My Teaching and Learning Philosophy
Consistent with the Malaysian Higher Education Philosophy and National Higher Education Development Plan 2015 – 2025 which emphasized on balancing and harmonizing education in intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical based on faith and submission to God…
I believe that everyone has a role to play to create a better world. As each students have their own unique capabilities and talents that they can contribute to society, it is my privilege to inspire them with ideas, guidance and stimulating environment where students will develop confidence and at the same time being humble and respectable to others, enjoy learning experience, and show their commitment, responsibilites and care towards other human beings. As such, I always encourage my students to speak up their minds, to be themselves, to be brave to try new things, not afraid of making mistakes and learning from it, as I am also in the process of learning in this big classroom of of life.
Creativity and Innovation...
I love using different approaches when conducting classes. Method varies from the traditional method of teaching such as short lectures, group discussion, presentations, short quiz and modern method of teaching that incorporates technology in the classroom… Wow! class can be so much fun and interesting!!! See some of the things that we did in the classroom… (and all these may only materialized due to commitments and participations from my diligent, creative, brilliant, fun students.
Love you all lots … )
Mind Mapping in Padlet...
I asked the students to bring out their colours and imagination to create a mind map for one of the sub-topic. The practice of making mind maps makes students prepare their notes much earlier, improve their understanding and ease memorization for exam. The result is amazing… they are very creative and I think they have fun too… See some of their work posted in padlet HERE.
More mind mappings.... I love mind maps...
UUM Online Learning Portal
Sometimes I utilizes the UUM Online Learning Portal to put up course outlines, announcements, notes, reading materials, and an avenue to discuss on selective topics. However, the LMS looks a bit dry and depressing on the surface as it is more textual based. But still, we end up having a very critical and debatable perspectives to talk about in class… So, the tools and technology is merely there to assist and support, but its also up to us to have the excitement and desire to speak up our minds and learn from each other.
Discussions and Presentations
I always love to encourage students to actively participate in class discussions and presentations. This would bring their attention to the matter, reinforce learning, determine whether they are in the right track, and provide beneficial feedback to my own teaching. Most importantly, the students will gain more from the lesson and let them think about themselves in a new way.
I could actually see how they are getting more comfortable with each other, creating a cordial and friendly atmosphere, they learn to agree and disagree amicably without being judgmental… which is important to develop a civil society
Class Projects
I believe its also important to instill the spirit of volunteerism among the future generation. The students will normally conduct a project of their choice that would benefit the community. These projects would normally expose the students to real life situations, problems and issues. This would often force students to draft proposals and letters, conduct proper research, think on their feet, communicate effectively with various type of people, being creative and solving unexpected problems and issues. This is simply learning by doing. Moreover, being a student is not just about understanding knowledge, scoring good grades or completing assignments. Its also a process where good values and virtues are inculcated. It is important to have students who excel in their studies, knowledgeable and posess leadership traits, but it is even more important to have an excellent and empowering future leaders that are honest, responsible, and always think about the benefit he or she can bring to society rather than just to satisfy his or her own interest.
A person's most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others - Quotes Gate
A172: A Helping Hand
A171:
A project conducted at the Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) or Community Based Rehabilitation, Changlun – See Helping Hand Facebook Page.
Its a privilege for us to be able to be part of the PDK’s children’s activities. We get to know them, chat, laugh, colour, eat, exercise, dance together and do silly things together. I hope that no matter how high my students fly, no matter how far they go, the will always remember that everyone have their own capacities and limitations, but then, we still need to respect, help and empower them in any way we can.
A171 One Step Ahead to University
A very memorable event at Kedah Matriculation College.
Simulation: Mock Convention - Model of United Nation (MUN)
Sometimes it is important to conduct simulations (an imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system) so that they can really feel how its happening out there. Playing a role as a diplomat of a country is certainly ‘cool’ once in a while… isn’t it?
For this purpose, we joined up all the international law classes and conduct the Model of United Nation simulation exercise. The students were given current international law topics for discussion, deliberations and presentations such as the refugee and terrorism issues. This simulation took the whole day from morning to evening. Despite the long hours of preparation and presentation, we all had lots to learn from the experience.
