Wednesday 9 April 2014

Meeting 2 (Week 3 & 4)

Meeting 2: Steps in Research Methods


     This class started with everyone getting ready with their own laptops. I am unsure of what I need to do today, but I’m keeping an open mind as to what I’m learning today. Supposedly, we’re going to learn about literature review and the steps in doing the literature review. So, Dr. Teoh passed around her thumb drive containing an application of LiRAS (Literature Review Analysis System) and also the definition of Research Problem and Research Questions.
    Since some of the laptops are not functioning properly and cannot operate like how it should be, it took some time before some of us managed to use the application in the class. After we are given the data (folder to support in order for the application to be run). Dr. Teoh showed some examples on how to operate LiRAS and asked everyone to try it out with at least 3 articles. I tried with only 1 successful article, and the other one, I got blurred out. But just for a reminder, I might need to practise more at home.



Topic Area

Students interest in learning English
 
Research problems
An attempt to motivate students to maintain/ sustain interest in learning English
 
 
Purpose Statement/Objective
1)       To maintain students interest in learning English
2)       To learn on different types of motivation to keep them interested in class
3)       To find the effect of motivations towards the students
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research Questions
1)       Why is it important to sustain interest in the class?
2)       What are the factors effecting the kids’ motivation in ESL classroom?
3)       What are the theories of Motivation?
4)       How do the rewards/ punishments give effects to the kid’s motivation?
5)       How does the motivation correlated towards the kid’s achievement in the ESL classroom?
6)       What are the ways in order to increase interest in learning English in ESL classroom?

Table 1: My assigned Task 1


     I am very interested on how to actually sustain kid’s attention in the classroom, since I do have this kind of problems at work. Young learners might be fine for me (between age 5-10 years old) but upon reaching secondary school kids, I find it hard to actually motivate them and sustain their interest. So, by choosing this kind of topic, hopefully, it will help me in learning how to handle them, and optimize their time in learning rather than just coming for the sake of attending.

Meeting 1 (Week 1 & 2)


Meeting 1 : Research Topic (EDU702)

 
Assalamualaikum wbt,

     A very good day to everyone (hopefully). I'm not a good blogger obviously that it took me this long to actually update and start my blog. But nevertheless, I started the engine and here I am....trying my best.
     I actually decided on a lot of things; I am extremely excited on doing Reading Logs to my kids, but after some discussion of pros and cons with a friend of mine, I decided to drop it down. finding ideas from the ICELTS conferences last year, I found a lot of interesting topic to choose......but, I finally settled down on hot to maintain (or sustain) and even motivate kids in the ESL classrooms.
     This is purely based on my own experience. It might be because I lacked experience with kids and not to mention that their attentions span is considerably shorter than others, I'm trying my best to find out ways to optimize the time I have with them in the class.

      I think this is pretty true, as I myself had a hard time, convincing myself to try my best. Let it be in terms of writing, work, interest nor passion and goals in life, I think everyone should try their best (and effort) to produce something. Thus, I believed that maybe if the kids don't have any motivation whatsoever entering my class, I would be the one to provide that.
     There are different kinds of motivation; whether it is intrinsic or extrinsic. I have yet to find out which one I would be able to try and experiment with my own kids, but judging from their age (around 5-10 years old), I believed this age are more towards extrinsic. Something easy, I believed. But my concerns focus more on the older ones (secondary school). I need help in this, and I'm going to find out how.

A motivation for myself (I severely need one!!!)