Sunday, April 17, 2011

Reflections

If I could summarise the whole course / term into one word, it would be ‘Feedback’. Never have I taken a module in NUS that offered so many opportunities for students to give and receive feedback. Most science modules that I had taken did not even go through answers after a test, rendering students unable to learn from mistakes. ES2007 had been very different. From the beginning of the module, all the way to the end, there had been a constant stream of feedback. I remember the first feedback that I received from Brad: Using unrealistic examples to illustrate points does not value add to the strength of an argument. I would remember this for life, and would subsequently use this principle to teach my students. 

Essentially, this module IS the biggest learning point for me. As a to-be teacher, I have seen through this course that grading is but a necessary evil, instituted by higher authorities. What is beyond  grading is that which is more important in education: giving an indication to students on how they have done, their strengths and weaknesses, how they could improve, and to encourage them. All these can be done through feedback. So I hope that 3 years from now, as I step into the teaching world, I would be able to remember this ideal- to give my students feedback instead of solely grading them; to be fixated on the lives that are in the midst of the fire.


(245 words)


p.s- this is my first ever post in which I kept to the 250 word limit. Looks like I've learnt something else! =)

16 comments:

  1. You've summarised your reflections well. Feedback is one of the most unique feature of this module and it has proven to be very useful.

    I believe you'll be an awesome teacher in the future. :) I pray that your students are just as receptive.

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  2. Indeed, feedback is essential for learning so that we know what areas in our lives can be improved. This makes learning an on-going process. Hence I could not agree more with what you shared in your post. I will take note of that as a future teacher myself (: Thanks for the reminder.

    I would like to wish you all the best for your future endeavors.

    Cheers!

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  4. Hey Edwin, I accidentally deleted my comments to you. So sorry. But you can still read it I guess, cuz it sends to your mailbox.


    Un Abrazito, hasta pronto,
    Que tu con los amores, y tienes muchas alegrias, las pasiones para tus trabajos y tu novia. Despues, ustedes se caso en muchas flores, canciones, y bailes, vaya, vaya, vaya!

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  5. hey edwink,

    It has been great knowing you.Although,we did not much chance to work together, I am sure it would be fun to work with you.
    I think we shall organize basketball game event in facebook during our holiday. Basketball has been always my favorite game :)

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  6. Edwin! It's awesome to hear how this module has helped you in so many ways! And it's even heartening to hear that you will eventually pass on what you've learnt to future generations. The same goes for all the future teachers in this class. I'm surprised there are so many in this class by the way! Brad must be really proud to hear how he has impacted all of us!

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  7. Hi Edwin! I agree on the point that this module leans heavily on feedback. If there is a choice between grades and feedback, I would rather know my flaws and strengths than knowing my marks. Ultimately in the working world, it’s either deal or no deal, not As, Bs or Cs.

    As a fellow teacher, I would also like to bring the element of feedback into my future teaching.

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  8. Edwin! You're gonna be a fantastic teacher! How do I know? Cuz you taught me well~! :) I've learnt so much from you and you're seriously super good at guiding and taking care of the project group! Haha! thanks for all the care and fun! :)

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  9. Hello Edwin! Ahhh it's the end of the semester already. Time really flies huh? Well,it was really great knowing you through the module! I believe you will be a great teacher in future seeing as how you've grown as a professional communicator during the course of the module. I would definitely send my kids to attend your classes hahaha! All the best and hope to see you around in school :)

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  10. Mabel is right, Edwin. I'm very proud, mainly about the fact that I can have some influence with such hungry minds, especially when it comes to a future fellow teacher like you. In your final post, you zoom in very eloquently on that point that I have come to obsess about---feedback. You've learned the "trade secret," that without feedback, students need to fumble for their learning, but that with it --- and the encouragement that is part and parcel -- reflection begins, and with reflection, better comprehension of pitfalls and potentials.

    I see from Michael' comment that you play basketball. Is that true? (See how little I know about you, actually. Sorry!) Anyway, that has always been my favorite sport. But whether it's basketball or any other sport, when a player is "on the court," learning comes so natural. However, the value of a coach is that he or she can see the player's game fro the outside looking in. Are passes too wobbly? Are shots too forceful? Are the nerves too frayed, or the body too weak?

