First day of Term 3 and 3rd week of my attachment!

This is the 1st day of school and ... I am not in school! I am still on attachment at A-STAR and honestly I am quite bored here... Have just been reading and reading. I guess that can't be helped as the area is something I am not familiar with and it is hard for my mentor to assign me something to do when I have absolutely no idea what it is about...

Haha... good thing is that after two weeks of reading... I am able to ask simple yet intelligent questions. I know they all say there are no stupid questions but somehow I cannot bring myself certain type of questions when the answers are pretty straightforward and can be found by simply reading. I am not one who is able to ask questions off the cuff... do envy those who can just ask question after question to clarify their doubts. If I don't ask any questions, does it mean that I have no doubt or that I don't care if I have doubts or not.... haha...

Going back to the first day of school back in EVSS... do hope that everything went on smoothly... the H1N1 flu situation is constantly evolving and the instructions are constantly changing... teachers are trying to appear cool and calm... as for students... do hope that their learning can still continue as per normal... especially for the graduating classes... this last stretch is very crucial for them and they will need every minute of preparation to ensure that they will do well for the O-levels...

To my classes... I have engaged a relief teacher and gave instructions on what to do.... please do not give the relief teacher any trouble and cooperate with him to the fullest... Do leave me tags on my tagboard if you have any queries so that I will be able to answer you...

Seriously missing school... haha... feel like a student all over again... massive amounts of readings... earphones plugged in almost permanently... constant headaches from the readings...

1 week so far...

I am quite bored at my attachment. Honestly.

I find myself trying to find something exciting to do but honestly, it feels like my university research all over again. Haha... didn't exactly enjoy the research process in U... but the action research in teaching brought back a love for learning again. A love for searching for new knowledge. Sometimes teaching makes you complacent... coming to A-STAR makes me realise that I am very backward in my knowledge of the things that has been happening... makes me excited to want to learn again..

So I will try to find something exciting to hook onto... so that when I go back to school, I will have something to transfer to my students... to excite them to go beyond themselves and dream...

View from my workplace

As promised, this is the view from my workplace and it overlooks ACJC. I know it is nothing fantastic but it sure beats seeing 4 walls every day. Nice!

Research attachment @ Network Storage Technology (NST)

Today is the first day of my attachment @ NST, a division of A*STAR - the premium science research institute in Singapore. Last week was my induction and indeed I must say I was wowed by the state and level of research in Singapore. I attended talks by various group leaders in A*STAR on bioethics, the learning of Science and their research work etc. Wow! I was honestly quite impacted by their sharings and was quite of Singapore of what she has achieved through A*STAR.

What was more surprising to me was how each and every one of the people working in A*STAR is so proud of their work individually and corporately. It is normal for them to feel proud of their individual knowledge. I mean, they are among the best in their field to be working here. But corporately, they really sing the same tune! I am attached to NST and my mentor is Dr Khin Mi Mi Aung, from Myanmar. Boy is she passionate about her work, A*STAR and NST. She sings passionately about the work of not just NST but about almost all the other different organisations under A*STAR. Wow! And she's not even Singaporean. As a Singaporean, seeing now the reseach capabilities we can offer, I am super proud of the advancement in science that comes through our hard work.

Side note, I do have a great view at work. Will take a photo of the view I have in my lab. An unobstructed view of Singapore from the 14th floor!

Ok got to go for lunch now!

I know I know...

I know this video is on Ms Ang's blog... and on class 406 blog... and on my other blog... nothing to do with Physics but a super hilarious and creative way to get people to realise washing hands is very very important!!! Haha... can't believe sometimes I see people walk out of the toilets without washing hands! My gosh.. yucks!

Useful Websites

You may find the websites below useful in your revision or if you want extra help. The syllabus covered does not always match the O-level syllabus so choose carefully.

http://www.physics.org
An Institute of Physics site. If you have a burning question, you will be directed to other relevant websites .

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics
A BBC website dedicated to revision and simple testing.

http://www.gcse.com/physics.htm
A useful site that deals with many topics in an interesting way.

http://www.colpus.me.uk/vplabd/?q=node/1
A group of simulations. Try the free sample and play with an oscilloscope, transformer, lenses etc if you do not want to buy all of the simulations.

http://www.s-cool.co.uk/topic_index.asp?subject_id=16
Basic theory and on-line testing.

http://www.bustertests.co.uk/tests/gcse/physics/
On-line testing that might help revision.