Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Day 6 in San Francisco
It is 30 Mar 10.40 pm in San Francisco and I am packing to return home tomorrow (or 1 April at 1.20am). Decided to post something since the laptop was on as Hwee Peng checked her emails on Lotus ;p
This was the school (or pupils in action) we visited. Del Mar Middle School has all the pupils owning an iBook. The classes we visited, wow, pupils were just so comfortable using ICT.
After we left the school, we were brought around the neighbourhood and Hwee Peng allowed me to have a photograph taken with her (hahaha, like she didn't want to :) Can you see the Golden Gate Bridge behind?And well, as anyone who travelled to San Francisco, you MUST not leave the place not having taken a picture with the bridge, which is just awesome!
Will be going home! So happy! Can see my family!Friday, March 30, 2007
Day 3 in San Francisco
This is Bob, from ISTE, who brought us around. Fantastic guy!
It's been a while since I posted. The wireless is unstable and it's frustrating when the connection breaks!
We went to Galileo Academy of Science and Technology today. Sorry, just one picture for you here ;p
Then, after the conference, before the conference dinner, I went walking to the Fisherman's Wharf again on my own. 
Caught this scene of the musician at Pier 39. Then tried to catch a nice photo of the Golden Gate Bridge but it was foggy! That was when I heard loud trumpet-like sounds and saw sea lions (or were they seals??) basking in the sun. Amazing!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Day 2 in San Francisco
Whoa! Here I am, 4.21am in the morning composing this post, having slept for close to 5 hours in S.F time. Feeling much more rested ;p Which means I will have to re-adjust back to Singapore time when I return ;p
Anyway, recap of what happened yesterday. We woke up in the morning at about 8am to go for breakfast at McDonalds. Had their deluxe breakfast which is basically Big Breakfast with 2 pieces of hotcakes. Filling but quite good. Guess fast food is always good, even though they clog your arteries :(
I then explored and walked around a little and took a few photographs. Tough luck as the weather was a little drizzly. But I caught this view of the Bayview Bridge from afar. Really more impressive up close but well, later.
Then we came back to San Francisco (and I fell asleep in the car) and Hwee Peng and I went out for dinner (and had a great one because it was quite value for money). Then we took a streetcar Line F to Fisherman's Wharf and it was freezing cold. I regretted not listening to Hwee Peng and bought gloves and a scarf! Okay, Hwee Peng, I should have ;p And we saw this place which sells millions of fridge magnets. This would be a haven for May ;)
Okay, more tomorrow ;p
Monday, March 26, 2007
Day 1 in San Francisco
The plane ride from Seoul (Incheon International Airport) was torturous, sitting at a window seat. The over-10-hour ride was endured with no restroom visit as it was simply impolite to wake people up so that you could clear your bladder. So in the end, I watched 2 more movies (having already watched Dreamgirls and Happy Feet) A night at the museum and Boytown.And we went from day time to night time to day time again! And I caught this scene from my window seat (ignore the date, I forgot to change it :)
So finally we arrived and Bob, from ISTE, picked up up and brought us to Grant Plaza Hotel, our temporary residence for the next 6 nights.
The room is small, but decent I supposed. Will feature a picture of it tomorrow, when I am up to it.
We (as in Mr Ang, Hwee Peng and I) took a nap before going into Chinatown to have our dinner.
Actually right now, I am writing this post simply because it is 4.48am local time but 7.54pm in Singapore. I am supposed to be awake and having dinner with May and Ephraim ;p There is no need to guess I will be dead beat later during the school visits.
Okay, I have tested the wireless in this hotel now. At least it worked. Will try to sleep again :p
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Recount of Day 1
Sunday was an unpleasant day for me. Of all days, Rebecca had forgotten about my lunch that day. I barked in hope to gain her attention. However, she was busy chatting with her friends on the phone to notice me. I suffered from pangs of hunger before she finally remembered and fed me around two in the afternoon. Boy was I glad that she had not forgotten my lunch.
After lunch, she hugged me lovingly. We even had a game of Frisbee in the backyard. When she first threw the red Frisbee at me, I jumped up and tried my best to catch it. It was too high for me and I missed it. Hence, I ran after it and brought it back to her. I dropped the Frisbee at her feet and waited eagerly for her to throw again. I must not miss it again. This time round, I tried my best and jumped as high as I could as the flying saucer soared through the air. I closed my eyes and hoped for the best. Yeah! I finally managed to catch it. Rebecca said I was a smart boy! Woof! Woof! After 15 minutes, we were both tired and Rebecca let me rest.
