Class This Week - "Questioning to Promote Learning"

Hi Folks

This week's class is "Questioning to Promote Learning" and it will be at T4A21. See you there either on Wednesday or Thursday! Please do bring your laptops that can connect to the web.

PS - For Wednesday's class, we will begin at 2:15p.m. as I will be coming from DMIT. See you then!

FINALLY!!

Hi Folks

I have finally completed the easy guide to the teaching portfolio which you must submit to me to signal the end of your CT journey. So here it is, a template which is quite comprehensive and easy to understand. (I hope!)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE

Action Research Resources

Hi Folks

The slides for both AR workshops are available. I have also created a discussion board for us to post questions and to hopefully help each other out. The discussion board is housed in BB and all you need to do is to click the link below and log in and it will take you to the resources. Happy Doing!

CLICK HERE to access AR RESOURCES

Action Reseach Fundamentals

Hi Folks,

Please download this zip file and extract the contents. I will tell you what to do with it during class. Thanks!

http://www.mediafire.com/?zimz2zyzzlw

Your Help is Needed!

Hi Folks,

As you may know, the ESD training room T4A21 will soon be renovated (Thank Goodness!). We are now looking at the type of furniture to buy and since you kind folks will be using these furniture, I thought it would be nice to ask you for your opinions. You have a choice of 3 chairs and 3 tables. Make your choices by clicking the link below. Thanks for participating!

Click Here to take survey

Something to Share

Hi Folks

We are now into week 2. How has the first week been so far? I hope it has gone well for you and you had a good weekend. I thought I'll share with you this website www.aalf.org This foundation was set up for the idea that learning can happen anywhere and anytime. Anyway, they have a comprehensive website that you can browse through. I am directing your attention to http://www.aalf.org/News/default.aspx this is the news section where various instituitions around the world share their experiences with anytime anywhere learning. Enjoy.

Also, this week's class is on "Designing for Active Learning" which yours truly will be doing with you. See you on Wed / Thu at 2p.m. at T4A21.

Class for Next Week

Hi Folks,

It's a Friday! You have survived a week back! I saw my students for the first time today and I must say they are a all very very different and I think it will be a very interesting challenge to engage all of them. It may be a challenge but I bet it will be an interesting one. Am already thinking of how I can make them come out of their shells and be more vocal. This is quite an irony considering the fact that next week's Wednesday and Thursday's class is "Designing for Active Learning".

I will share with you some active learning strategies that some lecturers have used for both large and small groups. Don't forget to bring your laptops and don't forget to sign up for the course for catering purposes. Cheers folks and have a well-earned weekend to recharge!

See you on Wednesday or Thursday!

Weclome Back! Some Admin Issues

Hello folks!

Welcome back to the new term! Just some admin issues for you today. The new training schedule is ready and you can download it and plan your training for the next term. If you have already attended the workshop, you DO NOT have to do it again. This is where you will need to do your own tracking. Copies of the tracking form can be downloaded as well. Refer to the side bar on "Useful Downloads".

Also, I have started to link blogs which have been kept by participants on the CT programme. They have kindly agreed to share their thoughts with all of you. If you do have a blog, please do share the blog address with me and I will share it with the rest.

I would like to out on record my thanks to Roy Ang from MM, Yap Chin Hooi from MM, Abdul Rahim BE and Siti Rohanah from CASS for sharing their blogs! You can read their blogs by accessing the links on the right of this blog. Enjoy....

And finally, the class slated for this week is "Writing Good Learning Outcomes". See you either Wednesday or Thursday!

Your CT Assignments

Hi Folks

I have finally created a video guide on what you will need to do for the CT assignments. Please feel free to watch the video and do provide comments if any. The video resides in Blackboard so you will be prompted for your user id and password. Turn up the volume and enjoy!!!

CLICK HERE to launch video

Something to Share

Hi Folks,

SingTeach which is a publication of CRPP in NIE, has some interesting reading this month. Have a look at the one about conducting classes outside the classroom and let me know what you think!

Click HERE to access SingTeach!

Training Schedule Updated!!!

Hi Folks,

The CT training schedule has been updated and you can download it

HERE

If you need clarification, please check back with me. Thanks!

