Sunday, November 28, 2010

AKM101 Reflection 7

23 november 2010

We continued with Professional Development  this week.

We talked about Lesson Study, Professional Learning Opportunities within Lesson Study.

Identify Research Theme
1) Plan Lesson - set lesson goal
                       - key learning task
                       - anticipated responses
                       - leading questions to achieve learning goal / practice / reflections
2) Research Lesson
3) Post-Lesson Discussion
4) Lesson Plan Revision

In class, we saw how pupils in school did a PLC : "What's the relationship between the circumference and diameter?"

We also used an authentic problem (newspaper article) to look into a Math problem. Math is everywhere!

There will be a test on 30 November! 7pm!

AKM101 Reflection 6

16 November 2010

PLC :
1) Action Research
2) Learning Circle
3) Lesson Study

My friends shared about what they have in their schools. How PLC has impacted their schools. In my school, we do more about Learning Circle.

We have Learning Teams in my school. There are many about 4 teams in my level. My team is doing English. We are looking into our school's phonics package. Our team wanted to make the lesson more engaging and interactive. The worksheets we designed are also differentiated.

We also talked about initiatives related to the professional development of teachers.

AKM101 Reflection 5

9 November 2010

Performance Assessment

The task given to us was "Estimate the height of the column".

Our group went out and explored many ways. We also used different manipulatives to try solve the problem.

Our group came up with the following ways :

1) Benchmarking
2) Dropping down the measuring tape literally (direct measurement)
3) Using the set-square
4) Measuring the shadow of the column
5) Estimation using the wall tiles
6) Vertical steps up the stairs

Personally, I used the 'benchmarking' method. My guess was 7m. Well, I was close!  :-)
However, I think the #6 method was the most accurate method. (vertical steps up the stairs)

Assessment -
1) Alternative Assessment
2) Performance Assessment
3) Holistic Assessment

I also learnt more about 'Performance Task' and 'Designing Rubrics'.

AKM101 Reflection 4

26 October 2010

Assessment is carried out for promotion, placement and research. Assessment can be Summative, Formative and Diagnostic.

I learn about 'Assessment of Learning', 'Assessment for Learning' and 'Assessment as Learning'. Our group's first assignment - 'e-learning Initiatives in Singapore Education System 1997 - 2010' is an example of 'Assessment as Learning'. We learn as we do the assignment.

I also learn about the term 'validity'.

Pupils who cannot do Word Problems have the following difficulties :
1) Reading
2) Can read but cannot comprehend
3) Knowledge of strategies / heuristics
4) Transform - Unable to transform story into Mathematical form (models/equations)
5) Computations
6) Cannot formulate final solution

AKM101 Reflection 3

12 October 2010

We played the 'Magic Game'. The stack of cards somehow when flashed, came out in sequence from 1 to 10! It was really fun. I will show this to my P1 pupils! I am sure they will be thrilled.

The 'Salute Game' played in class was also very interesting. Our group used the game for Addition and Multiplication. I thought this game helps pupils with number facts.

I will play these 2 games with my pupils in class. I cannot wait to carry them out in class.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

AKM101 Reflection 2

After our first lesson on 7 Sept, Jihan, Jeanette, Vincent, Swarna and I had a group discussion on 9 Sept. On that day, we met and each of us were allocated a period of 2 to 3 years to research on. I was to find out more about the Educational Initiatives 1997 to 1999.
Our group met up again yesterday (14 Sept). Using the 'Expert Group', 'Round Robin' and 'Jigsaw' from CL, we managed to piece up all the information we need for the Educational Initiatives 1997 to 2010. From the big picture, we then zoomed into 5 major initiatives to work on. (Since there are 5 of us, each of us will take one and look into the details. We will meet again next week to share our findings.)

It was a very fruitful meeting as we now have a clearer picture of the MOE Initiatives. We also have to bear in mind how these initiatives will impact the teaching and learning of Math.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

AKM101 Lesson 1's Reflection

It was an exciting evening...returning to NIE after so many years! Today is my first lesson. Dr Yeap and Dr Ng were with us. We looked into the current initiatives in Mathematics Education.

Dr Yeap talked about the TSLN (Thinking School Learning Nation) initiative. He then gave us tangrams to play with. We made squares using 3 pieces, 4, etc all the way till using all 7 pieces to form a huge square. (lesson on area) The activities were non-threatening. We linked them to differentiated learning (enrichment & remediation) too. We discussed and shared information. We also revisited the Curriculum Framework. We looked into the different aspects of learning. The class also talked about "Why are we teaching Mathematics?" The rationale being : Intellectual Competence, everyday use and the affective aspects.

I look forward to meeting my friends in my group on Thursday afternoon again to discuss on the Group Assignment Dr Yeap has just given us.   :-)