MED858 Session 6

Consolidation and Assessment (Edited 2016)
Reflection (Final)

“The number of words normally does not exceed 100 for the Abstract part of a research paper”, said Dr Quek. She then checked our paper and asked us to reduce our lengthy Abstract. The last part of the module was at the top of excitement when we tried to produce a modest research paper. We had the opportunity to embark on a small investigative project as “beginning researchers”. Dr Quek shared with us almost every practical aspect about writing a research paper such as APA format (which she added that we could find out more ourselves by “Googling it!”- her favourite remark- for our independent and continual learning, I guess), proper format to present tables, difference between “References” and “Biography” etc. She also reminded us on ethical issue and encouraged us to be critical about our research paper. Together with SPSS, the last part of our learning journey was rather heavy going, though I was really grateful and thrilled with the experience.
Our group tried out Google Docs to complete the research paper. It was fun for three of us to log into Word online at the same time. Although we found out later that it was no designed for multiple log in (we received a lot of error messages throughout), we did enjoy ourselves using the same document at the same time, saving each other's work and chit-chating to each other in the same document. It is common and ok to make mistake in our learning journey as long as we learn from the mistake and try to enjoy.
Application of Learning Environment

The figure above depicts that a learning environment consists of three aspects namely physical, students and social. The possible factors or indicators for each aspect are shown in the respective coloured boxes. As educators, it is crucial for us to examine the various factors that contribute to students learning.

Based on my learning from this course and my personal teaching experience, I had created a "Learning Model" as shown below.

At the centre of the model is "students' learning". I feel that this should be the central focus of an educator. There are many factors contributing to learning. I have re-categorised the three aspects mentioned earlier (physical, students and social) to ‘student factor’, ‘teacher factor’ and ‘others’. The rationale is that in most lessons that I have conducted, I find that the two most important factors that lead to students learning are the student factor and the teacher factor. Factors that I classify under ‘others’ include, but are not limited to, physical aspect such as seating arrangement and noise level, resources, school factor, education policies such as assessment mode, number of periods per week. To me, certain factors especially those at a school level or at the Ministry level are rather far out from my circle of influence as a classroom teacher. Consequently my focuses and immediate concerns that are within my locus of control are students and myself as a teacher.
For 'teacher factor', it is clear that a teacher plays a vital role in enabling learning to take place in a classroom. We as educators have a great impact to students' learning. To me, if we constantly make 'students' learning' as our central focus, we will naturally devise effective teaching strategies that enhance learning in our students. For example, if we feel that our students show difficulty to understand a concept during our lesson, we will naturally think of an alternative way to help them to grasp the concept. This will lead us to good lesson preparation. In a nutshell, our focus on ‘student’s learning’ will drive all teaching activities such as lesson preparation, lesson delivery, classroom management, motivational skills etc, as shown in the figure below.

My blogging experienceI believe as in most people, I was rather apprehensive about blogging initially. Although I have visited several blogs of my friends, students and people whom I have never met, it never registers in my mind to create my own blog. This is probably due to my personality that I do not feel comfortable sharing my personal thoughts and reflections with others, in particular with my students and strangers.
I joined the world of blogging eventually on 17 November – mainly because of the requirement of the course. Being pragmatic, I tried to make my effort "worthwhile" by finding out how I can genuinely benefit from the blogging, instead of doing it for the sake of doing. I visited many other blogs and started thinking what my visitors and I myself could 'gain' from my blog. I feel sharing is very useful. I attended a Best Practices Award (BPA) sharing and the opening address mentioned that sharing is so useful that people now are more willing to share openly and others steal shamelessly. It shows the power of sharing. For me, I decided to share shamelessly and if my visitors wish, they can steal openly.
Later I chose "Learn and Enjoy" as the central themes of my blog because these are the two things that I look forward to achieve along my learning journey. Learning is not always enjoyable. Nevertheless I will try to make it a point to enjoy the process as much as possible. I hope to use my blog to gripe (when learning is not so enjoyable), share and connect.

I suppose it is the matter of habit and mind shift. After some time, I realized that I became more used to share learning points and reflect my thoughts (and feeling!) openly. Visiting other people's blogs also subconsciously reinforces this culture. And certainly I have learned a lot about the course as well as my course mates through the blogs!

My group membersYuen Han, our energetic and enthusiastic class monitress is a wonderful team player. She has a very commendable attitude towards learning. Yuen Han's blog has demonstrated engagement with many important issues raised through reading and class activities. She has painstakingly processed and reorganized her learning points from reading and class activities into a reader-friendly way for effective learning, instead of presenting the learning points "whole sale" from the original sources.
I always admire Wee Chong's ability to think analytically and critically. In his reflection, he challenges assumptions and raises thought-provoking questions to lend a wider and deeper perspective to issues discussed. How previleged I am to be in the Chong & Chong partnership.


My course matesI believe that fate has brought us together to go through this learning journey. Cheers to all of us that we have completed one more module - a fruitful one! Through this module and through the blogs, we have known each other even better. My fellow course mates, if you Google your name now, you will get many results - websites that show your name and one of our names because of our blogs. See the magic of the blogs? See how closely "connected" we are?

Dr Quek Choon Lang Gwendoline
Last but not least, my sincere thanks to Dr Quek Choon Lang, one of the best lecturers I have ever met. As we struggled she supported. As we complained she listened. When we became too overwhelmed, she said "Don't worry, don't worry". And through this module she gave us perspective on what is truly effective learning environment. Dr Quek you are simply unparallel!

I would like to thank you also for introducing blog to me so I have the opportunity to thank you here. (Another magic of the blog...)

(Hope you like our little surprise. :-> )

Good bye for now, wish all of you happy holiday and Merry Christmas!