thank god it's friday. i've had a hectic week even though we enjoyed a hari raya holiday on tuesday.
this morning i decided to do some housekeeping at work. my desk's messier than ever cos i was rushing through my THEC (Teaching in Higher Education Certificate) assignment during the last couple of weeks and had tonnes of notes piled up and strewn around.
was filing my notes and decided to check the system on the courses i've completed so far. although i've only been at the polytechnic for slightly over 4 months, i've already clocked in a total of 134 training hours. that's more than what i'd accumulated for 5 years at my previous company!
out of the 134 hours, 90 hours were dedicated to THEC. that's how serious the polytechnic is about ensuring that their lecturers are trained in pedagogy, classroom management skills, assessment setting etc.
and i’m relieved to have almost completed THEC. the classes are over. it's now waiting with nail-biting anticipation to receive my grade for the first assignment. it's really like being a student all over again. kinda strange now, especially when the roles are reversed. i can only imagine the sadistic look on pete's face as he crosses out sentences, circles phrases and peppers my essay with question marks. you know, the regular routine i go through when i get my students' work.
anyway, i survived my first week back school! i'm teaching a new subject via PBL (problem based learning) this semester and boy, it is EXHAUSTING. in the traditional didatic style of teaching, i can just drone on without worrying about the kids. with PBL i'm now a facilitator guiding them through the module. it's quite an innovative way of learning but it's terrible for the tutors.
in PBL, instead of teaching a class of 25 students, the class is divided into 5 groups of 5 students each. they would meet with the facilitator for "consultation" periods where they are tasked to solve a "problem scenario" that's given. in my subject, they are required to solve 2 problems or case studies. there's a framework that the poly adopts to guide the students in their problem solving. during these consultation sessions, the students are supposed to discuss the situation and derive learning issues in which they would need to research on. then they are assigned responsibilities to gather information and peer teach. this is when they will share their findings with their own group members and "solve" the given problems
as a facilitator, my role is to gently probe them or lead them to the desired learning outcomes...it's darn frustrating because i'm not allowed to give them the answers (which is soooooooooo much easier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) because they are supposed to discover them on their own. multiply this session by 5 groups per class. i've got 3 classes. :(
it's really a paradigm shift in the learning-teaching approaches. fortunately, i’ve got 3 junior year (those in their 2nd year) classes who’ve been exposed to PBL so I don’t have to start with the basics. very soon i'll be dreaming about PBL!
too bad i’ve to be back in school tomorrow morning to meet my students who’re on their internship programme. ah well...c'est la vie my friends.
friday, 5.24pm. time to go.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
A Cut About the Rest
xian's a big girl now. she's beginning to appreciate beauty and femininity. every weekend she looks forward to wearing pretty dresses if we're going out although she's equally comfortable in her raggedy shorts and t-shirts (especially when she's impersonating spiderman, batman, superman or some kung-fu kicking character. strangely she's STILL into van helsing, LOTR etc...).
it's oh-so-scaaaaaaaaaaaary. very soon she'll be dolling up and talking about cute guys! i won't know how to handle that when the time comes. maybe lock her in the attic when she's not in school and quit my job to chaperon her???
AAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!
anyway, we were invited to attend sum's colleague's wedding about 3 weeks ago. (this entry's a little over-due but i'd *just* managed to download the photo from my mobile phone.) and the MIL had, as usual, attempted to give xian a hair cut. and, as usual, xian got fidgety and...lo and behold! the fringe became waaaaaaay too short! *bleh*.
oh yes. it was awfully short and ugly. i hate it when the MIL takes it upon herself to become the family hairdresser as the results are often atrocious. xian's to blame as well since she refuses to stay still and moves about too much.
since sum had to go tidy his overgrown messy mane before the wedding dinner, we finished our sunday breakfast at serangoon gardens before sum trooped off for his haircut. the original plan was that i'd take the kids to the supermarket while he gets a trim. but xian insisted on following him, so after her last mouthful of roti prata, i brought her to the hairdresser and left the father-daughter pair at skizzors, our regular stylists.
when i returned to the hairdresser's after my grocery shopping at NTUC, xian was seated on the swivel chair next to her dad and chatting incessantly to the stylist who was trimming sum's hair. the stylist (who happened to be the lady boss) promised my precarious 4-year-old that she would "trim and soften the fringe" once she was done with sum's do. the vain and excited girl (xian, not the boss) was delighted at the prospect of getting her hair cut professionally. she sat motionless and quiet as the stylist skillfully wielded her scissors and went "snip", "snip", "snip...
