Teachers Day 2012.

In many countries, Teachers' Days are intended to be special days for the appreciation of teachers; World Teachers' Day is celebrated across the world on October 5. Ever since the importance of teachers has been recognized by UNESCO, by adopting the “Recommendation concerning the status of teachers”, World Teachers' Day has been celebrated annually. This includes celebrations to honor the teachers for their special contribution in a particular field area or the community in general.


We, folks of SMK Chukai also celebrated this glorious Teachers Day! 

CamStudio ; Reactivity of Group 1

Reflection: 


First of all, CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs). 


CamStudio can also add high-quality, anti-aliased (no jagged edges) screen captions to your recordings in seconds and with the unique Video Annotation feature you can even personalise your videos by including a webcam movie of yourself "picture-in-picture" over your desktop.

And if all that wasn't enough, CamStudio also comes with its own Lossless Codec that produces crystal clear results with a much smaller filesize compared with other more popular codecs, like Microsoft Video 1.

You have total control over the output of your video: you can choose to use custom cursors, to record the whole screen or just a section of it and can reduce or increase the quality of the recording depending on if you want smaller videos (for emailing to people, for instance) or you can have "best quality" ones for burning onto CD/DVD. 

As a matter of fact, this software can be downloaded just in the comfort of our homes!

The alkali metals are a group of chemical elements in the periodic table with very similar properties: they are all shiny, soft, silvery, highly reactive metals at standard pressure and temperature and readily lose their outermost electron to form cations with charge +1.They can all be cut easily with a knife due to their softness, exposing a shiny surface that tarnishes rapidly in air due to oxidation.In the modern IUPAC nomenclature, the alkali metals comprise the group 1 elements, excluding hydrogen (H), which is nominally a group 1 element but not normally considered to be an alkali metal as it rarely exhibits behaviour comparable to that of the alkali metals. All the alkali metals react with water, with the heavier alkali metals reacting more vigorously than the lighter ones.

The alkali metals are lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs), and francium (Fr). This group lies in the s-block of the periodic table as all alkali metals have their outermost electron in an s-orbital. The alkali metals provide the best example of group trends in properties in the periodic table, with elements exhibiting well-characterized homologous behaviour.

When an alkali metal is dropped into water, it produces an explosion, of which there are two separate stages. The metal reacts with the water first, breaking the hydrogen bonds in the water and producing hydrogen gas. Second, the heat generated by the first part of the reaction often ignites the hydrogen gas, causing it to burn explosively into the surrounding air. This secondary hydrogen gas explosion produces the visible flame above the bowl of water, lake or other body of water, not the initial reaction of the metal with water (which tends to happen mostly under water).

These are all very reactive metals and have to be stored out of contact with air to prevent their oxidation. Reactivity increases as you go down the Group.

Lithium, sodium and potassium are stored in oil. (Lithium in fact floats on the oil, but there will be enough oil coating it to give it some protection. It is, anyway, less reactive than the rest of the Group.)

Rubidium and caesium are normally stored in sealed glass tubes to prevent air getting at them. They are stored either in a vacuum or in an inert atmosphere of, say, argon. The tubes are broken open when the metal is used.

Depending on how far down the Group you are, different kinds of oxide are formed when the metals burn. Reaction with oxygen is just a more dramatic version of the reaction with air.

Spreadsheet

Reflection: Spreadsheet is amazing!


Numbers attack every part of our lives. They explode in numerous charges on our credit card bills, march over the pages of corporate budgets, and terrorize homework pages from school. Fighting these assaults with pen, paper and calculator provokes boredom and error. Because of their many advantages, spreadsheets rise up as the most potent weapon against this numerical invasion.


You need only enter values, variables and formulas into a spreadsheet once to calculate results. If you notice a mistake in one number, or if a situation differs later, you only have to update the specific entry. All related values change automatically. This lets you concentrate on entering new values or planning what-if scenarios, rather than tediously re-entering editing numbers and formulas.


The appearance of every part of the spreadsheet lies under your total control. You can specify the font style and size used for numbers and text, define the border width and cell size of tables, add images, and color everything with a brilliant palette. You can also export your creation in a variety of file formats so it can be used in everything from printed documents, group presentations and websites.

Simulation Modelling.

Reflection: Modeling and Simulation is a discipline for developing a level of understanding of the interaction of the parts of a system, and of the system as a whole. The level of understanding which may be developed via this discipline is seldom achievable via any other discipline.

A system is understood to be an entity which maintains its existence through the interaction of its parts. A model is a simplified representation of the actual system intended to promote understanding. Whether a model is a good model or not depends on the extent to which it promotes understanding. Since all models are simplifications of reality there is always a trade-off as to what level of detail is included in the model. If too little detail is included in the model one runs the risk of missing relevant interactions and the resultant model does not promote understanding. If too much detail is included in the model the model may become overly complicated and actually preclude the development of understanding. One simply cannot develop all models in the context of the entire universe, of course unless you name is Carl Sagan.

A simulation generally refers to a computerized version of the model which is run over time to study the implications of the defined interactions. Simulations are generally iterative in there development. One develops a model, simulates it, learns from the simulation, revises the model, and continues the iterations until an adequate level of understanding is developed.

