Are we developed into a calculator

I want to write something, but have no idea what I should write. emmm emmm emmme mmm emmm emmmm
what about being a calculator in higher education?
What is the difference of learning from primary school to secondary school and now at higher education? What are the difference that you can think of? Sometimes ot feels the same, doesnt ot, but maybe now the syllabus are now more in detail and the question set are tougher than before. What else?
For me, the huge difference that I could trace is WE MUST KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING. The syllabus aren't set for you only to have the formula right on front of your eyes without knowing anything. Now you have to know where and how it is derived. We spend hours of proving theories, and how the theory exist. Sometimes I wonder, do we have to know since we would only use the already given formula in the sheet rather than showing how on earth came from. But I figured it out that it is an elementary school of thinking, isnt it? Why do we have tolearn things that are only covered in exam? Meaning that we only study for the sake of passing the course only.
I always regret if I cant answer thing that I already learn. But it is kind of normal now. If that happen, I knew that I didnt understand it by heart. But at least, if I looked at the book, and I could reflect something, I am satisfied enough. I dont to be a CALCULATOR afterwards. That is not what I want to be. And I am sure you feel the same.

What kind of lecturer woul you love to have?

What kind of lecturer would you love?:-

• A Fast Speed Lecturer

A fast speed lecturer would teach anything they need to finish for the day so that they would be able to cover their syllabus within the located time period. Looking at it somehow I dont like it either, but I think it would make the student awake. I would try myself to undersatand what they try to deliver eventhough I might confuse myself. Sometimes I would end up copying everything leave the understanding behind. But at least there are something I got.

• A One-by-One type

A) Some teacher would teach each and every single point to the students. Everything they know would be on the board. It is a privillage for the students who study for the knowledge itself instead of study for the sake of exam itself. Even sometimes it might end up in confusing the students. I remembered when I used to study physics, my teacher would write everything he knew and I would like 'terlopong', amazed by the knowledge he has. He could apply every theory we learn and give an example close to ourself, and each students would automatically say 'ooohhh' (Malaysian typical style). He made me fall in LOVE with Physics, Thank You Mr Hasram.

B) Another style one-to-one teacher would speak one by one. He make sure that the students would understand everything he tried to deliver. I thought it was great. But somehow my thought change last week. I have a lecturer observed our tutorial and I love how his style of teaching. He explained each and everything we need to know. Then last week he entered our class to replace our sick lecturer, then my thought change. When he conducted the class with the same technique he use in the tutorial. I found it a little bit boring and he bring our sleepy eyes. I tried to be in the same wavelength but somehow I couldnt. And right then I wish if he could be a little faster.

• A visualised Lecturer

There is another type of lecturer I found interesting. A lecturer that could make the students see what the theory is all about. They would bring anything that could help him or they would try to make us visualize it in our own way. My Applied Math lecturer would bring stuff like boxes, ruler and even an umbrella as the model (How can umbrella be use, you might think) He put the umbrella in his shirt and tied them up at his head. Imagine the umbrella orthogonal to the x-plane and the line would change by bending the body. Wow I amazed at the spirit he has to make us understand it like he did. Wow, You are GREAT Dr. Philips and Alastair. While my pure math lecturer, would make me visualize it on our own. He would make any 'gaya' to make it clear. And he would teach us like he also dont know it, and make us think properly. Imagine you have this, then under this circumstances you cant have this and you should have this.

• A theoretical lecturer

A full of teory lecture might seem boring to some people. Write every theory without explaining anything. First, Theory one, OK now we move to next theorem. Understand it and try to picture it with the theory given. That sort of thing.

(To be Continue)

Adult vs teenager in Learning

Observing people now have become a hobby of mine I think. That is a good way to get your sleepy eyes away heheh There is an uncle that has been in the same class with us since our first semester. If I could guest he maybe at his middle of the century. Emm I think so. But looking at how enthusiastic he learn, it relly makes me embarassed. Especially as a yougster. He came to class with his big briefcase and the items in it is realy neatly arranged. Oh ya, he also bing a 'kanta pembesar' with him. Whenever he has difficulty in understanding the lecture, he will put his hand up without hesitate. Eventhough I believe the rest of the class could digest the information. And the day before yesterday, he ask a lecturer but the lecturer only answer it half heartedly and ask him to understand it as a homework. Then he looked down. Like my friends said, 'I feel like running to him and try to explain'. That is how we feel. We shouldnt expect someone could understand one thing like one did. But his spirit sometimes could fire us up to study even better, dont afraid of what people think and just be yourself.

And now there are a few more adults in our class. I guess it is normal since we are taking third stahe paper. There is another uncle, maybe a part time students and take a leave form 10-11 to take this course. MAybe. He wore office outfit I guess. He came with his revision book he borrowed and sit in the middle of the class. Sometimes I purposely choose my sit right behind him so I could see what he wrote in his notebook. I have to say, sometimes it is different from what the lecturer wrote in front. MAybe he jot down what he understand rather than all the lengthy word on board. Another example student in my eyes. I guest it is different for the adults to learn because they are now learn to have more knowledge and with patient. Maybe they have seen how does all this nowledge relate in their day life. That is why they are more focus. Yes we study for the knowledgeas well and of course On top of that because of ALLAH. but maybe the degree comes first. But seriously I should learn from them.

[this is good]

I think it is great having a mix of ages in a class. I did my undergraduate degree when I was fresh out of high school and remember the older students being so much more conscientious than the younger ones. Later I went back as an older student and I was also much more conscientious, ie, I think that having a bit of life experience can make you value education and learning much more.

Hard Life?

My English teacher in Mara College Seremban once said something that I will never forget. She is beautiful teacher with a great personality. She always inspired us in every way in anyway she can. She used this phrase whenever we face any problems or having difficulties in making a right decision. Everyone in my class I believe remember it. She said, ‘Life is hard, so why we make it harder, right?’ Yup there she goes. I think she is right. Whenever we have any trouble or confuse about something, I think we should think of something that will ease our mind, not make it hard either on our side or others. Don’t messed-up our mind with something unimportant and unnecessary things. Then the stress will come even close to you, Insya Allah.

My lecturer once said

My favourite lecturer told us something that makes me think of something today

"Mathematician handle things in two ways. First use the theorem strictly and trying their best to prove them while the other group will use their imagination / intuition to help them understand bout a specific problem. They dont bother much bout the theorem"

which side am I belong? I wonder. But what I am sure is I envy of people who are in the second group like the lecturer and the tutor here. I admire the way they handle the math problem. I remembered asking one tutor in the Science Space here, without using any formula he helped me solving the problem. The way he describe the situation and how he visualize the plane and described the situation vividly really mesmerized me.

But I dont think I am on the right path now. Now we are more focussing on the problem and try our best to settle them, following step by step given by the lecture without bothering much the mathematical image of it. Feel like a human calculator actually and it doest suppose to be like that. I want to be in the second group, who purely love mathematics and could settle the problem because I understand it not because I memorize the step. One day I'll be one, Insya ALlah