Teaching in Malaysia

Well done for getting through Unit 3! I hope you’re all enjoying your mid-year break and ready for your final semester of school – ever. I’m on a teaching exchange in Malaysia! I’m at Bukit Jambul High School in Penang.

1A English, SMK Bukit Jambul, Penang, Malaysia

School fete at SMK Bukit Jambul, Penang, Malaysia

1A English, SMK Bukit Jambul, Penang, Malaysia

Lessons 34 and 35 (SAC information)

Lessons 34 and 35 – June 23 and 26

Coursework Overview

Definitions of ‘citizenship’ and their relationship to democracy and social justice

How experiences of citizenship differ according to gender, age and ethnicity

Different ways that citizenship is interpreted and experienced in Australia, for example by young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, non-English speaking background groups, and rural communities

Summary of lesson

SAC Research: you will be given a comprehensive instruction sheet with all the details about how to prepare for this SAC on Tuesday

SAC Writing: you will be given a comprehensive instruction sheet detailing what you are required to address in the SAC on Friday

Please do not work on your Media File during class

Homework

Holiday homework: you will be given an instruction sheet outlining the holiday homework which will contribute to your Media File SAC

Psychology: Lesson 34

Lesson 34 – June 25

Coursework Overview

Long-term memory: long-term memory types (procedural, declarative, episodic, semantic) and organisation of information in long-term memory (as illustrated by semantic network theory)

Summary of lesson

Coursework: complete handout #6: Long-term memory

Holiday homework: When you return next term you will begin a SAC on the first lesson back. The SAC will take four double lessons to complete. You will need to be at each of the four double lessons. The SAC is an ERA for Outcome 3 – Research Investigation. Please read over the handout packs you were given in Semester 1 regarding ERAs and read the written feedback provided to you for the last ERA you wrote (eg, the Visual Perception SAC). You will receive a holiday homework pack which is designed as revision for the research methods covered in Semester 1. This holiday homework pack is due on the first lesson back after the holidays.

Homework

Complete the blue Study Guide definitions for these dot points

Complete the holiday homework pack (Research Investigation)

Psychology: Lesson 33

Lesson 33 – June 22

Coursework Overview

Short-term memory: short-term memory capacity, effects of rehearsal (maintenance and elaboration), chunking, consolidation theory

Summary of lesson

Coursework: complete handout #5: Short-term memory

Homework

Complete the blue Study Guide definitions for these dot points

Sociology: Lesson 33

Lesson 33 – June 19

Coursework Overview

Definitions of ‘citizenship’ and their relationship to democracy and social justice

How experiences of citizenship differ according to gender, age and ethnicity

Different ways that citizenship is interpreted and experienced in Australia, for example by young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, non-English speaking background groups, and rural communities

Summary of lesson

If you were absent last lesson please collect the following handouts: Unit 4 Outcomes, Unit 4 Timeline, Mid-Year Questionnaire, Outcome 1 ‘Citizenship’, Glossary and Media File. More specific instructions are available in the previous post (Sociology: Lesson 32)

Administration: some of you did not return the Mid-Year Questionnaire – please do so, and check your name was put on it

Coursework: complete dot point 1 handout which you begun last lesson

Coursework: complete dot points 2 and 3: this relates directly to your SAC next week so it is strongly recommended that you complete the activity carefully and in detail

Please do not work on your Media File during class

Homework

The homework set last lesson was the blue Glossary definitions for dot point 1 (as specified in the dot point 1 handout). There are no new glossary definitions for dot points 2 and 3

Collect your two Media File articles for this week and annotate them according to the new criteria specified in the Media File SAC instruction sheet given out last lesson.

