Team Bonding

As a project team, we attended a lecture, Performance Assessment, Peer, and Self-Assessment by Dr Susan Brookhart organised by MOE. It is our way of team bonding and professional development lol. :P

My team of wonderful research assistants and more importantly, my friends too.

Something New

I think a new project is happening in the near future. 

Project Work Day 2015

I took leave today to attend Juliane's Project Work Day in school. Parents were invited to attend and watch the Project Work presentations by the Primary 5 students. I arrived just before 8am and the presentations ended at 9:40am. 

 

Before the presentations started

Fabulous Unicorns' Project Work presentation

Juliane presenting the survey questions and results (later)

Juliane and her reflection about the doing the project work

I hoped by attending Juliane's presentation, it shows her that I am celebrating her success in learning. 

Online Learning

I am currently involved in a project which is using online platform to collect data. It is my responsibility to source for a suitable online platform for our data collection. It was initially challenging for me, someone who is IT-unsavvy! Lol. But I am glad that I came through. It is indeed an exciting learning experience. :)

First Milestone Down

We had a meeting with MOE today to present our preliminary report/ findings. It was a relief to all that the report was well received. One milestone down. :) We will take a break this weekend and then start working on achieving the next one.

Welcome Back, Azlina!

Our former colleague, Azlina is back in our project. Welcome back, Azlina! 
We are going to have so much fun working together as a team again!  

Project Retreat

One of the projects that I am involved in had a retreat out of campus at the Bukit Batok Civil Service Club. It was a good change of environment for everyone to have discussions about the plans for the project. :) Buffet breakfast and lunch were provided. As I had my breakfast, I only took the lunch.

After the lunch, it was optional recreational activities, either bowling or spa treatment at the club. As my toe was still recovering, I decided to skip the recreational activities and headed home. I took a lift from a colleague home. On the way back, I complained about my stomach feeling queasy. Maybe I overdid the rice and potato. I have been on a low carb diet for quite some time now, thus, the discomfort perhaps. Hope it settles soon.

RA without Project

I was literally a RA without a Project for 8 days. My last project officially ended on 31 March 2011 but my contract doesn't expire until end June 2011. So officially I am employed but I have no project. That means I am getting paid for doing "nothing"! Hahaha. If only that is true. :P
I have been working on two projects since the beginning of the year. Have been very busy, especially with the new project that is officially supposed to start on 1 April 2011 but has started unofficially since January 2011.
Oh yes, I finally got my new contract today for the new project that I have been heavily involved in. So I am now officially a RA with a Project again. :P

Wrapping Up

This is the last week of school for the year. One of our projects is also wrapping up for the year. My PI and I went to two participating schools in our project to share the research results with them as well as to show them our appreciation for their participation. Next week, another two schools to go. After that, we will conduct the detailed analysis and report writing for the project.

Back-up

I am a collaborator for one of the projects at my research centre and I am also helping to oversee it. It has been pretty fun as well as challenging for me - liaising with MOE, emailing to schools, making sure things are going ok with schools and the RAs. The data collection is pretty intense for this project as the 6 RAs have to go out to schools practically everyday until end of Term 4. Besides being a collaborator, I am also the back-up RA for the project. :) Just in case, any of the RAs is indisposed (touchwood haha), I can go in their place to their school. But I can only be at one school at any one time, unless I can clone myself 5 times lol. :P

Interviews in School

Went to school in the morning with one of the RAs to conduct interviews with teachers for the assessment project. It is always nice going to school. I mean I like to see the buzz and action in school. :) The interviews went well and the teachers were informative. Hopefully we can get as much information from the students tomorrow.

I transcribed one of the interviews which was an hour long. I managed to transcribe it within 2.5 hours. :)

Falling

into place... the new project is. :)

1. We have hired the RAs, some of whom have started work.
2. The various instruments to be used in the project are coming along.
3. Our project partner is compiling the list of schools, teachers and students.

I am feeling more relaxed now that things are falling into place for the project. But at the same time, I am also a little stressed as I am entrusted with more responsibility for this project. :P

My First Day of Work

Officially on a new project. Actually, it isn't new by now, considering I have already been working on it before I was officially in it since beginning of the year lol. The project is in my area of interest. :)

Again, I am really lucky. My new PI is as nice as my former PI, AL. He is also a supportive and encouraging kind of person. Most importantly, he has trust in me too. :)

My Last Day of Work

Officially today in the project I am with for the last 16 months.

I have been really fortunate to have worked with my PI, AL. She is the most understanding, supportive, encouraging and nurturing boss ever! I have been offered many opportunities while working with her - doing videography, working on Studio Code, writing book review, co-editing a book, writing journal papers, presenting at international conferences. Most of them are pretty steep learning curves (ie rapid learning is required) but I really had the most fun learning them. Most importantly, my PI has trust in me and she has always treated me as an equal, an intellectual equal. That really means a lot to me. :) Thank you, AL.

However, it is not good bye yet. AL and I still have one or two more papers to work on lol. :) Looking forward to working with you still, AL eventhough I am no longer working for you. :)

New Project, New Beginning

I officially started on my new project today. I will still be working part-time but increased to working 75% now. Lol. I met with my new PI (Principal Investigator, not Private Investigator, lol) and went over some plans for the future. I am feeling really good about this whole thing, this new project, this new beginning. My PI is really nice and didn't want me to be stressed out, lol. She asked me to use this month to read up on the articles pertaining to the project since there isn't much action in the schools yet. That is really nice of her. I will definitely read up to bring myself up to speed on the project. She also encouraged me to use this lull period in school to do some of my dissertation writing. That is extremely nice and understanding of my new PI. :) I will try to see what I can do...

Today is a new beginning for me. I am feeling good about it.