When people talk about action research, one sentence that i think is a research in which the researcher himself being the subject of matter. However, until someone else verified the research in other research using the same methods, the research done is not considered effective.

Terms that synonym in a research:

Improvement - refer to how a technique, skill and strategy can be enhanced and gives huge impacts to the students

Survey - Research that done to gather all inputs by investigate people opinions, experiences and etc through direct asking or in a series of questionnaires

Compare - Point out similar characteristics or aspects of two or more different subjects

Contrast - Describe two or more things by the characteristics or aspects differences

Analysis - To manipulate the data in which researcher sort out from the overall points to smaller units in order to understand a concept

Evaluate - Make consideration for something whether it is good or bad along with the definite proofs. This skill helps researcher to make decision or to accept or deny an idea

Concluding - To make a statement based on hypothesis. Conclusion support a matter through investigations, thus assist researcher in making decision

Synthesis - Gather all ideas or information to make a statement using own words

Change is always occur in education. It can't be avoided. Change can cause uncertainty, and uncertainty in education will effect the young future. There are four types of change (Dessler (1995));

1. Change for improvement
2. Change of organizational strategy
3. Reactive change
4. Change by estimation

Change is complex. Change can be relate to evolution or revolution. Evolution refer to change that can cause minor effect but in a long term period, which is the definite change in status quo. While revolution means rapid changes that will leave a destructive effect. Such complexity is a focus in gain information about that change and what is the appropriate action should be taken.

Change are also multidimensional. Any decision to make change must involve many consideration. This is to identify all kind of dimension that related to the change. There are 6 dimension need to be understood:

1. Change objectives
2. Change units
3. Change characteristics
4. Change magnitude
5. Change scope
6. Change periods

4 models of changes

1. Roger's model
2. Kanter's model
3. Rand's model
4. Acot's model

Every time a teacher wrote something on the black / white board, displaying film or asking the students to read, answer the questions or doing an experiment, actually he /she is guiding the students to gain information, master the skills and construct self value. In order to do that, teacher, choose certain teaching methods that suitable with the teaching objectives or contents, or else, the teacher's style himself. But this is easier for the experienced teacher. What about novice teacher? or me who even complete the study yet?

Therefore, in the first semester, we (DPLI students) had been taught about Teaching Methods by Prof Madya Rashidi Azizan and Dr Arba'at. And for the last three weeks prior to the examination, each of Biology students had been teaching in front of the lecturers. Although we teach just in front of our coursemates, the tension still greater as if we were teaching the real secondary school students.

I had identified few problems during my microteaching session. As example in the topic Gas Exchange in Respiratory System;

Learning Process:
1. It is difficult to make students understand the concept of partial pressure
2. Students failed to grab the concept, where the partial pressure is the heart of gases exchange mechanisms
3. Students should know the pressure of different gases

Teaching Process:
1. Teacher assumed that students already familiar with respiratory system, because they had learnt about the topic earlier
2. the way of teaching is less interesting and failed to grab all students attention
3. No variation in teaching aids (eg. no video)

To improve this problem, few strategies had been set up:

1. Teacher needs to revise previous topic that related to the current topic
2. Teacher must masters the topic by not relying heavily on the textbook but read more for deeper understanding
3. Teacher needs to think critically and creatively in building highly effective teaching aids
eg. video sometimes cannot help / irrelevant because of:
i. complexity
ii. pace of the video
iii. the display quality
iv. the accent of the narrator

Prepared in group by:
Rosmiza bt Rioh
Rumaizah bt Muhamad
Hafizah bt Mohamed

Hmm..Maybe someone will ask what is Bina Insan Guru or BIG? Simply to say, BIG is a program for those who will be an EDUCATOR, not just A TEACHER. This program is compulsory to all students of Kursus or Diploma Pendidikan Lepasan Ijazah (KPLI @ DPLI). The activities scheduled are specially for building and improving leadership, teamwork, versatility, confidence, time and self management, as well as the JERI aspects in an educator.

We had undergone this program for 6 days and 5 night. Although we faced activities' challenges, received tonnes of scolds and critics from facilitators or wearing the same shirt which has 'nice' smell, all of that never stop us to complete each task given.

From this program, i had identified few weaknesses in myself. 1. Failed to do my job well. 2. Didn't take serious in each thing done. Therefore, i promised to myself to improve the infirmity so that whatever, i will do it enthusiastically. In doing so, i need an action plan. A plan must consist of aims, objectives and methods. My aim is to be more responsible and efficient. Objectively, first, to improve the way i manage things and second, to be more serious in everything i do.

To begin, i will collect data and information by asking my collegues informally. Besides, i can gain data from lecturers involved through interviews or by taking few test to see whether i am a resposible person or not. To make sure this going well, everything must parallel to a checklist. In this checklist, i will state my sub aims to be achieved in certain periods and what i expect from each action taken. What i've plan must be succesfully achieved. So, to confirm, i will again, ask my friends their responses.

Urmm...i had defined the Action Research based on my understanding. Actually, there are few types of AR depend on the participants involved.

1. Individual AR is when a teacher focuses on a single problem to solve
2. Collaborative AR involved two or more teachers interested in a common problem or issue. Issue may involve a classroom or shared by few classrooms
3. School-wide AR is a research concerning on issues that common to all. Teams of school staff work together to solve the issues
4. District-wide AR focuses on district issues or organizational level. A district may choose a problem that common to several school or organizational management.

Example: How to improve my way of teaching mathematics? Some students having problems to understand certain topic if taught in the same way as teachers always did.

Ahh...it's the new semester...and the new me (urm..part of it)...so, what to begin?
Well, i will start with the new subject here...Action Research in Education taught by Dr Siti Fatimah Mohd Yassin. The first lecture was held on 20th April 2009 at Dewan Budiman Fakulti Pendidikan UKM. I'm very grateful not to start confusing with the meaning of Action Research because i had attend a seminar at FSSK regarding on it which conducted by Jean McNiff from Dorset, England. She was so friendly and explain to us patiently as this topic is something new (to me, the others i'm not so sure).

What can i conclude form the first lecture here, Action Research is a research on what the researcher himself did. It is not the same as common research do which observe other people. This Action Research begins with the idea we develop, or problem that we want to solve. Then, how we will do research, why we do the thing we do, why we are the way we are and so on. This can simply said as self reflection because in Action Research, we keep asking to ourself in every step we took in order to have a better understanding in our own action.

What more?urm...ahh...Why i learnt this subject?Because i'm going to be an educator. This Action Research can assist me gaining extra knowledge and improve the value in me which in return, i can use it to improve or help my student in certain area they needed. I hope i can be one of the excellent teachers in future. Aaamiiinnnn....