Three clusters of concern

Frances Fuller (1969) suggested three clusters of concern: "Self concern, task concern and inpact-learning concerns."

Below discussion are what I have come with during my TP observation.


1.Self-concerns: Ability to teach; class control; discipline

During my first lesson with my Year 5 pupils, 9th February 2009, in their Mathematics in ICT lesson, I asked them to form five groups among themselves. It was very frustrating as they were moving around and making noise. It was getting worse after few minutes later. Few of them were not paying attention but playing games in the desktop. But I let them because it would reduce the noise during my presentation. After the class, I asked one of the groups whether they were having any lesson in the computer lab recently. I was really surprised to hear that none of the academic teacher brought them to the lab and do teaching with ICT. To add more, they don’t have any ICT lesson in Year 5 anymore. So I made myself promise that I would teach them mathematics with ICT.

The following week, I had prepared a lesson under topic Multiplication of hundreds and thousands. Before they came to my lab, I switched off all the monitors. I asked them to line up and form new groups. There were 6 groups of them altogether. They were group individually and group work. The individual group was for allocating them to specific computer. Two students will need to share I computer. And as for group work, each group consisted of 3-4 students and I let them to discuss and choose their own group name. They came up with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Princess, famous girls and Tom & Jerry group. Now, I catch their attention to be part of the team. I prepare a group work competition and the winners will be posted on my blog. ( I showed them my blog with some pictures of my Year 2 students). I told them that everyone in the planet could see which the best group is and each competition will be given a score just like a football scoreboard. They can even show it to their parents. Only then, they were interested and want their picture to be posted. Therefore, it was easier for me, to control the classroom, control the activity, and discipline them during my lecture by attracting their attention.

Self-concern: I don’t know how to deal with the low ability’s student (special kids) in Year 2. My cooperating teacher was the one who help me out. They need to memorise their timetable as I would always ask them in order for them to sit down. This usually took 3 minutes before the lesson started.

2.Task concerns: teaching tasks such as big classes; inadequate instructional materials.

During my induction period, I would not let them sit first before I asked them timetables’ oral questions. This would be done around 2-3 minutes. I’d realized that they couldn’t remember or know their timetables. So every week, I would do the same thing so that they would prepare themselves before having lesson with me.

Most of my class consists of 23 to 24 students. Therefore, in the computer lab, one desktop will be shared by two students. Although the computers are adequate, the internet connection is still not working. Therefore, it’s difficult for my students to do their research and make discussion among them. I have to connect my laptop to the projector, where every student can see. I have to use computer-based program which are installed in the desktop. It makes me easier to make them practice their previous knowledge as the program consists of interactive games with a lot of critical thinking and problem solving. I will act as a facilitator and assist students if facing problems. I let them play around with the game which they need to cooperate and contribute among each other to complete each level. I will praise their group work by taking picture their picture together with their work. I will upload their picture on my blog and present it to the rest of the classroom and congratulate them in front of their friends. The students had completed their work could save their work in their pendrives or save in the desktop according to their group’s names. It was so because I want to know if they knew how to save their works.

Task-concerns:
Teaching strategies: cooperation groupwork.

Teacher expectation: Student will be able to explain the term in words and work together as a team. They need to be able to do brainstorming where the fast-learners can assist the slow learner and make them understand.

Effective management: They cooperate and contribute their ideas and apply their previous knowledge in the group competition.

Internet connection was still not working, so I need to use my laptop and 3G phone to project the game to the whiteboard in order for each team to do the activity.


3. Impact-learning concerns: needs of pupils; about themselves as individuals, the tasks and contents of the teaching process, and impact of their teaching on pupil behaviour.

I will assess their work either in on how they cooperate and contribute to the task in a group work. Another assessment will be individually on how they develop their creativity and make use of the existing knowledge in group discussion. At the end of the lesson, I will give them oral test to know how much their can remember and understand the lesson. Those groups of two who can answer my question will be allowed to leave the classroom whereas the groups who are left over will be asked to clean the lab and arranged the chairs properly.

Overall:
Students are very competitive during the activity.
Scoreboard will be posted to see how each team had scored every week.
Oral-questioning during induction period and in the end of the lesson to assess their understanding. Thus recapping on what they have learnt