The Aftermath

Hi Folks,

Thank you for taking part in the one week CT "Design Project Using Laptops" Workshop. I had lots of fun and I hope you did too. More importantly, I applaud you for taking some risks and showing some creativity in the design of your lessons. Excellent job! Anyway, this is the stuff that you need to prepare to be submitted.

1) Learning Design Worksheet

2) Learning Design Template

3) Resources used e.g. PPTs, handouts, Discussion boards, blogs, wikis etc

4) Copies of peer evaluation form

You will need to submit BOTH hard and soft copies. For CT participants, please compile everything and put in your portfolio with all other assignments

Non CT participants, please compile it and send it to your respective facilitators.

*PS - Although it is a group effort, EVERYONE must have a copy of all the 4 above. If you are not sure, please call / mail me. Thanks!

Blog by a fellow Educator

Hello folks,

While you are all putting the finishing touches to your design projects, I though I'll share with you a blog that is kept by one of very own just recently graduated from the CT programme lecturer. Here she blogs about her experience as an educator and it does serve for some compelling reading. She has kindly consented for her blog to be linked here. So enjoy reading and let me know if you have a blog that you keep or know of any good educational blogs to share. Cheers!

http://bloomsbureau.blogspot.com/

21st Century Learning

Hi Folks,

Now that some of us are hard at work designing a mind blowing lap top lesson, I thought I'll share with you a video that my colleague was sharing with ESD on 21st century learning. The presenter of the video is Sir Robinson, a visionary and a thinker who has a sense of humour. Anyway, in this video he talks about what 21st century learning will be like. Watch and enjoy and leave a comment on what you think and how this impacts us as lecturers for students of the future.

This is the link. PS - Be patient when you download it as it is 60 MB. Cheers! Or you can watch it from the blog directly if you dont want to download a copy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=4ae41d9643a90bf37069484bded33bcd004ab91c478d7100

Something to Think About

I was surfing the web recently as we were doing the laptop project and I cam across this article that had some professors ban the lap top in their classroom because they felt that the lap top served too much as a distraction. Anyway, Professor Oscar Madison in his blog seems to counter these suggestions. More interestingly, a student has responded to the debate (you can read more on the blog HERE) and this is what he / she has said:

"As a student, I am relieved to see Althouse, Conglomerate, Nina and Oscar inject some sense into this completely overblown mess. This seems to be either about egos and/or generational stubbornness. Dynamic and engaging teaching styles grab students’ attention lowering the appeal of in-class surfing. This teaching style is more common among young faculty, who from what I have been observing, enjoy as a group a lower-than-average rate of in-class wireless activity. Those who don’t, let’s be honest, feel disrespected. A clear choice: either make an effort to get in tune with your students or get over it, or more appropriately, get over yourself. Generational stubbornness? Maybe. The sentiment implicit in ‘pissed-off’ faculty complaining about wireless activity tastes just like the out-of-touch excuses we get from the administration when addressing laptop usage in final exams and faulty wireless in the law school building… again, get over thyself for the good of all of us.So what about wireless sinners “distracting other students.” Let’s be clear, there is nothing viable/enforceable that can be done. Let’s say the class agrees on some in-class standard or kind of wireless activity. Now let’s assume I break it, will I get kicked out, docked a point or two off my final grade? Nothing, that’s what will happen to me; nothing outside of the disapproval of my fellow students and professors. Unless of course some professors have their way and take us back to the days when spanking a student in front of the class was okay. Etiquette and decorum already determine the norm of in-class wireless behavior! Let’s all move on."

What do you think?

Lesson Design Project Using Laptops - Registration Now Open!

Hi Folks,

the registration for the Lesson Design Project Using Laptops is now open. Please register via Easys. You will need to be in the SPICE environment to access Easys and register. Look for "CT Laptop Workshop". The class will be from 22nd Sept - 26th Sept and for 5 full days. As usual, please emailme if you have questions or leave a thought at the C-box at the side of the panel.

Thanks! PS - The programme is at the bottom of this post.

