Pedagogical Contents
Teaching Methods
OF MY COOPERATING TEACHER
I had a very exciting observation and assistantship weeks, even though I focused on teaching Matthayom/High school department, I also had the chance to observe in some of Prathom/Elementary department class. Let me start with my class observation with Prathom 1-3 or Grades 1-3. I want to mention Ms. Apple, a dedicated teacher from the Elementary department who patiently answered all my inquiries, and also to Ms. Jin, the first teacher who accepted me in her classroom. In Ms. Jin's class, she teach Science, I also had background in Science since I graduated with STEM degree during senior high so it's easy for me to cope with her subject and the way she teach it. She used variety of materials to show her student how a boat floats in a water, she demonstrate how it floats by making a boat made of paper, she also included some coloring materials so that the students can make their own version of boats, she also have clay for weighing purposes and a container filled with water. She teach the student step-by-step so that the students can follow, after that she let her students float their own-made boats in the container filled with water and discuss what boat is and how does it float. Next is Ms. Nan, she teach the subject Health, in this class the lesson is about distinguishing hot and cold water, that's why Ms. Nan used basin that comes with hot and cold water, she used a clean white cloth and gently put it in the students hand to let them identify whether the water is cold or hot. The last class is Ms. Apple's class, she teach Math but she's also very good in speaking English, she used flash cards with subtraction and addition to students and let them answer in chorus, she also group the student into 4's and the group who got the highest score wins.
Moving forward to my observation and assistantship in high school level, I observed my cooperating teacher's class Matthayom 1-3, Dr. Koi's subject is English, specifically Critical Reading. I remember the topic's name is "What Makes the Ocean Blue?". Honestly, this subject is hard to teach as the subject matter includes Science and the students needs to comprehend it in English, that's why Dr. Koi uses Thai language as her medium of instruction since the students can understand it more precisely. This is a good technique though there is a minimal discrepancy as the subject needs to use English language but Dr. Koi made a good decision to teach it in both language, she reads it in English and later on translate it to Thai.
Learning Materials
AND INNOVATION
As mentioned, the teachers that I had encountered in Ban Mak Khaeng are innovative and resourceful. They used traditional and modern/digital instructional materials to cater the needs of their students and to give the best and high quality deliverance of teaching. For the elementary department, they use brand new and good quality coloring materials, and used digital equipments such as television, microphone, sound machine and manipulates their laptops and smart phones. In the high school department, what I noticed is that they used more modern instructional materials such as iPad, tablets, television, sound system, and projector. In English class, they sometimes have earphones lend to students to listen to audio materials used in the class.
But I still believe that teachers are the best among best instructional material that the students need, and BMK teachers upholds that they faced the students with appropriate physical appearance and a ready mindset to teach.
Sources of Learning
AND TECHNOLOGY USED
Teachers used the curriculum guide to teach the students, in addition to that, Ban Mak Khaeng School also encourage their students to utilize their school facilities such as the library, where students can read educational books and the school field where students can showcase their talents and skills in sports. They also have different school room clubs that can cater students individual interest in music, arts, math, and other subject area.
All rooms in Ban Mak Khaeng School is equipped with technological equipments like television, microphone, sound machine, projector and radio to make learning more accessible for everyone. Students can also print in teacher's room for free.
Authentic Assessments
USED BY THE TEACHER
Teachers used authentic assessment in forms of performance-task, project-based output and group sharing. I noticed in my one month of stay in Ban Mak Khaeng that they utilized performance task regularly, like after the discussion the students will have graded activities where they can apply the knowledge and learning that they have for the daily lesson, like grouping themselves and performing a stunt or making an illustration on what makes the ocean blue.
Teachers like my cooperating teacher Dr. Koi, she loves to make her students have a group illustration for every single lesson.