EduBlog.NET tag:edublog.net,2007-12-07:/mt4//13 2010-02-14T15:32:40Z - a singaporean teacher's storeroom Movable Type 4.21-en Chinese New Year 2010 - in Singapore tag:edublog.net,2010:/mt4//13.1198 2010-02-14T01:21:37Z 2010-02-14T15:32:40Z it's the start of the chinese new year once again, 一年又过，今天是庚寅年的大年初一，一会儿就要出去拜年了。 the eve of cny in singapore is extremely boring, compared to in shanghai, and not even comparable to malaysia just across the straits and viewable from my flat. 新加坡的除夕真是无聊透顶，一点气氛都没有！... astinus it's the start of the chinese new year once again, 一年又过，今天是庚寅年的大年初一，一会儿就要出去拜年了。 the eve of cny in singapore is extremely boring, compared to in shanghai, and not even comparable to malaysia just across the straits and viewable from my flat. 新加坡的除夕真是无聊透顶，一点气氛都没有！ if the government is serious abt retaining the Chinese culture, allow our youngs (and olds too!) to light fireworks (some singaporean might gasp on hearing this) and firecrackers. this would bring the mood and atmosphere of cny back, as well as the opportunity to tell the stories/traditions behind why we do it at all. this is a teachable moment for culture, not learning dead culture on textbooks, learning it as told by a teacher who hasnt seen or light any firecracker his/her own life *duh* of cos, the word "dangerous" will always be used as an excuse. well, singapore is world-renowned for its rules and order, just set some rules, and allow singaporean to play safely :) we simply do not stop cooking or play soccer becos there's a risk of explosion or breaking the nose, do we?

anyway, this cny i received 3 cny cards in my snail mailbox, 2 from my teachers, 1 from my students :) my tuition teacher 素卿姐 i've known her for 26 years now, my chemistry teacher mr poh mah see 傅妈思师 i've known him for 20 years, and Si Hui 斯惠 6 years now. notice any 'pattern' here? yes, it all revolves around teacher-student relationships, something that has been missing from my life for 5 years now. a tug at my heart on where i should belong. shall work towards it and see if there's any good news to report come cny 2011? (:







last but not least, may i wish all my teachers, students, and friends: 一元复始，万象更新。新年快乐，万事如意！ 恭喜恭喜！ Gong Xi Gong Xi!

]]> Learning about learning tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1197 2009-07-01T04:00:51Z 2009-07-01T05:36:44Z learning is our core business but at times if you are asked "how do people learn?" we may not be able to give an answer outright or an explanation following the latest development in learning sciences research. chanced upon this... astinus learning is our core business but at times if you are asked "how do people learn?" we may not be able to give an answer outright or an explanation following the latest development in learning sciences research. chanced upon this website while looking at AifL, Learning About Learning is a very informative website. you'll find video illustrations, checklists for evaluation, info on further reading and staff development resources for 9 areas covering:

  • Differences (in learning)

  • The brain

  • Emotions

  • Thinking

  • Motivation

  • Creativity

  • Collaboration

  • Digital learning

  • Assessment

nice (:

]]> On improving writing in English tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1196 2009-06-29T14:32:08Z 2009-06-29T14:47:25Z part of my work these days deals with thinking how we can allow students to improve their writing with the help of technologies. and a latest digest from the smashingmag presents "50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Writing Skills".... astinus part of my work these days deals with thinking how we can allow students to improve their writing with the help of technologies. and a latest digest from the smashingmag presents "50 Free Resources That Will Improve Your Writing Skills". the article covers the following area:

  1. Grammar, Punctuation & Co.

  2. Common mistakes and problems

  3. General Writing Skills

  4. Practical Guides To Better Writing Skills

  5. Copywriting Blogs

  6. (Online) Tools

  7. Further Resources

get full details here.

]]> Windows 7 - pricing, releasing date, trial tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1195 2009-06-25T15:27:49Z 2009-06-25T15:47:14Z windows 7 is micro$oft's next release of operating system set to replace vista. according to bbc news, windows 7 is set to be released on Oct 22, 2009, and in UK, it'll cost 79.99 for an upgrade version. if you... astinus windows 7 is micro$oft's next release of operating system set to replace vista. according to bbc news, windows 7 is set to be released on Oct 22, 2009, and in UK, it'll cost 79.99 for an upgrade version.

if you would like try it for free, grab the release candidate by end July 09. it's recommended NOT to install on a system that you're using currently using for work/play/study. i've tried installing it on a kohjinsha sh, and it's running OK, except the cpu is not fast enough so you'll need some patience for things to load. but it's installable, runable and usable, quite surprised (:

and btw, the worldwide upgrade option programme is due to begin only on 26 June, which means those pple who bought their computers some two weeks ago at pc show missed their free upgrade chance? hmm ... ...

