*---------Checkmate.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

1:05 PM

Disclaimer: This is solely my own personal view and I am not out to and am in no position to criticise any education system. (I am just a student). I just hope that improvements can be made. I feel that improvements can still be made even when one is already the best.
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Hello.

Since we are in the spirit of doing self-reflections (though its some time ago), I will do reflection paper 8 :)

Reflection Paper 8

Introduction
Something inspired me to write. Some teachers, not all, are just so biased. And I think this is the first time I was the victim of the biased teacher, instead being the one that gets the slight advantage over others. Now I clearly understand how others felt when teachers treated them unfairly.

When you are the one that teachers like, you will not have the slightest thought that because teachers like you, you have an edge over others. In fact, in lots of situation. Quality of homework, project grades and attendance.

I'll share with you a situation on atttendence (aeons years ago). Theres this situation at the last tutorial, one of the favourite pet student was not present and I think his attendance barely meet the minimum criteria and the teacher smartly said:" Since this is the last tutorial, I'll make easy for your life. For those who are late, I'll mark you all as present. However no exception for other classes. (He was hoping that his pet student would come and he can still mark him as present) But he didnt attend the tutorial at all, its a short one though. Ouch.!! Pain felt in the chest. But maybe, I said maybe, the teacher may mark his attendance. I dunno. But its possible.

What I have learnt
I have learnt from this semester that all teachers are bias. It is the degree of biasness that makes them different. It is acceptable for teachers to be slightly bias. They are humans with feelings and I clearly understand that, feelings may at times, interfere work.

Base on this learning point, as long as I have put in adequate effort in my work, I will be satisfied with myself. Though I value Grades much (Local universities only accept students with an average score of B+ for all subjects) and wish to get in a local U. I will just let it be. I can't influence my teachers. AND i wont bootlick and act friendly with them. Thats just so not me. My current grade is between a B and B+. So I will have to work very hard to get to B+.

I have also learnt to understand the feelings of students whom were biased against. The feeling is bad. You put in that much effort but you get meagre returns. Thats inequitable hence de-motivates them. Do you see I am applying the expectancy theory? Low P-O.

Questions that I have
What are some of the ways or controls schools put in place to minimise teachers' biasness? If current practices are ineffective, suggest.

Should the character of teachers be examined thoroughly before they are employed to "mould the future" of Singapore? And what are the ways to achieve accurate results?

Conclusion
In conclusion, I feel that cross checks/marking should be put in place to standardise grading. I know that examinations have a few levels of markers to ensure all students are fairly and appropraitely graded based on a single standard. However, projects are often left to a single teacher. Should we include a panel of teachers to grade students' project work? Some may find it time consuming, especially those doing the double work. However, think back, meritocracy is valued by the Singapore government. Is meritocracy valid when the schools' grading criteria are biased and unfair?

Sunday, August 19, 2007

5:40 PM

I had spent 2 hours cleaning and tidying up my room and now, it looks sleek (if you can comprehend my meaning) and empty. On my 1.2m by 0.6m study table, sits only a "orange juice" lava lamp and sony ericsson speaker cum charger. And, Ive gotten all the neccessary examination notes all done up nicely in different folders. I shall start revising tomorrow. 3 papers this semester and I'll try hard to score well.

Remember an earlier post last month about the drawing that looks like Professor Umbridge? It will be exhibited in Temasek Polytechnic's library next month for a month. Its been a long time since I have any "guang rong stuff". It stopped during my polytechnic years. At least, finally, something to be proud of :) try to take a look.

And I discovered a good lipbalm recently. Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer, selling at $6 plus. It is effective unlike some other brands that er, start with M, or the E one and a plus point; it is relatively cheap. The shell of the lipbalm is white with a blue collar which makes it perfectly suitable for guys.
Ya, you dont see me applying lipbalm cause in the past, I thought that it was rather "ugly and unmanly" for guys to erhem, apply lipbalm. But its ok, I'm not going the "man" lu xian. Whaha.

Driving lessons on Tuesday and Thursday. Looking forward to learn parking and I would've learn everything about driving. Test date on 29 Sep, still a bit far, but I'm yearning to drive. Then everyday, for maybe a month before the "exciting about car driving" feeling dies down, I will be Happy. And good luck to mingxian. Maybe you want to go Si Ma Lu and pray first before going for the test!

I went Hougang Mall today and caught Patricia Mok and Bryan Wong. They were hosting a family camp thing. I stood there watching them for 1.5 hours. Quite nice to look at artistes off screen and I won a scoop of gelaré ice cream from them.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

6:05 PM

I had my tongue burnt when I tried to sip some very hot latté. It's just like dipping fruits into a chocolate fondue, I dipped my tongue into the coffee. Scalded. And its peeling. But I guess after a few days, I'll have a new tongue :)

And ill be catching the movie, 881 later with my family. And I mentioned that I will treat them and the numbers grew from 4 ppl to maybe 8. Opps. So i guess we'll go dutch.