Say what you wanna wanna say, and let the words fall out, Honestly, I want to see you Be Brave – Sara Bareilles
A181: Caring for the environment
For the International Environment class, my students has gone all out collecting signatures, distributing pamphlets at the mall and during the UUM Convocation Fair. They also organized a bus trip to Taiping Zoo to help clean up and plant trees. I trust that their hard work have not only gain a lot of knowledge, communication skills, problem solving skills and teamwork but they also learn to appreciate the nature. Its totally an awesome experience!
To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
– Audrey Hepburn
A182: Mangroves the Silent Saviour
In April 2019, my International Environment class organized a project of planting mangroves trees at Kuala Sanglang, Kedah which contributes towards the productive ecosystem to the marine environment. We then took a boat to Payar island where we were briefed by the environment officer about sea debris. We later helped to clean up the beach and enjoy snorkeling in the clear water.
A191: Awareness Programme
I trust that each of the students have their own strength, skills, connections, passion and values that can be shared. When I leave it to my small class of five Master students to conduct a Leadership project, they impressed me with a successful Awareness Programme at the Sultanah Bahiyah Library that encourage volunteering with multiple NGOs particularly the Cancer survivors Malaysia; PPAIM, Goodread; A.WAKE; and the Blood Transfusion Team.
A192: Classes during COVID-19
COVID-19 forced me to rethink, reevaluate the normal learning styles, to think much more creatively… I tried my best to make every lesson more interesting, interactive and something that my students would feel that they are a not alone, but collectively learning and helping each other. During the Movement Control Order (MCO) I joined various teaching and learning workshop related to online teaching. See List of Workshops attended.
In a matter of a few weeks I built a website for my International Law class using the Google Site SEE HERE.
My students also contributed to the website by producing their very own Youtube videos on related topics. We all enjoyed our newly created website together.
- There’s Polls to vote on certain issues;
- Wakelet to post their mind-mapping;
- Canva posters to highlight important points;
- Google Docs to type in their stories and ideas;
- Google Form to vote for their peers work;
- Youtube to watch experts explanations;
- Websites to refer to original sources;
- Links to various literatures on current issues…
There's just an ABUNDANCE of resources!
I utilized both the asynchronous and synchronous method:
a) Asynchronous: Students were given a flexible time to explore a topic (normally within 5 days), by using the our special website as a guideline. The students were also given certain tasks or activities to complete at their own time.
b) Synchronous: We use the class time to meet up via Microsoft Teams Video Conferencing Tool. Here, we utilize the time by looking back at the answers to the tasks or activities given. For example, they pretended being a judge that decides or vote for several cases, they draw up a mind-mapping to summarize a topic, they write down their opinion on certain issue, they provide peer reviews for their friend’s video.
I believe that in the online learning, students need to be encouraged to do more typing or clicking rather than the normal lecture thing that lecturers normally do in a typical classroom. Sometimes I record the video conferencing in Microsoft Teams so that those who missed it may always come and view the discussion later. Technology seems to be very convenient and make the class so much more interesting!
At least thats what I thought...
Over time I realized that my students have to learn from their own different circumstances. Some may have a supportive family, their own bedroom, their own personal laptop and stable internet connection that allows them to learn at home. But some may have to use their mobile phone, lack of internet connection, worrying about their data availability, sweating in a dark small messy bedroom trying to concentrate to the online discussion. But then, some are unable to use their microphone, some have connection problems, some have to leave their home to go to place where there is internet connection, some have to juggle their studies with responsibilities at home, a few conceded that they are stressed and wish that they missed learning together with friends in class and one unfortunately have to drop out from my class due to personal reasons.
Impact Towards Teaching and Learning
In a GENTLE way, you can shake the world
- Mahatma Gandhi
Various exposures and opportunities available for students to express their ideas and opinions has made the students more confident in developing their communication skills, negotiation skills, critical thinking, debating skills and most importantly being their own unique self.
Evaluation and Testimonials
"Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember,
Involve me and I learn" - Benjamin Franklin
After spending wonderful time learning together, I really hope that we all benefit from the experience. When its time for evaluation or assessment, it is important to evaluate fairly, considering different aspects of the matter. In some situation, I would need the students to make peer review and assess their own friends.
Assessment and Rubrics for every tasks that will be assessed also comes in handy…
By involving students in the learning process, students feel more interested, engaged and ultimately able to achieve the learning outcomes.
