Email Blogging...

Hi everybody, this is my first attempt to blog via sending email...  Cheers...

My Personal Takeaways from 72nd CTC.

Hi,

Firstly, I must say this: "Am I so busy in October that I don't have time to post anything?"

As indicated in the title of this post, I have learnt/ re-learnt the P-E-L again and would like to share some of my reflections here.

Let's begin by giving some definitions on P-E-L...

During the 1st Team Building Team Learning (TBTL) session sometime in early Oct 08, I shared with my syndicate (Syndicate 5) on this P-E-L triangle and my personal experience on how it works for successful teams which I proudly belonged to in my military career thus far. I urged syndicate 5 to try it out and see if it works for them even though they were only together for a short 5-6 weeks.

Throughout the course running, I have seen evidence of Syndicate 5 embracing learning, not just from an individual's perspective, but learning in a team manner... When the syndicate aims to enjoy the learning process, other than just gaining conceptual knowledge, the members learned about themselves at the individual level, and at the same time, many began to know the other team members more and better as each day passes. In my perspective, the syndicate managed to find out each other's strengths and weaknesses, and elevated individual's personal awareness concept to a team awareness level. Given more time, I am sure the syndicate can better synergise and perform at an even higher level and achieve more. I am glad that the syndicate felt and experienced it on their own (winning the 72nd CTC Leaders' Challenge is a good indication of team performance) and hopefully, they can embrace the P-E-L methodology and practise it in whichever team they may be in future.

Signing off, let me congratulate all leaders of 72nd CTC for successfully completing their course and in particular, many thanks to Syndicate 5 (Darren Chok, Ng Chun Wee, Daniel Teo, Francis Yeo, Yvonne Chung, Jarrod Liong, Kassler Peh, Aw Chee Siang, Chung Pei Quan, Ivan Ng, Ted Lim) for giving me a wonderful and memorable experience as their syndicate DS.

Thanks and many cheers...

John

Something Irks Me This Morning...

Hi all,

I can only recount very few instances that irritated me big time. This morning, one such incident surfaced before me.

It was raining heavily this early morning and as such, I have to help my wife to bring Michelle to the sheltered car poach while she drives her car there. As usual, we waited for the elevator to bring us down to ground level from our flat on 7th storey. When the lift opened, we weren't surprised that it was quite full (since it went all the way to 23th storey before returning down to our level). However, Fen Fen who was carrying Michelle, couldn't take the lift as the lift's alarm sounded off for exceeding the weight limit. Astoundingly, no one in the lift took the initiative to offer his or her place to my wife. Where are the civic-mindedness of our citizens? These people in the lift seem to be fit and young, not old and handicapped..! I am fine if they don't offer me their places, but to a mother with her 1&1/2 year old child..? This is both puzzling and heartaching...

I seriously think Singaporeans must learn to be more civic-minded...

John

My Learning Reflections on PBL.

Hi all, I am on course to learn new things again... To start off, this is my learning team for this module (from left to right): Kok Kar, Choon Meng, Masih (top), myself, Royston.



Here are my reflections for this learning module, which is Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Process:

1. The PBL Process. In my opinion, many of us have experience this form of learning before during our early education years, though this module allows me to learn and understand this learning methodology in a more systematic and formatted manner. Personally, I felt that PBL is another effective learning process which focuses on individual or self-directed learning, collaborative learning among peers and at team level (including the facilitator), in-depth inquiry (on the problem) and using conceptual and creative thinking to generate possible solutions to the problem.

2. The KND Chart. I think this is one of my greatest takeaways from this module, although (again) we can identify this method of establishing learning issues and actionable items with other formats that we may have come across. It is a more systematic way to identify the learning issues vis-à-vis setting the learning objectives and I am keen to try it out with my trainees when we try to establish the learning goals or objectives prior to the lesson.

