anxiousbiologist

Welcoming message plus tips (continued)

2011-11-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

DON'T BE A LONE RANGER, instead work and study together. If or you need clarification, ASK. If your friends ask for help/clarification - EXPLAIN, DEMOSTRATE or any possible form of help - because when you help others, you're helping yourselves memorising, understanding better on a concept. Why do you think lecturers seem to master the subject? (on the fingertips!) Because they teach, help, explain, demonstrate, lecture over and over again.

DON'T WAIT. You should start studying when you get the syllabus. When? NOW! Don't wait for the lectures or tutorials. If you have studied earlier, lectures will help you understand better, then tutorials can be the exercises - to check on what you might have missed out or forgotten.

CONCENTRATE during you lesson, especially LECTURE. There's a serious misconception - lecture is where the lecturer is soooo far ahead, that whatever you do will not be noticed, that it is a chance to relax and empty the minds! WRONG! You should take the opportunity during lecture to STUDY with full concentration so that you won't have to spend much time revising a particular lesson over and over again during your weekend or at your hostel. YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO WASTE! So study during lecture will help you A GREAT DEAL!

Semester II 2011/2012 begins

2011-11-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

Bismillahir rahmaanir rahiim.
Welcome back. It's the new semester for both lecturers and students - it's a new module implementation for everyone! For students - my advice: 1. PURIFYyour 'niat' so that every decent step and action during your study/work will be awarded with thawab (reward) by Allah the Almighty. 2. FOCUS and give your cooperation during each learning session. 3. LEARN from last semester's mistakes and rectify it for the better achievement this semester. (TO BE CONTINUED..)

PSPM1 - strive for success.

2011-10-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

Bismillah. Assalamualaikum. I'm at it again. A post long overdue.
By the way, I wish all the students in best of health throughout the PSPM1, so that they can study, sit for the exam and perform the ibadah in the best condition. InsyaAllah, with your continuous efforts, prayers, du'a and don't forget forgiveness from your parents and friends, Allah will grant you good results in the examination. Amin.

A semester to ponder

2009-11-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome back!
Semester Two has just started this week. I have gathered some facts about this semester for students to ponder and make appropriate preparations.
1. There are 18 weeks of study.
2. The 18 weeks include the UPS week. So, effectively, there are only 17 weeks.
3. There are a lot of holidays, namely Aidil Adha (27, 28 Nov), Maal Hijrah (18 Dec), Christmas (25 Dec), New Year (1 Jan), Chinese NY (14, 15, 16 Feb), Maulidur Rasul (26 Feb). So you 17 weeks are not the complete weeks!

My advice:
1. Start studying now, even though you haven't attended for the lecture.
2. STUDY HARD!
3. Consider your lectures/tutorials as an opportunity to understand the concepts taught also to clarify misconceptions so that you won't spend so much time after the class. Value your own time and spend it for your own revision.
4. Finish your practical report as soon as you have completed your practicals. If possible finish it before the weekend (if you have your practicals on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday)
5. Finish ALL the exercises in the tutorial book before you attend the class.
6. Do not hesitate to seek the lecturer's explanation for concepts that you confuse or do not understand.

Biologlish! Singular nouns, Plural, Adjectives

2009-06-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

This new batch (Session 2009/2010) have learnt Science and Mathematics in English since Form One! In a recent quiz, I asked them about the 'nuclear structure' in different types of cell. Most of them couldn't figure out what the he** is this 'nuclear' thing all about (nuclear bomb? nuclear plant? nuclear energy?).
Initially, I was shocked when the supposedly easy questions has become a deep trap for these students in order to get good marks. Good marks will boost their confidence and will encourage them to study earlier. Well, I did have a motivational session mith them soon after!

In the recent session, I became an English teacher, pointing out the different words/terms in English referring to one particular noun (in Biology).
e.g. 1: nucleus (singular) --> nuclei ('noo - clee - eye', plural) --> nuclear (adjective, descriptive word that precede a noun - e.g. nuclear envelope. nuclear material, nuclear pores).
e.g. 2: mitochondrion (s.) --> mitochondria (p.) --> mitochondrial (adj.) - e.g. mitochondrial membranes
e.g. 3: stoma (s.) -> stomata (p.) --> stomatal (adj.) - e.g. stomatal opening
How about these singulars? ...fungus, cell, hormone, bacterium, ...

Until next posting...

Pheww! It has been a long time ago.

2009-04-06T23:55:00.000-07:00

It's almost a year since my last post! What a shame! I should've been more consistent with my postings. Well, I do hope this blog will be benefited by all, especially matriculation Biology students... and my former students too!
It's more convenient here than the hospital labour room!! Yupp, I did get a call from my students asking about the Kingdom Fungi while I was waiting for the birth of my fourth child last September!
And I'm thinking of a T R A N S F O R M A T I O N !
Until then...

The Biologist - needs motivation!!

Parenchyma cell, oops... sclerenchyma?

2008-05-29T01:10:00.000-07:00

There has been a fuss about the fact that parenchyma tissue can or cannot differentiate into sclereid. I should say... Yes it can. Although it is not a usual case. Let us put it this way. Meristematic cell differentiate into parenchyma cell (and other types of cell too!). Parenchyma cells, being loosely arranged and having thinner cell walls, present almost in every other tissue, have the potential to die (i. e. the protoplast disappears). Depending on where they are located they may differentiate into tissues assisting the main structure, e.g. parenchyma cells assisting the xylem tissue may die and become the fibres supporting the xylem. Certain parenchyma cells in the fruit flesh of pears, are determined to have their walls evenly thickened as the protoplast dies, to become the slereid... the ones that gives the gritty texture of pears or "buah lai"...

That's it!

The Biologist - when it comes to classification, there can be grey "individuals" which cannot be defined decisively. This would cause confusion as they can be grouped into other groups closest to their characteristics.

The 2007/2008 Final Examination

2008-04-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

This week is the examination week in KMM. I don't invigilate due to ill health. I wish all students "all the best". Hopefully, the examination is not that bad. A male student SMS-ed me asking for my forgiveness should he repeat in the next session. And he hadn't even started the exam!
That's why early preparation is important.

The Biologist - is preparing for the new session. 2008/2009 batch is greater in number... so they said.

UPS2 07/08 results is out!

2008-02-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Mid-semester II examination results was announced yesterday. Mixed responses anticipated. On the whole, the students' faces are the picture of dissatisfaction, regret, frustration, cautiousness ... only handfuls are happy. A girl student of mine didn't come for the class simply because of her inferiority complex. She even thought her classmates were isolating (? appropriate words are welcomed) her. She didn't even bother to accept my effort to comfort, advise her to make her feel better to stand up and brave the painful reality. That attitude and the final examination is only seven weeks away... O Allah! give her and my other students the strength and good health to continue to study so that they will be qualified to further their studies in the fields beneficial for themselves and for the ummah. Ameen.

Introduction! Introduction!

2008-01-20T05:13:00.000-08:00

SALAAM.
Phew! This is my first attempt to establish a blog. Well, this is intended to provide a forum to discuss my students' problem on Biology, to raise issues, confusion, common mistakes on Biology (preferably matriculation level but anyone from A-level or STPM circles are also welcomed). Articles posted can be in English or Malay, depends... Since the scope is rather limited, I also planned to share articles, links on motivation or anything study-related! Comments are most welcomed...

The Biologist.