Lesson Design Project Using Laptops

Hi Folks,

This entry is just a reminder for you to mark out your dates for the CT Lesson Design Project Using Laptops. It is scheduled to run from 22nd September to 26th September 2008. The link to register will be sent soon. Essentially, as you will no doubt already know, SP has made buying of laptops compulsory for all students. The question is, are we harnessing the power of these laptops in our classrooms? Well, this workshop will hopefully give us a few ideas on how this can be done. In the coming weks, I will be putting up these ideas here via video for your comments and also for us to get a few creative ideas. Basically the programme will be as follows:

Monday 22nd September 2008

AM - Lesson Design Using Laptops incorporating the Core Principles of Learning

PM - Lesson Design Maps

Tuesday 23rd September 2008

AM - ETools as suggested by participants

PM - Left to groups to design their project

Wednesday 24th September 2008

AM & PM - Left to groups to design their projects

Thursday 25th September 2008

AM&PM - Left to groups to design their projects

Friday 26th September 2008

AM & PM - Presentation of Projects by group members and peer evaluations

*PS - ESD staff are available throughout the week for help and consultations.

See you guys on the 26th! By the way please feel free to share ideas on technology by posting ideas, links, pics in the comments page!

On This Day!

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!!!!

On this special day, I would like to share with you a poem my students gave me which I still have till today. Enjoy your special day!

Why God Created Teachers

When God created teachers,

He gave us special friends

To help us understand his world

And truly comprehend

The beauty and the wonder

Of everything we see.

And become a better person

With each discovery.

When God created teachers,

He gave us special guides

To show us ways in which to grow

So we can all decide

How to live and how to do

What's right instead of wrong,

To lead us so that we can lead

and learn how to be strong.

Why God created teachers

In His wisdom and in his grace,

Was to help us learn to make our world

A better, wiser place.

CT COP Reflections

Hi Folks,

I hope you have had a good weekend. I know some of you are desperately marking and are looking forward to a good holiday. Hang in there, the holidays beckon! I thought I'll send you guys off into the holidays with some reflective thoughts on the session. Firstly, I thank you all again for coming and it also occurred to me that most of you rated the session as very enjoyable but when it came to networking amongst your colleagues, mist of you felt that you did not have enough of an opportunity to do so. How can we improve the session the next time? In other words, how can we allow for more networking? Maybe play a few games? I would appreciate it if you could leave a comment on how this can be done.

Secondly, I would like to thank the presenters again for their sharing. I think the one thing that caught my attention was how each of you have this desire to make your classes fun and interesting for your students. I salute you. Please feel free to use this blog to share teaching ideas with your colleagues. This is your platform. I think now as you guys and gals start to hone your teaching skills and start to raise the teaching bar, I would like to challenge you guys and gals to go one step further to aim higher, what else can you do to be truly effective lesson designers? What can you do to create the "WOW" experience for your students? It is at this point I will shamelessly point you guys and gals to the Core Principles of Learning again. Have a closer look at the Core Principles and see what you think. Revists often bring new perspectives.

Thirdly, I think there are a lot more of you who have interesting stuff to share and I would like to urge you to share them with the rest. I have a former colleague from MOE who is now ith Temasek Poly and I have been trying to get him to get his lecturers to begin a COP as well so that we can move across institutions. I think that might take some time though as he is a nw staff there and he is just settling down.

Lastly, the Lap Top Design programme is on and see you on the 22nd of September. I am sorting out the groups and will be sending you the link to sign up soon. Cheers and have a good and restful holiday!

The Aftermath

Hi Folks,

Thank you for coming to the first CT COP yesterday at the Vanda Room. I am pretty chuffed that quite a number of you managed to take time out from your busy schedules to come down. I hope you managed to make new friends and connect with your colleagues across disciplines and departments. Also, I would like to place on record, my thanks to Roy, Carlos and Wan Fen for sharing with us their good work they are doing with their class.

Okay just beofre you guys head for a well deserved break and a holiday, could you please do this quick survey for me with regard to the COP yesterday so I can make improvements. Your suggestions on themes, possible speakers are also welcome. Once again thank you for coming!
Click Here to take survey

First CT Get Together!

