After marking the class tests, I was so shocked. 1 class did fantastically. 1 did ok. 1 did miserably.
My form class did "horrifically". Only 9 passes. That means that they do not know what they are doing for this topic at all.
Reasons for doing badly:
1. Tutor sux!
2. Did not do tutorial.
3. Did not study for the class test.
4. Having serious misconception.
5. Too many tests?
I think it is a combination of all. This is the worst I have seen from this class. For all 3 classes, the things covered are similar, yet there is a huge disparity between the results. Partly is due to the fact that they do not even attempt the tutorials. Now I have to think of solutions to help them. Remedials during school holidays?
Saturday, 28 April 2007
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
1 lecture down!
Wah, after the long awaited lecture on thermodynamics... finally it is completed. I left 2 more lectures for H2. I felt so relieved. Initially, I thought I would be bombarded by zillions of questions, but sadly, only a small handful of students read the notes, hence it is easy for me. I just had to go over the answers of the problems set for them. The vast majority of students are weak in mathematics, hence they have difficulties performing simple integration problems. I think we should not assume that they understand integration unless they have covered them for H2 maths. Sigh!
Hopefully, they would not consider me as a total disaster!!!
Preparing the next lecture...
Hopefully, they would not consider me as a total disaster!!!
Preparing the next lecture...
Sunday, 22 April 2007
What am I doing this Sunday?
I am supposed to meet up with my friends today because one friend just came back from overseas for this weekend. However, this weekend is especially tough for me.
In this coming week, I still have 2 more lectures on Thermochemistry/Thermodynamics. We still have not even covered Born-Haber Cycle yet, which is the most important section in Thermochemistry. I wonder how the lecture would be conducted. I think the students would wonder why this lecture topic seems fast for all 3 lecture groups. This is because a 6 hr lecture has been shrunk to a 5 hr lecture. I believe most students did not even read the notes at home, but they would really need to read up more on their own as some examples would be posted in their msg board. Students should not rely too much on teachers as they themselves are supposed to be responsible for their own learning.
Other than that, I still have to conduct a session with the Olympiad Training students on THERMODYNAMICS. Well, if it is on other topics like equilibrium or organic chemistry, i.e. those topics that I like, I would not have any problems with it. But this topic is quite alien to me as the last time I touch is in my 2nd year of uni, which is quite distant from now. I have to prepare questions for these students to attempt. Hopefully, students do not ask so many questions that I could not answer on the spot that I become embarrassed. Olympiad leh! Why I suddenly feel that I am unable to handle them? I used to take part in the same competition and attained excellent results. We have to see what this coming Tuesday will become.
I still have 4 stacks of experiment reports to mark. Of those, one of them is extremely crucial. Too bad, I have forgotten to bring back a red pen, thus I cannot mark this weekend. Talking about red pens, I vividly remember a dream I had last night about I lost all the red pens in the school. I tried hunting up and down for them but to no avail. How scary can it be????!!!!! LOL!!!
Actually, today got shooting finals for my students in the shooting club, previously known as air rifle club before the addition of air pistols. If not for all of these, I might go down and have some chat with them.
Next week, other than all these lectures, I still have to complete the tutorial on Chemical Bonding with all my 3 classes to prepare them for the Class test which is also conducted this week. For 2 classes, I have 2 hr of tutorial with them, so I should not have any problems. But there is one class that has to attempt VA8 because of SPA that is brought forward due to student council investiture.
People might wonder why do I need to conduct a class test if I am unable to complete the tutorial. The reason is simple. Every term, I am supposed to conduct 2 class tests. For term 1, I have accomplished it. For term 2, this is my 2nd class test. This coming week is week no 6. Week 7 has chem lecture test, week 8 - I have course for 3 days + SPA for 1 class, week 9 - I have reservists for the entire week, week 10 - I need to complete Thermochem tutorial. Where got time for another class test!!!
I hope people understand my predicament. Enough of pouring my woes on this blog. I have realised that this blog has become my avenue of releasing stress. Next time, I may talk about something more interesting.
In this coming week, I still have 2 more lectures on Thermochemistry/Thermodynamics. We still have not even covered Born-Haber Cycle yet, which is the most important section in Thermochemistry. I wonder how the lecture would be conducted. I think the students would wonder why this lecture topic seems fast for all 3 lecture groups. This is because a 6 hr lecture has been shrunk to a 5 hr lecture. I believe most students did not even read the notes at home, but they would really need to read up more on their own as some examples would be posted in their msg board. Students should not rely too much on teachers as they themselves are supposed to be responsible for their own learning.
