I just got to share this video with you! Are we looking after our Planet ?

This morning while I was on the net, I came across this video! After I have watched it, I almost spilled my toasts onto the table!
Take a good look!

Thom Yorke - The Clock (1st Place D&AD Awards) from us (design studio) on Vimeo.

Are Task Boards useful in the classrooms ?

In New Zealand, a lot of teachers especially those who teach the Juniors--Year 1 to Year 6, use task boards to help them manage their class. The task boards are essentially a list of rotation activities that the children can do while the teacher carries out his/her micro teaching groups. Why micro-teaching? Well, the little children can not handle whole class teaching. They get lost easily and many can't bear listening to a teacher talking in front of the class for a long duration of time. The next reason which could be a more valid reason is that the children are of different abilities or levels right across the curriculum areas from reading and maths and social studies. Because of this, the children are sorted into different ability groups and hence there are small groups teaching.

How do task boards work ? Well, the children's names are listed under the names of the activities and when they are asked to change activities, they look at the chart and go to do the appropriate actitivities. In this way, all children have something meaningful to do while waiting for their turn to be called to the teacher.

When I first started teaching in my first few years, I had found that the task boards were extremely useful in the year one classes. Children at this level,--five year olds, found all activities helpful and kind. Nowadays, I have progressed so much in use of integration of e-learning that I have found the constant interruption of the rotation cycle actually break the link in e-learning. Many children are not happy to leave the computers to do another activity that is listed. Many have found out that going back to the computers later on is just not so cool because the original ideas have gone from their heads. Because of this, I have modified the task boards in a way that the children ar allowed on the computers till they have finished the projects.

I have also changed the way the task boards work. The task boards that are just lists of things on the charts that the children can do. They are encouraged to choose wisely --like attempting different activities, never overcrowd an activity (Max:4 persons). So far, this is working and I am happy that there is flexibility.

The Year That Was--2009 ( Part 2 )

Twitter;Jenny She-jshe has proven to be useful in October 2009 when I had to give a presentation at ULearn-an e-Learning conference held every year in New Zealand. Many teachers throughout the country enrolled in my session because they had known me and my work through Twitter. They had never met me but they have seen my work through the updates that I had posted on Twitter. I have to confess that while waiting at the hotel lobby for my turn to present, I overheard some teachers talking about how their friends couldn't get into my session because it was full and wished that it was in a bigger venue!. That made me smile! Thank you, Twitter!

My obsession of the use of Web 2.0 tools to enhance the students' learning continued to grow in 2009 and I had refined my skills in using them. Now, I am using a variety of Web 2.0 tools in my class blog: LIttle Voices, Little Scholars..

I realized how much I have advanced in the use of technology in my classroom when I managed to make a Christmas movie using imovie09 applying the Green Screen effect without much difficulties! It was not long ago (2004) when I first learned how to use imovie and have since kept refining my skills. My movie--Merry Christmas from Room 5 was a piece of work that I am proud of.

It is this type of continuous learning which I find extremely meaningful and rewarding. I am truely indebted to people who believe in me and trusted me along my learning journey.

Finally, I have to mention that my ULearn presentation was a highlight in 2009 too. It had boosted my confidence in public speaking which I normally refrain from. It is indeed a blessing to be able to share what we have learned and created.

The Year That Was--2009 ( Part 1 )

2009 was indeed a significant year for my learning journey. It had been a year full of surprises and happenings. Some of the surprises and events have changed my life and some have posed to be challenges. But the important thing is that they represtented my personal growth both in my personal life and in my career as a teacher!

My interest and indulgence in Twitter:jshe has to be the single most important factor that has affected my social networking skills. I was introduced to Twitter in late 2008 in an e-Learning conference in Christchurch in New Zealand. At that time, all I had in mind was to use Twitter as a platform to Promote my class blog: Little Voices, Little Scholars.

The turning point came when I met some very special people on Twitter ( I am not mentioning any names but these friends know who they are ) and these people are my treasure and they give me constant support in my work and in my personal life.

Seth Godin Speaks on Social Networking and its implication!!

Seth Godin has been described as a person who 'writes the most popular marketing blog in the world'. If you google him, it says that 'he is the author of the bestselling marketing books of the last decade' and that he often 'speaks to large groups on the media about marketing'.

Now what has that to do with me, a primary school teacher who has no intention of going into marketing business ? A friend of mine, Maynas Eric Chua is forever mentioning him in his tweets and I have decided that I have to read and learn about Seth Godin and why Seth has been admired by so many people.

When I was researching about Seth Godin, I came across a video in which Seth Godin speaks frankly about social networking. He was talking about marketing all the time but the important thing is that he mentions how the relationship that we have built while twittering is the most important thing that helps us in our social life. It is this relationship which has been built on the basis of trust that will help us in our career and social life. I had to laugh because he said that now that he has so many friends, he can come to New Zealand and would easily find a place to stay.

Now, I am thinking about my own experiences and how I have some very good twitter friends as well as Facebook friends. I was told by my Singaporean twitter friends if I ever land on Singapore, I will be swamped by them and that they all want to see me.
Now that's really something and something that would not have happened if I have not been on Twitter. At the same time, my New Zealand twitter friends are just as generous. I have invitations waiting for me to have dinner and coffee with them when we go to Christchurch for the Ulearn ICT conference later on in October this year.

I have hereby embedded Seth Godin's video on social networking for you to enjoy.

Maynas Eric Chua, My best Twitter friend!

When I woke up this morning, I felt compelled to write this post about Maynas Eric Chua, my best twitter friend. I first met Eric on #twitter in April this year.

Our encounter with each other was like a fairy tale story. I was responding to John Larkin, another twitter friend, calling for shouts about why we use #twitter. John was giving a presentation to the Singaporeans about the surge of twittering in social networking. Eric responded to one of my questions and I tweeted him back without even checking his profile. We have since become very good friends for a lot of reasons.

Eric has been a good friend because he inspires me and he believes in me. Through him, I have learned that I can do and achieve anything. He taught me to set goals and go for the things that I want in life. He keeps me company whenever I need to talk to somebody. He has introduced many of his friends to me and now I have the largest network of friends I ever have in my life. He is the person that has gained my trust from the moment he sent me his first tweet in April 15th 2009. I feel forever indebted to him for these reasons and for many others that I can not disclosed.

Eric has the fantastic site: Maynaseric.com
Please do visit his site if you have time and you will learn that he is indeed a truely awesome person!

Recently, Eric was interviewed by a large television chanel, Channel News Asia on IT technolgy,Facebook and Twitter.
The following video shows Eric's awesome interview.

Yet Another Great Twitter Song that I like!

This morning #twitter posted this awesome twitter song and I liked it instantly. I have hereby embedded the song here just in case some of you might like it too. Being a twitter addict, I like all things related to twitter but this song has special appeal to me because of its powerful lyrics. So enjoy!