Something to share with all of you..

Hello everyone...I found this video in the youtube and thought that it might be beneficial to all us since it is related to our subject. It is how to use technology in the classroom. We are learning resources but i thought we are using technology as well. So, look at it and i hope that you will gain something from it...

Michael Jackson assignment + four skills

This week we had a few tasks to be done. First is the four skills task where we are divided into groups of four and each of us have to choose a particular skill. Well, for me i choose the writing skill. This task is interesting as we have to use the skills that we have learned previously. It can be either video editing, picture or audio editing and so on. Therefore, the skills that we learned will be related to the things that we can use in the classromms in the future. I personally feel that the integration of all these skills into the lesson plan is important.

Moreover, i waas glad when i found out that the second assignment that we were assigned has been extended into one week more. This gives us the oppurtunity to plan and discuss on what to be done as it is a pair work. In addition, due to the busy schedule my partner and I did not have much oppurtunity to discuss as we have different elektifs. Nevertheless, as i always tell myself- No procastination! Thus, i am going to stick on it and plan to finish the task and assignment as soon as possible.

Back to university !!!

Today is the first day of class for this subject after the holidays. Therefore, it is obvious that we were still in the holiday mood. Well, what can I say, we are students after all. So, you can expect some grouses and the amount of noise that we produc- greeting and catching up with the latest news with our friends. Nevertheless, work is work. Yes, it is.

So, basically this week we were briefed upon on the assignments that we are going to do soon. Apart from that, we were also shown some sample of work done by our seniors. I really think that this approach is good as it will help us to get a rough idea on what is expected out of us and how to do the assignment.

We were also told to do a task for this week that is the e-book. Yes, you can either do it individually or as a pair. I chose to do it in a pair as I always believe the saying that goes ‘Two heads are better than one’. Moreover, it would make things easier as the work load would be lesser as two people are working on it. To add on, doing the work together is merrier and fun.

I was glad that our lecturer- Puan Foziah showed us some samples of e-book done by seniors. It gave me a wider scope on what is to be done. We were given time to discuss in group on the storyboard. As a result, my partner and I took the opportunity to sit and discuss thoroughly on the e-book. But, I have to admit that the time given was not enough. Thus, we had to discuss further on that outside the class.

Later on, we were briefed on the second assignment that is to be done in pairs. This assignment is quite challenging as we had to download a video and do a lesson plan on it. The other part is that we had to download a video of our choice and create a lesson plan on it. I think that it is fair and square as we are given a choice to choose a video as well as given a video to work on.

I have no option but to agree that for the first class for this subject after the holidays, we were bombarded with assignments. What can one say? This is university life and it is part and parcel of it. We have to learn to cope with stress and assignments. If not, we would be left behind. So, what I can advice to all of my friends out there- please do not procrastinate your work. In the end, you will be the one suffering. So, why not just do your work and leave life like a free bird. When, I say do your work, I seriously mean do your work. Yes, say no to procrastination!

Ok, I think that is all from me for this time. Hope you enjoyed your holidays because I did enjoy mine. Bye!

holidays + video editing(group) + video(pair work) ...what a combination!!

Video editing…This week we were required to edit video clips using any software. We learned how to download a video on the net, combine all the parts and edit them. We were divided into group of five of different gender and race. Well, of course, we had to submit it before Saturday midnight and as we all know, we are going to have our semester break this week. So, we divided the task to ensure that we finish the work given on the time set. So, on Thursday, we all went back thinking that our task is completed. However, time again proved to us that we are wrong. Why? This is so as we are required to download the task in adec. But, adec can only receive the maximum 128 mb and ours is more than that. Therefore, there was some confusion on how to submit the video. Finally, we got to know that we have to burn the work in a DVD and submit it on Saturday to one of the reps. Unfortunately, all of my group members went back to our respective hometowns. Now, there was confusion on how the submit the video. Thankfully, we managed to solve the problem. Pheww..what a week. What a workload! This semester break is not for us to enjoy but it is an opportunity for us to buck up with all the unfinished work. Yes, I am determined to finish the entire task during this holiday- If possible in a few days. Hahaha.. it is always easy to say but difficult to do it. Well, what one can expect when you have astro, internet, visits to grandma and relatives house as one of the many obstacles that stops you from finishing the pile of work. Here, I really feel I am tested. Who will win? My anticipation to finish the work OR the magnet powers that are pulling me to give myself a break…Whatever, the excuse might be I have to finish them in one way or the other. Aha..i forgot. We also have to create a movie on whatever theme that is approved by our lecturer. The date due is on next Friday -22/8/08. Hmm, my partner and I were wondering how we can do the work as we are on holidays. So, we decided to divide our task and contact each other through the net. This is the easier way isn’t it? Rather than cracking our heads on how can we finish the work. Actually, we were planning to finish the work before holidays itself. But my partner has already bought her tickets. Therefore, we have to stick to this resort. As I have mentioned earlier, I am not letting myself to procrastinate anymore. I have to finish the task given, not only for this subject but for other subjects as well. So, happy holidays everyone and remember to complete your work as soon as possible. Why? The answer is clear isn’t it? After the holiday is over we will be busier with the test, exams and assignments. So, good luck to all of you and me too!!!

