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Thursday, May 22, 2014
A different classroom
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| SOC foundation students ulitising the whiteboard near their desk. |
Imagine the looks of a typical classroom,
having plain coloured walls, with rows of tables and chairs facing the white
board of the class, along with a table for the lecturer at the side and a few
metres away from the white-board along with the projector screen.
Now imagine a room, with its walls painted
with a slightly dark green colour to it but designed with plain patterns on it.
With five hexagon tables, arranged in a diagonal manner, to form the X of the
classroom, give it space so that students can walk in-between the tables.
Along
with a couple of wheel-chairs surrounding the tables. Then have an LCD screen
and a whiteboard placed on the walls next to each hexagon table. Lastly, the
Lecturer’s table which looks slightly like a podium at the side and in front of
the whiteboard and projector screen.
That second room described is how a typical X-space room looks like in Taylor’s University (TU).
“The purpose of the X-space room is to
practice collaborative learning, whereby students bring their own devices and do
their tutorials in class,” said Catherine Lee
Cheng Kiat, a Programme Director under the School of Communication
(SOC).
She explained that the usage of the LCD screen and whiteboard, gives students the ability to work together with a flow. So, instead of relying on one person to write down the notes and pass the note around everyone to have a look at it. The whiteboard and LCD screen can be used to share the note at a spot where everyone can see it with ease.
So far, only two online sites are used for conducting her tutorial. One, Socrative, a smart student response system site that give teachers the ability engage with their students through a series of educational exercises, quizzes and games in an instant.
The second one is padlet, which is like a virtual bulletin board where anyone can put almost any content there like videos, pictures, text, documents and more, on that page.
She explained that the usage of the LCD screen and whiteboard, gives students the ability to work together with a flow. So, instead of relying on one person to write down the notes and pass the note around everyone to have a look at it. The whiteboard and LCD screen can be used to share the note at a spot where everyone can see it with ease.
So far, only two online sites are used for conducting her tutorial. One, Socrative, a smart student response system site that give teachers the ability engage with their students through a series of educational exercises, quizzes and games in an instant.
The second one is padlet, which is like a virtual bulletin board where anyone can put almost any content there like videos, pictures, text, documents and more, on that page.
Both sites will require a smartphone,
tablet or laptop to access them.
“Most of the time, I ask my students to mark their attendance in a ‘room’ I created in Socrative and when the tutorial begin, then the students have to discuss their work together in groups and once their work is done, they submit it by posting it up on padlet, so that they can review it later.” She added.
“Most of the time, I ask my students to mark their attendance in a ‘room’ I created in Socrative and when the tutorial begin, then the students have to discuss their work together in groups and once their work is done, they submit it by posting it up on padlet, so that they can review it later.” She added.
Cheryl Soo, 18, a SOC student, mentioned
that this X-Space class was very new to her because she was so used to the
linear approach from how her lectures are conducted and how her classes before
tertiary education was done.
“Before X-Space, when I was in a public school, the way how the classes were conducted was very spoon-fed, instead of letting us learn up the knowledge on our own, they gave it to us on the spot.
“So when I was first exposed to the X-Space room, I was a bit nervous because on the arrangements of the tables, because in a usual classroom setting, we have the opportunity to sit wherever we want but in this room, you have to sit together with people you do not know yet. At least when time flew, I am now at ease with the group.
“Before X-Space, when I was in a public school, the way how the classes were conducted was very spoon-fed, instead of letting us learn up the knowledge on our own, they gave it to us on the spot.
“So when I was first exposed to the X-Space room, I was a bit nervous because on the arrangements of the tables, because in a usual classroom setting, we have the opportunity to sit wherever we want but in this room, you have to sit together with people you do not know yet. At least when time flew, I am now at ease with the group.
“The X-Space room is somewhat like a
lecture but more hands-on; the interesting part about what I have noticed about
the room is that, everything here has a function,“ she said.
Cheryl added that she has become more independent on herself and she has more confidence in her presentation skills than before after her tutorial sessions in the X-Space rooms.
18-year-old Candice Chan, also a SOC student said that the X-Space room reminded her of the classroom she was in during her days in an international school.
“The setting of the classroom I was in, it had a similar setting like how the tables were arranged in X-space. We were also taught to work together. So the X-Space room felt like ‘home’ because I was trained to be used to this environment.
Cheryl added that she has become more independent on herself and she has more confidence in her presentation skills than before after her tutorial sessions in the X-Space rooms.
18-year-old Candice Chan, also a SOC student said that the X-Space room reminded her of the classroom she was in during her days in an international school.
“The setting of the classroom I was in, it had a similar setting like how the tables were arranged in X-space. We were also taught to work together. So the X-Space room felt like ‘home’ because I was trained to be used to this environment.
“There is a reason why the room looks as it
is, do you know that there is a reason why the classroom is so colourful?
“The green colour on the wall represents life and naturality, it helps somewhat from making us feel bored, while the bright yellow on the chairs, represents energy,” she added.
