Lost 3 Days?

Hmmn.. I have lost 3 days of my scheduled study time to 'unproductive' activities... blame it on pms, the Internet, people, etc, etc. Nah, blame ME la! But indeed I did learn something about web code along the way through many trials and errors personally, and also by receiving advice from Christina (statcounter regular user) and from the blog-city webmaster. Thanks to them, especially to Christina!

Still wondering why I am not studying IT since I am so captivated by the tons of things I could do using Internet, and is facing it everyday. Perhaps I should be researching on "Learning and Teaching Through Internet"?

Well, one comforting thought is that at least I managed to visit the library yesterday after Church Service. Couldn't find the books on Play or Learning and Teaching (strange) but managed to borrow 4 books related to Writing (my interest). I will read them soon during my 'Breaks'. My main topic for this month assignment is still on the subject of Play, Learning and Teaching.

If you know me, please remind me to study, ok? :)

Study Time Management Tools

As I was searching for some good study tool I came across the following:

1. Semester Time Table - 'one of the most valuable time management tools".

2. Mind Map - very helpful study skill advices with templates

3. Concept Mapping - almost similar to mind mapping

4. Reading Effectively - advices on skim reading and other very good thesis writing hints

Study School Just Over

Finally, this semester Study School has ended yesterday. It was a good session that gave me lots of motivation to do my readings for my assignments. The class environment, talking to fellow students and discussion with the professors helped to bring back my study focus and interest once again.

Yes, the Study School may be just over but my study has just begun. Somebody had agreed to help me plan my study time-table... but alas! I guess I have to do it myself. :(

Looking at the photos below might be a good reminder for me to jia you (double up)... :)

Brief presentation by fellow student during the 'Case Study Research' session.

Some of the TESOL students with their Professor

Students and their Professor - or "Three beauties & the beast" ;p

June Study School - Session 2

Another interesting session!

Through the illustration of illusions and other activities, our professor showed us some factors that affect our learning and our perceptions of things. Some factors are pre-knowledge, pre-conceived ideas, prejudices, culture, background, etc. Therefore, two people looking at the same thing might perceive it differently based on these factors that influenced their perception.

Hmmn, this knowledge not only will help us in teaching students but is also useful when communicating with people in general.

Meeting With My Tutor

Met up my stand-in Tutor (Dr. Smith) yesterday as my assigned Tutor (Dr. Merry) was not here for this trip. But it was a fruitful discussion though.

Dr Smith was able provoke my thoughts about what I want to do for the next few months concerning my assignments and Thesis. He said I was pretty ambitious when I told him I would like to complete one assignment per month ( I had 4 x 6000 words outstanding assignments). He asked me to settle for 2 to be completed before end of this year. Hmmn, I obliged but guess I would still try my best to do one draft per month. The longer I drag on the more tuition fee I have to pay.

The assignments I am targeting to do for the next 2 months will be:

1. Literatures Review on Play - clarify purpose of Play, how does Play help children learn (due date 31/07/05)

2. Observation on Play - design an observation schedule, do a site visit to observe how children play and learn, get a letter from the university to confirm my research study (due date 31/08/05)

I have to attend another 2 days of lecture today and tomorrow. I guess these will really set me in the mood to study. Thank God! :)

It Only Takes A Spark

Hmmn... didn't feel like attending class last night (not compulsory though). Still find it hard to start my engine... feeling very lazy. Don't know what I had been doing the whole day besides reading old newspaper.

In the past, I was the one who was known to be 'pushing' all my classmates to study by setting example. But now, I need to be pushed by somebody... but there's no one to push me. I need to find that 'spark' again. :(

Thank God that my conversation with a friend later in the evening gave me a little 'spark' to think about my study. It's an interesting debate about 'educator vs academic'.... something I need to think about, and possibly be my thesis too. :P

The following was what my friend said:

"Educators refer to teachers, whose roles are to ensure that students get the certifications; academics refer to the professors, whose role is to facilitate students to learn, not so much for the certifications, but for the hope that the field of interest carry on through the students they come across....academics are more concerned with the bigger picture of the whole discipline; teachers are more concerned with the students.."

Well, if based on my friend's definitions, my professor is neither. ;)

Yes, I may start reading up on the above definitions and explore further. My friend also recommended me to read an article entitled, "The Educationist as Painkiller" by Neil Postman. Perhaps I need to start going to the library instead of facing my Internet at home...

Anyway, I would simply tell my professor when I see him today about my work experiences and how they influenced my thoughts about 'Learning and Teaching", which is my main research study.

Attending Lectures This Week

Just came back from my oversea trip, slept a lot the last 2 nights when back home. Now I have to start attending lecturers again this whole week to refresh my memory and to crank my study 'engine' that has gone into 'sleep' mode. :(

Sometimes, I just wish I could just take an exam to finish off everything instead of doing assignments, which are very time consuming and allow procrastination. *sigh*

Anyway, I better get going to do what I have to do....