music editing.....hmmmmm

Well, if you do not like a certain part in a song or just wished that the chorus in a song will suit better in another song, what will you do? Continue to listen to the song? Do not listen to it at all? Imagine how the song will be without the part that you dislike? OR edit the song. Yes, now I can do it! As a matter of fact, all of us can do that. Why so? The answer is simple and straight forward. This week we learned and were required to edit audio. In other words, music. You are allowed to do whatever you want. For instance, you can increase the speed in a song, or delete the parts that you do not like, mix a few songs together to create a new song, and so on. I would say that this task was rather interesting. This is so as we can apply the skills that we have learned in the classroom where we think that we need to adapt or modify a song as it is not suitable for primary kids. Moreover, we can also apply what we have learned in our daily lives, as human beings who sometimes want to add a change in a particular song. I seriously think that this task is worthwhile and fun too. However, the process of editing the audio is not as simple as we all thought. It requires 100% attention as we have to really concentrate on what song to edit, where to edit, where to combine and so on. Frankly, it consumed a lot of time. I actually, spend two days to complete the work that was given. On top of that, there were other works from other subjects as well that needed immediate attention from us. Thus, I was basically fighting against the time to complete the task. I was looking at the time in the hope that I would not miss the date due. Thankfully, I managed to submit the audio editing at the time given. I must say that I was so relieved. Nevertheless, as I have mentioned earlier this task is worth the pain as it will be beneficial to us sooner or later and as the saying goes ‘No pain no gain’. You cannot gain anything without going through a certain degree of pain. I think that’s all for this week. I would like to define this week as a hectic week as we were all busy in one thing or the other.

Photo Editor....Hmmm..sounds fun...

"Mummy i don't like my photo" said Sally. " Why?" asked her mother. "Well, I have “red-eyes” in the photo and I don't look fair here" complained Sally. " Look, Sally. We cannot do anything about it as the photo is already captured” said her mother. Ok. Sally went away with a sigh. Well friends, this is a common if not familiar situation that we had encountered before. Have you ever experienced the same kind of displeasure? I am sure you have experienced it. Anyway, no worries. Now, if you want to remove the red-eyes or increase the brightness or change the background you can do so through photo editing. If you do not know what it is, I suggest that you take up this course- Using and developing resources…Gosh! What will happen to me without this course! I am learning something new each week. This week, we learned on how to edit photos! Wow, isn’t that great. You can shape the picture according to your own taste. Nevertheless, suddenly, i realised i am not at all a tecno-savvy person. Suddenly, i felt so stupid as i do not know how to edit a photo and change it if not professionally to near satisfactory. Anyway, i did some editing work before but, not that skilled like what we are required to do. Whatever it is, I am sure there is so much more that need to be explored and learned. I anticipate it. So friends, how is this week? I would like to describe this week from a quotation from Woody Guthrie - "Take it easy -- but take it". This quotation is dearly related to me. Well, at least for this week. As i have mentioned before, the work loads for this semester is piling up profusely. However, i have learned to take it, although not in an easy way. But, i am learning to take it. I am much calmer and relaxed this week. Maybe it is because i have learned to adapt into this way of living. Anyway, I am very grateful to our lecture as she had given all of us time to work on the photo editing after presentation. I feel much more relieved as I can actually start working on it and could ask her question whenever I face some drawbacks.

The climb into resources.....

Well, what to say? Today we were briefed on the second assignment. I have to admit that UM life is quite challenging as it test u again and again. What I found out was that time management is very important here. If you do not manage your time, you will be left out. Yes, coming back to the assignment- we were required to do the assignment in groups of five. This time with different group members. Yes. and the method of choosing the members was different. We had to draw lots. This is so to ensure that each group is multiracial.-a blend of races and mix gender. I have already mentioned this in the previous blog but I am going to say this again. The idea of having members in a group consisting of different races and gender is a good move as we will be able to know each other better and come out from our present social gang to get to know others. Yes, this week is quite hectic as we are working on the first assignment that is due next week. At the same time, we are bombarded with another assignment. Well, what to say. We have to manage our time well. That is the one and only knight in shining armour for us .hehehe…nevertheless, life has to go on! Isn’t it? This week lecture was a bit special as we had group presentation instead of the previous method where the lecture explains to us. Personally, this way of teaching and learning is my favourite. This is so as we read the notes and through our comprehension we explained to other group members with the use of technology. Believe it or not! We were actually applying the inquiry discovery method as were ourselves discover the input. This is an excellent method on expanding input. I have to admit that I was pretty well astounded with my friends’ presentations. Some showed examples from Youtube while others created a moviemaker on the topic of the presentation in the limited time given. Well, what to say. We are all still in the process of recognising our own talents and others. I really enjoyed myself in the class that day. Each week I find myself taking pleasure in the class in various ways. I wonder what is in store for us in the next class! Can’t wait for it…