Week 6 : Changing Learning Environments

The spaces in which we work, live and learn can have profound effects on how we feel, how we behave and how we perform. That is why physical learning and teaching spaces is important in improving student learning experience. My previous school is a secondary boarding school and opened since April 2002. It has a nice landscape with an artificial ponds and some benches to make students feel comfortable being there. However, the structure of the land is a little bit unstable. The soil settles in some area of the school undermines the efforts to beautify the school compound. The limitation of the budget also one of the main problem for this school. But it is not an excuse for the management to stop their effort. 

The new principal had set up a target for the school to achieve the standard of 5S : Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize & Sustain (A quality standard for best environment workplace introduce by Japan) within less than 6 months. He made some major changes to the surroundings of the schools to make sure the children will get a better place and feel more comfortable to continue their study here. Moreover, as a boarding school, it should give all students to feel like being at home. With that, they will feel comfortable and enjoy studying and learning at school.

                                                     Facilities that had been upgraded

Some changes that have been made, for examples; provide all classroom, laboratories and meeting rooms with LCD projector,change all the tables and chairs (as it is already more than 10 years) for students, teachers and staffs with the new one, upgrading the classroom and workstation for all teachers and staffs and repainting all the classrooms, students’ hostels and all buildings in the area of the schools. He also create students learning area in some suitable places and upgrading the area for students to have their selling and business activities which we call it as TransGarden. (Students given an opportunity to run their business every weekend according to a specific schedule). 

These changes remind me about what Victorian Institute of Teaching had proposed, ‘the quality of the physical environment significantly affects student achievement.’ As Earthman, 2004 said ' Some research had found that the building in which students spends a good deal of their time learning give an influence how well they learn'. In that particular topic discussed also mention from Bunting, 2004,’ Schools must attract students interest to go to as well as cafes attract people, rather than the space being purely functional.’ 

                                  They try to design students' accommodation like their home

There are some projects still in planning stage. (Preparing the paperwork for the budget). It focusing on the learning and teaching facilities, for examples, build a pavilion, lecture hall and a students’ learning center as it is a demand from the students. RMIT University refer to Blackmore et al. (2011) to identify a conceptual framework of four temporal stages connected to the adaptation and use of new learning spaces ; Design, Implementation and Transition, Consolidation and Sustainability/re-evaluation phase.This guide can be used to make an effective changes to the school environment in order to promote student learning.
Environment could allow a leaner to configure and develop a learning environment to suit and enable their own style of learning. (Graham Attwell, 2007). People have different styles of learning, so we have to try some method and provide various type of environment to encourage students’ learning process. Here, I would suggest some planning that they should considered for longer term improvement. As what had been discussed and mention in my previous post (Week 5), technology play a big role in the classroom literacy teaching. It is a good starter to provide each classrooms with LCD projectors. They also can put a smart board for more interactive learning and teaching for certain room. As what have been done at Smart MRSM school, they can introduce the use of IPads or IPhones in the teaching and learning process. They also can encourage student to use video conference, blogging or internet networking to share their knowledge with people in the other country. But of course, with some rules and guidance from teachers. Jamieson, Fisher, Gilding, Taylor, and Trevitt, (2000) emphasize the needs of teachers consideration how the new setting will enhance the student learning experience when new ICTs being used.Graham in his paper emphasized the use of PLE (Personal Learning Environment) which focus at two developments in technology; ubiquitous computing and the development of social software. So, I would suggest that schools maybe can make useful of some software and other alternative ICT technology tools.

                                             Smart MRSM Alor Gajah using the smart board

 Another suggestion would be cheaper and easier I guess, the arrangement of the desk and chairs in the classroom. They could make a research on the effectiveness arrangement that will help to improve student participation or interest in the classroom. The shape of the students’ desk would be another factors that they could considered. When I was at my previous school at Malacca, my principal shown us the unique shape of desk (trapezium shape) that been used in one of the school at UK that attract students interest and help them to move actively and easily in the class especially for the discussion activity. Now they already have their own trapezium desk. Stevenson and Bunting suggesting that 'traditional academic classrooms may disappear, replaced by holistic learning labs and exploratory centers'. While Gifford (2002) notes that open learning spaces can have positive outcomes when teaching strategies are matched to the space.

               Students of Smart MRSM Alor Gajah having their class using the IPads and unique desk.

                    Some arrangement that can be made using the trapezium desk in a classroom

                           Upgrading the noticeboard to be more interactive and informative.