Although the day did not start off well, it turned out well in the end. I am looking forward to the next time she visits me.
Although the day did not start off well, it turned out well in the end. I am looking forward to the next time she visits me.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Oops!
This is going to be my reflection about the trip to COMEX. Yah, it came a bit late but I only downloaded my handphone photos into the computer.
What caught my eye was the service and attention the personnel at the fair gave the customers. That learning I can transfer to my work :)
Another thing that caught my eye was this boy playing a game on XBOX. What fascinated me was how he was just exploring the game on his own. In a huge exhibition and computer fair. Sometimes I think teenagers in this generation are more daring than us (at least me) or could it be because he was doing something he liked and that removed the fear? Perhaps IT could be a means for our pupils to explore and learn on their own. That I should think about a bit more :)
What caught my eye was the service and attention the personnel at the fair gave the customers. That learning I can transfer to my work :)
Another thing that caught my eye was this boy playing a game on XBOX. What fascinated me was how he was just exploring the game on his own. In a huge exhibition and computer fair. Sometimes I think teenagers in this generation are more daring than us (at least me) or could it be because he was doing something he liked and that removed the fear? Perhaps IT could be a means for our pupils to explore and learn on their own. That I should think about a bit more :)
Monday, September 04, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Learning Journey 1
Hi everyone
Noticed my optimism? There may be a second one? *hehe*
As with any learning journey, we should share some learning points. When we go to COMEX later, please think about this question:
What (marketing technique, gadget etc) did I notice at the exhibition that could be applied in
(i) my work in ETD,
(ii) teaching and learning?
Please post your reflections (with any pictures you might have taken at the COMEX) as comments within a week (before you forget lah)
Okay, let's wind down a little and have some fun, alright?
And HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY EVERYONE! :)
Noticed my optimism? There may be a second one? *hehe*
As with any learning journey, we should share some learning points. When we go to COMEX later, please think about this question:
What (marketing technique, gadget etc) did I notice at the exhibition that could be applied in
(i) my work in ETD,
(ii) teaching and learning?
Please post your reflections (with any pictures you might have taken at the COMEX) as comments within a week (before you forget lah)
Okay, let's wind down a little and have some fun, alright?
And HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY EVERYONE! :)
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Blog Reflection 7
Frankly speaking, I am a little overdue but well, better late than never.
What are some of the strategies we can use to conduct our workshops?
I have just recently borrowed this book from TN entitled The ASTD Trainer's Sourcebook (Creativity and Innovation) (by Elaine Biech). It is a handbook on how to conduct workshops on creativity and innovation (one initiative MOE is greatly supportive of) :)
What I found interesting in this book is that the climate that supports creativity during workshops (especially the kind like ours where teachers have to develop their own resources) should be OPENED:
O - open-minded (we allow teachers to explore all possibilities)
P - perceptive (we should be professional and see things from their perspective)
E - equal (no one is better than the other)
N - nurturing (I suppose this means we should provide on-going support rather than touch and go)
E - encouraging (need I explain more?)
D - descriptive (communication is important to delineate objectives or provide feedback)
I will try to bear that in mind when I develop the workshop on audioblogging. Wish me luck! (^_^)p
What are some of the strategies we can use to conduct our workshops?
I have just recently borrowed this book from TN entitled The ASTD Trainer's Sourcebook (Creativity and Innovation) (by Elaine Biech). It is a handbook on how to conduct workshops on creativity and innovation (one initiative MOE is greatly supportive of) :)
What I found interesting in this book is that the climate that supports creativity during workshops (especially the kind like ours where teachers have to develop their own resources) should be OPENED:
O - open-minded (we allow teachers to explore all possibilities)
P - perceptive (we should be professional and see things from their perspective)
E - equal (no one is better than the other)
N - nurturing (I suppose this means we should provide on-going support rather than touch and go)
E - encouraging (need I explain more?)
D - descriptive (communication is important to delineate objectives or provide feedback)
I will try to bear that in mind when I develop the workshop on audioblogging. Wish me luck! (^_^)p
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Change is constant?
