Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
GSAT Jitters and Fears
As the dates for the GSAT examinations get closer, the level of children's fear and paranoia rise to alarming intensities. Students between the ages of 10 and 12 are grinding the wheels of learning every waking hour and dragging their parents with them, to prove their years of knowledge and its benefits in two days of testing. Just to prove my point, I overheard one pareant threatening certain harm to her child if on the day the exam results are posted, he puts her to shame in front of the other parents. She further went on to advice him that in the event he passes for a 'dunce school', all she would do is get him a machete and rake kit and set him lose to go take care of people’s yards, because according to her he wouldnt even qualify to sell on the streets as it require some level of numeracy skills, which he certainly didnt possess. Which child wouldn’t be scared? I would.
For most at this age, its the most dreaded period of their short life, and for the minority, a time long awaited to prove one’s academic and recall acrobatics to the examiner. Whatever the emotions that run deep in the psyche of the learner, examinations are not to be taken lightly as it is used as the yard stick for success in the exam and often times in life.
I have had the chance of interracting with a number of parents, students and teachers affected by the GSAT anxiety and have compiled a brief of their reasons for its anxiety.
1. Parent’s attitude was identified as one of the greatest contributors to students being pressured during the time of exams. Too often, parents, although not with malice, use their childrens’ lives as a vehicle for their second chance. As a realut, the child feels pressured in not being able to live up to the epectations of the parent/s. A definite cause for anxiety.
2. Most of the teachers content that the volume of work, (athough the curriculum is designed by educational experts and developed as a systematic planning of what is taught and learned in schools as reflected in courses of study and school programs), is way to copious for the specific periods given, and leaves little time for effective learning. Teachers have to be conducting extra classes in order to accommodte the teaching of new content. An additional pressure for students.
3. Insufficient time was also cited as another cause. There is no time allowed for pre-exam revision, as a result, students have the undaunted task of revising on their own without the guided assistance of the teacher who would make corrections, supplement information and share exam psychology with them
4. Students content, the syllabus is irrelevant. I however beg to differ. But since I am not the GSAT student here, my observation doesnt account for much here. Due to this attitude, effective learning is compromised as one of the bases on which students learn is through relevancy. The more relevant it is to the learners’ everyday life or experience, the more effective learning will be, and the converse applies. Inadequate preparation will lead to exam anxiety.
In addition to the above, exam panic is caused by other factors. Some include:
1. Lack of memory or forgetfulness
2. Fear of punishments from parents / teachers
3. Bad past experiences
4. Improper learning i.e. studying not in depth
5. Inattentive / distracted mind
6. Lack of self-confidence / hopelessness / inferiority complex
The simple fear of exam, if left untreated, may develope into a more serious condition and lead to paranoia. When this happens it now becomes a medical problem, such as nervous breakdowns, constipation, diarhoea, excessive sweating.
You can minimize or prevent exam anxiety by being aware of its symptoms. Some common symptoms parents and teachers can look for are:
1. Feeling blank or vagueness before exam
2. Difficulty in concentrating and studying while preparing for exams
3. Fear to appear for exams
4. Getting tensed on seeing difficult questions
5. Difficulty in expressing / presentation even for known answers due to fear or inferiority complex
6. Confusion and hopelessness
7. Sweating and racing heart
8. Tension and worries
9. Prevention and management – Learning, keeping it in memory,
10. Lack of interest in lesson
Extreme exam fear often leads to failure. This may further cause lack of interest and loss of self-esteem. Criticism and bad parenting are the main causes for exam fear which further causes depression , anxiety, tension, etc. Sometimes it even pushes one to commit suicide. Fearful/dejected students commit suicide because they were unable to perform well in a test/exam or difficulty in facing their parents, teachers or even themselves after that.
In light of all the preceeding, it is incumbent on all the stakeholders in education, to ensure this GSAT Exam and others exams are appriached with confidence. Confidence stems from adequate preparedness. Each of us has a role to play in reducing or eliminating Exam Anxiety.
source:
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=K8LSwqxbd6GjjrWDyGp9DxpX8ndHS1MJ0q08dyWT72LpN39RJ6XP!657620650!-1226680035?docId=5000370163
Dr S Chidambaranathan,Homeopathic Consultant. Website: www.drcheena.com
http://www.aboutourkids.org/files/articles/test_anxiety_E.pdf
For most at this age, its the most dreaded period of their short life, and for the minority, a time long awaited to prove one’s academic and recall acrobatics to the examiner. Whatever the emotions that run deep in the psyche of the learner, examinations are not to be taken lightly as it is used as the yard stick for success in the exam and often times in life.