Other than that, I still have to conduct a session with the Olympiad Training students on THERMODYNAMICS. Well, if it is on other topics like equilibrium or organic chemistry, i.e. those topics that I like, I would not have any problems with it. But this topic is quite alien to me as the last time I touch is in my 2nd year of uni, which is quite distant from now. I have to prepare questions for these students to attempt. Hopefully, students do not ask so many questions that I could not answer on the spot that I become embarrassed. Olympiad leh! Why I suddenly feel that I am unable to handle them? I used to take part in the same competition and attained excellent results. We have to see what this coming Tuesday will become.
I still have 4 stacks of experiment reports to mark. Of those, one of them is extremely crucial. Too bad, I have forgotten to bring back a red pen, thus I cannot mark this weekend. Talking about red pens, I vividly remember a dream I had last night about I lost all the red pens in the school. I tried hunting up and down for them but to no avail. How scary can it be????!!!!! LOL!!!
Actually, today got shooting finals for my students in the shooting club, previously known as air rifle club before the addition of air pistols. If not for all of these, I might go down and have some chat with them.
Next week, other than all these lectures, I still have to complete the tutorial on Chemical Bonding with all my 3 classes to prepare them for the Class test which is also conducted this week. For 2 classes, I have 2 hr of tutorial with them, so I should not have any problems. But there is one class that has to attempt VA8 because of SPA that is brought forward due to student council investiture.
People might wonder why do I need to conduct a class test if I am unable to complete the tutorial. The reason is simple. Every term, I am supposed to conduct 2 class tests. For term 1, I have accomplished it. For term 2, this is my 2nd class test. This coming week is week no 6. Week 7 has chem lecture test, week 8 - I have course for 3 days + SPA for 1 class, week 9 - I have reservists for the entire week, week 10 - I need to complete Thermochem tutorial. Where got time for another class test!!!
I hope people understand my predicament. Enough of pouring my woes on this blog. I have realised that this blog has become my avenue of releasing stress. Next time, I may talk about something more interesting.
Friday, 20 April 2007
Lecture Blues!!!
Well, so far I have lectured thrice. All are unsuccessful, compared to Mr C.
1st lecture: Too nervous. Keep talking in circles. Felt super-unsatisfied with myself. Force myself to prepare much more for the lecture.
2nd lecture: Too well-prepared that I know everything that is to be said. End up talking like bullet train. The train ran so fast that all the students cannot get on it. Shouted in the mic because of the high noise level in the LT. Made a co-worker to start having headaches. Oops!!!
3rd lecture: Did not prepare as much as 2nd lecture. Keep reminding myself to be slower and SOFTER. Have been successful in doing so, hence should be a success? No, it wasn't meant to be. Feedback is that I sounded boring and can drive students to sleep. Zzz.
I don't think anyone who can beat me in having so many variety of lecturing styles. Maybe students will spread we have a super lousy lecturer in Chem - me! He sometimes talked super fast, sometimes talked super slow. I even have one student that I know who is supposed to be in another LT appearing in my LT to see how I lecture. I realised it 15 mins into the lecture, and I chased him out of the LT. I asked the other lecturer whether he got notice that student (he also know that student), he said no! So it could mean that after getting chased by me, he is unable to join the other LT because of it is 15 mins into the lecture. If it is so, I feel so bad. I am going to ask the student whether he went for the other lecture.
Sigh! Hard to be a good lecturer. Hard to be on pace, interesting and fun at the same time. Maybe it is just the subject. Maybe it is me.
1st lecture: Too nervous. Keep talking in circles. Felt super-unsatisfied with myself. Force myself to prepare much more for the lecture.
2nd lecture: Too well-prepared that I know everything that is to be said. End up talking like bullet train. The train ran so fast that all the students cannot get on it. Shouted in the mic because of the high noise level in the LT. Made a co-worker to start having headaches. Oops!!!
3rd lecture: Did not prepare as much as 2nd lecture. Keep reminding myself to be slower and SOFTER. Have been successful in doing so, hence should be a success? No, it wasn't meant to be. Feedback is that I sounded boring and can drive students to sleep. Zzz.
I don't think anyone who can beat me in having so many variety of lecturing styles. Maybe students will spread we have a super lousy lecturer in Chem - me! He sometimes talked super fast, sometimes talked super slow. I even have one student that I know who is supposed to be in another LT appearing in my LT to see how I lecture. I realised it 15 mins into the lecture, and I chased him out of the LT. I asked the other lecturer whether he got notice that student (he also know that student), he said no! So it could mean that after getting chased by me, he is unable to join the other LT because of it is 15 mins into the lecture. If it is so, I feel so bad. I am going to ask the student whether he went for the other lecture.