Who came up with this statement? Actually I couldn't be bothered. It is the trend now to come up with something wise-sounding and perhaps it is only common sensical?
Yesterday was the last day for Joy to be in the same office as me. When I first came in to HQ, I must confess I was a little *okay okay, make it a lot* intimidated by her fierce, powerful and authoritative demeanour. She then worked SYSTEMATICALLY to eradicate this opinion of her when she suggested table soccer after lunch.
Through subsequent conversations with her, I realise she is not what she seems like. Minus the social circle she mixes with *they are perhaps like deities to me, hahaha* she is someone I look up to.
Thanks Joy *if you still even bother to check out the PDDP blogs* for all that you have shown me the past three months. Thanks for some of the opportunities you have provided for me. Thanks most for being open to share with me some of your experiences.
Good luck to you in your future job scope. I am very confident many will benefit from your tutelage :)
Take care (^_*)"
Yesterday was the last day for Joy to be in the same office as me. When I first came in to HQ, I must confess I was a little *okay okay, make it a lot* intimidated by her fierce, powerful and authoritative demeanour. She then worked SYSTEMATICALLY to eradicate this opinion of her when she suggested table soccer after lunch.
Through subsequent conversations with her, I realise she is not what she seems like. Minus the social circle she mixes with *they are perhaps like deities to me, hahaha* she is someone I look up to.
Thanks Joy *if you still even bother to check out the PDDP blogs* for all that you have shown me the past three months. Thanks for some of the opportunities you have provided for me. Thanks most for being open to share with me some of your experiences.
Good luck to you in your future job scope. I am very confident many will benefit from your tutelage :)
Take care (^_*)"
Monday, March 27, 2006
Fear
There are so many things to worry us daily:
1. Will I be able to catch the 7.24am MRT so that I can reach the office in time?
2. How can we keep Ephraim healthy, in view of the imminent bird flu, HFMD etc?
3. Will I be able to finish my work?
And the list goes on...real issues. That makes us real.
So I choose to live life to the fullest. And family life keeps me sane.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Philosophy
When I was still teaching, we were told to have a philosophy that acts as a guiding principle for us. It did not take me too long to come up with mine: Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others.
Is there any need to explain this statement? It is not to sound philosophical *no pun intended* but that helped to keep me grounded and sane, because I was (and still am) very clear I am no superman and because I am no superman, I can break (down). And I would only be a burden if I broke (down). No way would I allow that to happen.
Has anything changed now that I am now in HQ?
With fatherhood, it became clearer to me my philosophy has to be upgraded (as with my dial-up internet access is upgraded to wireless broadband :)
Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others, and at the same time, live life to the fullest.
This means, buy that thing that you have always wanted to have (within limits of course). Go and spend time with your loved ones - let them know how important they are in your life *there is no need for me to add that minus work, minus whatever pursuits you may have, the one constant thing I think is family* Watch 大长今！ *this show is sickening good but my wife refuses to let me buy the VCDs* *NO, WE CAN WATCH IT FOR FREE ON CH U NOW!* *HAIZ*
Some of you would know what I mean :)
Is there any need to explain this statement? It is not to sound philosophical *no pun intended* but that helped to keep me grounded and sane, because I was (and still am) very clear I am no superman and because I am no superman, I can break (down). And I would only be a burden if I broke (down). No way would I allow that to happen.
Has anything changed now that I am now in HQ?
With fatherhood, it became clearer to me my philosophy has to be upgraded (as with my dial-up internet access is upgraded to wireless broadband :)
Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others, and at the same time, live life to the fullest.
This means, buy that thing that you have always wanted to have (within limits of course). Go and spend time with your loved ones - let them know how important they are in your life *there is no need for me to add that minus work, minus whatever pursuits you may have, the one constant thing I think is family* Watch 大长今！ *this show is sickening good but my wife refuses to let me buy the VCDs* *NO, WE CAN WATCH IT FOR FREE ON CH U NOW!* *HAIZ*
Some of you would know what I mean :)
Monday, March 13, 2006
Blog Reflection 6 (Part 1)
Try as I might, I could not really find NEW USEFUL tools/pedagogies. I have been googling the past few days with the following keywords:
1. emerging+technologies
2. new+educational+technologies
3. educational+software
4. new+educational+software
5. emerging+from+purgatory *okay, okay, this one I did not use*
And then I went to our library at the 5th level, hoping to find a book (which I think is still hiding somewhere) which will reveal emerging technologies which would be good for teaching and learning and only managed to find this by Hilve Firek, titled "10 easy ways to use technology in the English classroom". It is NOT "10 new ways to use technology in the English classroom". Perhaps I should write a book like that (but then I could not even find one new technology).