Psychology: Lesson 32

Lesson 32 – June 18

Coursework Overview

Stages of memory: relationship between, and properties of, sensory memory (iconic and echoic), short-term memory and long-term memory

Working memory

Summary of lesson

Remember: if you are absent you need to check this blog and/or see me in my office to collect the required handouts

Revision of last lesson: review handouts #1 (processes of memory) and #2 (measures of retention)

Coursework: complete handout #3: Stages of memory; handout #4: Working memory

Homework

Complete the blue Study Guide definitions for these dot points

Psychology: Lesson 31

Lesson 31 – June 15

Coursework Overview

Processes of memory: encoding, storage and retrieval

Measures of retention: recall, recognition, re-learning and the relative sensitivity of each measure

Summary of lesson

Administration: explanation of attendance, punctuality, equipment, coursework, etc

Unit 4 Outcomes: slowly and carefully read this information in conjunction with the key knowledge and skills and assessment handouts

Unit 4 Timeline: slowly and carefully read this information and write due dates in your diary

Mid-Year Questionnaire: complete and return

Memory Study Guide (blue): complete gradually after each lesson in your own words

Coursework: complete handout #1: Processes of memory; handout #2: Measures of retention

Homework

Complete the blue Study Guide definitions for these dot points

If you’re interested, read the following articles: Spotless Minds and Creativity while you sleep? Tell us we’re not dreaming.

Watch the following clips:

Sociology: Lesson 32

Lesson 32 – June 16

Coursework Overview

Definitions of ‘citizenship’ and their relationship to democracy and social justice

Summary of lesson

I will be at a conference today

Administration: explanation of attendance, punctuality, equipment, coursework, etc

Unit 4 Outcomes: slowly and carefully read this information and write due dates in your diary

Unit 4 Timeline: slowly and carefully read this information

Mid-Year Questionnaire: complete and return

Outcome 1 ‘Citizenship’: slowly and carefully read this information regarding the key knowledge and skills and assessment criteria

Glossary: fill this out for homework each lesson with terms discussed during class

Media File: slowly and carefully read this information as it differs from previous Media Files.

Media File: go through the “articles up for grabs” package and choose articles that interest you

Coursework: complete dot point 1 handout – you will also spend part of next lesson completing the work

Homework

Complete the blue Glossary definitions for this dot point (as specified in the dot point 1 handout)

Visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website as outlined in the dot point 1 handout and have a look around – you will need to be very familiar with the content throughout this semester

Links referred to in dot point 1: Sports trivia faces axe from test, Value-added citizenship on the agenda, Testing years for a scattered, scared people, Ethnic groups want citizen test changed, Multiple choice time for Labor, Citizenship test ‘spooks’ would-be Aussies

Watch the following clips (BEWARE THEY DO CONTAIN COURSE LANGUAGE):

Psychology exam

Remember your Psychology exam is on Wednesday at 9am. Coffee and breakfast will be available for those arriving early.

If you haven’t visited the VCAA website yet to access past exams and assessment reports… please do!

I will be at school tomorrow (Sunday) if you want to do some extra revision.
(the school is closed)

Things I recommend include…
* reading the green exam preparation sheet
* reading the textbook (chapters 1 – 8.)
* going over your handouts
* going over the blue study guides
* reading over the comments for each pink SAC
* attempting the purple Practice SACs and yellow Practice exams
* reading over the comments for the Practice exam

Psychology: Lessons 26-30

Lessons 26-30 – May 21, 25, 28, June 1, 4

Overview
Wed May 20 – exam revision in library @ 1pm: brain and nervous system
Thu May 21 – BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM REVISION
Mon May 25 – SAC
Wed May 27 – exam revision in library @ 1pm: states of consciousness
Thu May 28 – STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS REVISION
Mon Jun 1 – VISUAL PERCEPTION REVISION
Wed Jun 3 – exam revision in library @ 1pm: visual perception
Thu Jun 4 – PRACTICE EXAM
Sat Jun 6 – see me re exam questions in library (time tbc)
Tue Jun 9 – see me re exam questions in library (all day)
Wed Jun 10 – exam at 9am – come early for breakfast and coffee

Homework
Read over all pink SACs and my written feedback
Complete all blue Study Guides
Complete all purple Practice SACs
Complete all yellow past exam questions
Complete the 2008 exam (and/or collect marked version from my office)
Read and re-read and re-read the green exam preparation sheet
Ask me for more practice exams (the NEAP one, Psych book ones, etc)
Read the VCAA Chief Assessor Reports
Come and see me about specific areas/questions
Complete all Unit 3 coursework