initially the stylist only wanted to trim xian's fringe but she got a little enthusiastic - she eventually reshaped and layered xian's china-doll bob. she didn't want to charge us at first but i think sum felt a little embarrassed and in the end, xian's hair cut costs $12.00. xian was beaming when it was done and she's proud of her "new" hairdo although MIL complained that it's now difficult to plait or tie her hair because of the uneven length (it's layered now).
to me, it's more than just a simple haircut. i view this as xian's slow but steady transformation from a child to a young girl. it seemed only yesterday when she was a baby, taking her first steps, uttering her first word, attending her first class. i hate to admit it but she's growing up too fast for my comfort. she's already asking me about love and marriage because of the wedding dinners we've attended. plus the complicated issue on religion is creeping in cos she attends a methodist kindergarten and our family's more inclined towards buddhism.
and she's only 4 years old. i foresee tough times ahead for me. *sigh*.
it's oh-so-scaaaaaaaaaaaary. very soon she'll be dolling up and talking about cute guys! i won't know how to handle that when the time comes. maybe lock her in the attic when she's not in school and quit my job to chaperon her???
AAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!
anyway, we were invited to attend sum's colleague's wedding about 3 weeks ago. (this entry's a little over-due but i'd *just* managed to download the photo from my mobile phone.) and the MIL had, as usual, attempted to give xian a hair cut. and, as usual, xian got fidgety and...lo and behold! the fringe became waaaaaaay too short! *bleh*.
oh yes. it was awfully short and ugly. i hate it when the MIL takes it upon herself to become the family hairdresser as the results are often atrocious. xian's to blame as well since she refuses to stay still and moves about too much.
since sum had to go tidy his overgrown messy mane before the wedding dinner, we finished our sunday breakfast at serangoon gardens before sum trooped off for his haircut. the original plan was that i'd take the kids to the supermarket while he gets a trim. but xian insisted on following him, so after her last mouthful of roti prata, i brought her to the hairdresser and left the father-daughter pair at skizzors, our regular stylists.
when i returned to the hairdresser's after my grocery shopping at NTUC, xian was seated on the swivel chair next to her dad and chatting incessantly to the stylist who was trimming sum's hair. the stylist (who happened to be the lady boss) promised my precarious 4-year-old that she would "trim and soften the fringe" once she was done with sum's do. the vain and excited girl (xian, not the boss) was delighted at the prospect of getting her hair cut professionally. she sat motionless and quiet as the stylist skillfully wielded her scissors and went "snip", "snip", "snip...
initially the stylist only wanted to trim xian's fringe but she got a little enthusiastic - she eventually reshaped and layered xian's china-doll bob. she didn't want to charge us at first but i think sum felt a little embarrassed and in the end, xian's hair cut costs $12.00. xian was beaming when it was done and she's proud of her "new" hairdo although MIL complained that it's now difficult to plait or tie her hair because of the uneven length (it's layered now).
to me, it's more than just a simple haircut. i view this as xian's slow but steady transformation from a child to a young girl. it seemed only yesterday when she was a baby, taking her first steps, uttering her first word, attending her first class. i hate to admit it but she's growing up too fast for my comfort. she's already asking me about love and marriage because of the wedding dinners we've attended. plus the complicated issue on religion is creeping in cos she attends a methodist kindergarten and our family's more inclined towards buddhism.
and she's only 4 years old. i foresee tough times ahead for me. *sigh*.
Monday, October 23, 2006
it's a wrap!
it is finished
it is done
my assignment count
is down to one
i'm exhausted. utterly spent. think i killed more brain-cells than i had intended for my THEC assignment. ended up with about 3,000 words before i had to remind myself that it's not a thesis.
yeah, i know i said i'd completed my essay on saturday but i wasn't satisfied and kept on revising it till 2 hours back when i FINALLY decided that i don't wanna look at it again. printed and submitted the assignment to pete, my group facilitator who had a pain look on his face as i placed my work on the desk. (he was in the middle of marking my other fellow THEC mates' work...)
