usually read on personal computers or smart phones, or on dedicated hardware devices known as e-book readers or e-book devices. Many mobile phones can also be used to read e-books. Technology had made many things possible in this 21st century.

When I went deeper I found out on more the history of ‘e-book’. I found that early e-books were generally written for specialty areas and a limited audience, it is also meant to be read only by a small and devoted interest groups. The scope of the subject matter of these e-books included technical manuals for hardware, manufacturing techniques, and many other subjects.
Numerous e-book formats emerged and proliferated, some supported by major software companies such as Adobe's PDF format, and others supported by independent and open-source programmers. Multiple readers naturally followed multiple formats, most of them specializing in only one format, and thereby fragmenting the e-book market even more. Due to exclusiveness and limited readerships of e-books, the fractured market of independents and specialty authors lacked consensus regarding a standard for packaging and selling e-books. E-books continued to gain in their own underground markets. Many e-book publishers began distributing books that were in the public domain. At the same time, authors with books that were not accepted by publishers offered their works online so they could be seen by others. Unofficial (and occasionally unauthorized) catalogs of books became available over the web, and sites devoted to e-books began disseminating information about e-books to the public.
That is all for this time round, there will be more so stay tune my friends…..

Fx Photo

A lesson that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have always wondered how on earth people edit pictures so well. And I wished that I knew how so that I can do so. My long awaited question has been answered in this lesson. The fifth week was on FxPhoto. I love this software. We were told to download the software before the class. The lesson started and we found out that ma’am was actually not feeling well. Even then, she made it to our class, I was very touched by her concern for us and I admire her perseverance. She asked us to venture through the software and come up with our ‘masterpiece(s)’. I had a wonderful time trying out and made my masterpiece which I am very proud of and satisfied with. Even ma’am praised me for a good job done. I was very happy. This is my masterpiece......

This is before editing. How do you like it? I just love it so much. The editing picture symbolizes a very harmonious feelings and purity. Love the Purple colour and the white tooo...... That is all for the time being friends. There are more to come.....

Time Flies

Week FOUR…
Time flies so fast that I had failed to notice that it’s been almost a month I have been here in this university as an undergrad. Life is very challenging but despite the challenges I had a lot fun and memorable moments that I will never forget in my life. I had the opportunity to get to who are my true friends and who are those who have bee faking; parasites. I really thank GOD the ALMIGHTY for that.





This week’s class was a bit different as there were some problem with the internet connection in the MK2, so she had to resort to the traditional style of learning; the BOOKS!!! But not to say that we never incorporated some technology in the week’s lesson. We went into the groups and discussed for a few topic in the books at one go; we are very efficient and good students =)

We very more advance than the other class we did a few topic for the whole 3hours, we also had a chat with maam, who shared some of her experiences with us.

Week 3

I never knew that MJ actually sang a melodious Malay song before his sudden death that shocked many. The lesson was on how to download the songs. We are to also show steps by steps of how we arrived to the very last step. I found it very interesting. I will not deny the fact that I lack in computer knowledge. I only have the basic knowledge on computers. The lesson was something new and I was very attentive. I had fun doing it. Then we had to discuss in group o n topic one and do a short presentation. Although it was our first presentation, we were good at it. The day ended with Pn. Foziah setting us some homework; we had to do a summary on the topic in the primary school syllabus.

I never knew that MJ actually sang a melodious Malay song before his sudden death that shocked many. The lesson was on how to download the songs. We are to also show steps by steps of how we arrived to the very last step. I found it very interesting. I will not deny the fact that I lack in computer knowledge. I only have the basic knowledge on computers. The lesson was something new and I was very attentive. I had fun doing it. Then we had to discuss in group o n topic one and do a short presentation. Although it was our first presentation, we were good at it. The day ended with Pn. Foziah setting us some homework; we had to do a summary on the topic in the primary school syllabus.

Another week gone...

It is my second week here in UM. I am try my level best to cope with the new surroundings and teaching and learning styles.... I have been surviving so far, and am sure I will get the hang of it.

My second lecture was smooth sailing… we got two books; one is teaching English in the primary classroom and another is preparing and using visual aids for English language teaching.. we started the class by filling in a form about ourselves and continued with chapter one from the first book mentioned. We had to group ourselves and then we were told to read page 8 (my group). It is a easy task. Then the big task came; we had to do a portfolio. My group is doing portfolio on internet skills. Honestly, I was lost for a moment or two till I was enlightened by the lecture. We were then got into our groups and started copying all the previous portfolios done by our seniors which will be our guide to certain extend. It seems to be a easy job but the truth is it is not. It took us ages to get it done. And thanks to the lecture, Pn. Foziah, she treated us lunch, yummy ‘nasi goring ayam’ (thank you ma’am). Now I have additional work; I know it is part and parcel of life but I justcannot help grumbling about though.

Actually am worried about what is going to happen to me in the future? I am here in UM studying to become an English Language teacher for primary school pupils. My minor is science and it is in English. But now there are changes in the education system. No more teaching of science and mathematics in English starting from 2012.




Oh My GOD!!!! I am worried. I am worried that whatever I am studying now will be a waste of energy, time and effort. But I am aware that I cannot complain as I am under scholarship; like they say ‘beggars cannot be choosers’. I am going to leave it to GOD now. I will keep updating so stay tuned (*_^)

My first Post

I had no idea of what the course was all about; PBEY3102, USING AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES FOR THE ESL CLASSROOM. I was very blur and dazed when I walked into the MK2. I was enlightened by my lecturer. Then only I was aware of what am I getting myself into. This semester we are often using ICT that it actually scares me; being not so good in it. But I will learn and do my best =)

The lecture was started by a short introduction and then we were told to send our particulars to the lecturer’s mail. Next, we created another blog; yes, another blog. I already have a blog of my own and I had to create one for my science course and then another for my technology course and now resources. I it not that I am complaining but I am afraid how I am going to keep up with it all….. I am worried. I am not a very active blogger, I only blog whenever the mood strikes. Now I have to make it a habit to blog every week and at least 3 compulsory blog for my courses. May GOD Bless me =)

I find the new environment different and difficult to follow the flow. It will take time, but am sure I will fit in just fine…. I will keep updating this blog along with the course….. Take care and thanks for reading…. Have a nice day =)