I have had the chance of interracting with a number of parents, students and teachers affected by the GSAT anxiety and have compiled a brief of their reasons for its anxiety.
1. Parent’s attitude was identified as one of the greatest contributors to students being pressured during the time of exams. Too often, parents, although not with malice, use their childrens’ lives as a vehicle for their second chance. As a realut, the child feels pressured in not being able to live up to the epectations of the parent/s. A definite cause for anxiety.
2. Most of the teachers content that the volume of work, (athough the curriculum is designed by educational experts and developed as a systematic planning of what is taught and learned in schools as reflected in courses of study and school programs), is way to copious for the specific periods given, and leaves little time for effective learning. Teachers have to be conducting extra classes in order to accommodte the teaching of new content. An additional pressure for students.
3. Insufficient time was also cited as another cause. There is no time allowed for pre-exam revision, as a result, students have the undaunted task of revising on their own without the guided assistance of the teacher who would make corrections, supplement information and share exam psychology with them
4. Students content, the syllabus is irrelevant. I however beg to differ. But since I am not the GSAT student here, my observation doesnt account for much here. Due to this attitude, effective learning is compromised as one of the bases on which students learn is through relevancy. The more relevant it is to the learners’ everyday life or experience, the more effective learning will be, and the converse applies. Inadequate preparation will lead to exam anxiety.
In addition to the above, exam panic is caused by other factors. Some include:
1. Lack of memory or forgetfulness
2. Fear of punishments from parents / teachers
3. Bad past experiences
4. Improper learning i.e. studying not in depth
5. Inattentive / distracted mind
6. Lack of self-confidence / hopelessness / inferiority complex
The simple fear of exam, if left untreated, may develope into a more serious condition and lead to paranoia. When this happens it now becomes a medical problem, such as nervous breakdowns, constipation, diarhoea, excessive sweating.
You can minimize or prevent exam anxiety by being aware of its symptoms. Some common symptoms parents and teachers can look for are:
1. Feeling blank or vagueness before exam
2. Difficulty in concentrating and studying while preparing for exams
3. Fear to appear for exams
4. Getting tensed on seeing difficult questions
5. Difficulty in expressing / presentation even for known answers due to fear or inferiority complex
6. Confusion and hopelessness
7. Sweating and racing heart
8. Tension and worries
9. Prevention and management – Learning, keeping it in memory,
10. Lack of interest in lesson
Extreme exam fear often leads to failure. This may further cause lack of interest and loss of self-esteem. Criticism and bad parenting are the main causes for exam fear which further causes depression , anxiety, tension, etc. Sometimes it even pushes one to commit suicide. Fearful/dejected students commit suicide because they were unable to perform well in a test/exam or difficulty in facing their parents, teachers or even themselves after that.
In light of all the preceeding, it is incumbent on all the stakeholders in education, to ensure this GSAT Exam and others exams are appriached with confidence. Confidence stems from adequate preparedness. Each of us has a role to play in reducing or eliminating Exam Anxiety.
source:
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=K8LSwqxbd6GjjrWDyGp9DxpX8ndHS1MJ0q08dyWT72LpN39RJ6XP!657620650!-1226680035?docId=5000370163
Dr S Chidambaranathan,Homeopathic Consultant. Website: www.drcheena.com
http://www.aboutourkids.org/files/articles/test_anxiety_E.pdf
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Talk if Yuh Talking
Female Reggae singer Cherine Anderson was invited as a guest judge in the High School Musical competition, “All Together Sing”. Apparently, no one advised Ms Anderson of appropriate mode of dress or of the line of judging that she would be expected play as the Skin to Skin star came and put on a performance that was the apposite of her signature authoritative style.
