#Poem #Inspiration #Einstein #Whispers in my ears

#Poem #Inspiration #Einstein #Whispers in my ears
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @ Final Exam Invigilation!

Whispers in my ears

There were times when I thought
Brilliant was my middle name
Genius was my last name
Einstein was my beloved uncle

At that I thought
if I declare it so
I'd be ostracized.
others would see me as big headed
pompous smarty snooty
overbearing pretentious uppity wise gal,
smug conceited vain
miss know it all
on ego trip

But, hey....
that ain't real me!
I'm just the opposite!
meek humble servile me!

Oh? Are you?

Yes! All I want to be...
to become the servant of God,
the lovers of God,
just like the way
my great-great -great grandfather
Ibrahim was.

What? I can't believe what I hear!
Are you so holy?
with holier than thou attitude?

No. That is what I truly want to be...
and you know that I speak from the heart
deep from the bottom of my heart
and that is the truth!

Vamush!
Poof!
Begone!

Yes! I'll be gone!
But, you are truly Brilliant!
For such a young girl!
That's your true name!
even if you might not want to listen to me now!
or perhaps, Almas...
would be a better choice
for your middle name!

Begone!
Poof!

Indeed, Let Almas
or Brilliant
or whatever name I'd be called
shines forever
and keep the form!
Aameen.

Written by: Ummabdrahmaan
Kuala Terengganu
Terengganu Darul Iman
Malaysia.
7:17 pm
Hayya 'Alaa Solah! Al aan!

UniSZA Flood 2012

UniSZA Flood 2012
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @ Happy Holidays!

The water had no where to go!

It doesn't really flooding around the campus but somehow, only the campus ground is flooded.

The surface water would have the tendency to go to lower ground.

The surface water from the housing area are passing through the campus since the fencing on that side has waterways build into the fence with gaping space on the ground every few feet.

The surface water would head towards the lake.

When the lake is full, the water would overflow into the stream on the other side of the street.

But, now there are 2 layers brick fencing and the elevated street separating the stream and the lake.

A few years ago, the brick fence fell down in that corner where the water used to rush to the stream.

The brick fence was rebuilt and UMT also built brick fence marking its territory.

Now the water has no where to go and backflow onto the campus ground.

Poor students who stayed around for the study week and lives on the lower ground are advised to move to the first floor of the hostel.

Final Examinations will begin next week. Hopefully the water will be fully receded by then.

PSW is the worst hit office. They had a boat to transfer precious belonging for safety this afternoon.

Funny but true, there was a boat at the side entrance at PSW this afternoon.

Words to my beloved students: Stay safe, stay dry! Unless you have dozens of clothes to keep you warm at the hostel and know exactly where the big drains are, please stay out of the water. We had a student who were inching into the water to the thigh level fell into the big drain while posing for a camera!!!

Again, stay safe, stay dry.

This weather is expected to last till tomorrow and heavy rain is expected till January 1st next year.

Final Speech Evaluation for BES3043 Public Speaking

Untitled
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @alhamdulillah!

One last speech.. no more after this... that's what you think...

This is just beginning...

Why do do you think we offer public speaking subject to semester one students?

The truth to be told, you'll have to present in each and every class you take after this semester till you completed your study.

Therefore, it's important to expose you to public speaking and instill confidence early and not to wait till you are in your last semester to sit in a public speaking class.

At least, many of you can differentiate and know the difference when you speak to inform, share opinion or to persuade.

It's been really enjoyable to sit and watch you deliver all your speeches.


I think Faizol has improved tremendously and deserved the big applause he got from all of you last night! :)

I still remember how nervous he was and had a false start many times for his first speech.

However, during his last speech last night, his voice carry confidence!

He was undeniably confidence but he was still very nervous as we all could see the his AV aids were shaking as he was holding and distributing it.

What was the first lesson derived from the first class activity? - It's normal to be nervous!

As all of you have learned after your first speech, nervousness subsided after you've said those first few sentences and confidence slowly built in.

As I promised you at the beginning of the semester that all of you will have that confidence speaking in front of the public at the end of the semester, all of you have proved it last night as you delivered your final evaluation speech at the Hostel Foyer where there were a lot people coming and going, passing by, using ATM machine, waiting for the bus, came to HEPA fair etc.

You were there to deliver your speech!

If not for the marathon of speeches I had to evaluate since 2 pm, I probably could go on till passed midnight. My apology to the last 4 out of 60 students who had to deliver their speeches in my office privately as 11:30 pm was too late!

I couldn't open my eyes anymore!

I had to stop for coffee at Omar Khayyam before continue my half hour driving home last night! :)

To Faizol, I have a present for you for showing tremendous improvement in my public speaking class this semester!

I'm off for a much needed holiday starting next week as you are having your study break.

Safe journey to those who are heading home and keep safe!

ps: 10 of you still need to fill in the biodata form and submit photos for personal files. I'll inform who's who later :) Chiao!

Please, can we have a permanent tent built here?

Please, can we have a permanent tent built here?
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @alhamdulillah!

We normally requested for tents, chairs, table, fan, lights etc everytime we organise any function here.

Both FUHA and FBK are making use of this area so much that between us, the JPP never managed to dismantle the tent because, before they could do it, a new request was put up on line.

The result is as such that the grass under the tent areas are thinning away and died out. The area would be underwater every time it rained thus rendered it unusable. That's why we we had to serve food and drinks in the activity room last Thursday for the worship on Lesson Plan.

The request had been sent. So far, no response.