Hi Folks

The first CT get together will be on the 27th of August at 3p.m. at the Vanda Room. The objectives of the get together and the programme are as follows:

- Build a community of lecturers keen on improving teaching and learning practice
- Share new and innovative ideas that can be adopted in the classroom
- Connect with fellow lecturers from different disciplines and build networks

The Programme is as follows:
2:45p.m. - Gather at Vanda Room
3:00p.m. - Refreshments begin
3:30p.m. - Opening Remarks
3:35p.m. - Sharing by Roy Ang (MM)
4:00p.m. - Sharing on Giving Feedback to a Large Group by Yip Wan Fen (CLS)
4:30 p.m. - Sharing on Using Technology in the Classroom by Carlos Acosta (EEE)
5:p.m. - Closing statements and end of programme!

You can register by clicking the link below. You should be on the Intranet though!

Registration => CT Community of Practice Meeting on 27 Aug 08

Using Wikis to Write Lecture Notes Collaboratively

Hi Folks,

Here is an interesting article on how Wikis are used in the classroom. An interesting read that you mught find useful if you are thinking of using Wikis in your own classroom. Get a discussion going if interested! Click the link below to download the PDF file. Enjoy and Happy National Day!

http://www.mediafire.com/?ptkojwps3yz

Mid Week Oh So Cheem Article

Hi Folks,
I hope the week has been treating you well so far. Thought I'll share with you an article that Senior Education Advisor Dennis Sale was sharing with me. Read this and let me know what you think.

An Obituary printed in the London Times........ Interesting and sadly
rather true.

'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who
has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,
since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the
worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children,
are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens
suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the
job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could
not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have
an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;
and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common
Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar
in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in
her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,
by his parents, Truth and Trust
his wife, Discretion
his daughter, Responsibility
his son, Reason
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on.
If not, join the majority and do nothing.

How Much Do You Make?

The title caught your attention didn't it? I know as educators we don't earn very much and I also know this as a fact - that many of you have taken pay cuts from the industry to come into teaching to make a difference. So this post is not about the tangible rewards of how much we are worth, (in my opinion we are worth SOOOOO much more than we are currently paid) but about the intangible rewards. This is one of my all time favourite teacher stories and I must thank Elaine because I got this from her comments on the online course. It is not really "emo" but rather it gets you think on two fronts - how much are we really worth / can you really put a dollar value on what we do and more importantly, the incredible amount of power we yield as educators in the classroom. At the risk of a cliche - "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. Enjoy the story and thanks Elaine for sharing it!

WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest;"You're a teacher, Susan. Be honest. What do you make?"Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" "I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.I make a C+ feel like the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.""You want to know what I make?""I make kids wonder.I make them question.I make them criticize.I make them apologize and mean it.I make them write.I make them read, read, read.I make them show all their work in math and perfect their final drafts in English.I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you must pay no attention because they just didn't learn."Susan paused and then continued.

"You want to know what I make?" 'I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.' What do you make?"

Lesson Study

Hi Folks, have not written for a long time. I apologise for that. As I sit here in the darkness thiking of what to share with you, I thought I'll let you read what our counterparts in Japan are doing in terms of "Lesson Study". Have a look when you need something to relax you and se what you think....Will write soon with new stuff.

http://www.tc.edu/lessonstudy/lessonstudy.html

Lesson study* is a professional development process that Japanese teachers engage in to systematically examine their practice, with the goal of becoming more effective. This examination centers on teachers working collaboratively on a small number of "study lessons". Working on these study lessons involves planning, teaching, observing, and critiquing the lessons.

To provide focus and direction to this work, the teachers select an overarching goal and related research question that they want to explore. This research question then serves to guide their work on all the study lessons. While working on a study lesson, teachers jointly draw up a detailed plan for the lesson, which one of the teachers uses to teach the lesson in a real classroom (as other group members observe the lesson). The group then comes together to discuss their observations of the lesson. Often, the group revises the lesson, and another teacher implements it in a second classroom, while group members again look on.

The group will come together again to discuss the observed instruction. Finally, the teachers produce a report of what their study lessons have taught them, particularly with respect to their research question.

*"Derived from the Japanese word jugyokenkyuu, the term 'lesson study' was coined by Makoto Yoshida...

http://www.rbs.org/lesson_study/faq.php#study

Mark Your Calendars

Hi Folks,

Okay the Poll results are in! We are going to have the CT Makan, Network, Call it what you want session on the 27th of August at the Vanda Room. Refreshments will be served for those of you coming after classes. I am intending to start at 3:30p.m. as some of us may have GEMs classes to teach (Moi included). We will have 2 speakers share with us some of their thoughts and then its free for all!!! I intend to end by 5:30p.m. I will be sending you a formal invitation soon! Take care and see you all soon!