CONCLUSION: The emerging technology is still hibernating. It will only emerge when we are not really looking out for it. Kind of like babies, they will pop out when you least expect it (okay, okay, bad analogy :)
So after some struggle, I decided I will re-look at what kind of technologies we have now and how they might be used in a different way. Thus, when I finish the book I have borrowed, I will update you again.
In the meantime, if you did manage to capture an emerging technology, keep me in the loop yah? (^_^)p
1. emerging+technologies
2. new+educational+technologies
3. educational+software
4. new+educational+software
5. emerging+from+purgatory *okay, okay, this one I did not use*
And then I went to our library at the 5th level, hoping to find a book (which I think is still hiding somewhere) which will reveal emerging technologies which would be good for teaching and learning and only managed to find this by Hilve Firek, titled "10 easy ways to use technology in the English classroom". It is NOT "10 new ways to use technology in the English classroom". Perhaps I should write a book like that (but then I could not even find one new technology).
CONCLUSION: The emerging technology is still hibernating. It will only emerge when we are not really looking out for it. Kind of like babies, they will pop out when you least expect it (okay, okay, bad analogy :)
So after some struggle, I decided I will re-look at what kind of technologies we have now and how they might be used in a different way. Thus, when I finish the book I have borrowed, I will update you again.
In the meantime, if you did manage to capture an emerging technology, keep me in the loop yah? (^_^)p
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Finally!
Well, right now as I am typing this message (with one hand, as the other one is used to carry Ephraim, who is sleeping), my wife is napping ;p Quite a challenge really...try it someday :)
Remember a few days back I mentioned my V200 was due for a change? I was reading Today on the trip to work and suddenly realized I didn't have to wait for 24 months to re-contract! 21 months is good enough!!!!
That evening, I bought a phone! Not a Sony Ericsson as intended. The model was not aesthetically pleasing. In the end, I went back to a Samsung - 3G phone. And since it is pointless to have one with no one to use it on, I bought one for my wife too! It is a Z140, exclusive to Singtel!
As of now, we have made a video call and recorded some videos and transferred files via bluetooth :)
Ok, gotta go wake my wife up for Gilmore Girls! It is the season finale!!!
Remember a few days back I mentioned my V200 was due for a change? I was reading Today on the trip to work and suddenly realized I didn't have to wait for 24 months to re-contract! 21 months is good enough!!!!
That evening, I bought a phone! Not a Sony Ericsson as intended. The model was not aesthetically pleasing. In the end, I went back to a Samsung - 3G phone. And since it is pointless to have one with no one to use it on, I bought one for my wife too! It is a Z140, exclusive to Singtel!
As of now, we have made a video call and recorded some videos and transferred files via bluetooth :)
Ok, gotta go wake my wife up for Gilmore Girls! It is the season finale!!!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Blog Reflection 5
By now, everyone should know what is TLLM. If you don't, you obviously do not live in Singapore.
TLLM stands for Teach Less, Learn More. If you think as educators it means we actually teach students less (in its very literal sense), you could not be more wrong ;p
Skimming through the bluesky website, one thing that leaps out at me is that with TLLM, it means we try to teach better so that our learners are engaged (remember PETALS?). Sounds easy but really, it takes some practice!
That website also seeks to tie up various initiatives we have and we can see TLLM forming the nucleus (as it transforms the way we learn). With I&E (which changes our mindsets), we will eventually have a TSLN (which is our vision).
(This is a photo I took with my V200! I placed it here because I was talking about the "bluesky" just now :)
One thing that I like is this: That we should prepare our learners for the test of life and NOT a life of tests! See how powerful language is. Just by re-arranging words within a phrase, it can take own a whole new meaning (which can be very very powerful).
