Education System.

Last Thursday, we continue to read out our research papers on the issues around education, and I was so excited into listening about those papers, especially the one talks about different education system in Asian and Canada, since a very meaningful topic. Because the teaching and learning style in Asian is more traditional and conservative; therefore, students are lack of creativity. Also, since teachers are more emphasize on academic grade, the Asian students are not good at participating. Basically, there are two factors contribute to these problems: big population and great disparity between rich and poor. Since big population means less working opportunity, students need to work harder than usual to get to the top, and gain their "bright future".  Also, it leads to more problems such as: too much course loading, stress and less entertainment time. On the other hand, widening rich-poor gap adds the extra pressure to the whole social system, plus the fast-paced living style, the whole environment is in a "vicious cycle" condition.

Tech-knowledge

Every morning when I wake up, I have to turn on the TV to see the news, so I will not fall behind the mainstream. Then I go to class, I have to get the new knowledge from professor, so I will be more competitive than anybody else. When I have a break, I have to check my email, so I know some updates from my friends and school.  This is a normal day in my life, and they make my life much colourful and easier. 

Some of us wrote the research paper on the issues around techknowledge, and it seems like techknoledge all sort of linked to everything in our life.  However, in some degree, the born of techknowledge also brings some negative effects on our life such as: people sit in front of computer for a long time, and it increases the risk of diabetes; students addicted to computer and it induce the bad behaviour such as skip the class, can not focus on studying and drug addiction; and consuming more and more electricity is actually harm to our environment too.

On one hand, connecting to everything around us has bad effects on health, ecology and human behaviour; one the other hand, disconnecting from it all will make us loss more.

All in all, human therefore should control the self behaviour, and set the limit line, so that everything will be used moderately.

Nov. 4th, 2010

Today, we read out our research paper, also, we discussed several issues exist in the society. The most interesting topic is the financial support for students from government. Some people pointed out that school funding has been cut form the government due to the global economic crisis; and the interest for the student loan is too high. On one hand, I believe that every child has equal right to receive education, and our government should be able to sponsor those children. On the other hand, I understand that our government is in a very difficult circumstance; therefore, they need to cut the funding to fill up other big holes. However, this should not lasts long; our government should offer other helps to the students, so the students will have more resources.

Furthermore, it is not the first time that I hear about our government student loan has this terrible shortage: the interest is too high and most of us can not pay them back even when we graduate from University. The purpose for this loan is to help us go through the difficult financial situation, instead of government gets benefit from interests. Thus, our government really needs to think about more before they cut the funding.

Techknoledge in the Classroom

Today, we shared some opinions on electronic devices, discussed some issues on networking such as Facebook, Twitter and Ratemyprofessor. On one hand, as a teacher, I will encourage and agree that students use those electronic devices as a “tool” to help them learning faster and efficiently. On the other hand, I feel like there should be a rule in the classroom that restricts students use these applications during the lecture time; otherwise, students won’t be benefit from using those tools. Besides, for Facebook, if we spend limited time on it, and make sure if will not affects our study, it will be a great way to communicate with our friends. For Twitter, you can use it to follow some news from CBC, share some of your opinions to others, so you know more opinions from others. For Ratemyprofessor, personally, I don’t recommend students choose class referring to the information from this website; however, I do agree that it helps us to see the outlet of this course, and the style of this teacher. In sum, it’s a double sword; the key point is how to use them properly.

Stand & Deliver

Today, we finished watching the second half of the movie, and I learned second teaching technique from this movie: the art of encouragement. In the movie, the way that professor gave encouragement to students is like this:

- Confirm the student's good job, 

- Comment on his/her shortage;

- Confirm his/her good work again, giving him/her a high expectation for next time.

Firstly, confirming the students' good work will give students a sense of safety, so they will not be afraid of facing instructors' comment. Secondly, hiding the comment on their shortages in the middle of the encouragement will be less hurt for a student. Lastly, telling he/she a high expectation from us will give she/he confidence, so she/he will not has fear to make mistakes again. All in all, it is a movie that will gives us a lot of ideas on teaching, and it is definitely recommend to watch again and again.

Stand and Deliver

Today, we watched a movie in the class, the name of the movie is called “Stand and Deliver.” From this movie, I learned a teaching technique so far: the art of punishment. Everybody will more or less make some mistakes in their lives; however, the proper way to guide them into the right way seems like a big issue in nowadays. In the movie, the professor tried to use a humours way to avoid humiliate students in the public, and modify students’ bad behaviour at the same time. Also, in the class, a rebellious student insisted to answer his questions, what he did is watching at the student, repeated the question several times; and in the end, the student can not say anything back but answered his question. This is an amazing movie, and I can’t wait to see the rest of them tomorrow.

Culture Background, Education System, Language Issues, What Matters Most?

On Thursday’s class, we discussed various types of issues around culture, language and education issues; therefore, I was thinking, what matters most?

            As an immigrant, I left my homelands, step on this unfamiliar land, and begin my new live. Culture differences and language barrier definitely bring me numerous inconveniences and troubles; sometimes I think come to Canada is a wrong decision.  However, I realize that what makes difference is that the degree you see the object. If you always complain about your new life, unfair destiny, you will never feel satisfy, and you get no chance to see the bright future. An object is nothing special unless you use a special vision to see it. Happiness is everywhere; nevertheless, the heart to find the happiness is not.

On my way home, one of my friends told me his story happened in the elementary school: “When I was a kid at school, they asked what I wanted to be when I grow up. I wrote down, "happy". They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.”

Thus, what matters most?