Today's session has being an enriching experience for me, as I gain an insight about the researching process. Also get to know about the new directions of the school for the FS project.
Appreciate the synergy and efforts of the group to reframe and invent innovative teachings to engage the students. Keep up the momentum and good work. JIA YOU!!
I was most encouraged by the high energy and quality of the research proposals. The areas proposed for study are important and significant. The theories on learning, building communities of practice, or media literacy are aplenty but the hardest is in the translation into sound classroom and school practices and I applaud all of you for your maiden attempts to explore and document these efforts. Start small, get into the act and trust me, the rest will follow...
Surprisingly, the 5-hour session didn't feel long at all! Members were actively listening to one another's project with deep interest, questioning and clarifying in a very objective and professional way.
To me, this is a what a Community of Practice would look like, where passionate practitioners gather to reflect, share experience, bounce off ideas, pool resources and collaborate to improve their practice!
I agree totally with Anna. The intense and focus of the members in the discussion are really impressive. I am sure everyone has learned a lot. I think we did not feel any threat as everyone is having a problem of his own and everyone knows how difficult it is. We understand that our questions are meant to help rather than to criticise. We should have more this kind of gathering.
Throughout the session, I was observing everyone and I asked myself this question, "Who stays back on a fri til 730pm in the evening to engage in academic discourse?!" Even folks like Stanley and Kok Meng who seemed totally immersed in the culture of sharing, could have enjoyed an early friday without SMC meeting.
But they did not.
I told myself, "these are the people who are really so passionate and committed to their craft that it has become their life..they have really gone beyond the normal call of duty for a teacher."
Ironically, this "level 1 social gathering" had become the epitome of a community of practice, where work becomes play and play becomes...
This research sharing is good because it "forced" us to get back into focus and helped us to re-evaluate our intital assumptions. For the Math team, i felt that we are moving to the core of the problem - procedural vs conceptual teaching; engagement vs dis-connectedness; purpose vs exam-smart.
But some suggestions for improvement: 1. Limit of per group presentation to 20 mins. 2. Limit number of slides to five. In my previous course on my master's, one lecturer imposed these conditions and we surprised her with the quality of our sharing.
I am really heartened by all the passionate sharing and exchange despite the fact that we are not full-time researchers - Bravo everyone! What are some reflection points for me from the exchanges.... a. Is there something different/unique abt what we are exploring in JSS? How do we support our own unique experimentations? Are there enough literature out there in what we are doing? Or adaptations and even innovative ideas from our own observations/ practices needed?
b. Can we apply what we are proposing in the everyday classroom eventually - given the time, syllabus, etc? Must continually keep this in mind.
c. Are our outcomes really measurable in some form?
Today's session has being an enriching experience for me, as I gain an insight about the researching process. Also get to know about the new directions of the school for the FS project.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the synergy and efforts of the group to reframe and invent innovative teachings to engage the students. Keep up the momentum and good work. JIA YOU!!
Stanley
( The man on the other side ) :p
I was most encouraged by the high energy and quality of the research proposals. The areas proposed for study are important and significant. The theories on learning, building communities of practice, or media literacy are aplenty but the hardest is in the translation into sound classroom and school practices and I applaud all of you for your maiden attempts to explore and document these efforts. Start small, get into the act and trust me, the rest will follow...
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, the 5-hour session didn't feel long at all! Members were actively listening to one another's project with deep interest, questioning and clarifying in a very objective and professional way.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this is a what a Community of Practice would look like, where passionate practitioners gather to reflect, share experience, bounce off ideas, pool resources and collaborate to improve their practice!
It's a good start. Way to go, TEAM!
Anna
I agree totally with Anna. The intense and focus of the members in the discussion are really impressive. I am sure everyone has learned a lot. I think we did not feel any threat as everyone is having a problem of his own and everyone knows how difficult it is. We understand that our questions are meant to help rather than to criticise. We should have more this kind of gathering.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the session, I was observing everyone and I asked myself this question, "Who stays back on a fri til 730pm in the evening to engage in academic discourse?!" Even folks like Stanley and Kok Meng who seemed totally immersed in the culture of sharing, could have enjoyed an early friday without SMC meeting.
ReplyDeleteBut they did not.
I told myself, "these are the people who are really so passionate and committed to their craft that it has become their life..they have really gone beyond the normal call of duty for a teacher."
Ironically, this "level 1 social gathering" had become the epitome of a community of practice, where work becomes play and play becomes...
life.
This research sharing is good because it "forced" us to get back into focus and helped us to re-evaluate our intital assumptions. For the Math team, i felt that we are moving to the core of the problem - procedural vs conceptual teaching; engagement vs dis-connectedness; purpose vs exam-smart.
ReplyDeleteBut some suggestions for improvement:
1. Limit of per group presentation to 20 mins.
2. Limit number of slides to five.
In my previous course on my master's, one lecturer imposed these conditions and we surprised her with the quality of our sharing.
Cheers!
I am really heartened by all the passionate sharing and exchange despite the fact that we are not full-time researchers - Bravo everyone!
ReplyDeleteWhat are some reflection points for me from the exchanges....
a. Is there something different/unique abt what we are exploring in JSS? How do we support our own unique experimentations? Are there enough literature out there in what we are doing? Or adaptations and even innovative ideas from our own observations/ practices needed?
b. Can we apply what we are proposing in the everyday classroom eventually - given the time, syllabus, etc? Must continually keep this in mind.
c. Are our outcomes really measurable in some form?