]]> Web design trends for 2009 tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1194 2009-06-23T09:05:02Z 2009-06-23T15:26:24Z yes. this is a bit late coz 2009 is already half gone, but part of my work now requires me to conceptualise the design of a website. and google easily turn up this useful reference: More Web Design Trends for... astinus yes. this is a bit late coz 2009 is already half gone, but part of my work now requires me to conceptualise the design of a website. and google easily turn up this useful reference:

related: ]]> 50+ Web 2.0 Ways To Tell a Story tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1193 2009-06-20T04:03:09Z 2009-06-20T08:32:44Z if you're an EL/CL/ML/TL/any other language teacher and seeking ideas to "web2.0" your language classrooms, check out this resource put together by Alan Levine. the idea's not too difficult: Outline a Story Idea Find Some Media Pick a Tool to... astinus if you're an EL/CL/ML/TL/any other language teacher and seeking ideas to "web2.0" your language classrooms, check out this resource put together by Alan Levine. the idea's not too difficult:

  1. Outline a Story Idea
  2. Find Some Media
  3. Pick a Tool to Build Your Story

change the tool as often as you like and you can plan unlimited ways (use a different story prompt, coupled with different media, and when more and more tools' made available) of getting students to tell/write stories the whole year round (:

if you need an example of how it can be done, take a look at Alan's 50+ Ways to Tell the Dominoe Story.

enjoy (:

]]> Just for laugh tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1192 2009-06-20T03:30:22Z 2009-06-20T03:56:56Z courtesy of cheezburger.com... astinus funny pictures
courtesy of cheezburger.com ]]> Second life is getting a second life tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1191 2009-06-19T09:17:01Z 2009-06-19T09:51:50Z just chanced upon this 4-mths old article by Owen Thomas, it appears that Second Life is ending it's 'original life' in the business world: We were primarily interested in Second Life as a business/commerce/finance phenomenon, covering it like we would... astinus just chanced upon this 4-mths old article by Owen Thomas, it appears that Second Life is ending it's 'original life' in the business world:


We were primarily interested in Second Life as a business/commerce/finance phenomenon, covering it like we would any small but fast-growing economy in the real world. The bureau is now closed. Essentially the story we were there to cover has moved on. -- Adam Pasick, as cited by Thomas

in short, SL didnt make MONEY as originally planned. so it's getting a second life by "pitching itself as an online schoolhouse."

good news for those of us in teaching isn't it? (:

]]> TPCK - Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1190 2009-06-10T14:59:55Z 2009-06-13T14:47:57Z this is one thing that's related to my work since my return to work on 20090401. TPCK (read "TPACK"), stands for "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge", just to quote "(it is a) complex, multifaceted and situated form of knowledge (Mishra &... astinus this is one thing that's related to my work since my return to work on 20090401.

TPCK (read "TPACK"), stands for "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge", just to quote "(it is a) complex, multifaceted and situated form of knowledge (Mishra & Koehler, 2006, 1017)".


(source: tpck.org)


very briefly, when we reflect upon the time when we use ICT in our classroom, teachers are applying techonological knowledge of the watever tools u might choose to see how best the affordances can be used to as part of your carrying out of lesson (the pedagogical knowledge) on your intended lesson and its outcomes/objectvies (the content knowledge). and these three types of knowledge are not standalone but overlaps with each other. so for e.g. your pedagogical knowledge will not be wat it used to be as it has now evolved to include ICT; likewise the use of an ICT may not be wat it is originally designed to ("repurposing"). Yes, TPCK is not a new idea, and if you're interested to get a better understanding of this, here's some resources:

1. a MUST WATCH webinar by Mishra & Koehler (i found this very useful link from tucksoon's blog, thank you :)
2. notes taken by Wesley Fryer during the keynote presentation at CITE2007 by Mishra & Koehler
3. TPCK.org maintained by Mishra & Koehler
4. related reading list on TPCK.org

]]> Happy Birthday! tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1189 2009-05-28T00:17:58Z 2009-05-28T00:25:02Z yes, it's been a long time since I last created a cake, and it's a while since i get another post up here. life's mixed with good n bad things lately, just like the good n bad weather lately... astinus

yes, it's been a long time since I last created a cake, and it's a while since i get another post up here. life's mixed with good n bad things lately, just like the good n bad weather lately :) anyway, it's my friend and colleauge Dan Ying ????'s birthday! And she wants to announce to the world that she's officially ...... WAIT! better not put it here. i think 18 is a nice number, u think so too? (: oh yes, before i forget,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and may the year ahead be a healthy n fruitful one, ?????"
Cheers! (:
]]> Free technological resources anyone? tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1188 2009-05-07T13:32:33Z 2009-05-07T13:41:19Z believed this is not the first time i've seen this blog but this is the first time i create a post to remind myself of it in future: Free Technology for Teachers if you like to use animal photos in... astinus believed this is not the first time i've seen this blog but this is the first time i create a post to remind myself of it in future:

Free Technology for Teachers

if you like to use animal photos in your lessons, you can read about it here;
if you like to see more examples of educators' blog (a major reason is you cant find much of it here), you can read about it here;
if you like to find out more about copyrights and possibly teaching your students on the topic, you can read about it here;

... the list's non-exhaustive. i believe you'll find most, if not all, entries useful. enjoy (:

]]> Microchips, anyone? (: tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1187 2009-05-02T15:27:08Z 2009-05-02T15:49:03Z Saw this article "25 Microchips That Shook the World" by Brian R. Santo hosted on IEEE spectrum. how many of these chips affected your life? my list contains only: 1. Texas Instruments TMC0281 Speech Synthesizer (1978) - used in the... astinus Saw this article "25 Microchips That Shook the World" by Brian R. Santo hosted on IEEE spectrum. how many of these chips affected your life? my list contains only:

1. Texas Instruments TMC0281 Speech Synthesizer (1978) - used in the featured "Speak and Read" machine. ours was the YELLOW version though.