One thing Candice liked about her tutorials in X-Space is that she gets work done on the spot. Unlike lectures, whereby work is done later.
“The green colour on the wall represents life and naturality, it helps somewhat from making us feel bored, while the bright yellow on the chairs, represents energy,” she added.
One thing Candice liked about her tutorials in X-Space is that she gets work done on the spot. Unlike lectures, whereby work is done later.
Catherine mentioned that only Foundation
students and some Diploma students are using the X-Space rooms for their
tutorials. Eventually, more Diplomas and future Degree programmes will be using
the X-Space room by 2015.
Catherine also added that TU plans to renovate all classrooms except lecture theaters into X-Space rooms by 2016.
Catherine also added that TU plans to renovate all classrooms except lecture theaters into X-Space rooms by 2016.
The Voice Campaign update
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| The pie chart shows the percentage of complains collected from The Voice Campaign on April 2014. |
A largest sum of complaints collected from
Taylor’s University Student Council’s (TUSC) campaign called The Voice Campaign
this April 2014 was regarding transportation issues in Taylor’s University (TU).
The lack of car park space in Taylor’s
University, has been a pressing matter and an on-going issue that the students
have been complaining about it since the first The Voice Campaign drive on
September 2013.
TUSC Director of Campus Welfare team,
Joshua Chieng, 22, said, “Transportation covers about 51% of the students’
complain during the four-day campaign. One of the hot notes on transportation
was the lack of car park space in Taylor’s University.”
The Voice Campaign is held once on every fourth week of a semester, the drive last up to four to five days.
Joshua explained that TUSC’s objective is to create an awareness to TU students about The Voice Campaign whilst promoting TUSC‘s existence.
The Voice Campaign is held once on every fourth week of a semester, the drive last up to four to five days.
Joshua explained that TUSC’s objective is to create an awareness to TU students about The Voice Campaign whilst promoting TUSC‘s existence.
The Voice Campaign was a platform for
students to raise their voice by submitting their requests or comment or
complains by doing an online survey regarding the issues they are facing
in-campus.
“We are the bridge between the management and the students, as this is a private institution, the management are paid to settle our issues, not us, we are like the watchdogs, the ones who keep an eye on the happenings in-campus and update the management.
“We are the bridge between the management and the students, as this is a private institution, the management are paid to settle our issues, not us, we are like the watchdogs, the ones who keep an eye on the happenings in-campus and update the management.
“When we meet the management, not only do
we raise the problem or the issue, we have to come up with the solution. As the
management will ask back on what can they do to resolve it?
“We usually attend to pressing issues that involves the whole campus, practically campus-wide issues.
“Pressing issues like, last year, one of the most complaint issue was the toilet paper roll, the new batch was too thin. The moment you touch it, it tears off easily. This was affecting almost all of the students.
“We usually attend to pressing issues that involves the whole campus, practically campus-wide issues.
“Pressing issues like, last year, one of the most complaint issue was the toilet paper roll, the new batch was too thin. The moment you touch it, it tears off easily. This was affecting almost all of the students.
“We then bring this complain up to the
management and then suggested on bringing back the old batch which is the
toilet paper you see now in the toilets, which is much better.” he added.
Other pressing matters found during The Voice Campaign this April was focused on the lack of cleanliness in the toilets which Joshua explained that nothing could be done at that moment because of water rationing and food price hike at the new food court, Arena.
The quality of the speakers in class, the lack of printers and A1 plotters for architecture students, buses arriving late, leaking roofs or ceilings, and many more complains were mentioned in the survey.
Joshua added that the survey is still on-going until the next drive. He hopes that the future committee members of TUSC will continue this campaign.
Other pressing matters found during The Voice Campaign this April was focused on the lack of cleanliness in the toilets which Joshua explained that nothing could be done at that moment because of water rationing and food price hike at the new food court, Arena.
The quality of the speakers in class, the lack of printers and A1 plotters for architecture students, buses arriving late, leaking roofs or ceilings, and many more complains were mentioned in the survey.
Joshua added that the survey is still on-going until the next drive. He hopes that the future committee members of TUSC will continue this campaign.
Party for Charity
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| Photoshot of the Party for Charity event at TCSJ on 26 April. |
Taylor’s College Subang Jaya (TCSJ)
multipurpose hall was filled with Zumba® enthusiasts to support a charity event
organized my Taylor’s Welfare and Kin Youth (WACKY) club on 26 April.
A latest dance-craze, Zumba®, which
attracted 200 participants who were members of the public and TUSJ students,
who donated RM 20 each as admission fee.
The RM 4000 collected from the participants during the charity drive were divided and donated partly to a children’s foster home and for future charity projects.
For more information or updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/WackyCharity?fref=ts
iSpeak 2014
In an effort to encourage more students to
practice public speaking. Taylor’s University (TU) School of Communication
(SOC) in collaboration with School of Education and School of Liberal Arts
& Sciences will hold iSpeak 2014 grand finals on the 25 June.
The competition involves two categories of intervarsity
students – secondary and tertiary. The top eight speakers from the semi-finals
held on 18 June, shall proceed to the grand finals and compete for the top
three spots for each category.