How ETD can contribute to this TLLM initiative really comes in when we "RECONSIDER HOW WE TEACH":
1. IT can be used to encourage engaged learning.
2. IT should allow us to move away from a "one size fits all" model.
3. We can assess our pupils' learning through more authentic means.
If we were to look at these closely, they are tied to our mp2, aren't they? So we are not obsolete at all (for now :)! In fact, whatever we are doing now only serves the TLLM initiative.
Let's press on, everyone! がんばって！
TLLM stands for Teach Less, Learn More. If you think as educators it means we actually teach students less (in its very literal sense), you could not be more wrong ;p
Skimming through the bluesky website, one thing that leaps out at me is that with TLLM, it means we try to teach better so that our learners are engaged (remember PETALS?). Sounds easy but really, it takes some practice!
That website also seeks to tie up various initiatives we have and we can see TLLM forming the nucleus (as it transforms the way we learn). With I&E (which changes our mindsets), we will eventually have a TSLN (which is our vision).
(This is a photo I took with my V200! I placed it here because I was talking about the "bluesky" just now :)One thing that I like is this: That we should prepare our learners for the test of life and NOT a life of tests! See how powerful language is. Just by re-arranging words within a phrase, it can take own a whole new meaning (which can be very very powerful).
How ETD can contribute to this TLLM initiative really comes in when we "RECONSIDER HOW WE TEACH":
1. IT can be used to encourage engaged learning.
2. IT should allow us to move away from a "one size fits all" model.
3. We can assess our pupils' learning through more authentic means.
If we were to look at these closely, they are tied to our mp2, aren't they? So we are not obsolete at all (for now :)! In fact, whatever we are doing now only serves the TLLM initiative.
Let's press on, everyone! がんばって！
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Sorry my love but I think there's someone else...
In the event I am going to change my handphone (to a Sony Ericsson at this moment), I thought I better download my photos (taken with my Samsung V200 *aiyoh, that's alike an antique model leh* camera) into my old laptop.
I like my V200 but recently it shuts down and refuses to work. And this occurs at the worst possible time!! So I thought I better change my handphone, so that everyone can contact me *especially my wife and family* *but then perhaps I should make myself NOT contactable*
So now that I have downloaded my photos, here are some of Pickles in action (or non-action)!
(^_^)p
To us, he is the most adorable pickles on earth!!! Ephraim, you must be 乖乖 okay? *muah muah muah*
Now I can snap more shots *I have maxed out the 100 photos capacity* and seriously I cannot wait!
I like my V200 but recently it shuts down and refuses to work. And this occurs at the worst possible time!! So I thought I better change my handphone, so that everyone can contact me *especially my wife and family* *but then perhaps I should make myself NOT contactable*
So now that I have downloaded my photos, here are some of Pickles in action (or non-action)!
(^_^)p
To us, he is the most adorable pickles on earth!!! Ephraim, you must be 乖乖 okay? *muah muah muah*
Now I can snap more shots *I have maxed out the 100 photos capacity* and seriously I cannot wait!
Monday, February 27, 2006
Fever (not a metaphor)
Ephraim came down (why is the phrasal verb called "came down" when his temperature actually went up? someone, anyone can explain this to me???!!!) with a fever after his vaccination last Saturday. He took the 5 in 1 (which was supposed to have decreased fever symptoms and cost so much more and why didn't it work????) jab for DPT and 2 other diseases (I have forgotten what they are obviously).
He was okay after his jab (and may I add he was so brave. The needle went into his right thigh and he yelled in pain but once I brought him to my chest, he stopped crying. SO BRAVE YOU ARE PICKLES! *in case you are wondering, "pickles" is the nickname we gave Ephraim because he smells like that towards the evening...hahaha*
Of course my wife and I then dropped him off (yet again another phrasal verb that doesn't make sense!!!) at my parents' place so that we could go and have some alone-time (NOT THAT KIND OF THING YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT!!! TSK TSK TSK!!!) and shop at NTUC Fairprice! *SO PATHETIC RIGHT!*
We brought him back around 7pm and I noticed immediately he was hotter than usual! My radar went off (argh, perhaps I should stop using phrasal verbs) and I took his temperature, which went up steadily!!! We got worried because this was the first time my baby boy is feverish!!! *I of course did not feel like doing any work as a result, not an excuse but our pickles was not feeling well* He became very drowsy and did not even wake when we were sponging him down (argh!)
