Taylors University School Of Education

EDP 4026 Teaching Practical (Phase II)

Lo Wei Hui 0317284

Our teaching practicum for phase II started on 5 January 2015. I will be the assistant teacher
and shadow my mentor, Mrs Wan. In phase II, I will use the Gibbs model (1988) of
reflective cycle as a guide to write my reflection. There are six parts in Gibbs Reflective
Cycledescription, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan. Below are the
week 5s reflections. It would be only two reflections because week 5 was a short week.
Reflection 17: Help Teaching in CCA

Evaluation

Feelings

Description

Day: Wednesday
Date: 4/2/2015
Today, I finally decided to join music club for Co-curriculum Activity (CCA) as I
cant really help out in basketball club. I was surprise that there were many students in
the music club. I actually just want to observe, and watch how does the teacher taught
at first. However, when I saw the students having difficulty in catching up, and due to
my passion and love in music, my body moves automatically to provide my support for
the children as much as I can.
I was shock and surprise that many students actually chosen music club, not
offense just compare with ports, children usually prefer sports more. I was glad that the
teachers allowed me to join them.
Besides that, I was a bit astonished at myself when I realized myself actually
jump in and help the students without notified the teachers. I felt scare at that moment,
as the students do not know me yet.
However, my love and passion towards music pushed me continue to help the
students as I just cannot stand there and watch when I actually can help. I felt
exhilarated when I saw the children that I taught actually mnage to catch up at last.
Lastly, I still find myself love music as always, this was because I found that
teach music required high level of passion and tolerance. In other words, it was
challenging!
Overall, this unassigned task end well but I wont said it end perfectly. This was
because I observed that there were still quite a number of students who cant really
catch up on playing the song.
I think one of the problems was the number of students for this club was too big.
It was currently go under 1:30 situation, which I found that the teacher really needs
assistance from other teacher (another teacher more on observing).
I found my action of pick up this unassigned task had two effectspros and cons.
I found that with my assistance, the students did really get up a lot. This made the goals
for the activity become more achievable. I observed sign of relief from the teacher
when I actually help him out.
However, I also realized the down or rude side of my action. First, I actually step
in to help the students without asking permission from the teacher (which some
teachers might not like it). Other than that, I have to be very careful that the students
were not too reliable on me (which might make them pay no attention to the teacher).
Lastly, I found that to teach the students play a song; the effective way was demo
and kept repeated it with the students. It was just like no one would ask why the piano
teacher har her pupil plays scale over and over. It was well understood that these skills
are critical to future performance.
1

Action
Plan

Conclusion

Analysis

Taylors University School Of Education

EDP 4026 Teaching Practical (Phase II)
Lo Wei Hui 0317284

I realized that my knowledge and confident in music helped me in this task. I

found that I facilitated the students very well. This made me realized that knowledge,
experience and confident are the key to success in a lesson.
Through this task, I also realized the reason of the limited intake in music club. It
was shown clearly that, teaching big group of beginner learners with only one
instructor was really tough. This was because playing musical instruments was a very
hand-on task.
I also realized that, I would analyzed the way the instructor taught and compare it
with the instruction theories that I have learnt and my believed when I am good at that
field. I also realized that I would take their mistake as an alert for myself, so that I did
not repeat the same mistake.
Besides that, I also realized that I shouldnt take over the other teachers task
without asking for permission nor notifying them, no matter how much do I love music
and how good I am. I should also be careful and listen to the instructor during the
lesson. Not only I can be a role model, but also act as the support for the instructor.
According to Brophy, he drew his conclusion between drill and practice as
development of basic knowledge and skills to the necessary levels of automatic and
errorless performance requires a great deal of drill and practice Therefore, I found
that music also apply this theory. Learning a musical instrument requires lots of drill
and practice.
In conclusion, I gain back my confident through this task. This task actually acts
like a boost for me. If only I have informed the teacher much earlier, I could properly
help him out in teaching the song.
Besides that, I also learnt that approximate could affect the students learning
process as well. Instructors and assistant teachers should also help each other so that
they can achieve the goals, especially when dealing with big brunch of group.
I also learnt that I can teach very effectively when I know what to do, have the
experience and have confident. I might even forget about myself during teaching of the
thing that I like and good in.
Lastly, through research also shown that drill and practice is important too,
especially when students were learning a new skill or knowledge. It doesnt necessary
seems to be dull and boring.
Next time, I would be more caution on the action that I took. I must keep myself
calm and be informed in everything I did. I must also support the students learning as
possible as I can. Besides that, I must find the most effective way for children to learn.
I would also use drill and practice when implement difficult theory for the students.