    I really think teachers are coaches, or trainers. As you now now, that A- or C+ is really useless if it's not accompanied by constructive criticism. And even a round of applause can have a huge effect!

    I applaud you now, Edwin. You were a key player in our class, always ready with a comment or a question, always ready to contribute through hard work, and constantly available for giving assistance to others (as Jac recognizes in her comment above).

    You will be a model to your future students and to your colleagues. Let's change the teaching/learning culture in the spaces we inhabit. Let's make it all participatory and reflective.

    Thanks for being a class leader this term.

    All the best, man!

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  11. Heyy Edwin!

    Yeah Feedback has really been the highlight of this class, it's really nice for a change to get some useful feedback rather than just grades.
    It's too bad we never got to talk much apart from the mock interviews but I'm sure we'll keep in touch. Your going to be a great teacher.

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  12. hahah.. now you guys are giving me feedback! Yup, I can't wait to go into the teaching world!

    @Mark: Thanks for your comments. I always appreciate your constructive comments!

    @Michael: I CAN'T WAIT!

    @Brad: Can you still play? Coz if you could, prepare yourself for a day at the NUS courts soon!! =) and btw, thank you for your encouragements. They're very very encouraging. =)

    @Jac, Eunice & YT: Work together in the same school?

    @Paula: Are you sure you want your children to be taught by me?? MUAHAHA!!

    @mabel: punchooooo!

    @michelle: and i'm sure you'd be an AWESOME AWESOME FLIGHT STEWARDESS! (please be one)

    @uttara: Thank you so much! =)

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  13. Oh I'm just competitive enough that if I can't be the fastest guy on the court (which takes good knees and probably a younger heart), and if I can't knock down threes with ease (which takes practice, as you know), I wouldn't want to embarass myself. I played competitively until my late 30s/early 40s, but when I started to feel nearly dead after a game, I thought I should be careful about my health. One guy who I knew in his early 40s played a match during a school reunuion and died on the court. Maybe I'll stick with swim these days......enjoy it while you can!

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  14. Hello Edwin! I like to blog post, it is really concise that I take less than 1 minute to finish reading it.

    Have to agree with you that this module gives us feedbacks more than any other modules. Thus, we are able to learn from our mistakes and see how we can improve.

    Though I did not work with you, I am still impressed by your suggestions in answering the questions for the mock interview. :) Thank you.

    All the best in your teaching career! :D

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  15. Hi Edwin!

    Your post is concisely and clearly written. It also contains valuable insights on what you have learnt in this module. I find it rather significant that you mentioned feedback, since this is clearly an important thrust of the module. I’m also heartened to know that you affirm the great value of feedback. With teachers like who strive to give feedback to their students in order for them to improve, I’m sure that the students under you will benefit immensely from your teaching. I think that Singapore’s education system focus too much on grades so I hope that with teachers like you, the education scene will change for the better =). Thanks so much for being my peer teaching teammate. I was impressed with the creative suggestions which you gave to us and I’m sure that it has contributed to the success of our peer teaching. Throughout the module, I felt that you are a good speaker who possesses a keen intellect, so it’s a pleasure to be in the same class as you. I’ve also benefited from the feedback which you have given me, so thanks a lot =).

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  16. I totally agree with you that feedback is very important and even necessary for improvement. Without feedback, it would be difficult for one to find out what went wrong and how to improve. Without a doubt, this module has given me plenty of feedbacks for improvement. In fact, biological systems also depend on feedback systems to function optimally. How I wish we live in a society where feedback is favoured over results.

    Also, thank you for everything you have done for me during this semester, both within and outside of this module. Your feedbacks have been very helpful to me in many areas, especially for the oral presentation. I definitely would not be able to do so without your help. It has been great meeting you and your friends which you eventually led me to. Life would have been very different for me, sitting alone and falling asleep during Cell Biology lectures.

    Last but not least, may these memories always remain in your heart and all the best for your exams!

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