May
02

an extract from Walden Two

saw the following quote from the book Walden Two while reading an article:

Since our children remain happy, energetic, and curious, we don’t need to teach “subjects” at all. We teach only the techniques of learning and thinking. As for geography, literature, the sciences-we give our children opportunity and guidance, and they learn for themselves. In that we dispense with half the teachers required under the old system, and the education is incomparably better. Our children are not neglected, but they’re seldom, if ever, taught anything.

Education in Walden Two is part of the life of the community. We don’t need to resort to trumped-up life experiences. Our children begin to work at a very early age. It’s no hardship; it’s accepted as readily as sport or play. A good share of our education goes on in workshops, laboratories, and fields. It’s part of the Walden Two code to encourage children in all the arts and crafts.

(Skinner, 1948, pp. 119-120, as cited in Anderson, Reder, & Simon, 1997)

Mar
30

classroom, the return

it’s been 7 yrs since i was away from the classrooms, away from teaching, away from marking, away from graduating students, away from the whole list of roles and responsibilites. today, marks a day in history where i returned to the classroom, and ‘graduated’ students, not from the school, but from a course, the ICT for Meaningful Learning (aka QED 527). the fellow teachers in my tutorial group 8 belong to the january 2012 intake.

(from left to right, in order of appearance, regardless of front or back): Low Yee Lin, Fu Hsun, Oh Siew Gein, Huang Yin Chiao, You Lixia, Zhang Rui, Lim Xin Yi, Serene Eng, Kenny Wong Boon Chong, Koh Xue Ting, Lee Chain Ting, Nurul Musfirah, Huang Chenmei Juliet, Jacob Jonathan, Wee Wen Jie Melissa, Linus Chan, Mohamed Hafiz bin Mohamed Ridwan, Shian Pui Kuen, Zhuang Junming Edwin, Shang Xiaoyan, Chew Kechang, Ong Zi Xiang, Cheu Siew Lan, Chang Qi Yin Zoe, Dai Qi, Deng Kaihua, & Lim Kaihui. (not in picture Melanie Kee)

all the best to one and all (:

Mar
09

when behaviours and values are rewarded in monetary terms

the following series of dialogues is motivated by the announcement yesterday that MOE is going to start rewarding students with money for their good behaviours and values (or characters, whatever you call it). this is just going to be another long tail of education.

yesterday

妈妈:”小明,you must bow and greet when you see teachers in school.”
小明:”mama, why?”
妈妈:”this is to show respect.”
小明:”yes mama”

today onwards

妈妈:”小明,you must bow and greet when you see teachers in school.”
小明:”mama, why?”
妈妈:”so that you can earn some money and lighten our load.帮忙赚钱,赚钱很辛苦的。”
小明:”orh”

妈妈:”小明,you must bow and greet when you see teachers in school.”
小明:”mama, why?”
妈妈:”this is to show respect.”
小明:”but hor, 小华 says his mama says he needs to greet and bow so that he can win award and go on stage. i also want to go on stage.”

soon to come
老师:”小明, in school you must greet principals, teachers to show respect”
小明:”cher, my mama says doing that will contribute money to my edusave account?”

老师:”小明,our school motto is Loyalty, Integrity and Graciousness.”
小明:”cher, how much money will that contribute to my edusave account?”

老师:”小明,when you see the blind or the elderly, you must try and help them to cross the road.”
小明:”cher, how much money will that contribute to my edusave account?”

老师:”小明, tomorrow our class will be going to do VIA (yesteryear’s CIP) to clean up the beach.”
小明:”cher, how much money will that contribute to my edusave account?”

老师:”小明, why arent you singing the National Anthem, and reciting the pledge?”
小明:”cher, how much money will that contribute to my edusave account?”

30 yrs down the road
妈妈:”小明,you should do your bit for society and be a volunteer.”
小明:”am i going to get a character award in cash for that?”

妈妈:”小明,will you defend your country in times of war?”
小明:”what’s the sum of the award?”

妈妈:”小明,last time in school teachers din teach you must take care of your parents when we get old?”
小明:”i don’t recall i was rewarded in my edusave award for learning that.”

ref:

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2012/03/signalling-importance-of-holistic-education.php

http://www.straitstimes.com/Parliament/Story/STIStory_775296.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1187853/1/.html

Feb
22

no more bad wines

last week, boss sc shared with us the following TED video while mentioning the idea of work-life balance:

i neither drink nor collect wine, but this video truly serves as a good reminder on how we want to live our life. “priorities” some might say, but i would think the lesson of the day is the ‘how’ and not the usual ‘what’. cos many at times, we know what we want, but we may neglect the how to approach it, which is more important i feel.

for the case of no more bad wines, these are my two resolutions:

  1. i choose to be happy in whatever i do (for e.g. teach, learn, relating to pple, etc.)
  2. be a great husband & dad

what’s yours? ;)

Jan
10

cnki 中国知网 searchable

was trying out NIE’s trial subscription to CNKI, and was plesantly surprised that my Fudan ma thesis 新加坡中学生的认识论信念华文学习信念探究 (An exploratory study of the epistemological beliefs and language learning beliefs of Singapore school Chinese Language students) is listed (: must thank my supervisor 张豫峰老师 for putting up the nomination.

direct URL: http://gb.oversea.cnki.net/kcms/detail/detail.aspx?QueryID=38&CurRec=33&dbCode=CMFD&filename=2010194992.nh&dbname=CMFDLAST2011&uid=WDVKbEthcGM0eWppZ2NleQ==

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