Taylors University School Of Education

EDP 4026 Teaching Practical (Phase II)
Lo Wei Hui 0317284

Reflection 18: Preparing for Phase III

Evaluation

Feelings

Description

Day: Friday
Date: 6/2/2015
For the past two days, I was discussing and preparing with my mentor for the
phase III of my practicum. We discussed on the subjects that I can take over. She also
taught and suggested me the things that I be prepared for observation and teaching. We
also go through the lesson plans for next week, she explained to me what the learning
outcomes are, how I can make change of the lesson plan that suit my style and prepare
for the lesson that I will take over. I searched for the technology-enhance resources
and rewrite the lesson plan to let her check.
I felt so bless that I have a very experience mentor to coach me. Although I did
prepare for it, but when I really rewrite and plan for the lesson that I want to teach, still
I was surprise at how much time I used to do it.
Especially when I was looking for technology-enhance resources such as power
point slide, it took me the longest time to do it. I was excited for the coming week,
although I have not fully finished the preparation for the lesson yet.
I felt that planning was the most important and fun part. I felt it fun because I
found that this was the part that I fully used my imagination. Then, I also have to think
of relevant knowledge, skills, tools that I have to include in the lesson.
The preparation for phase III went well, although the time that took me to finish
was a bit out of my expectation. I found that preparation was the hardest and important
part in instruction.
I realized that looking for technology-enhance resources was the hardest and took
longest time. This was because I have to check for the effectiveness of the resources
and consider my learners cognitive level as the same time.
Next, I also found the dynamics instructional design model developed by Robert
Gagne very useful in doing my lesson plan. I found that this model is flexible enough
to include and use the data that provided by the on-going feedback from the students.
Not only that, this model is also using the learner-centre strategy.
Blooms Taxonomy of cognitive also made my planning become more
systematic. With the hierarchy in Blooms Taxonomy, I actually more understand and
know what assessment methods I should use to test the students.
Besides that, I also used this taxonomy to estimate my students current cognitive
level. Through this, I can plan the lesson that fit my students well. Blooms Taxonomy
remind of planning the lesson that fit learners instead of planning just for deliver the
content.

Action Plan

Conclusion

Analysis

Taylors University School Of Education

EDP 4026 Teaching Practical (Phase II)
Lo Wei Hui 0317284

I realized that my mentor suggested me to prepare early was because she knew
that preparation took longer time to do. I also slowly realized that, a good preparation
make a good lesson that carry out in the class. Preparation is like the starter of
instruction, therefore it is very important.
I also found that not every technology-enhance resources are suitable to use in
class. Sometimes, besides learners, we might need to consider the technological
hardware that we have and can support for the technology-enhance tools that we
searched. However, among all, I find that learners are the most important factor that we
must consider when choosing for technology-enhance resources.
Besides that, I also realized that a smooth and successful lesson comes from a
well-planned preparation that made before the lesson. I realized the dynamics
instruction planning model was actually something that most of the teachers familiar
with. Just some time, they did not realize it and might not follow the step in doing the
planning.
But I totally love and agree with the model by putting learners as step one. This
was because most of time, teachers tend to forget learners (which is the most important
factor) in their planning. I support and believed that the learners will definitely affect
the outcomes of the lesson.
On top of that, I found that Blooms Taxonomy of cognitive development was
also another useful theory that can help in doing lesson plan. It was essentially good for
setting the difficulty and level of the tasks. I also realized that using Blooms
Taxonomy also helped the teachers to know their students cognitive level well.
In a nutshell, I was glad that I have the chance to do the lesson plan on my own.
Thank to this, I actually experience the process of doing a lesson plan for real teaching.
I also learnt that doing a planning for lesson required lots of efforts, techniques and
knowledge in it.
Besides that, I also happy that the instructional theories that I have learnt in my
course were useful and helped me in the planning process. I was also glad that I
remember these theories, because of this I got to experience the real-life example by
myself.
I would still use dynamic instruction planning model for my lesson plan. Simply
because it was the most common model of instruction planning that arrange in a more
systematic way. I would also improve my planning by using the feedback data that gain
from the learners.
Lastly, I really like the Blooms Taxonomy of cognitive development. I would
continue use this in my other planning. I would also improve my tasks difficulty by
using the taxonomy as my guide.
My next task for myself would be revised and look for the different types of
instructional planning model, theories and organized it nicely in a folder. (so that next
time I can get it easily and have more choice in doing the lesson plan) Besides that, I
would like to attend some instructional planning course. Mainly was because I have
that knowledge, but I never tried it in real-life. Therefore, I was not exactly known how
it will work. Another reason was I want to improve myself in planning for lesson.