Something to Think About - Video

Hello folks, have a look at this video. Tell me what you think!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5629273206953884671

PMP Briefing

Hi Folks,
Su Won from HR will be sending you an email soon requesting that you attend the PMP (Performance Management Programme) briefing for new staff. This programme is EXTREMELY important as this concerns performance management in SP and hence your performance bonus etc.

The briefings are planned for 24th July 2008 and 28th August 2008. These are Thursdays and they WILL NOT clash with the CT workshops. The 24th of July CT workshop is an online one which means you do not have to be physically present to do the course. Hence you can attend the HR PMP briefing. As for the 28th of August, no training has been planned for that day.
So dont be alarmed when you receive the email from Su Won. If you need to clarify the details of the PMP, please check directly with Su Won. I will be as usual available for any queries on the CT.

Updates for This Week

Hello folks,
I realise that some of you have been asking about whether there is class this week. Yes there is. This week, Senior Lecturer Dennis Sale will take you on a 2 part journey on Designing Performance Based Assessment. Part 1 of the workshop will be held this week and part 2 next week. This series of workshop is extremely important as one of your deliverables will be to design a performance based task and also design the marking scheme for it. Hence, I would strongly urge you to attend the classes.

Part 1 this week will deal with Designing Performance Based Assessments. Part 2 next week will deal with Assessing Performance Based Assessments.

You will need to REGISTER for this workshops via Easys. You will also need to sign up for both sessions. *Please register for the correct class on Easys. Designing Performance Based Assessment 1 will run on Wednesday 2nd July 2p.m. or Thursday 3rd July 2p.m.. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EITHER WEDESNDAY or THURSDAY. Venue will be T4A21

Designing Performance Based Assessment 2 will run on Wednesday 9th July 2p.m. or Thursday 10th July 2p.m.. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR EITHER WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY. Venue will be T4A21

Please see below for details on how to register on Easys, Please do email me / call me if you have queries. Please also refer to the blog for details and updates. http://certificateinteaching.blogspot.com

To register, please go to EASYs => Click here
Click =>Employee Self-Service =>Training & Development =>In-House Program Form
At the top of the "Organising Dept" column, type ESD and hit the 'Enter' key => search for title (courses are arranged in date order)

No Class This Week - 25th/26th June

Hi Folks, greetings from the United States. Managed to grab some internet free time. There will be NO workshops the week of 25th/26th June. This is for you to mentally prepare yourselves. The next session is on 2nd/3rd July where Dennis will take you through Performance Based Assesment. See you all soon when I return!

Last Words Before You Go for a Holiday

Hi Folks,

Phew, what a hectic first term that was. Now that the holidays are here, I hope everyone can catch their breath. Okay, Just a quick update. THERE IS NO CT classes for the whole month of June. It is for you catch your breath and recharge.

Some of you may want to start working on your assignments. We will begin in the new term in July. If you look at the schedule, you will see that we will begin class again on the 2nd / 3rd July with Dennis taking you through the finer points in Designing Performance Based Assessment. This class is very important as it is part of your assignment.

Also, I will be out of office for the Whole of June but will remain contactable via email, or through this blog. So feel free to ask anything. Will update you guys on the goings on in the US!

Take care and see you all soon!

Stories for you by you!

Okay this is it... stories I found interesting from the "Fundamentals of Assessment"Online Course. The first story is from Mark from DMIT.

"When I was teaching back in Ngee Ann (again teaching programming). We came up with an interesting idea.What we did for one module, was to write a workbook, full of programming questions. Students would have to work though the book in practicals, during their classes and them show the tutors, their working programs. I seem to remeber that they have also had to submit source code hard copy for us to look at. It was a good idea, but generally flawed in its execution. Imagine having to spent your practical classes just going from student to student to see their work. And then having to look at all the students code as well (this was ~20 programs per student, ~40 pages each). It just ate all our time.We also were looking at a lot of suspisiously similar code all the time.For my current programming module we are running weekly tests from weeks 2-6. They are conducted during a session when the students all have practicals at the same time (thats easy as its only two classes). Its done on blackboard, 5 MCQ's, one 'write a program' (usually <10>

This is from Dioni from CASS... Captains from SMA, can verify that the test is FIXED?!!!!