Modeling and Simulation is a discipline, it is also very much an art form. One can learn about riding a bicycle from reading a book. To really learn to ride a bicycle one must become actively engaged with a bicycle. Modeling and Simulation follows much the same reality. You can learn much about modeling and simulation from reading books and talking with other people. Skill and talent in developing models and performing simulations is only developed through the building of models and simulating them. It's very much a learn as you go process. From the interaction of the developer and the models emerges an understanding of what makes sense and what doesn't.

I am repeatedly amazed at the ability of my models to point out my own ignorance. Through the activity of developing the model and then simulating it, the simulation says, "Based on your model and your set of assumptions, reality is absurd!" Often times the model is grossly incorrect, and other times the model produces great leaps in my understanding of how things actually work, and, quite often contrary to common sense. It is an amazingly wonderful journey my models and I are undertaking. 

In addition, this simulation modelling is one of the stepping stone to enhance greater thinking skills. It is also acts as one of the interactive teaching modules and can be very effective and interesting!

Structure Of Atom (Presentation)

Reflection: The PowerPoint presentation was indeed successful!


Microsoft's PowerPoint program, which is bundled with any MS Office suite, has emerged as one of the most dynamic presentation tools. Today, PowerPoint presentations in many forms, styles and custom layouts are used by working professionals, academics, students, medical practitioners, politicos and others to showcase material, information and data. Slide shows and complex presentations comprising text, images, 3-D graphics, audio clips, sound effects and flashy animations are used creatively to enliven discussions, add value to lectures, make compelling speeches and enrich studies and reports.


The introduction of newer tools and custom templates and the ability to be used in many platforms makes PowerPoint a flexible and highly customizable tool. User ingenuity can be meshed with this flexibility and customization characteristics to present information and material to suit specific needs and audiences.


PowerPoint presentations are used by professors and teachers to add value to their lectures and notes. Students use PowerPoint slides and presentations to enrich their assignments, projects and other coursework submissions.

The visual imagery made possible by juggling various PowerPoint combinations, design templates and other tools is used by speakers to add value to speeches and presentations and engage audiences via projector screens during conferences, seminars and symposiums.
As a matter of fact, this presentation was likeable by my students too! They can imagine the structures of atoms better and eventually can understand more from this sub-topic.

Pengintegrasian ICT.

Reflection: Doing this so called assignment, I have achieved a few outputs. In fact, the importance of ICT also has been revealed.

It is important to realise from the outset that ICT in education is not learning about technology but using technology to learn. Many governments advocate the use of ICT in education or launch the Multimedia Super Corridor without actually seeing to it that it is meaningfully integrated and internalised. ICT is merely a cosmetic tool for superficial policies. Implementing ICT in schools require strong commitment and a structured plan.

Educational institutions need to ensure that the ICT vision is embraced from top to bottom. All staff from management to support and academic need to understand the importance of ICT. They must be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to enable them to use the technology effectively. Training is usually the most neglected aspect of ICT implementation though it should by right take up at least one third of the budget or allocation. Trained teachers will impart knowledge effectively to students through their confidence and expertise in using ICT to improve their teaching. Moreover, the working place must be provided with adequate facilities to enable the use of ICT. This involves more than just lip service or financial commitment; it requires a whole new mindset or paradigm shift. There must be enough computers for staff without worrying that they may use the Internet for personal reasons.

The concept of ICT should embrace all aspects of teaching-learning from subject registration, syllabus planning, coursework/homework assignment, to correspondence with parents and assessment. While the concept may not be new, the implementation may require coordination and persistent effort. The ICT vision or culture is along-term investment in terms of staff training or student’s performance and quality.

While everybody is jumping into the ICT bandwagon, it may be more rewarding to take a step backward and adopt a thorough plan to ensure the meaningful implementation of ICT in schools as well as the high quality of education for the younger generation.

Self Education Philosophy

''Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.''

 The phrase by Anthony J. D 'Angelo reflects the importance of education. According to Oxford Advanced English Learner's Dictionary, the word 'education' is a process of teaching, training and learning especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills.


The benefits of education are endless. The personal satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment upon receiving a college degree is one that cannot easily be topped. College education is becoming even more important than it has been in the past. A bachelor's degree is now becoming a minimum requirement for many jobs that previously only required a high school degree. True, a college education nowadays is expensive, however, the return on your investment can be almost certainly guaranteed. The pros of education far exceed the cons. It is important for one to have an education for one's own satisfaction, as well as better job opportunities and it is a good investment for one's future.

In my case, education is undeniable one of the most crucial thing in life. Education helps in bringing civilisation to human beings as well as enhance their thinking skills. Well, of course education provides us opportunities to have an exciting occupation such as teachers. 

In my journey of being an inspiring teacher, I have realised the importance of education as well as the importance of spreading education to the society. Being an educator is hard though. I shall now admit that all things in life can only be accomplished with efforts. Continuously efforts. 

Lastly, I pray to Allah that He will always grant me divine guidance bestow upon me. Insya-Allah.