Session08 (Panel)

Which session to attend (18 or 20 Jan 2010)?

Please refer to the spreadsheet below for your assigned session.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AorLYELAy3RndGtNaXBnQTJTQzNmWTZKYUpDQmVlb2c&hl=en_GB

Venue

NTU LT1A

Seating arrangements in LT1A

Please refer to your seating arrangement below

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AYrLYELAy3RnZGZzeGtqanZfMjkxZnF6aHM0ZGg&hl=en_GB

Important note: Refer to seating arrangement to be projected in LT1A for last minute changes.

Questions for the panel

Please type your questions in the space below.

General questions

1) Addressed to the beginning teacher: Do you subscribe to any specific education theory or philosophy? How do you apply it to your classroom?

2) This question is directed at the senior teacher. What are some of your personal beliefs and pedagogy towards an inclusive education?

3) During my 4-month contract teaching at a neighbourhood school, here is the scenario:

Experienced teachers, e.g. subject-head & level head only take care of express classes. Junior teachers, e.g. newly graduated NIE trainee given only NA/NT classes. The NA/NT students are aware that they do not get the experienced/the best teaching resources.

Subject head's policy: to help slow learners to improve on time for national exam, isolate those who are disruptive such that the slow learners have a better learning environment. Hence, those who cannot not follow the lessons, or those who are constantly disruptive, are separated and taken care by a contract teacher in small group learning during curriculum time.

My question: How do we solve the mindset issue?

4) A student does not hand up homework. I have tried methods like punishment, but they didn't work. What methods do you have (for the senior and beginning teacher)?

5) What can beginning teachers do if the students do not cooperate with us because they prefer their previous teacher?

6) How do you handle students who are really not interested and have no motivation to studying?

7) In a class of students who are unmotivated to achieve, how to get the class to work together for a conducive learning environment?

8) In a class of students with good academic results, how would you convince them that group work and participating actively in group discussion is good for them? How to intrinsically motivate them in this aspect?

9) What are some of the surefire ways to energise a class in the late afternoon?

10) Getting students to participate in e-learning seems like a good idea but does it work in reality? What should a teacher do in terms of tracking and monitoring their activities? Please share some success stories.

11) How do you handle a situation where in a class you have students of widely differing abilities in a subject, and wish to ensure that the brighter ones can learn without impediment, while the weaker ones can also learn effectively within the constraints of the lesson.

12) How do you provide differentiated learning to a class of diverse learners (ability, personality, learning styles)?

13) Question to the beginning teacher: Have you handled a very difficult class in your early days of teaching or maybe now? If so, how did you win them over and get them to listen to you? How long long did you take to handle them?

Special needs

13) Addressed to the special needs teacher : Is there any pre-conception or negative feelings toward the special need student from the rest of the class? How do you manage such dynamics?

14a) In the process of building an inclusive environment, some students might be jealous or protest that we are unfair because we pay more attention to certain individuals. How do we explain ourselves or how can we prevent this from happening?

14b) On the other hand, is it possible if certain individuals feel too attached to us because we show them personal care and concern? How can we avoid such situation?

15) What are some ways we can educate the students to accept others who have special needs?

16) How do you help students with disabilities (e.g. autism) in learning? How do you give them more support while not affecting/neglecting other students in the class. Please share with us some real cases if possible.

17). How do you handle ADHD/rebellious students?