3. Possible Challenges. When being introduced with the PBL process at the start of this module, I was keen to explore incorporate PBL into the curriculums under our training institute’s purview. As time progresses, I felt that there would be several challenges hindering such an initiative, namely:

a. Revolutionalising the curriculum. Most of our military lessons are conducted in a structured and sequential manner delivered through an instructor-to-trainee format. More often than not, the trainees are inexperienced in military matters and also, such learning materials are not available or accessible from open sources, for e.g. internet or reference books. However, knowing that PBL works best when addressing content-intensive type of learning, it may be worth the effort to try converting some of our curriculum into problem-based-learning format and encourage our trainees to identify the problem and explore the solutions on their own.

b. Availability of Time. In the context of a military training institution, training time is always a premium especially so when SAF is a conscripted military organization (bulk of the forces is made of National Service Personnel). Every NSF will only serve a 2-years term at the age of 18 and thus time available for training courses must be optimal. PBL framework may require more implementation time as compared to other forms of learning methodologies.

Cheers and have fun learning...

John

Dimitar Berbatov and Manchester United...

Hi all,

Again, it has been a while... A long while...

I'm very glad that D. Berbatov has finally arrived at Man U after all those transfer struggles. Berbatov has made the right choice to join Man U and Sir Alex should be pleased to get such a prize asset who has already proven himself in BPL. Man U fans should be happy too.

I'm puzzled when people compare Berbatov's transfer saga to Ronaldo's wilful wish of joining Real Madrid. Yes, I don't deny that RM is a very good club with rich history, but Ronaldo is already at one of the best football clubs, if not the best in the world, while Berbatov wasn't a couple of days ago when he was still a Spurs player. Understandably, there should be no qualm about good players from good clubs wanting to play for a better club, because you can play to win trophies and honours. However, from a very good club to another very good club, this is what I don't understand about Ronaldo's issue... Unless you have stepped on Sir Alex's toes or something (like what Ruud & Beck have done previously), you will enjoy much more playing for Man U under Sir Alex, the best manager in BPL's history... $$ is important especially for football players whose sporting careers are short, but being honourable and morally right should be expected as players' attributes too. So, my advice to Ronaldo, please wake up your bl***y idea and appreciate what you have achieved as a Man U player as compared to what you were a couple of years ago... Be grateful...

Once again, I'm glad D. Berbatov is with Man U now and I'm keen to find out how Sir Alex blends Berbatov into his current squad, how he intends to play Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo (when he's back from injury) and Berbatov together? Is it a Christmas Tree formation with Rooney and Tevez playing behind Berbatov, which is sort of like a 4-3-3 formation? Or will it still be Man U's favourite 4-4-2, but choosing only 2 forwards, be it Rooney-Berbatov, or Tevez-Berbatov, or the usual Rooney-Tevez? It's tough and despite having some many talents under your charge, I'm glad that I'm not Sir Alex who has to make these tough decisions week in-week out...

Man U, all the way to another BPL champion title and UEFA Champions League title...

Signing off...

John

The Open Championships, Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods.

Hi everyone,

it has been awhile since my last post. Congratulations to Padraig Harrington for winning the Open Championships and for the second time in successive years. Cheers to you. Though I tried to squeeze some time out to watch the British Open over this weekend other than chasing around mischievious Michelle, I must say this tournament has indeed lost a bit of appeal as my idol Tiger Woods didn't play due to his knee rehabilitation. No insult to P. Harrington for having to brave the unpredictable weather and wind to conquer this tournament, but having TW around makes watching golf over TV more enjoyable. Just can't explain the reason, except maybe TW just has the X-factor that makes the golf game an appealing one. Wish TW a speedy recovery from his injuries and return to the golf scene a fitter, stronger and more 'hungry' Tiger Woods...

My Daddy's Reflections on the Final Day of L.E. Course...

Here are my views:

Today's lesson covered on the final part which is "Improving the L.E.". After doing all the hardwork to assess the learning environment, the next imperious task will definitely be focused on how to use the assessment's findings and analyses to fine tune the L.E.

Interestingly, I have some thoughts about the point "Design an intervention plan" (one of the approaches to improving L.E.) because you need to get 'buy-ins' if you want to change the L.E. Change Management is something you can't ignore especially when you work in a big organisation like in SAF... You can't possibly make any change if you don't get the required support from your boss and colleagues.

Lastly, back to the focal point of this L.E. lesson. It is best summarised by the diagram below:

Thank you everyone in this course which has made my learning a wonderful experience... Cheers...