If this area is developed properly, stage could be built for performances or speakers corner, a book building area or book corner could be planned, and a small cafe with table and chairs for student lounge.

Just in my dream!!! and I can keep on dreaming! Please don't wake me up from this wonderful dream of mine :)

As We Go By

Photo on 12-16-12 at 5.50 PM #2
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @alhamdulillah!

As we go by
in our lives,

Many things we see
people we meet
questions we ask
places we visit
lessons learned.

Few gems picked up
wise words of old
common senses developed
wisdom some untold.

As much as life is about learning,
it's also about giving
sharing
teaching
coaching
mentoring.

There're must know things
there're silly things.

What joy to experience
what a gladness to glee
what a reward to receive.

How fulfilling life has been.
How else can we
count our blessings

Alhamdulillah,
Thank you Lord,
Thou art indeed
The Lord of Universes


Clicking away...
expressing thoughts and feelings
From the heart and mind;
Ummabdrahmaan
Tuesday (2:11 am)
Dec 18, 2012
I Kuala Terengganu I Terengganu I Malaysia I
ps: The rain has stopped . At least for now.

the lucky draw winner

the lucky draw winner
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @alhamdulillah!

4th time is a charm.

Prof Karim asked us to write our names on pieces of paper for a lucky draw.

The lucky person will get the book he co-authored titled The Quest for teaching Excellence.

When we left for a snack break, Prof Karim stayed behind in FUHA computer lab and picked the piece of paper that fell to the ground as he transferred the pieces of paper to the side table as a luck draw winner.

That person, however was no longer with us in the lab as she had to attend to her class.

Then, Prof Karim picked another one. That person was also no longer present in the lab.

The third draw was the last person bid farewell right before the lucky draw started.

The fourth draw is the winner. That was me! The 4th time is a charm! Yet, some people believe that number 4 brings bad luck! hahhaaa... it's the opposite for me!

To those who are interested, the book is also available for free in form of ebook to be downloaded from CDAE USM. I think, pdf form is also available.

Dang! I should have a photo taken with Prof Karim while he signing his autograph in the book! ;)

Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Untitled
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @alhamdulillah!

Teaching is an art.

Thus, how do you evaluate teaching?

Would you do it the same way you evaluate arts?

What is some other person claimed that teaching is a science?

The thing about science is that it can very what it claim by some sort of measurement.

How do we really evaluate someone's teaching?

When they look for the winner of the AAN -Anugerah Akademik Negara (National Academic Award) to the best teacher from higher education institutions, what they look into is really a carefully crafted and presented statement of personal belief and philosophy on teaching, practiced pedagogy and supported by evidences of is being claimed in form of artifacts of teaching.

What? Teaching artifacts? and you thought that you'd only find the term in introduction to sociology class... hahhaaaa...

yes! Teaching Artifacts!

What are teaching artifacts?

Your course syllabus, tests and quizzes you gave the students to measure their learning, drafts of writing turned in complete with your scribbled notes on the margins as well as any card or notes of appreciations you get from your students.

So, in today's 21st century learning environment, your teaching artifacts can in in the form of wikispaces that your students created as as a part of the class evaluation, the glogster that your students published for the class activity, or the voicethread project that you are doing with your students, the flickr accounts you created to have your students uploaded the photos they shoot and edited using the photoshop, the YouTube account you created to have them uploaded their educational video project using freely available windows movie maker or any video editing software within their disposal and even Facebook comments on your wall appreciating what you have done for them or private messages they send you through emails can be your teaching artifacts. Don't forget the best lecturer award you get during TESL dinner in 2010 and link the picture of you on the stage receiving the present from the deputy dean :) While I am at it, I have plenty of photos uploaded to my personal Flickr on activities done but unfortunately, I normally don't have my own photos in those event. Bummer!

Needless to say, in the 21st Century Teaching and Learning environment, if the server isn't plugged off (my Muxlim blog was shut down), your teaching artifacts are going to be within reach at the touch of the tab or pad.

So, to my friends who are planning to apply for the AAN in the future, please start collecting your evidences so that you can be said that you walk the talk - you did what you said you did by showing your teaching artifacts.

Start cut and paste your links to web2.0 tools you are using in your teaching and learning into your online CV now.

I have started my LinkedIn account in May 2011 but it was just last month that I managed to update 90% of the required information. The same goes for my Academia account.

and how I boast about what I do best?

Oh yes! My students always tell me that they enjoy my classes because of my enthusiasm. However, most written feedback on my teaching and learning evaluation form are comment on how beautiful I look :) save one. He commented on my tendency to speak English too fast that they can't follow. For weak classes, I'd have to slow down my rate of speech but for good classes, I speak at my normal rate and they seem to understand fine. I try very hard to reduce the use of slang words and increase the use of international academic vocabulary when that choice of word comes to mind.

Hasta Mañana!

~to be continued~

Building e-Portfolio

Untitled
Originally uploaded by UmmAbdrahmaan @alhamdulillah!

...is attending a talk and workshop on e-portfolio with Professor Dr. Karim Alias the recipient of Anugerah Akademik Negara (AAN) 2008 from USM.

This talk and workshop is organised by Centre of Academic for Staff (CADS) University Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

The talk was held yesterday at the Gymnasium and the first part of workshop was at Panggung Panca Delima, Pusat Seni dan Warisan UniSZA. The hands-on learning creating e-portfolio using wikispaces as a platform is conducted at the computer lab, Level 2, the faculty of Law and International Relation. (December 15 - 16, 2012).

The e-portfolio has the in thing or the buzz word since a few years ago.