I better blog about this soon before I forget. I'm already starting to. Eek.

A few weeks ago, on the day I posted my previous entry actually, Dr XXXX XXX gave me a call at home at about 10 am. I was asleep. _-_" Anyway, he wanted to meet me at 3 pm (too early!) to have a chat regarding the Audio/Video Technology lecturer. But it was really too early for me, plus my lesson will only be at 7, so what the heck will I do until then? We finally settled to meet at 5 pm.

I SMS-ed/MSN-ed a few of my classmates to see if they wanted to join, but they couldn't make it. Oh well.

Met with Dr XXXX XXX (I was late! Haha!), and what we basically talked about was a rehash on what we've already e-mailed each other. Then, he told me what A/P XXX was planning, which was to make these modules the first to go in the e-based learning direction. He said, "The whole school is going towards this direction. Order from the top, so we have no choice in this." So A/P XXX basically wants to make the Audio/Video Tech modules the guinea pigs, I suppose. Dr XXXX XXX also added, "But this won't help you with what you're going through." I was beginning to think what this had to do with my situation as he pointed out afterwards, the e-based materials won't be ready in time. I'm glad he noticed. Haha.

He then said that, "My idea, is to bring back Dr XXXXX XXXXX for another lesson, a Q & A session, apart from the 6 seminars. We won't be paying him, but it would be as a gesture of good will." I thought about it for a bit (really not much, as it turned out since I didn't realise a very obvious problem with that idea), and nodded my head slowly. I said, "Okay..." I suppose it would be better than nothing, since they can't replace Dr XXXXX anyway. He mentioned that there was always a shortage of classes, so we might need to do an informal session, in the canteen or something. -.-

That was the gist of the meet-up with Dr XXXX XXX. He ended the conversation by saying that he will go to his office and send Dr XXXXX XXXXX an e-mail regarding this right away. I think we didn't really do or solve much, but I suppose he just wanted to put a face to the e-mails.

I had Video Technology that evening, and after the break, I went to the toilet. At the door, A/P XXX was leaving the toilet, and he asked, "Are you Zul?" I answered, "Yes, yes I am." He replied, "Good, I want to talk to you later." I figured I'd go pee, and go buy some food first before talking to him, but when I left the toilet, I found out that he was still standing in front of the toilet door, waiting for me. -_-"

And we stood there, in front of the male toilet, talking for about half an hour. _-_

We basically had another rehash about my/our problems with the lecturer, and a few minutes later, Kyle came back from his smoke break and joined the conversation. Before class began, I had told Kyle about my chat with Dr XXXX XXX, and we were talking about his suggestion on bringing Dr XXXXX back for one more lesson. Kyle mentioned, "If we can't understand him during normal lessons, bring him back for one more lesson for what?" Hahaha. I didn't even think about that! We mentioned that to A/P XXX that evening, as well.

We also mentioned that the course plan is a bit jumbled up, and some items that should've been taught first are being taught second. Kyle said, "The person who planned this course should sit through it (and see if it makes sense)!" A/P XXX then replied, "That's what I'm trying to do now." And I said, "That's good." Haha. Okay, I laugh here, but it's really not funny. This should've all been done beforehand. There have been at least 2 intakes of students that I know of (probably more, but I don't know that for sure) who have gone through these 2 modules. Surely these issues should've been brought up and tackled before now! Unacceptable! Where is the QC?!

Anyway, at the end of the conversation, A/P XXX said that he wants an extra seminar conducted at the end of every week, since he thinks a lesson at the end of the 6 seminars might be a bit too late. He mentioned that he would conduct the extra lesson personally if he has to. I raised my eyebrow at Kyle. We're getting somewhere! This sounds much better!

But that was 2 weeks ago. Nothing has been done on that end from A/P XXX's side. Much talk only? Nothing done? Humouring us again? Just wasting our time? This is annoying.

But! Last seminar, Dr XXXXX XXXXX mentioned that there will be an extra lesson conducted after the 6 seminars. Sounds familiar? He also said that we might have to do an informal Q & A session "at McDonald's or something" since we might not have a classroom. Familiar, my ass. He's channeling Dr XXXX XXX! Haha! He then asked our opinion on when that extra lesson should be at. I conferred with Kyle for a bit, raised my hand and said, "Associate Professor XXX mentioned that getting classes wouldn't be a problem, so I think you might want to ask him about that. For the date, I suggest 15th October?"