That night we slept in the living room where the sarong is and monitored his temperature (my wife did most of the work. I was just too conked out after our yoga lesson). I took over from 5am onwards.
Finally, this morning before we left, we think his temperature is back to his pre-vaccination one and I kissed him on the cheeks, forehead and lips before I set off (argh!) HAPPILY for work :)
He was okay after his jab (and may I add he was so brave. The needle went into his right thigh and he yelled in pain but once I brought him to my chest, he stopped crying. SO BRAVE YOU ARE PICKLES! *in case you are wondering, "pickles" is the nickname we gave Ephraim because he smells like that towards the evening...hahaha*
Of course my wife and I then dropped him off (yet again another phrasal verb that doesn't make sense!!!) at my parents' place so that we could go and have some alone-time (NOT THAT KIND OF THING YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT!!! TSK TSK TSK!!!) and shop at NTUC Fairprice! *SO PATHETIC RIGHT!*
We brought him back around 7pm and I noticed immediately he was hotter than usual! My radar went off (argh, perhaps I should stop using phrasal verbs) and I took his temperature, which went up steadily!!! We got worried because this was the first time my baby boy is feverish!!! *I of course did not feel like doing any work as a result, not an excuse but our pickles was not feeling well* He became very drowsy and did not even wake when we were sponging him down (argh!)
That night we slept in the living room where the sarong is and monitored his temperature (my wife did most of the work. I was just too conked out after our yoga lesson). I took over from 5am onwards.
Finally, this morning before we left, we think his temperature is back to his pre-vaccination one and I kissed him on the cheeks, forehead and lips before I set off (argh!) HAPPILY for work :)
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Blog Reflection 1
This is the fourth reflection I am writing really for PDDP (but I have numbered it differently :)
I will not really go into details as to the induction programme (as I have already shared with the branch my experience being a HQ officer). I will however, devote some time to reflecting about CoPs.
Communities of Practice (CoPs) is going to be the one big thing for me because I am curious as to how this whole thing will start off and then function on its own as an organism that seeks (and requires) constant growth and renewal.
The compressed slides given to us really did not do justice to the very comprehensive presentation given by Dr. Hung during our lunch time. He was able to keep me interested throughout his talk and actually made me understand how a CoP should look like (with all the interactions taking place between all the various participants).
It would not be meaningful for me to regurgitate the information gleaned from the slides but one key-takeaway I have is that there are 3 kinds of communities that could be formed:
1. Task-based learning communities
2. Practice-based learning communities
3. Knowledge-based learning communities
It would seem to me the third one is the most difficult to achieve but I think with evolution and the right guidance given, a task-based learning community can become a practice-based one to finally a knowledge-based one. *but I could be wrong here*
As the slides were too "compressed" for me to recollect what Dr Hung has talked about, I went to the internet and found this article (which I must emphasize TO ME) useful, even though the context is more for business-related CoPs. But the concept should cut across all domains - education, business etc.
A few things that went through my mind while I was reading the article were:
1. Dr Hung's slides sort of provide the inner workings of a CoP and what we can do to design and sustain one.
2. This article gives a very macro view and offers an interesting concept of interactions at the boundaries (between CoPs). I realise Dr Hung's slides provide this idea but this article gives me a better understanding what it really means.
3. A general progression as to the kinds of activities and involvement that occur within a CoP is given (which I wonder if it ties in with the 3 kinds of communities that Dr Hung mentioned in his slides)...*still wondering*
A quote which I found good:
"CoPs develop around things that matter to people...Even when a community's actions conform to an external mandate, it is the community-not the mandate-that produces the practice."
*pondering* Are we the mandate? *haha*
What I found useful is the distinction made between CoPs, Teams, Tasks and Network. This might give us a better understanding as to what a CoP really is.
Another quote which I found good:
"People belong to communities of practice at the same time as they belong to other organizational structures. In their business units, they shape the organization. In their teams, they take care of projects. In their networks, they form relationships. And in their communities of practice, they develop the knowledge that lets them do these other tasks. This informal fabric of communities and shared practices makes the official organization effective and, indeed, possible."