2. Kodak KAF-1300 Image Sensor (1986) - this is the 'great great .... grandfather/mother' of all future CCD cameras?

3. Intel 8088 Microprocessor (1979) - if you ever used a PC (cf Mac or Apple, but the latest Macs are based on Intel processors anyway), this has to be in your list (:

4. Micronas Semiconductor MAS3507 MP3 Decoder (1997) - i dun own an iPod, but guess any portable mp3 player will require some derivation of this chip?

5. Amati Communications Overture ADSL Chip Set (1994) - if u used Singnet's broadband, u're on ADSL. Singnet lost me as their customer after they chose to force me to take up 24mths contract upon renewal when I can only utilise less than half of it as we're leaving for shanghai.

6. Chips & Technologies AT Chip Set (1985) - our very first computer@home in 1991 is a 80286 and it runs on this C&T AT chipset i recall seeing when i opened up the cpu. fond memory always of that computer.

7. Toshiba NAND Flash Memory (1989) - thumbdrive, usb drive, watever u called it, it's quite impossible this piece of technology is not part of your life today, especially if u're reading this post :P

so my count's only SEVEN, wat's yours? (:

]]> Screen capture software - FastStone Capture V5.3 tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1186 2009-04-29T15:57:25Z 2009-04-29T16:15:04Z If you need a FREE screen capture software, you'll love FastStone Capture after trying it out. Version 5.3 is able to: Capture Active window Capture a/an window/object Capture a freehand region Capture a scrolling window (this is what I find... astinus If you need a FREE screen capture software, you'll love FastStone Capture after trying it out. Version 5.3 is able to:

  • Capture Active window
  • Capture a/an window/object
  • Capture a freehand region
  • Capture a scrolling window (this is what I find MOST useful)

and save it to six difference destinations. And in the "Options", you can specify the dot-pitch of the screen capture, the destination folder, auto-startup with windows etc.

Since the software license agreement does not disallow redistribution (see below), you may want to download a copy of it for your personal use from the local mirror. If you require some latest features, be sure to check out the latest version at FastStone.org for just an afforable sum.

If you need more info (e.g. how to unpack and use), you can visit The Portable Freeware dot com.


Please read the following terms and conditions carefully before using this software. Use of this software indicates you accept the terms of this license agreement and warranty.

1. Disclaimer of Warranty

FastStone Capture (this software) is provided "as-is" and without warranty of any kind, express, implied or otherwise, including without limitation, any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

In no event shall the author of this software be held liable for data loss, damages, loss of profits or any other kind of loss while using or misusing this software.

2. License

FastStone Capture is provided as FREEWARE for private (non-commercial) or educational (including non-profit organization) use. In these cases, you are granted the right to use and to make an unlimited number of copies of this software.

For commercial use, it is required to register this software. Registering is an important source of support in the development of future versions.

3. Restrictions on Use

This software must not be decompiled, disassembled, reverse engineered or otherwise modified.

Copyright (C) 2007 by FastStone Soft. All rights reserved.

]]> A Wordpress MU (multi-user) administration guide tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1185 2009-04-23T15:44:59Z 2009-04-23T15:51:42Z James Farmer and his team over at edublogs.org have put together this "The WordPress MU Site Admin Guide" guide. It may give some tips on Wordpress MU administration if you are running one. Btw, Wordpress (in short "WP") is an... astinus James Farmer and his team over at edublogs.org have put together this "The WordPress MU Site Admin Guide" guide. It may give some tips on Wordpress MU administration if you are running one.

Btw, Wordpress (in short "WP") is an opensource blog publishing platform/engine (:


]]> Encouraging Web 2.0 "conversion" tag:edublog.net,2009:/mt4//13.1184 2009-04-23T15:35:37Z 2009-04-23T15:40:30Z chanced upon this initiative termed "23 Learning 2.0 Things" which is a nicely laid out 9-week programme. might give some ideas on how one can encourage fellow teachers to become 2.0ed. if you're able to throw in some incentives, that... astinus chanced upon this initiative termed "23 Learning 2.0 Things" which is a nicely laid out 9-week programme. might give some ideas on how one can encourage fellow teachers to become 2.0ed. if you're able to throw in some incentives, that would definitely be nice. otherwise the process in itself can be fun i suppose (:


]]>