yes, marking IS hell. as much as students hate wrting assignments, teachers dread marking them. believe me. as a teacher myself, i try to make things easier for the marker by double-spacing my work. white space makes a HUGE difference. i know for a fact cos i used to prattle on about the use of white space in design principles. you know what, i kinda miss teaching Print Production. :"(
and now...some rest before i embark on another ambitious assignment. the second piece is due on 31 december 2006. i kid you not. on new year's eve, i'll be struggling to piece together my assignment on assessment principles and stuff. hopefully, i'll be able to finish up my work before the clock strikes 12.
what a way to herald in 2007. *bleh*
it is done
my assignment count
is down to one
i'm exhausted. utterly spent. think i killed more brain-cells than i had intended for my THEC assignment. ended up with about 3,000 words before i had to remind myself that it's not a thesis.
yeah, i know i said i'd completed my essay on saturday but i wasn't satisfied and kept on revising it till 2 hours back when i FINALLY decided that i don't wanna look at it again. printed and submitted the assignment to pete, my group facilitator who had a pain look on his face as i placed my work on the desk. (he was in the middle of marking my other fellow THEC mates' work...)
yes, marking IS hell. as much as students hate wrting assignments, teachers dread marking them. believe me. as a teacher myself, i try to make things easier for the marker by double-spacing my work. white space makes a HUGE difference. i know for a fact cos i used to prattle on about the use of white space in design principles. you know what, i kinda miss teaching Print Production. :"(
and now...some rest before i embark on another ambitious assignment. the second piece is due on 31 december 2006. i kid you not. on new year's eve, i'll be struggling to piece together my assignment on assessment principles and stuff. hopefully, i'll be able to finish up my work before the clock strikes 12.
what a way to herald in 2007. *bleh*
Saturday, October 21, 2006
1 down, 1 to go!
i'm finally done with my first THEC (teaching in higher education certificate) assignment on 'learning-teaching strategies'.
such a relief. thought i'd NEVER meet the 23 october 2006 deadline - that's this monday. come to think of it, this is probably the first assignment i've completed on time without busting the deadline and begging for an extension!!! i usually finish my assignments on the day itself so this is a major accomplishment!
*pats self on the back*
i'm gunning for an "accomplished" grade. there're 3 categories - "accomplished", "proficient" and "developing", no "ABC"s. but to obtain "developing" means i'll have to resubmit. (that's as good as being sacked from my job!)
in all my academic life as a student, i'd never dreamt of getting distinctions. yeah, have always been the average kid. but now, i'm suddenly driven to prove to myself (and those who bother) that i can actually get better grades! strange but so true...maybe it's because i've become an educator myself, and that's why i'm more enthusiastic than before.
*sigh*
now that the first assignment's out of the way, i'll have one more day to prepare for the new term. and the next assignment on 'assessment' to slave over :P
such a relief. thought i'd NEVER meet the 23 october 2006 deadline - that's this monday. come to think of it, this is probably the first assignment i've completed on time without busting the deadline and begging for an extension!!! i usually finish my assignments on the day itself so this is a major accomplishment!
*pats self on the back*
i'm gunning for an "accomplished" grade. there're 3 categories - "accomplished", "proficient" and "developing", no "ABC"s. but to obtain "developing" means i'll have to resubmit. (that's as good as being sacked from my job!)
in all my academic life as a student, i'd never dreamt of getting distinctions. yeah, have always been the average kid. but now, i'm suddenly driven to prove to myself (and those who bother) that i can actually get better grades! strange but so true...maybe it's because i've become an educator myself, and that's why i'm more enthusiastic than before.
*sigh*
now that the first assignment's out of the way, i'll have one more day to prepare for the new term. and the next assignment on 'assessment' to slave over :P
Friday, October 20, 2006
term break terminated
it's the last day of the semester break. classes resume on monday. *rats*
why is it that time zooms by at break-neck speed when it's the holidays? during term time, things crawl at snail's pace. is slow-mo the way to go??!!
i have a new subject to grapple with this term. content-wise i'm not worried. it's the mode of delivery that's getting me a little unsettled. will be embarking on PBL mode (problem based learning) and i've never used this teaching method before, so forgive me for being a little apprehensive. have attended a couple of training sessions so in principle i know the fundamentals of the structure. but successful application is another story :(
there's always a first time...i'll just have to see how it goes. :P
why is it that time zooms by at break-neck speed when it's the holidays? during term time, things crawl at snail's pace. is slow-mo the way to go??!!