Don't you find this quote sort of describes what we are doing now? Is this case, we are actually a CoP right, seeking to find out more about CoPs *haha*
Another thing I learnt from this article is that leadership is important to develop and nurture CoPs. There are various forms of leadership:
a. inspirational
b. day-to-day
c. institutional etc *I shall not go into the details now but if you found this useful, go and read the article :)*
Some ways to nurture CoPs are:
1. legitimizing participation
2. negotiating strategic context - do organizations have a clear direction?
3. being attuned to real practice (which I think could be linked to engaged learning)
4. fine-tuning the organization - any recognition? what repercussions might result?
5. providing support - perhaps where we really come in as a division / branch / section?
I think I know now that CoPs are theoretically, beings with identities that evolve with time and that it is really not that easy a task to sustain one as a CoP can occur naturally and unknowingly. Perhaps our task is then to go and seek existing CoPs-in-the-making and see how we can help them get a heartbeat (formally I think).
That, (un)fortunately, is something I don't know how it can be done :p
I will not really go into details as to the induction programme (as I have already shared with the branch my experience being a HQ officer). I will however, devote some time to reflecting about CoPs.
Communities of Practice (CoPs) is going to be the one big thing for me because I am curious as to how this whole thing will start off and then function on its own as an organism that seeks (and requires) constant growth and renewal.
The compressed slides given to us really did not do justice to the very comprehensive presentation given by Dr. Hung during our lunch time. He was able to keep me interested throughout his talk and actually made me understand how a CoP should look like (with all the interactions taking place between all the various participants).
It would not be meaningful for me to regurgitate the information gleaned from the slides but one key-takeaway I have is that there are 3 kinds of communities that could be formed:
1. Task-based learning communities
2. Practice-based learning communities
3. Knowledge-based learning communities
It would seem to me the third one is the most difficult to achieve but I think with evolution and the right guidance given, a task-based learning community can become a practice-based one to finally a knowledge-based one. *but I could be wrong here*
As the slides were too "compressed" for me to recollect what Dr Hung has talked about, I went to the internet and found this article (which I must emphasize TO ME) useful, even though the context is more for business-related CoPs. But the concept should cut across all domains - education, business etc.
A few things that went through my mind while I was reading the article were:
1. Dr Hung's slides sort of provide the inner workings of a CoP and what we can do to design and sustain one.
2. This article gives a very macro view and offers an interesting concept of interactions at the boundaries (between CoPs). I realise Dr Hung's slides provide this idea but this article gives me a better understanding what it really means.
3. A general progression as to the kinds of activities and involvement that occur within a CoP is given (which I wonder if it ties in with the 3 kinds of communities that Dr Hung mentioned in his slides)...*still wondering*
A quote which I found good:
"CoPs develop around things that matter to people...Even when a community's actions conform to an external mandate, it is the community-not the mandate-that produces the practice."
*pondering* Are we the mandate? *haha*
What I found useful is the distinction made between CoPs, Teams, Tasks and Network. This might give us a better understanding as to what a CoP really is.
Another quote which I found good:
"People belong to communities of practice at the same time as they belong to other organizational structures. In their business units, they shape the organization. In their teams, they take care of projects. In their networks, they form relationships. And in their communities of practice, they develop the knowledge that lets them do these other tasks. This informal fabric of communities and shared practices makes the official organization effective and, indeed, possible."
Don't you find this quote sort of describes what we are doing now? Is this case, we are actually a CoP right, seeking to find out more about CoPs *haha*
Another thing I learnt from this article is that leadership is important to develop and nurture CoPs. There are various forms of leadership:
a. inspirational
b. day-to-day
c. institutional etc *I shall not go into the details now but if you found this useful, go and read the article :)*
Some ways to nurture CoPs are:
1. legitimizing participation
2. negotiating strategic context - do organizations have a clear direction?
3. being attuned to real practice (which I think could be linked to engaged learning)
4. fine-tuning the organization - any recognition? what repercussions might result?
5. providing support - perhaps where we really come in as a division / branch / section?
I think I know now that CoPs are theoretically, beings with identities that evolve with time and that it is really not that easy a task to sustain one as a CoP can occur naturally and unknowingly. Perhaps our task is then to go and seek existing CoPs-in-the-making and see how we can help them get a heartbeat (formally I think).
That, (un)fortunately, is something I don't know how it can be done :p
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