"I took my PPCDL licence some years back at SMA at SP. It was a computer-based test. The PC generates some 30 MCQ questions randomly from a database of 500 (thts wht i was told, though i very much suspect its much much more) of that one has to answer. Your result is instantly printed once you hit the final submit button and shows only a 'Pass' or 'Fail' indicating the total points scored. But it does not tell you which are the questions you got wrong (or right). Most people who took the test can't help but think that the test is devised as such for unscrupulous commercial purposes. I later found out that many other tests offered by training centres often linked to stat boards adpoted the same practice. tsk tsk tsk... "

And for the last story....

This is from Althea and this is what I am talking about when I say we need to design good rubrics but then again....

"This is not a personal story. However, being a ex-facilitator from Republic Poly, I used to get alot of feedback from the students on the method of assessment there. As the method of instruction is PBL, students are graded on each lesson based on the facilitator's obesrvation of the students throughout the day. In this respect, grading can be rather subjective. It is entirely possible that a student can do exactly the same thing during a lesson but be given 2 different grades if he were to be oberved by 2 different facilitators. It is also hard on the facilitators because you have to make a mental note of what each of the 25 students does during the day. "

Class This Week

Hi Folks, Yes, I know. I am supposed to share the info on the Fundamentals of Assessment. Will do that for the next post. Anyway, just to update you, there is CLASS this week. This week, we will be looking at "Designing Closed and Open Assessments". My colleague, Robin Mak will be covering the course.

So see you guys either on Wednesday or Thursday! Don't forget to complete Gerald's course on the eActivities and don't forget to register for the course on Easys and sign the register! See you then!

CT Training Schedule

Hello Folks,

This is the CT training schedule. You will have realised that there is NO CT training for June. This is to allow you to recover, recharge and reflect on your journey so far. We will recommence on the 2nd / 3rd July 2008. Also, I wont be around for the whole of June as yours truly will be in Japan and the U S of A. Japan is for a family holiday and I have been sent by SP to the States for a work attachment at MontClair State University and also to learn about the Best Teacher's Institute. Keep a look out for the stuff I will be posting from the States for all of us.

I will be available via email so feel free to contact me any time you wish. You can also add me via MSN and my address is mark_nivan@hotmail.com that is an underscore. Take care and see you guys soon at the July Party!

This Week Workshop is ONLINE

Hi Gang,

This week workshop for Wednesday and Thursday is ONLINE. This means you are not required to be physically present for Wednesday and Thursday. This week's course is "Developing eActivities for Collaboration". The course administrator is Gerald Ng and you can email him at geraldng@sp.edu.sg should you need clarification. You have one week till Thursday 29th May to complete this online course.

To access the course:

1) Log into Blackboard at http://esp.sp.edu.sg *YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST!

2) Copy and paste the link below into your browser and you are on your way!

http://esp.sp.edu.sg/courses/1/ESD026/content/_1020753_1/dir_developing_e-activities_for_collaboration.zip/player.html

I know you are all extremely busy especially so close to the holidays and I appreciate you guys taking part in these workshops!

I also hope that you guys have been tracking your courses. Click HERE to download the tracking form if you have lost it.

I have also added some useful links for you to download stuff that you may need. Check it out.

CT Online Updates

Hi New CT folks,

The "Fundamentals of Assessment" online course is about to close. You have 2 more days before the course is closed and a new one "Developing eActivities for Collaboration" is launched. You will be hearing from me via email regarding your status on the course. Do try and finish it asap so I can take your attendance! Cheers!

John Dewey's Pedagogic Creed Part 2

Hi there, today we will look at John Dewey's Pedagogic Creed again especially with regard to what he thinks the school is.

"I believe that the school is primarily a social institution. Education being a social process, the school is simply that form of community life on which all those agencies are concentrated that will be most effective in bringing the child to share in the inherited resources of the race, and to use his own powers for social living. I believe that education, therefore is a process of living and preparation for future living."