Sigh! Hard to be a good lecturer. Hard to be on pace, interesting and fun at the same time. Maybe it is just the subject. Maybe it is me.
Sunday, 15 April 2007
NSHomeTeam Competition
Our air rifle boys won team 1st. All our shooters advanced to the finals next Sunday.
Our air pistol boys won team 2nd. They lost by a mere 6 points. 2 of the 3 shooters advanced to the finals.
Hence in total, 5 shooters are now in the finals.
Whoopie!
Our air pistol boys won team 2nd. They lost by a mere 6 points. 2 of the 3 shooters advanced to the finals.
Hence in total, 5 shooters are now in the finals.
Whoopie!
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Shooting competition
Tomolo will be the NSHome Team Shooting Competition for my students in shooting club. It will be quite a relief for me, as the pressure is not on me anymore. I am hoping they will do their very best for they themselves as some of them did train very very hard for it. It will be a good leadup to the nationals.
I would not say our shooters are very good. They are underdogs, as schools like NJC, RJC have national shooters in their squads whereas we have none. Hopefully they will do well, and get called up by the national squads.
Hopefully, we will see results for these ever-committed students.
I would not say our shooters are very good. They are underdogs, as schools like NJC, RJC have national shooters in their squads whereas we have none. Hopefully they will do well, and get called up by the national squads.
Hopefully, we will see results for these ever-committed students.
Got thrashed again!!!!!
Today is a pathetic day for my team. We play against Rosso and got whacked 2-25!!!
Looks like we could not even get 3rd in Div 2. I think we have to start climbing from last position in Div 2 now.
Lookin back, I do not think what is causing all the bad results in all the competitions. Other than Easter Open Pairs where I get reasonable results, the rest are atrocious. Not to pinpoint anyone, everyone did throw a few boards, so we are equally at fault.
Now I am changing my goals for interclub this year. I will try and get good results for the next few league matches first by adjusting my schedule on who to field each time. I would go one match at a time, depending on form.
I no longer will treat each match with ease like what I used to. Pondering deep into my bridge future ... ...
Looks like we could not even get 3rd in Div 2. I think we have to start climbing from last position in Div 2 now.
Lookin back, I do not think what is causing all the bad results in all the competitions. Other than Easter Open Pairs where I get reasonable results, the rest are atrocious. Not to pinpoint anyone, everyone did throw a few boards, so we are equally at fault.
Now I am changing my goals for interclub this year. I will try and get good results for the next few league matches first by adjusting my schedule on who to field each time. I would go one match at a time, depending on form.
I no longer will treat each match with ease like what I used to. Pondering deep into my bridge future ... ...
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Seeding for Easter Congress
Previously, the seedings of teams are very obvious. For e.g., teams that are seeded first are placed as team 1 in that group, seeded second are placed as team 2 in the group.
for this easter congress, there are no obvious seeding. let us analyse how scba split us into groups.
for my group, we got open team, x-men, choowai, blue moon, jason, my team and nuss. for the other group, we got ladies, malaysia, bozzetto, greta, LCY, nus, Dr Siak, GG. Looking at it, it seemed that they only seed 3 teams for each group. e.g. open team, x-men and choowai for one group, ladies, malaysia and bozzetto in the other group. for the other group, it was really a fight between the top 3 teams. for my group, blue moon sneaked ahead of the other 2 teams to secure a place in the finals.
since years ago, i am always baffled by how seeding was done. because somehow some teams often get easier passage to finals, whilst others need to massacre each other in order to survive through. instead of having a closed seeding, why not have some transparent system whereby proper ranking of teams can be done.
one method is to use masterpoints for seeding purposes. however this is seriously flawed, because people who play bridge longer will definitely have more masterpoints. but some younger players are scarier sometimes, e.g. blue moon, mokymouse. so it will not be a true reflection.
another method is to get all the team captains of participating teams to rank all the teams playing this event from 1 to 20 including theirs (max points). then the score is totalled and ranking can be done. a team which is ranked highest is perceived to be strong by many captains. obviously, the captains are unable to know how the others ranked their teams. so strategies for teaming cannot be done. this idea is derived from the world idol - a tv show.