For starters, Ms Anderson was unsuitably dressed for a High School event. What was she thinking in an Altar top mini dress and fishnet stockings? Which stage was performing on? Then if you thought her mode of dress was off, her comments offered no consolation: her assessment comments were restricted to these 5 descriptions, nice, amazing, sounds good, sell-off and I like it, which was mainly lost in her incessant giggling and on-cue laughter. But that would be better to watch as she wears a very captivating smile than listen to her rather artificial comment in describing all the choirs as nice or good knowing fully well that some rival the scraping sound of metal against glass.
Conspicuously missing in her limited vocabulary were related words such as harmony, melody, tone, choreography, movement, presence etc. She spent each turn complementing the performers on their look and even called on the cameraman to zoom in on one of the performer’s glam shoes. OMG!
Surely, Ms Anderson has spent far too much time outside Jamaica in those euphemism-stroking countries. Surely she has forgotten we are an incredibly resilient people and we can take as much as we give, and God knows, we are known for our overt generousity. And definitely she has forgotten to remember that we ask for the truth, brutal honesty, if you please, in your judgement.
So Ms Cherine, the next time you are invited to come over (tonight), please ensure you are in the right place, equipped with the right skills and vocab and don’t forget, tasteful dressing for the occasion. Then, wouldn’t it be nice, if at the end of your stint we all leave in a better (Kingston) State of Mind than we are now and learn at least one music jargon or tip from you…? If you are Tuff Enuff, show it.
Let’s hear your views
React…. Reflect…. & Reciprocate….!
For starters, Ms Anderson was unsuitably dressed for a High School event. What was she thinking in an Altar top mini dress and fishnet stockings? Which stage was performing on? Then if you thought her mode of dress was off, her comments offered no consolation: her assessment comments were restricted to these 5 descriptions, nice, amazing, sounds good, sell-off and I like it, which was mainly lost in her incessant giggling and on-cue laughter. But that would be better to watch as she wears a very captivating smile than listen to her rather artificial comment in describing all the choirs as nice or good knowing fully well that some rival the scraping sound of metal against glass.
Conspicuously missing in her limited vocabulary were related words such as harmony, melody, tone, choreography, movement, presence etc. She spent each turn complementing the performers on their look and even called on the cameraman to zoom in on one of the performer’s glam shoes. OMG!
Surely, Ms Anderson has spent far too much time outside Jamaica in those euphemism-stroking countries. Surely she has forgotten we are an incredibly resilient people and we can take as much as we give, and God knows, we are known for our overt generousity. And definitely she has forgotten to remember that we ask for the truth, brutal honesty, if you please, in your judgement.
So Ms Cherine, the next time you are invited to come over (tonight), please ensure you are in the right place, equipped with the right skills and vocab and don’t forget, tasteful dressing for the occasion. Then, wouldn’t it be nice, if at the end of your stint we all leave in a better (Kingston) State of Mind than we are now and learn at least one music jargon or tip from you…? If you are Tuff Enuff, show it.
Let’s hear your views
React…. Reflect…. & Reciprocate….!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Teacher Vs Educator Debate Continues (part 1)
While frustratingly trying to locate the shipping company along the upper Church Avenue are, I bumped into (rather, she bumped into me) a middle-aged woman who was engrossed in a rather animated discussion with self. In a flash I wondered if I had come to some sort of peril from this apparently mad black woman when I her and apology which was followed by am apologetic smile and then proceeded to convince me she wasnt mad, but angry at the increasing levels of imcompetence that is pervading our society.
According to her, there are too many so-called professionals who are placed in decision-making positions without the foggiest clue of what to do because their appointment was not done on the nerits of a competency or any strict criteria, but rather from preferential treatment.
I agreed with her statements fully and nedded in approval, which she took as an open invitation to serve me with a full course of topics which seemigly hasve been pent up for a long time. One such was Teacher Vs Educator, which has been in time and memorial and a topic I wasnt keep on talking about. What did I get myself into now? All I wanted was to get my business don and get back home,; not stir up a streetside conference.
A teacher as defined by the.webster dictionary, is someone who is engaged in the business or occupation of instructing others; an instructor; or a tutor. Using that same dictionary, the term educator is somewhat more affective. It is someone who has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual to make informed decisions about himself, others and environment...