"I believe that much of present education fails because it neglects this fundamental principle of the school as a form of community life. It conceives the school as a place where certain information is given, where certain lessons are to be learned, or where certain habits are to be formed. The value of these is conceived as lying largely in the remote future; the child must do these things for the sake of something else he is to do; they are mere preparation. As a result they do not become a part of the life experience of the child and so are not truly educative."

Is this really how we should be doing things in SP?

John Dewey's Pedagogic Creed

Hi there folks,

I thought we will begin with some of the things that John Dewey said in his article. In this particular post, we will look at his take on "What Education Is". I will be quoting you a paragraph that he mentioned that I think is thought provoking and would like for you to share your ideas and comments.

"Hence it is impossible to prepare a child for any precise set of conditions. To, prepare him for the future life means to give him command of himself; it means so to train him that he will have the fill and ready use of all his capacities; that his eye and ear and hand may be tools ready to command, that his judgement may be capable of grasping the conditions under which it has to work, and the executive forces be trained to act economically and efficiently."

So my question is, this was said some time in the late 1890s. Is it still relevant and if it is, what does this mean for us? Share your thoughts teachers!

PS - Dont forget to vote on the CT makan Day preference!!! Read the post here!

Certificate in Teaching Get Together

Hi Folks,

I hope the online course has been interesting and meaningful for you so far. Anyway, I intend to hold a CT tea for all the members to come together and to drink tea and have snacks for us to network and basically chill out and listen to some of your peers share some ideas that they are using in the classroom. I am proposing the following dates, let me know what you think by taking part in the poll! I will go with the majority. The dates are 23rd July 2008 (as this day is an online course day) or 27th August (no classes this day(. Please vote on the poll.

Also, I want to share with you something by John Dewey. Please read the article at the following link and the next post will be talking about his vision of education and what you guys think!

Click here to download the pedagogic creed!

Meanwhile stay sane, stay healthy and have fun!

The Bad Weather and Online Learning

What has the weather got to do with this post? Absolutely nothing. Am just grumbling about it cos I am down with the flu (AGAIN!) and lost my voice. Apologies to Shin, Mike, Sok Na, Surojit and Lincoln for putting up with me this week.

Okay folks, this week is ONLINE Learning. The topic of choice is "Fundamentals of Assessment". Now, this online learning means that it can take place anywhere and anytime. I do also know that some of you will be attending the HR course on PMP. Please do attend that as it is IMPORTANT as it involves understanding the performance sustem in SP.

Okay back to the online info. You will need to hook up your speakers and go through the material as well as complete 5 yes all 5 tasks so have deemed to have completed the session. You will be given 1 week to complete it and for me to update your attendance.

The online session will be on Blackboard (BB is on the Internet not Intranet so you can access this anywhere even while sitting in for the HR briefing!) and once you log on into Blackboard, do click the link here. *Remember! You must log into Blackboard!
Follow instructions and complete all activities. Once you are done and have completed the last activity, I will send you an email CONFIRMING that you have indeed completed the online work. Easy peasy stuff!

So, to access the course do this:

Step 1 - Log on to Blackboard. (http://esp.sp.edu.sg) You must do this step!

Step 2 - Click the link below, or copy and paste in your web browser and go through the course. Easy stuff!

http://esp.sp.edu.sg/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_43913_1&content_id=_952906_1

Also, please do not forget to do your own tracking for the CT course. If you have misplaced the tracking form, You can download one here.

Meanwhile, leave me a comment or feedback to see how this is doing or you can mail me at marknivan@sp.edu.sg.

Ciao folks!

Welcome CT Folks

Hi CT participants, this is the first and hopefully the start of many posts on the blog especially for all CT participants past and present. This will be where news, information, questions and good stuff to share will be made available.

One other reason why I have decided to create a blog is that our CT community is growing and I thought that this would be a very good way to connect all of us via a one stop portal. We may move when the ESD homepage becomes "Live" but for now, we'll just use this.

Also, information on the CT schedules will also be posted here for you to register etc. You need to register for these courses as I think sending out emails to a growing list may need to cease after a while. So the most updated stuff will be here.

If you find checking back every now and then tiresome, you might want to set up an RSS feed that will grab only updated articles on this blog and deliver them directly to you. A good place to set up one will be www.bloglines.com Do let me know if you need help to set up an account.

Okay folks, more updates in the next post!