As for the OverseasStudentInternshipProgram people, I cant send you all off. Its so early and im working(excuse). But I hope that you all will have the learning spirit with you when you are there and be strong ya. 5 months away from home, for myself, I dont think I can make it. And happy birthday, Jiamin.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

1:18 AM

This is my final artwork. Enjoy :)

Saturday, August 11, 2007

11:17 AM

Free and freed
I am rather free and bored now that projects and school assignments are over. Looking forward to internship on the 3rd of September, but I will have to sit for examinations first. They are not exactly that fearful, but it is the tiring process where I'll have to study. Though knowledge makes me a better person.

Im finally going for driving lessons again after a long month break. And im waiting. Its only 1130. 3 more hours before I drive.

Time Flies (cliché)

Driving
Its now Monday. My driving lesson was nice and an accident nearly happened. It was at a 2 direction 2 laned (that is to say 1 lane for 1 direction) crampy alley with a single continuous white line in the centre. And moreover, there were cars parked on the lane that I was traveling, so I had to pass the divider and drove in an against traffic flow manner which was quite dangerous. However, the almost accident was not with the cars from the opposite direction. There was this cab in front of me alighted a passenger and while I was driving past him, his "car head" came out, nearly banged onto us. (avoided because of my fast reflex action, just giving some credits lah)

In contrast, the instructor was asking me about emergency brake and if I had practised before. I did that before and was able to explain to him. The emergency brake has to be executed, when the instructor hit the front part of the car and you will have to brake immediately. Very very long after he asked about the emergency brake, he tapped the front part and still I continued driving and only 2 seconds later had I realised I had to brake.

Magazines
I went to buy some Taiwan Magazines and they are nice. Full of pictures-clothes, shoes everything, nice looking people in nice looking outfits and Im sure that there is a lot of information just that its a bit hard to read Chinese.

Friday, August 10, 2007

8:36 PM

Yesterday was National Day and my dad's and his brother's birthday as well. 27 family members from my dad's side celebrated their birthday over a buffet lunch. The whole lunch last for about 4 hours, maybe eating for 2 hours and the other half chit chattering.

After lunch, walked around Orchard to do some window shopping and there were lots of discount everywhere. And there was a good deal at G2000. $23 for a shirt. I thought it was really wow! Looked around and found that their shirts were quite nice looking and the cutting is more suitable for younger adults instead of the airy airy type where departmental store brands offer. But I didnt wanted to spend money. And moreover I wore 2 layers which made it a little bit harder to try on the clothes. So I didnt get it. One customer at G2000 even approached me for help. He thought I was the sales guy. Ouch? Maybe its ok. Nothing hurting. Really.

Watched the live telecast of National Day Parade at home. I like the parades and marches, they look real smart and cool. I hope that i'll have that kind of opportunity during my NS years. I like the orchestra and the singing of national day songs. The songs and music stirred some emotions within me, but not to the extent of crying. I think I should attend concerts at esplanade soon. I really like music. And while typing this post, Im listening to a playlist of National day songs on imeem. Maybe the patriotism in me will die down in a few days time and rekindle next year. But I would like to say I like Singapore. Lastly, I like the fireworks as well. Stunning Display. A great NDP and not forgetting," Happy Birthday, Dad".

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

11:14 AM

I have some more drawings to share. Some are assignments from my free hand drawing class and the rest are done during my spare time.

A plant drawing

Pandan leaf plant

Yusof Ishak

I drew from the $20 note that was issued recently

Big-Small eye but i think you still know its him ba

Drew from a magazaine

Cousin Brandon

And myself

Tiger
The most impressive among the pieces, i guess

For the tiger drawing, the teacher asked which pencil grade i had used for the very black part. I replied saying that I used 8B pencil. He was kind of amazed and didnt believe that 8B grade pencil exist. So, he asked me to show him. For a moment, I was surprised and taken aback by his amazement filled expression and I thought that I had said something wrong. I thought if I had said the alphabet (B of the 8B) wrongly. I showed him the pencil.

"So he didnt know that 8B grade pencil exists"

Pencil Grades

For those who are puzzled about grades of pencil. Pencils that people use to draw are in various grades. Generally, theres a number and a alphabet component to make up the grade. Eg. 2B, 6H, with the exception of HB. From darkest to lightest, 8B-6B-4B-2B-HB-2H-4H-6H (not an exhaustive list). For B grade pencil, the higher the number the softer it is therefore it will be darker as more carbon will be mark on the paper when used while H grade pencil, the higher the number the harder it is therefore it will be lighter.

Alligators

And those who cannot differentiate between crocodile and Lacoste logo. I was told recently that the logo of the alligator of the crocodile brand faces to the left while a Lacoste logo faces to the right.

Information

Some information about myself; I like books that are filled with pictures instead of words. Eg. Magazines, pictorials, illustrations. I like the colours black and white. Previously I only liked white, but now black is another of my favourite colour. I like to visit stationery shops and book shops. Not Popular but Kinokuniya. I value the appropraite grammer in everyday writing and speaking. I am looking forward to internship, wanting to experience working, want to get my paycheck and splurge on shopping and its cool to work at a cool office.

Thats all :)