third method is to have a seeding committee who will base on their performance in all the competitions. but their decision have to be transparent, which is obviously not done here.
i do not have any problems with the seedings for this easter. i say these things because i have issues with the seedings for a tournament several years ago. in that tournament, group A has 2 teams who definitely advance, whereas group B has 5 teams fighting it out. not to say the 5 teams are better, but the 5 teams will pose serious threat if they are placed in group A. results of that tournament is top 2 are those who came from group B, not group A.
well, these are some nonsensical comments by me. =)
for this easter congress, there are no obvious seeding. let us analyse how scba split us into groups.
for my group, we got open team, x-men, choowai, blue moon, jason, my team and nuss. for the other group, we got ladies, malaysia, bozzetto, greta, LCY, nus, Dr Siak, GG. Looking at it, it seemed that they only seed 3 teams for each group. e.g. open team, x-men and choowai for one group, ladies, malaysia and bozzetto in the other group. for the other group, it was really a fight between the top 3 teams. for my group, blue moon sneaked ahead of the other 2 teams to secure a place in the finals.
since years ago, i am always baffled by how seeding was done. because somehow some teams often get easier passage to finals, whilst others need to massacre each other in order to survive through. instead of having a closed seeding, why not have some transparent system whereby proper ranking of teams can be done.
one method is to use masterpoints for seeding purposes. however this is seriously flawed, because people who play bridge longer will definitely have more masterpoints. but some younger players are scarier sometimes, e.g. blue moon, mokymouse. so it will not be a true reflection.
another method is to get all the team captains of participating teams to rank all the teams playing this event from 1 to 20 including theirs (max points). then the score is totalled and ranking can be done. a team which is ranked highest is perceived to be strong by many captains. obviously, the captains are unable to know how the others ranked their teams. so strategies for teaming cannot be done. this idea is derived from the world idol - a tv show.
third method is to have a seeding committee who will base on their performance in all the competitions. but their decision have to be transparent, which is obviously not done here.
i do not have any problems with the seedings for this easter. i say these things because i have issues with the seedings for a tournament several years ago. in that tournament, group A has 2 teams who definitely advance, whereas group B has 5 teams fighting it out. not to say the 5 teams are better, but the 5 teams will pose serious threat if they are placed in group A. results of that tournament is top 2 are those who came from group B, not group A.
well, these are some nonsensical comments by me. =)
Bozzetto Rosso
Edwin told me on saturday that my previous team rosso is interesting for this competition Easter.
Why?
My previous team consists of me, jianfeng, jason, gerald, xiurui, kah loong.
For this Easter, me and jianfeng are in TMNT; jason in Don't Ask; gerald in X-men; xiurui in ladies; kah loong in bozzetto. 6 ex-teammates in 5 different teams. How interesting is that?
Bozzetto won 2nd in the finals, whereas Don't Ask won consols 2nd, courtesy of us losing only 9-21 to choowai's team. LOL!!! Ex-teammates should help one another out.
Why?
My previous team consists of me, jianfeng, jason, gerald, xiurui, kah loong.
For this Easter, me and jianfeng are in TMNT; jason in Don't Ask; gerald in X-men; xiurui in ladies; kah loong in bozzetto. 6 ex-teammates in 5 different teams. How interesting is that?
Bozzetto won 2nd in the finals, whereas Don't Ask won consols 2nd, courtesy of us losing only 9-21 to choowai's team. LOL!!! Ex-teammates should help one another out.
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
FIRST LECTURE TOMOLO!!!
As the title suggests, my lecture is going to start tomorrow. It is on Chemical Energetics. I am quite worried that I may not be able to get used to a very large audience. Hopefully, I can survive it.
Other than the normal lecture for H2 kids, I am also supposed to give lesson to our Olympiad students on Thermodynamics. WAH!!! SOOOO STRESSED!!!
After these 2 weeks, I should be able to relax slightly, as my next lecture will be in Term 3 on ALKANES. A rather simpler topic.
Other than the normal lecture for H2 kids, I am also supposed to give lesson to our Olympiad students on Thermodynamics. WAH!!! SOOOO STRESSED!!!
After these 2 weeks, I should be able to relax slightly, as my next lecture will be in Term 3 on ALKANES. A rather simpler topic.
Sunday, 8 April 2007
Easter Sunday not very good for me
well, we manage to get thrashed by HCI and jason's team in round robin to get 3rd last in our group. but we did not so bad to get 3 wins to end up at table 2 for the last round, however we get pwned there. so finally, we get 6th out of a possible 15 teams in consols. valiant effort! LOL.
resolution for this year: try and win something in bridge. be it pairs, consols, i will be very happy. because i have not win anything since intercollege last year, which is quite pathetic.
