Using cell phone

I'm testing using my cell phone updating my blog.

Learn from the 'Hair Port'

Yesterday, I have fulfilled my children's request to bring them to a cinema in Ipoh for 'Upin dan Ipin'. It is not about the movie that I wanted to publish here but a signboard of a shop (a hair salon) attracted me for its statuesque-but-thoughtful presence. While I stood in front of the closed shop (it was 11.00 p.m. already..) I was wondering what if I changed some words and replaced them with my own educational-related words... Here is my version...

"A student is the most important denizen in our school compound. Even though they feel they are not dependent on us, Our tasks are dependent on him. He is not an interruption on our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider of our duty. He is a part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing a favour to himself, by giving us an opportunity to do so."

So ... how does it sound....? Remember teachers.. the above quotation is not a new National Philosophy of Education. It is just a thought that I have had in mind when I was looking at the signboard.... ;-)

When a western scholar talks about Prophet Muhammad

" O Muhammad, We have not sent you but as a blessing for all the worlds. "
(al-Anbiya', verse: 107)

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Today Muslims celebrate the birthday of a great man who was born in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Makkah. He was given a name, Muhammad means "Praiseworthy" by his grand father, Abdul Mutalib. He was chosen as the Last Prophet by Allah. The above quote is taken from the holy scripture of Muslims, The al-Quran. The verse mentions the main purpose of the prophet being sent to the world. To those who do not like this great man (most of them are westerners) might give many negative connotations whether in writings, speeches or caricatures (while Muslims have never given such negative comments on any biblical characters). No matter how many negative connotations given, there are still great scholars who realised how great this man was and have written unbias writings about him. One of the scholars has written the description about the great and last Prophet as below:

"Muhammad was a man of exceptional genius. When he died in 632, he had managed to bring nearly the tribes of Arabia into a new united community or ummah."

The excerpt above is taken from Karen Armstrong's "A History of God". I read most of her books and found she is really sincere in her literatures. She describes Prophet Muhammad as if she was one of the Prophet's followers. To her, those who learnt literature should appreciate al-Quran and Muhammad is not the writer of al-Quran. About this issue Amstrong writes,

"Unlike the Torah, however, which according to the biblical account was revealed to Moses in one session on Mount Sinai, the Koran (al-Quran) was revealed to Muhammad bit by bit, line by line and verse by verse over a period of twenty-three years. The revelation continued to be a painful experience"

and the usefulness of al-Quran in natural science is sincerely revealed...

"...The Koran (al-Quran) constantly stresses the need for intelligence in deciphering the 'signs' or 'messages' of God. Muslims are not to abdicate their reason but to look at the world attentively and with curiosity. It was this attitude that later enabled Muslims to build fine tradition of natural science which has never been seen as such danger to religion as in Christianity."

Looking at the hullabaloo happens in the world nowadays, I regret the demise of this greatest man in history. However, he has left us (especially Muslims) his legacies which are the al-Quran and al-Hadith to guide us to the righteous path and yet many of us failed to follow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY O' MY BELOVED PROPHET MUHAMMAD

A visit to SMK Jalan 4 Bangi...

Today, according to what has been planned since last week, I joined the staffs of SMK Gedangsa for a visit to a "many-awards-gainer" school in Bangi. I will write more on it later... (I am too tired to write + no ideas) at the moment just enjoy this slide show via the link below.

SLIDE SHOW: CLICK HERE

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Latest update:
We visited the school on Monday after we have successfully carried out the Sports Day on Sunday. Therefore, Monday was given as a 'Cuti Peristiwa' for us. The principal however looked upon something for us to do as a Staff Development Course; the visit was the result.

Two occasions...
On that particular day the school actually had another important event. Their new principal was on the way for registration. We arrived earlier from the new appointed principal. We attended the briefing organised by the GPK Akademik. From her we knew that the school has women teachers in majority. Only 3 male teachers made up the minority male teachers population there. So, in the briefing session, this issue was emphasized... (... perhaps they wanted to show that without men, women can survive...)

What I learnt...?
I often heard very proud claim from people saying that private schools are better than government's schools. It is not true I believe. The SMK Jalan 4 Bangi, has proven that their school are at the same level as the private schools. Their advantage is on the very co-operative relationship with their PIBG. Parents willingly support every school programme. This effort has given enough 'power' for the school to equip good facilities for students hence improve its educational services quality. The photos below shows some of the good facilities the school provides...

This is the SPBT room which stores the textbooks. Very well managed and seriously decorated.


It looks like a family hall isn't it? Actually, it is the school sickbay. Their motto is 'Towards Dengue Free school environment' (..which I wonder how could they do that...?)

Friend's problems and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow

THE 'MASALAH PROBLEM':

A blogger; friend of mine has put her problems related to his daughter who was reluctant to go to school recently. (read her post here, Title: MASALAH PROBLEM) This problem reminds me of the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This theory was introduced by a Jewish scholar - Abraham Maslow. I learnt about this theory when I was taking my psychology of education subject. I have not learnt the theory in depth since at that time I had to learn many learning theories. However about my friend's problem with her daughter, this theory I feel has significance relationship with it.

MASLOW TELLS US THAT:

Some children are able or ready to learn while others are not due to 7 fulfillments of needs. These are called Hierarchy of needs. The Hierarchy is shown in the diagram below.



Looking at the diagram above, the lower levels need to be fulfilled for the higher level to be achieved. This means about the troublesome of my friends daughter, the parents should have checked every level to trace what the real problem is and why the child was not motivated to go to school.

I also had similar problems with my daughters few years back. I found that she had problems in the first level which was at the 'Physiological Needs'. She slept late at night and had trouble to wake up early morning. To solve that problems, I had to sacrifice my routine sleeping time (which was late up to 12.oo a.m ++) and pursued her to sleep as early as 9.00 p.m.

Another great stuff for the teaching of history

Photo: Statue of Patih Gajah Mada

Since history subject in Malaysia's schools is taught in Bahasa Malaysia, I would be happy to see this kind of video available on the internet in Bahasa Malaysia. It is no problem for me to comprehend the information; it would be hard for most of the students to understand some terminologies and words used.

This video tells us about the famous Majapahit Empire which once dominating the Malay Archipelago. Its famous premier was Patih Gajah Mada, a strategist, conqueror, as well as a successful and respected diplomat. He was in service during the reign of Maharaja Hayam Wuruk. These names sound wierd to my Form 1 students and quite difficult for me to explain reasons on why people at that time bore that kind of names.

More information about Patih Gajah Mada and Hayam Wuruk here...


(I love the music too...)

Happy Chinese New Year

I wish a happy prosperous Chinese  New Year to all my chinese friends.