Guided by these dictionary definitions, I will conclude, teachers need to play the role of an educator much more than they are doing currently. In this age of advanced learning and super sonic access to information, who needs a mere imparter of knowledge when copious amounts of it is as easily accessed with the latest tutorial applications in just a simple click or from massive amounts of colourful issued student-friendly texts that are available to students with easy to learn tips and more? Teaching professionals need to move away from the operation of being facilitators and deseminators of information and hold himself accountable to effect the lifelong learning of the student/ individual, which as the term implies, goes beyond the classroom and mere acquisition of knowledge, but rather impacts, motivates and empowers the learner to use the knowledge gained to better himself, others and his environment for life.
It is the educator who believes every learner can maximize his potential. That same educator who will go the extra mile to create the ideal environment for mental, spiritual and physical development and not just concentrate on slavishly achieving the objectives for each lesson disregarding the measurable indicators that show no learning has taken. It is that same educator who will challenge the status quo, technocrats and policy makers and more to bring about appropriate instructions for the learner instead of going the easy route of copying the first availabe foriegn curriculum and adapt it without tayloring it.
The world needs more educators who will insist that parents play their critical role in the tripartate arrangement set out in the PTA and not shrug it aside with the excuse that is is not my business. We need more educators who will – unlike the common practice of nowadays teaching professionals of hussling the system laden with a mass of under-learning , under-achieving minds – call to action like minds and set up after school help ptogrammes especially for the less priviledged.
We need the classroom electrified with passion; a passion more likely derived from an educator; a passion that inspires students and other alike to be a part of the fervour to educate each other so we can have a more empowered nation. We need educators who will be that standard role model and not falter with the ever-changing sway of whichever professional codes. We need aducators who are a called set of angels who have been selected by devine order and not just teachers who, by virtue of labelling themselves professionals, are obligated to their professional codes first and all others next.
Now, let’s have your take
React…. Reflect…. & Reciprocate….!
According to her, there are too many so-called professionals who are placed in decision-making positions without the foggiest clue of what to do because their appointment was not done on the nerits of a competency or any strict criteria, but rather from preferential treatment.
I agreed with her statements fully and nedded in approval, which she took as an open invitation to serve me with a full course of topics which seemigly hasve been pent up for a long time. One such was Teacher Vs Educator, which has been in time and memorial and a topic I wasnt keep on talking about. What did I get myself into now? All I wanted was to get my business don and get back home,; not stir up a streetside conference.
A teacher as defined by the.webster dictionary, is someone who is engaged in the business or occupation of instructing others; an instructor; or a tutor. Using that same dictionary, the term educator is somewhat more affective. It is someone who has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual to make informed decisions about himself, others and environment...
Guided by these dictionary definitions, I will conclude, teachers need to play the role of an educator much more than they are doing currently. In this age of advanced learning and super sonic access to information, who needs a mere imparter of knowledge when copious amounts of it is as easily accessed with the latest tutorial applications in just a simple click or from massive amounts of colourful issued student-friendly texts that are available to students with easy to learn tips and more? Teaching professionals need to move away from the operation of being facilitators and deseminators of information and hold himself accountable to effect the lifelong learning of the student/ individual, which as the term implies, goes beyond the classroom and mere acquisition of knowledge, but rather impacts, motivates and empowers the learner to use the knowledge gained to better himself, others and his environment for life.
It is the educator who believes every learner can maximize his potential. That same educator who will go the extra mile to create the ideal environment for mental, spiritual and physical development and not just concentrate on slavishly achieving the objectives for each lesson disregarding the measurable indicators that show no learning has taken. It is that same educator who will challenge the status quo, technocrats and policy makers and more to bring about appropriate instructions for the learner instead of going the easy route of copying the first availabe foriegn curriculum and adapt it without tayloring it.
The world needs more educators who will insist that parents play their critical role in the tripartate arrangement set out in the PTA and not shrug it aside with the excuse that is is not my business. We need more educators who will – unlike the common practice of nowadays teaching professionals of hussling the system laden with a mass of under-learning , under-achieving minds – call to action like minds and set up after school help ptogrammes especially for the less priviledged.
We need the classroom electrified with passion; a passion more likely derived from an educator; a passion that inspires students and other alike to be a part of the fervour to educate each other so we can have a more empowered nation. We need educators who will be that standard role model and not falter with the ever-changing sway of whichever professional codes. We need aducators who are a called set of angels who have been selected by devine order and not just teachers who, by virtue of labelling themselves professionals, are obligated to their professional codes first and all others next.