                                  Example :  Main Library at Shah Alam,Selangor
Reference :

Personal Learning Environment :http://moodle.telt.unsw.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=318424

The Effect of the Physical Learning Environment on Teaching and Learning

http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/1137_The-Effect-of-the-Physical-Learning-Environment-on-Teaching-and-Learning.pdf

The impact of new learning spaces on teaching practice : Literature Review

http://mams.rmit.edu.au/grpmt6tzfgf9.pdf

MRSM Transkrian : https://www.facebook.com/mjsctranskrian/photos_stream

Raja Tun Uda Library : http://www.ppas.gov.my/

Week 5 : Successful use of technology that enhance teaching or learning

In my country, government had started to implement the technology in education system seriously when ‘Sekolah Bestari’ been introduced on 1999 as one of the project that listed in the MSC (Multimedia Super Corridor), launched on August 1996.These school had been provided with some technology devices such as computers and other new technology to give the opportunity to all students explore the use of technology. It gave a chance to them to enhance their abilities and knowledge to be meaningful and relate it with the reality of life. Now more schools had been provided with smart boards, IPads, video theatre and many more in order to satisfy young generation needs to enhance their learning process. Most higher education institutions have already provide their students with e-learning and video conference to give more experience for their learning process. For example, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through Centre For Development of Academic Excellence (CDAE) had introduced Open Educational Resources (OER) to enhance teaching and learning in the institutions.

C.-H. Lai, J.-C. Yang, F.-C. Chen, C.-W. Ho & T.-W. Chan (2007) had done a research on the impact of mobile technology to students learning process. They used PDA in a group of students and proved that technology help to increased level of new knowledge creation, an enhanced awareness of learning in context and enriched conceptualization of knowledge through experience. They make this research based on some literature such as Dewey’s (1938) that said ‘learning by doing’ theory emphasizes the value of action while learning. They also refer to Liang (2005) which found that mobile technologies provide instant learning guidance and feedback and use new interfaces for diverse learning approaches. 

Arshad (2005) through his research on the use of technology in learning language found that the sense of sight is the largest percentage than through other means, 83 percent of all the senses used. Students just able to get about 11 percent of the information if teachers only using lecturing technique. This proved that, technology helps to stimulate all senses of the students, especially the sense of sight where the effect is higher in the learning process over other senses.

In other research about the effectiveness of learning process using video conferencing technology conducted in Malaysia found that 60% of students agreed that the use of media is not only to attract students to teaching and learning process better, but help to improve students' understanding and facilitate teachers to deliver lessons. (Halili, et al. 2011).

Technology also give a positive impact to teachers as well. It provides authoring and monitoring interfaces where teachers can design prompts and learning materials. Teachers also can monitoring the level of students’ understanding also provide instantly assist specific students who encounter learning difficulties. 

Although studies show that the rise of the cognitive aspects of the use of information technology in teaching and learning, some difficulties as well as problems such as the inefficient integration of information technology is still exist in school. The most influences on developing ICT in school education is the pedagogical decision-making of the teachers. ( Law,et al. ,2011). So teachers should be the first person we have to focus on before we let them go the classroom. We have to provide trainings for them as to make them completely ready enough to step in their class with all technologies provided.

E-education is one of the main project that on the progress this year to enhance students learning and teachers sharing activities. Through this projects, teachers will get a special training on how to develop an interactive teaching and learning activities. They also will be taught and encourage to compile and sharing their techniques and knowledge to the other teacher all over the country using this system (E-education). We hope that through this project, give more chance to our students to develop their abilities and potential and being capable using technology to solve problems and develop new product services and knowledge as technology innovation had a big impact to increased productivity and knowledge economy. 

Reference :

1.      Arshad, Mahzan (2005). Penggunaan Teknologi dalam pendidikan literasi Bahasa Melayu. https://www.academia.edu/3486875/PENGGUNAAN_TEKNOLOGI_DALAM_PENDIDIKAN_LITERASI_BAHASA_MELAYU 

2.      C.-H. Lai,J.-C. Yang, F.-C. Chen, C.-W. Ho & T.-W. Chan (2007). Affordances of mobile technologies for experiential learning: the interplay of technology and pedagogical practices. http://www.myrakhattab.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Mobile-Technologies-Article.pdf

3.     Halili , Siti Hajar, Sulaiman, Shukri & Rashid, Mohd Razha Abd. (2011).The Effectiveness of Learning Process Using Video Conferencing Technology. http://www.ukm.my/jurfpend/jurnal%202012/JP36(1)%20Chap%206new.pdf

4.    Law, Nancy, Yuen, Allan, Fox, Robert (2011). Educational Innovations Beyond Technology: Nurturing Leadership and Establishing Learning Organization. London. Springer.

Week 5 : How technology affordances support learning?

Using technology, I can always being connected to people who live far from me. For example, I can get comments from my students, my colleagues even from my employer regarding this issue. I used WhatsApp, Facebook and email. See….how technology help us in the way it should be. I agree that technology play a big role to support our learning system. However, anything good will ruin and give a bad implication if there is no limitation and controller. 

Here are some of the comments from my students, teachers and my previous principal about how technology affordances support learning.

 

   

‘I think it was google that help most our studies. However just using technology won’t really help us remember. It is good in terms of getting information, for example write on an electronic pad as notebooks, unless they print it out, they won’t remember as it is stored and unseen. So, student probably do not appreciate the knowledge’. - Nurin Qistina, UTP student.