Tentatively, the extra lesson should be in place. Seems Dr XXXX XXX is much better at getting things done, compared to A/P XXX? Hmm. I saw a discussion board entry on the UniSIM's Video Technology forum regarding this situation though.

To launch the discussion, let me first say hello. I'm Prof XXX, the Head of Programme. For those of you who may be little confused, let me first clarify that in the past there was never a Head of Programme. Dr XXXX XXX has been holding the fort and doing a good job of it. UniSIM is moving toward a team-approach in Programme & Courses management, and that is a plus for all. Dr Lim and I are like-minded in what we seek to achieve. Obviously effective student-learning is one of the top priorities. A part of most course contents will eventually be e-learning materials, so that the classes can be less pressured to rush to complete the syllabus. The lecturer can then concentrate on the more complex subject matter. This will work only if students do their part in completing the e-learning materials beforehand.

There have been some unhappiness over the lecturer in Audio and now Video, expressed mostly by one student. I know that there may be others who feel the same, whether just as strongly or in other degrees. In relation to this unhappiness, a survey will be conducted via email to determine the extent of this problem.

But I also suggested to the primary complainant that a good way to voice learning difficulties in a constructive manner is to be specific about which concepts need more elaboration and clarification.

Hence this discussion board. Feel free to express, but please do not be vulgar! And then we can learn from each other what the real problem is.

Ah, he answered the puzzlement I expressed in a previous entry. So, he's the first official HOP, while Dr XXXX XXX was just filling in. Does this mean A/P XXX reads my blog? Hahaha. Anyway, so far, there have been only 3 replies (even though there has been 40 page views). Since the replies are quite short, I'll post them here as well. I'm probably not going to be posting any future replies, though.

"I think all the concepts since the first lecture need to be further clarified. Most of the time I don't understand what he is trying to say in his English during the lectures." - Mr Tay

"Yes i totally agree that all concepts need to be clarified ever since the very first audio class. I have had a very difficult time to complete my TMA and LR, until some of my classmates came to help and explain to me. They know/understand more as they have prior engineering background that is somewhat related to the subject. And for those who doesn't have any, like me, we basically could not follow or even understand what the lecturer is trying to explain/teach aparts from his incomprehensible accent." - Miss Chong

"There seems to be quite a few typos in the MTD205 and MTD207 notes. I feel that the both MTD205 and MTD207 study units are summarized version of the 2 reference text books (Digital sound processing and Art of digital video). Sometimes the study units makes it harder to understand, as it is summarized by someone who already understood the unit." - Mr Goh.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who feels this way (as A/P XXX mentioned so nicely in his post). Kyle and I have always been shaking our heads regarding the numerous typographical errors in all our module notes too. Doesn't UniSIM know about a concept called proofreading? -.-"

A/P XXX did conduct a survey called "Preliminary Lecturer Survey" which was described as such : "This is a very short survey on the suitability of the lecturer. It should be your personal opinion and not that expressed by anyone else in the class. Your honesty in the matter is appreciated." Inside, there were only 3 questions. Not a very good survey, if I may add, even if the idea was mine. (See entry Part 8, my e-mail, which I quote, "Perhaps an anonymous survey would give you a more truthful answer.") The survey asked, "How do you rate the lecturer's clarity of speech?", "How do you rate the lecturer's knowledge of the subject?" and "How do you rate the lecturer's organisation and presentation?".

I'm glad that at the very least, my voice is being heard, and my ideas are being taken into consideration and even used. Bottomline is, I'm really giving up on this cause since there really isn't much else that can be done for my classmates and I. An extra class would be fine, but I have a feeling that we might be even much better off if we did our own group study session in place of that extra class.

I have been sending Dr XXXXX XXXXX e-mails to feedback to him regarding his lessons, and so far he's been open and adjusting according to my suggestions. Which is very heartening. But last week's seminar really proves my point since near the end of the class, he struggled to put across information which seemed pretty simple to me, but he managed to confusticate everybody, me included, in the end. If there's a basic communication problem, then there's really not much that can be done to solve other issues unless that communication problem is solved first.