Now, let’s have your take
React…. Reflect…. & Reciprocate….!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Palindromes
Palindromes are words or phrases that read the same in both directions, e.g. EYE, or RACECAR, or MADAM,even I.
• Do geese see God?
• Was it Eliot's toilet I saw?
• Murder for a jar of red rum.
• Some men interpret nine memos.
• Never odd or even.
Can you now make up your own? Here’s a bit more...
1. Doc Note: I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod
2. No, it never propagates if I set a gap or prevention
3. Anne, I vote more cars race Rome to Vienna
4. Sums are not set as a test on Erasmus
5. Rats live on no evil star
6. Too bad – I hid a boot
7. Never odd or even
8. Dogma: I am God
9. Don't nod
React…. Reflect…. & Reciprocate….!
• Do geese see God?
• Was it Eliot's toilet I saw?
• Murder for a jar of red rum.
• Some men interpret nine memos.
• Never odd or even.
Can you now make up your own? Here’s a bit more...
1. Doc Note: I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod
2. No, it never propagates if I set a gap or prevention
3. Anne, I vote more cars race Rome to Vienna
4. Sums are not set as a test on Erasmus
5. Rats live on no evil star
6. Too bad – I hid a boot
7. Never odd or even
8. Dogma: I am God
9. Don't nod
React…. Reflect…. & Reciprocate….!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Words: The Obsurd and the Strange
It is said the longest word ever coined contains 189,819 letters. It is so long that not all the letters can be located for publication. Maybe they should look along the river Nile, nomaybe in Guatemala, better yet it could have trained off along the reiges of the Victorias or somewhere in the Alps. Who knows, based on its length, it may very well be in all out living rooms atonce: omni-present they call it?
This is the word (or part of it) Methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylarginyl...isoleucine. It is said to be the chemical name for titin, the largest known protein. It is not found in any dictionary. (I wonder why? Hmm)
Are you ready for another? How about Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis?
We werent able to give the meaning of the previous word since we were not able to locate all its letters. Here we have all 45 letters in tact so can you tell me the meaning?
Clue 1: It’s a sesquipedalian (many syllabled) word.
Clue 2: It can be broken into KEYS.
Clue 3: List the KEYS in place order in the word.
Clue 3: Know the meaning of each of the KEY.
Keys (pun intended) and meanings:
Pneumon-oultra-micro-scop-ic-silico-volcano-koni-osis (9)
1. Pneumon=lung, breathe
2. Oultra=beyond, exceeding
3. Micro=minute, small by comparison
4. Scop=watch, see
5. Ic=like, nature of
6. Silico=flint
7. Volcano=volcano
8. Koni=dust
9. Osis=disease
When the meanings of all the keys are arranged and studied properly, the meaning of this word will become clear.
”A lung disease caused by inhaling dust like silicon and volcanic ash particles so minute that in order to see them a microscope which exceeds the ordinary is needed”.
Apply the same to this word to arrive at the meaning (no cheating, no dictionary):
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
This is the word (or part of it) Methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylarginyl...isoleucine. It is said to be the chemical name for titin, the largest known protein. It is not found in any dictionary. (I wonder why? Hmm)
Are you ready for another? How about Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis?
We werent able to give the meaning of the previous word since we were not able to locate all its letters. Here we have all 45 letters in tact so can you tell me the meaning?
Clue 1: It’s a sesquipedalian (many syllabled) word.
Clue 2: It can be broken into KEYS.
Clue 3: List the KEYS in place order in the word.
Clue 3: Know the meaning of each of the KEY.
Keys (pun intended) and meanings:
Pneumon-oultra-micro-scop-ic-silico-volcano-koni-osis (9)
1. Pneumon=lung, breathe
2. Oultra=beyond, exceeding
3. Micro=minute, small by comparison
4. Scop=watch, see
5. Ic=like, nature of
6. Silico=flint
7. Volcano=volcano
8. Koni=dust
9. Osis=disease
When the meanings of all the keys are arranged and studied properly, the meaning of this word will become clear.
”A lung disease caused by inhaling dust like silicon and volcanic ash particles so minute that in order to see them a microscope which exceeds the ordinary is needed”.
Apply the same to this word to arrive at the meaning (no cheating, no dictionary):
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
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