Session 8

At the beginning of this session Kate asked the class to create a line. She asked us if we were positive about what we could remember of tasks and events from last session largely and confidently should stand at the beginning of the line (near the door), and those who did not remember what we were doing last time or did not attend the class should stay in the other end.

We all stood in one line, one end being occupied by the person/s who remembered most of what we did last time and the other end being occupied by those who did not attend the session. The middle of the line was occupied by students according their confidence and levels of what they could remember.

Then we paired up from both ends, who clearly remember what we did from last session with who did not attend the last session. We were asked to talk for one minute on what we remembered and then swap and the other person tells what they remembered and understood from the first one who talked for another minute. Then we joined with another two people and carry out the same activity.

From this activity we can share the knowledge of what we have learned from the previous session, and students can interact with each other from this activity.

Later Kate showed us a youtube video of Frank McCourt. From the video I obtained several ideas, which includes the following:
• Be honest.
• Drop the act.
• Confident when facing students.
• Teaching via telling stories.

Later we were asked to write down “on pieces of paper” the answers to the following:

• Who had an impact on your learning?

• What did they do that engaged you?

I believed my private accounting tutor had a big impact of learning. Instead of directly explaining. He always set up the exercises for me to do, and he always give me guidance on doing those exercises. From those exercises I have more knowledge on Accounting. He always rewarded me for positive achievements in accounting and other subjects as well by taking me to the public libraries.

After the afternoon tea Marg Maciver and John Hancox from Social Sciences came and explain the main features to become an effective teacher, which includes the following:
• Engaged with students.
• Be true to yourself.
• Students playing a role.
• Setting the scene >> getting people to interest in the class by setting up interesting and purposeful activities.
• Getting critical feedback from students.
• Focus on students (building relationship) >> Get students individual names.