NB: interclub is not counted. 3rd in 2nd div although got $$$, it is still not good.
resolution for this year: try and win something in bridge. be it pairs, consols, i will be very happy. because i have not win anything since intercollege last year, which is quite pathetic.
NB: interclub is not counted. 3rd in 2nd div although got $$$, it is still not good.
Saturday, 7 April 2007
Miserable day today
Dear Aunt Agony,
Today I misdefended a 5CX-2, end up down only 1. For the rest of the boards that made us lose to both teams, I have nothing to say.
Today I only played 2 matches, due to my dear partner for being late again. He claimed that he is on the dot, but forgotten that SCBA has a faster clock. Sigh. Our team was heading towards finals if we didn't get thrashed by open team. Too bad! We could have redeemed ourselves if we hadn't lose to NUSS and Blue Moon too. Too bad again!
Tomorrow should be a better day. Hopefully can do well in consols, since we are out of contention. Don't let me get thrashed by LCY!!!
Regards,
Sad man
Today I misdefended a 5CX-2, end up down only 1. For the rest of the boards that made us lose to both teams, I have nothing to say.
Today I only played 2 matches, due to my dear partner for being late again. He claimed that he is on the dot, but forgotten that SCBA has a faster clock. Sigh. Our team was heading towards finals if we didn't get thrashed by open team. Too bad! We could have redeemed ourselves if we hadn't lose to NUSS and Blue Moon too. Too bad again!
Tomorrow should be a better day. Hopefully can do well in consols, since we are out of contention. Don't let me get thrashed by LCY!!!
Regards,
Sad man
News flash!
Received a call from marv regarding our teaming. Apparently we are in a 9-team group, comprising of the open team, choowai's team, jason's team, blue moon, x-men. How exciting.
So the other group has to be ladies' team, azzurro, mokymouse?
Not too sure. Have to go down and take a look.
Wish us luck!
So the other group has to be ladies' team, azzurro, mokymouse?
Not too sure. Have to go down and take a look.
Wish us luck!
My first post! *a joyous occasion*
yesterday (good friday) was a joyous day for me. i have not played in any major pairs competition for years except for the absolutely imba nus and ntu opens (due to the fact that most jc students being grouped in the same section, and i am always in the other section). although i did not partner my regular partner, i feel quite pleased with the overall results. 50% for 1st session (12th position) and 54% for 2nd session (6th position). overall, i am placed 9th. in the first session, nothing much can be done. however, for the second session, i committed my pair to drop in ranking by getting absolutely bottom for 3 boards. if not for that, i would be placed much higher, although i still won't be in top 3.
yesterday is also a joyous day for chengyen. he got 2nd for mixed pairs with yiwen and 3rd for open pairs with kenneth. hopefully, he will get selected by the committee to represent singapore for school pabf team.
yesterday is also a joyous day for xuet ying. its her birthday. i did not know at first, until friendster send me a reminder. LOL! i think she assume everyone must know her birthday.
yesterday is also a joyous day for my student jiewei. she debuted in the mixed pairs with kenneth. although the results are not that good, i think its a valiant first step. hopefully she will continue to persevere in this circle and hopefully, represent singapore someday. something that i haven't been able to achieve.
TODAY will be the open teams. my target is not to fall below any jc teams. quite a humble target! but i think it is bein realistic, as the other teams are all national teams or comprised of ex-national players. my team has no one in national team before. so the target has to be realistic.
i will update this blog once easter congress has been completed.
yesterday is also a joyous day for chengyen. he got 2nd for mixed pairs with yiwen and 3rd for open pairs with kenneth. hopefully, he will get selected by the committee to represent singapore for school pabf team.
yesterday is also a joyous day for xuet ying. its her birthday. i did not know at first, until friendster send me a reminder. LOL! i think she assume everyone must know her birthday.
yesterday is also a joyous day for my student jiewei. she debuted in the mixed pairs with kenneth. although the results are not that good, i think its a valiant first step. hopefully she will continue to persevere in this circle and hopefully, represent singapore someday. something that i haven't been able to achieve.
TODAY will be the open teams. my target is not to fall below any jc teams. quite a humble target! but i think it is bein realistic, as the other teams are all national teams or comprised of ex-national players. my team has no one in national team before. so the target has to be realistic.
i will update this blog once easter congress has been completed.
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