i have a new subject to grapple with this term. content-wise i'm not worried. it's the mode of delivery that's getting me a little unsettled. will be embarking on PBL mode (problem based learning) and i've never used this teaching method before, so forgive me for being a little apprehensive. have attended a couple of training sessions so in principle i know the fundamentals of the structure. but successful application is another story :(
there's always a first time...i'll just have to see how it goes. :P
Thursday, October 19, 2006
hazy days
here's my take on the hazy situation in this region:
Hazy Days
Smog City
Smoked Clouds
Ashen Skies
Grey shades throughout
Stuffed Noses
Scratchy Choked Throats
Scarlet-tinged Eyes
Hoarse voices croak
The Crimson Sun despairs and cries
But alas, no Tears fall
To wash away
the Haze, Soot and all
These days She often hides
Away from the Dusty Doom
Refuses to share her Rays
To brighten our Grimy Gloom
Irresponsible Actions
Irreversible Retractions
We Dwell in an Unbreathable State
We Suffer the Unbearable Fate
Teo Yuan Ching
18 October 2006
Copyright © 2006 Teo Yuan Ching
Hazy Days
Smog City
Smoked Clouds
Ashen Skies
Grey shades throughout
Stuffed Noses
Scratchy Choked Throats
Scarlet-tinged Eyes
Hoarse voices croak
The Crimson Sun despairs and cries
But alas, no Tears fall
To wash away
the Haze, Soot and all
These days She often hides
Away from the Dusty Doom
Refuses to share her Rays
To brighten our Grimy Gloom
Irresponsible Actions
Irreversible Retractions
We Dwell in an Unbreathable State
We Suffer the Unbearable Fate
Teo Yuan Ching
18 October 2006
Copyright © 2006 Teo Yuan Ching
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
woo-hoooo...i'm blogging
i'm a little behind in the blogging trend...but no matter :)
been using multiply for about 2 years (which has more features) and this one's created for a training session. kinda fun. and addictive.
been using multiply for about 2 years (which has more features) and this one's created for a training session. kinda fun. and addictive.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Haven@Arif
I've been asked many times when I'm moving in to my new place. Truthfully, I don't know...yet. But to satisfy your curiosity, this is what my almost-finished home looks like.
It's 99% complete. the contractor is touching up some minor defects. I'm planning to take a couple of days off work to clean up the house so that i can officially shift in soon.
We've to select a "good date" first and this has proven to be more tedious and time consuming than i expected but i'm gunning for late October. I've had a few brushes with the in-laws recently. signs of impetuosity are creeping in: I even slammed the door last Sunday and raised my voice (slightly) at FIL last night.
Yep. my patience is rapidly wearing thin. There's only so much i can tolerate. 5 years with the ILs are MORE than what I bargained for. Dammit, get me away from the mad house :(
“All things come to him who waits - provided he knows what he is waiting for.”
– Woodrow T. Wilson (28th president of USA)
Aaaahhhhhhhhhh yes, I *do* know what I'm waiting for and I'm rubbing my hands gleefully in anticipation of the elusive 7-letter f-word that's eluded me since my marital imprisonment. I would really appreciate claiming back my personal space. right now, my sanity's hanging on a silk thread.
Anyway, here's my personal favourite freedom quote:
"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes"
– Mahatma Gandhi
It's 99% complete. the contractor is touching up some minor defects. I'm planning to take a couple of days off work to clean up the house so that i can officially shift in soon.
We've to select a "good date" first and this has proven to be more tedious and time consuming than i expected but i'm gunning for late October. I've had a few brushes with the in-laws recently. signs of impetuosity are creeping in: I even slammed the door last Sunday and raised my voice (slightly) at FIL last night.
Yep. my patience is rapidly wearing thin. There's only so much i can tolerate. 5 years with the ILs are MORE than what I bargained for. Dammit, get me away from the mad house :(
“All things come to him who waits - provided he knows what he is waiting for.”
– Woodrow T. Wilson (28th president of USA)
Aaaahhhhhhhhhh yes, I *do* know what I'm waiting for and I'm rubbing my hands gleefully in anticipation of the elusive 7-letter f-word that's eluded me since my marital imprisonment. I would really appreciate claiming back my personal space. right now, my sanity's hanging on a silk thread.
Anyway, here's my personal favourite freedom quote:
"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes"
– Mahatma Gandhi
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