The champion of the tertiary and the
secondary level will receive RM 1,500 and RM 800 respectively together with a trophy
and certificate.
iSpeak first began in 2010, to give students an opportunity to overcome their fear of public speaking as well as to build confidence, character and eloquence.
iSpeak first began in 2010, to give students an opportunity to overcome their fear of public speaking as well as to build confidence, character and eloquence.
For official registrations forms and the
Rule & Regulation of the competition can be obtained via contacting
03-56295000 ext. 5393 (Ms. Judith) / ext. 5553 (Ms. Sivasangari).
Email: enquiries.soc@taylors.edu.my
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/taylors.ispeak?fref=tsFirst food processing lab in TU
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| The entrance of the food processing lab in TU. |
Taylor’s University (TU) is the first
university in Malaysia to have a food processing lab for the School of
Bioscience (SOB) and the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts
students to experience how the food industry works.
The specific programmes that will be using this facility are those under the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Food Science & Nutrition and Bachelor of Science (Hons) Culinology®.
“This facility, is to give the students an
opportunity to see how the machineries work and how they are used in the food
industry but in the industry today, most of the machineries are automated.
“The tools and machineries we have in the
facility, not all automated, so, students will have to work manually, using the
raw mat, the ingredients, into food on their own,” said Puvanah G. Ganesen, Lab
Officer under the SOB.
The main objective is to expose the students to undergo phase one, how the product is made before it reaches phase two, when the food is cooked and served.
The key features of the food processing lab is the:
The main objective is to expose the students to undergo phase one, how the product is made before it reaches phase two, when the food is cooked and served.
The key features of the food processing lab is the:
- Bakery line: Whereby students will make pasta, cake, bread, roti canai, candy, etc.
- Meat processing line: Burger patties, various sausages, mince meat, fish ball, etc. will be made here.
- Beverage line: Ice-cream, tropical food juice, yogurt, etc.
- Instrumentation room: This is where the students research on the various factors of their food, like the pH value, the texture, the moisture, etc.
- Raw Mat room: Raw materials storage room.
- R & D kitchen: A room that only the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Culinology® students will be using to do trial and errors on the improvised recipes on actual delicacies.
After observing how the industry worked, this facility provided a great opportunity for her to experience and do what she saw during her internship.
23-year-old Bachelor of Science (Hons) Culinology® student, Daniel Chan Voon Hauo, concurred to what Seng Lei mentioned.
Punavah added that, there are plans on making the food processing lab as a source of revenue for the School of Bioscience, this is still being discussed.
TU students journeying to Bario
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| (From Right) One of the Project WHEE! volunteer representing TU Diploma in Education is enthusiastically explaining what is Project WHEE! to a passer-by. |
The first batch of Taylor’s University (TU)
students under the Diploma in Education (DIE) programme will be volunteering
the Project WHEE! expedition to help the women in Bario, Sarawak.
“We will be there for two weeks, we will start the project on the following day of our arrival, which is on the 18th of May, Sunday,” said the 18-year-old Keller Huii, one the representative of DIE.
“Our job is to teach the women in Bario, Basic English, so that they can communicate with the Western tourists
Keller explained that Project WHEE! is a youth project dedicated to spread the awareness of Bario’s existence and to raise the ecotourism status of Bario.
The project will be carried out with 30 youth volunteers. The first batch of volunteers are made-up of three groups of youth, 10 each. The DIE volunteers only 11 students in that programme, the additional one was given an exception to join after some convincing from the group.
Those selected to go for the project must have the tolerance to survive in an urban environment without the reliance of electronics and technology.
“I got really excited as I thought Bario was a place outside Malaysia. When the speaker during a presentation told us that Bario was based in Sarawak, as a Sabahan, I was surprised for I did not know that.
“This project is very meaningful to us because it relates back to what we are studying for and the trip will give us a hands-on experience.
“We look forward to it,” she added.
“We will be there for two weeks, we will start the project on the following day of our arrival, which is on the 18th of May, Sunday,” said the 18-year-old Keller Huii, one the representative of DIE.
“Our job is to teach the women in Bario, Basic English, so that they can communicate with the Western tourists
Keller explained that Project WHEE! is a youth project dedicated to spread the awareness of Bario’s existence and to raise the ecotourism status of Bario.
The project will be carried out with 30 youth volunteers. The first batch of volunteers are made-up of three groups of youth, 10 each. The DIE volunteers only 11 students in that programme, the additional one was given an exception to join after some convincing from the group.
Those selected to go for the project must have the tolerance to survive in an urban environment without the reliance of electronics and technology.
“I got really excited as I thought Bario was a place outside Malaysia. When the speaker during a presentation told us that Bario was based in Sarawak, as a Sabahan, I was surprised for I did not know that.
“This project is very meaningful to us because it relates back to what we are studying for and the trip will give us a hands-on experience.
“We look forward to it,” she added.
For more information, visit:
fb.com/projectwhee
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