To Begin with...

Guess that I missed the first task of assignment. I’m not sure if I am the only student misses this out or everyone is in the same boat as me. However, I believe it will never be too late for a simple, sweet short introduction about me.

1. Please introduce yourself.

Hi and Assalamualaikum. Hello bloggers, my name is Nor Atikah Binti Aznan. People always call me Atikah. I am a final year TESL student with minor in Counseling. I enjoy my degree program here. Actually I also did my foundation program at this faculty. I enjoy internet surfing, travelling as well as reading. I hope to enjoy this course and to learn as much as possible about CALL. Like everyone else, I’m new with this course, please assist me in this learning and I will give my best effort to gain the best score. Let’s work hard and make the best out of it. =)

2. How would you rate yourself in terms of your computer skills and why? (e.g. expert, novice, savvy, geek, illiterate etc)

I would rate myself as a computer savvy. There are a lot more that I need to learn about CALL. I know many of my friends who are a lot better in using technology and I’m always referring to them when I get stuck with computers. So hopefully by the end of this study, I manage to learn and be more skillful in other programs and software.

3. What computer software and hardware knowledge do you have?

I know how to work with the basic software in a computer like paint, Photo editor, movie maker and Audacity. For Microsoft Office software, I mainly use and familiar with Microsoft Word, Excell (database), Publisher and Note. When I was doing my summer study at Ball State, I got a chance to learn I-movie, Apple final-cut Pro, and basic adobe photoshop. So, My low point is with technical software like adobe series. In addition to that, I am a novice learner in constructing website and to make software.  

4. Have you experienced learning via the computer (online, using courseware, etc)?

Yes, it was a brief learning experience I had last year. I was offered to learn basic Adobe photoshop but it wasn’t long. I dropped the course due to study constrain.

5. Did you try to incorporate technology in your some of your lessons during your practicum? Was it a success or a failure? If you did not what was/were the reason(s)?

I use videos and powerpoint pictures in my lesson plan. My lesson plan was not about the videos or the pictures, but they act as an extension to my teaching and learning in the classroom. Both are interactive and students love that because the sounds, color and objects connect to their experience and imagination. The use of technology, although just a brief period during my lesson, brings a better environment and motivation in learning. From What I had experience, students are better at communication when I use technology in the class, they respond much often and pay more attention to my lesson. I could see that they want entertainment in the classroom and I try my best to make sure they are learning well and have a good time in my class.

6. What is your opinion on the use of computer/technology in language teaching?

I love the idea when teachers incorporate their learning and teaching in using technology. As technology develops, so are we as teachers. What I mean is that, we should pull the advantage of technology to make learning much enjoyable and meaningful. Technology itself is not a key for successful learning or boosting the effective teaching. However, it is an accelerator for teachers to be creative in teaching, generate students’ interest in learning, makes learning full of fun yet meaningful and most importantly it educate students to become independent learners. There are a lot of software and courseware on the internet for us to choose. Teachers should select carefully which are suitable for students considering their culture, age, cognitive skills etc. Technology, if it is used wisely, help students experience the different way of learning and expanding their horizon about knowledge. All in all, with computers is an interactive medium of learning. Technology or CALL carries both advantages and backwash effects depending on how we utilize it.   

7. What are your expectations from this course?

I would love to see improvement in my computer literacy, especially on software and courseware. Based on my experience in previous classes, this course is really enjoyable, fun and meaningful for us as teachers. I would love to score a solid A and hopefully, with hard work, perseverance and blessing from my lecturer, I nail my target.

8. What is the topic chosen for your Academic Exercise? Why have you chosen the topic? Who is your supervisor?  How do you plan to complete your AE so that it follows the designated processes (chapter by chapter) and can be submitted on time?

I am very anticipating my AE progress. This is something new for me and there are many to learn. I AE topic the effect of stress level upon administrative workload towards teachers in the secondary Cluster School teachers in Lembah Kinta District. Basically, this topic is the one that I had plan over a year ago. The idea was inspired by my mother. She is a senior secondary school teacher in a renown Cluster School in my hometown, Ipoh. Having a mother as a teacher, living in the school environment (our house is nearby the school), personal experience of helping her in school and observation I made on teachers in cluster school help me to have quite a well verse knowledge about teachers and cluster school. Many teachers in the cluster school experience difficulties in their career since the school branding, resulting many apply for school transfer. The same scenario happens in other district in Ipoh. Thus, I plan to do a research related to teachers and cluster school and as a result, that is the topic I've chosen for my study.

My supervisor is Madam Shareena Bt Sharom. She is very helpful and taking a good care of my AE progress. I started the work since last semester and now finishing chapter 2. My goal is to complete the first 3 chapters before final exam this semester. I meet my supervisor once a week of twice a month depending on my performance. According to my plan, it is possible Insya Allah to finish it on time but it is still early to say much about my progress. The experience is wonderful for me although it is tough. And I think that joyous feeling is because I choose a topic that is dear to my heart. Hopefully, I can settle the first 3 chapters by the end of this semester. This is because I would like to start my data collection during the brief break and practicum.

When you have the time please sign up for a free account at mediafire.com. It's a site for keeping documents which can be downloaded by others.

I just registered my account yesterday sir.thank you =)

That is all about me,for now.

=)

Good night bloggers