I have learned not to ask any questions

Can you imagine the horror when I heard "I have learnt not to ask any questions", as I asked my PGDE trainee teachers to tell me in turn what they have learnt for that session!

But I misunderstood, the teacher meant "I have learnt not to ask 'Any Questions?'". She meant that she has learnt not to end off a lesson with a sweeping overall question like "Any Questions?" but to get students reflect on what they have learned. Pheeew!

Well, I rest my case - I need to do a hearing test

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Teaching Map Reading Thru ICT

I had a couple of teachers nodding off in my workshop today. I did this 3 hr professional development workshop for teachers on using google earth for map reading. It didn’t help that the teachers cam after a full day at school. But two people started nodding off when i was explaining the rationale for some of our activities. I had to stop, take stock. Close the powerpoint slideshow. Jump on to something else. It worked.

The session was well received generally and I have included some of the reflections of what they have learnt from the session here:

"I have learnt a range of tolls in Google Earth"

"I've learnt how to make teaching map reading more exciting and interesting through using GE. It is very interesting to be 'brought' to the places virtually."

"Can't wait to share with my pupils. It's so exciting to be able to locate the places on Google Earth"

"Today I have learnt some basics of GE and I have gained some insights on how to harness and incorporate the use of GE to teach landscape interpretation"

"GE can bring the field to the students, giving them the physical and cultural context of maps"

"I've learnt make GE relevant to classroom teaching. I enjoyed the lesson very much"

"At last the topo map has come alive"

"I've learnt how to use GE to aid students visualise and gather information to construct explanations"

First lesson with this batch of PGDEs

I feel great! It was a very engaged session. Maybe a couple of them felt sleepy at some point but by and large we had a very engaged conversation about the "who" are the learners in this course. Off hand I can remember a few characters who left an impression. I shall use pseudonyms here...

Bee Bee told us of her background in Psychology. Sha taught in a primary school for a while. Carie organized team building sessions in her previous job. Christie comes with English and Sociology majors. Guo and Zen are from PE but both have Honours in Geography. Han has done white-water rafting but prefers human Geography. Shaban likes diversity and difference. Bal went back to her alma mater for the ESE and took a thousand pictures of one blow hole. One of the two mins volunteered for the deep dive. Lane was crossed I couldn't remember her name.

That's all I can recall for now. But the diversity of the group was in itself a celebration of the talents that our educational system has produced. I am so looking forward to next session on Friday.

Just before we left, Han posed a question after looking at some sample assignments. She commented "I'm not sure if teachers use lesson plans into teaching". I asked her to raise the issue when everyone was around the next time. In short I told her that teachers with experience have an intuitive lesson plan built in when they teach. That lesson plans are highly useful guiding structures for beginning teachers. Let's see what the rest have to say when we next meet.

so long for now.

Speaking at the Science Center

The session last Saturday went very well. Despite heavy rainfall and a rather chilly morning, a good 50 people or so attended the public forum on Climate Change. Most of them were Biology students from NIE but there were definitely non-teachers and non-teacher trainees among the audience. The Q&A was the highlight of the whole forum. One lady, I recall, commented on Singapore's Garden Festival being held indoors in air-conditioning - a huge irony. It reflects how the mind-sets of people have yet to change.

However, the point about environmental education not just about knowledge but skills and values, was well brought across.

Bubbl Brainstorming Tool

This came highly recommended from an ex-student who is teaching in a Primary School. He found it extremely useful IT tool for mind-mapping online without having to register, download or do other additional steps. The tool itself is flexible and incorporates many functions such as ease of creating sibling nodes, drawing arrows and changing colour. Give it a try! I found it useful. You can even get students to use it for brianstorming.



http://www.bubbl.us/