IDEAS

CONSTRUCTIVISM

According to my understanding and from what I have read about constructivism approach, constructivist teaching and learning is student-centered. Students have actively constructed their own knowledge from the experiences, mental structures and beliefs. In this processes, teacher becomes as a guide and model for students, help students to develop the metacognitive skills such as reflective thinking and problem solving. So that, students becomes independent learners where is they are motivated to generate, discover, build and expand their knowledge.

The right and appropriates learning environment are very important to facilitates constructivist teaching and learning. The number of students should not too crowd in one class and the arrangement of table must suitable and convenience for students to interact with teacher and among them. This is because the students learn through interaction with others. The teacher should create and maintain a collaborative problem-solving environment. Good problems are required to stimulate the exploration and reflection. Teachers can encourage student’s inquiry by asking thoughtful and open ended questions. The presence of variety of teaching and learning materials including interactive materials also can helps. Another important thing is provide adequate time for students to construct relationship with people and environment around them.

ICT tools can act as a helper and medium for students to think, to learn and to communicate. Through the telecommunication networks, students can develop their social, communication and collaboration skill by joining the online discussion, forum and conferences. Some of the computer applications have been adapted or developed to facilitate critical learning. This happens when the ICT expertise have designed and developed the ‘Mindtools’ application such as visualization tools (e.g. MacSpartan for visualizing chemical compounds.), dynamic modeling tools, information interpretation tools (e.g. World Wide Web), knowledge constructions tools and conversation and collaboration tools.

Posted by Safizan

Do You Agree With These Tips?

The following are suggestions beginning teachers say they wish they had when they began teaching. Consider them as you think about your role as a secondary teacher.

1. Be patient – especially with yourself as you are learning about your students and about teaching.

2. Expect that your student will be curious and interested in your personal life.

3. Dress professionally – Respect yourself, your students and the job you’re doing by paying attention to your appearance.

4. Listen to yours students- Don’t assume your student will learn the way you learned.

5. Project a positive attitude

6. Work harder with those students to whom you’re particularly drawn. Spend more time trying to understand them. These students are your biggest challenges and most likely need your help the most.

7. Keep an open mind about everything related to this problem.

Posted by Najah

What causes the most stress for teachers?

I guess meetings with parents. It is particularly getting worst when you have to face a parent who comes up to you with a know-it-all attitude and more or less assumes the right to judge you as a teacher, often lacking the necessary information about you. I also hate when parents trust what their kids tell them about what is going on in class rather than us teachers. Sure we make mistakes but it is really disappointing when faced with a mother who had no idea what was going in class because she was a working mother for most of the day and she thought that her children were doing fine til she saw their grades. Last but not least, students who put zero effort in class work and individual work and are pretty much absent in most of your classes. I really feel bad for them when I have to meet with their parents. I actually feel guilty towards these parents and I really should not be.

Posted by Najah