‘In my 3 years’ experience of teaching in one of the rural school in Malaysia, I found that my students are more interested to learn when I use video during the lesson. The usage of video not only motivates them to learn but also helps to explain concepts that are difficult to understand. My students can understand concepts at a much faster rates compared to when I explained to them verbally or with pictures. However, I also noticed that the use of too much video in a lesson could backfire. This has made my students to lost interest in reading storybooks, especially those with more written words than pictures. This has made the textbook underutilized. So, I reckon it should depend on the teacher when and where to use the technology.’ – Mokhsin Abdul Ghaffar, teacher at SK Batu Keling, Sarawak.

These are comments from teacher and principal that run a new program, Smart School which focusing in using technology in teaching and learning.

‘We are still at the beginning/planning stage and haven’t really gone into it. At the moment they are working on it. There’s a lot to be done on the teachers’ side and I don’t they are 100% ready for it. They are being sent for courses with Apple. I think the idea of using technology in the classroom is expensive as the gadget is costly. The equipment like iPad has to be made available for all students and teachers plus other things that goes with it.  – Rohani Hassan, Teacher at MRSM (Smart School).

‘I am totally agree with this issue. However, many factors need to be looked into especially we need a lot of preparation on teachers and administration part. We have to look readiness of teachers. We needed to train the teachers first (have been trained but not enough, it should be continuously) then encouraging them to try and be brave. Different student characteristics, including prior knowledge and skills, learning styles and motivation and the physical environment should be taken in account. We also have to look on the available access to information resources (problem is lacking of the availability to access ie Wi-Fi). The last and important thing is how the lesson is constructed structuring of the learning context and outcomes.’ – Wan Ainizah Ariffin, Principal MRSM (Smart School)

In conclusion, we cannot deny the importance of technology in meeting the needs of the present generation (Z-generation) to learn. They are born with iPad, tablet, iPhone, laptop and other gadget that we never imagine will be exist in the past 10 years. Even 3 or 4 years old children can learn from internet even they are not going to school or formal education yet. This generation, need to be active to learn something. They learn very fast and we have to use this ability to expand their potential, sharing their ideas and encourage learning process at any time. However, it must have a balance between technology and human touch. I will discuss more about our commitment in making our students' learning become more interactive using technology in MRSM system.

Week 4 : Changing curriculum and pedagogic design

I am working with Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), one of the government agency in Malaysia. In MARA, we run our own secondary school system known as MRSM (Maktab Rendah Sains MARA). MRSM curriculum comprises 3 main areas focusing on the following programs 

a)   Academic Program

b)  Personal Development Program

c)  Talent Development Program

We have 50 MRSM schools in Malaysia and all schools basically following the same curriculum. (some of the school also have an extra curriculum based on their specialties). The academic programme is basically based on curiculum from Ministry of Education and some modification have been made by MARA for their special curriculum. Besides the core subjects, MRSM also conducts academic enhancement programs to strengthen the understanding of subject taught, provides opportunity to student use their creativity besides applying the knowledge learnt. Some programmes that student can be involved are are Debates, Independence Day, Maths Olympiad, Young scientist etc.

To develope students’ personality, students are required to involved with some development programmes comprises self development, entrepreneurship activities, clubs, sports & games, holiday camps & co-curiculum. These programmes emphasize knowing themselves as one of the member of society.

The third area that being focus in the curiculum is talent development programme. In the MRSM system, to cater the above average students, the SEM (Schoolwide Enrichment Programme) is applied. This programme was designed by Renzulli & Reis (1985, 1997) and widely implemented as an enrichment program used with academically gifted and talented students and an enrichment approach for all schools interested in high-end learning and developing the strengths and talents of all students. The SEM provides enriched learning experiences and higher learning standards for all children.

More information about SEM: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/sem/whatisem.html

MRSM system very particular in developing students’ potential. Although academic achievement is a priority, the mission of students' personal development is also placed equivalent with the main agenda.

Therefore, the impact of the curriculum is much wider than just producing an excellent student in academic. It is more to developing a future leader that able to give services to the society. Students will be creative, being a risk taker, competitive and other soft skill that needed in this challenging world. This have been proved when the system had produce many successful people in the country. There are well known businessman, politician, directors, leaders and also astronaut. They came from this system.

However, there are still a space for improvement in this system. This system actually applied for the secondary school which is the second stage of development process for children. We can’t claim that the student that we produce is 100% product of MRSM because the system just started at the age of 13 or 16 years old. I believe that, it will be more effective if the system can be applied since the age of 5. It will give more time to the system to blend with the students. Then we can see the improvement of the student along that process. Another one improvement that can be made is the selection of the student. There are terms conceded to enter the MRSM system which is actually more provided to those who got an excellent achievement in their public examination. What happen to those who are not qualified? Those who actually creative, brilliant but did not perform well in their examination maybe because their family background which not give enough support? Not enough facilities before this? So, we must consider all factors that might be occur. My suggestion is to take this group and give them the opportunity to develop their personal ability through the system and bring them back on the track to polish them in the process to produce a better person in the future. I believe all children born to be special in their own area. Education can help them to achieve their dreams with the right curriculum and pedagogic design.

More information about MRSM : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maktab_Rendah_Sains_MARA