Oh my god...Four lesson plans???

This is what I muttered to myself when Puan Foziah asked us to construct 4 lesson plans as our third assignment. The lesson plans must be done based on the topic and year that we got through the draw lots. Mine was about homes. I have no idea what the content of the topic would be. Before starting on the lesson plans, I borrowed the text books from neighbours and cousins. Besides that, I went to the bookshop and bought some primary school exercise books so that can be used as a guide when creating the task sheet of the lesson plan. I began working on my third assignment. In the lesson plans, I have applied my learnt skill through PBEY3102 course which are photo editing, eBook, extracting audio, downloading video and so on. I cannot imagine myself doing this as I was a really really bad in this technological and ICT stuffs before this. Now, it is simple as ABC. Through this third assignment, I realized why Puan Foziah asked to do 4 lesson plans. In schools, children will be taught on a topic for the whole week, not one day one topic. Therefore, the children must be enhanced with the four language skills in the topics. As teachers in primary school, we need to prepare lesson plans for a whole week regarding one topic. Therefore, this four lesson plans actually served as a mild training for us in preparation for practicum. So, this assignment has been an exposure on how to connect from one lesson to another.

Microsoft Publisher

The 2nd assignment fever finally came to an end when we submitted the assignment on last Tuesday. Vina and I made sure that we have compiled all the materials that need to be in. As a following task, we were required to find a partner to create a name card, poster as well as pamphlet to be inserted into our portfolio. Therefore, Loi Choi Yee and I paired up and we discussed on the features that should be taken into consideration when creating a name card and pamphlet. Then, I started to work on my name card using the Microsoft Publisher. The format of the name card was there, hence, the process of making it was quite simple. However, I changed the actual design and colour to suit the type and size of the font. The same method was applied to pamphlet and poster. Not forgetting newsletter too.

Preparing the second assignment

For the second assignment of PKEY3102, we are required to do two lesson plans and develop materials based on two videos. One video ‘The Earth Song’ by Michael Jackson is compulsory for all of us. Meanwhile, the second video is our choice. The title of the second video that Vina and I agreed to choose is Animals Save the Planet. Since there are two videos, Vina and I decided to divide our job. I chose to work on the second video. I used the Windows Movie Maker software to extract the sound, snap the pictures of the clip as well as converted the downloaded video to AVI using total video converter. Since we have to construct lesson plan based on the video, I thought of using the video in the lesson. However, not all the clips in the video are suitable and clear for the pupils. Therefore, I edited the video by omitting the unnecessary clips. Then, I also developed several digital flashcards out from the video and added images from net. In the process of creating lesson plan, my friends especially my partner, Vina were helping me alot. In fact, through ADEC, I have gained lot of information regarding this assignment as all the questions and doubts from us were cleared by Puan Foziah and tesl members. Thank you everyone!

The four skills task-done!

We were required to form a group consists of four members and each must develop a material and activity for one skill. Imannudin, Zulaikha, Safrina and I quickly formed a group. In order to be fair and square, we decided to draw lot. I got the reading skill and I was happy with it. This is because when the instruction was given, I already began to imagine how a creative piece of reading material can be developed. Story? riddles? Magazines? or perhaps eBook...hmmm...an eBook would be suitable for this skill. I told my idea and my group members were encouraging me to do it. Then, we decided on the topic. Therefore, we chose the Festivals in Malaysia. I began working on my eBook by first, browsing and selecting images from Google and Yahoo search engines. Then, I edited the images using Microsoft Paint and Nero Photoshop. This was when I use what I have learn during lecture on Photo Editing. Even though consuming time to edit the pictures, I had fun making it. The eBook was actually a slide shows of Microsoft PowerPoint which has been transformed into informative and colourful book. Then the activity on reading skill was constructed with the task sheet. Besides reading skill, I helped my group members by sharing and giving ideas and opinions on the activities of other 3 skills. In fact, each helps one another. This is where the team spirit can be seen.

E-book:tired but fun

Making e-book is really fun.At the beginning, I thought that creating an e-book is going to be difficult. However,once I started working on it, I found making e-book is quite an interesting job.After asking around for idea, finally I decided to choose the theme 'animal' for my ebook.First, I began by capturing the pictures of animals that I have drawn.After snapping, I bluetoothed the images to my PC and edited them so that the white background cannot be seen.This is when I applied my photo editing skills that I have learned in my previous lesson. I used Adobe Photoshop to do the cropping and also changing the background color of the slides.I don't prefer my ebook to be very static with only still clip arts. Therefore,I browse through net and inserted many animated pictures (gif) so that my ebook will look even lively and dynamic.Even though the process of finding animated pictures seemed to be hard,frankly I enjoyed doing that as I was quite surprise to finding funny and eye capturing clip arts through the way.One thing,it required patience, patience and patience..Why alot of animated pictures in the ebook???Some people believe that lots of animation can distract the pupils' attention on the information that to be highlighted. However,in my point of view, animations could hold the primary school pupils' short attention span for a longer period.Furthermore, I believe that input can be delivered easily through stories and moving images as pupils can recall them in the following lessons.In addition to this, I have used the Window Movie Maker to do the voice recording for the ebook narration.

Video Editing

Finally, my partner, Izuddin and I have done the video editing task which was assigned few weeks ago by Puan Foziah. Since the task was assigned few days before holidays, we thought it going to very difficult for us to work on it. However, we were advised by Puan Foziah to work through online. She said that she wanted to see how we could make use of this Internet to communicate and work on the video. We were puzzled because both of us are not having Internet access at home. However, that idea was the only hope for us to complete the task. Right after the task is assigned, Izzudin and I began to discuss on the theme and storyline. We also sketched a simple storyboard for this video. During our holidays at hometown, we tend to use the Internet access at cybercafe. Izzudin and I contacted each other and discussed about this video editing through emails. We also exchange informations and pictures through Internet(email). Then, we managed to create the video using the Power Director software and tutorial for it. Now, I agree with the saying "When there's a will, there's a way". Even though being far from each other, we manage to complete the task with the help of the emails. Distance should not be an excuse for a pair to incomplete the task assigned. Thank you for the email idea,Puan Foziah...It works.

Audio Editing

Editing audio? Gosh! How am I supposed to do that??? This is what I was mumbling when the lecturer announced on the audio editing task few weeks ago. However, after reading the notes displayed in ADEC, I determined to give a try. First, I downloaded few Tamil songs from a website, TamilBeat.com. Then, by using KeepVid, I downloaded two English songs in a cybercafé and saved it in my MP3 modulator. Then, I used the Movie Maker software to edit the audio. I listened to every parts of the song and chose the suitable parts by dragging and matching them in the Movie Maker’s timeline. I accidentally overlapped one song clip on the other but the result whooped me off. It created a continuous beat and sounded more natural. That was what I wanted and it brought me satisfaction. So, I think editing music is not hard as I thought before.