Teaching
Portfolio
Teaching,
Leading &
Learning..
Tor Siong Hoon
Pensyarah Biologi
Kolej Matrikulasi Pahang
Teaching Portfolio
Introduction
"Tell me and I forget,
teach me and I
remember,
involve me and I
learn."
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
(Benjamin Franklin)
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
Others
 Contributions
Since 2000, I have taught Biology at Matriculation, taken
part in educational research related to teaching and
learning biology, and conducted teacher workshops to
improve Teaching and Learning; particularly in Biology.
Before that I have worked for a range of institutions
and employers in the Malaysian education sector, from
primary, secondary schools levels to the pre-U at the
Matriculation college. My exposure and experience has
allowed me to view pedagogic issues at different levels.
This teaching portfolio describes the development of
my teaching techniques and style. It aims to present my
overall teaching approach and philosophy as a product of
continual reflection on success and feedback from
teaching practice, guided by theoretical knowledge about
the learning process.
The sections on my teaching biology, together with
my reflections on particular aspects of past assignments,
show the range of teaching tools I have become familiar
with, how I have employed them in practice, and how I
have tried to enhance their effectiveness by using
concept mapping.
The composition and continual revision of this
teaching portfolio has proved immensely useful for me. It
supports a reflective approach and has helped me in
becoming aware of my strengths, improving on existing
weaknesses and constantly monitoring my own
development as a teacher.
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
2
My Teaching Philosophy
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
Others
 Contributions
As a teacher, my first and most important role is to be a
facilitator of learning. Accordingly, one of the crucial
components of my professional knowledge is an answer to
the question what learning might be, and knowing by what
means it can be facilitated.
In constructivist learning theory, knowledge acquisition is
modelled as a building activity: every person is equipped
with basic mental tools and skills to make sense of his or
her world by building mental representations of it, creating
knowledge and skills for interacting successfully with and
within this world.
As to the question what learning is, I very decidedly
respond that learning Biology means adding knowledge (a
tentative human construction of interrelated ideas,
experiences and understanding) to the students’ mind.
Students have acquired some scientific literacy in the earlier
learning years at primary and secondary schools.
The students’ learning endeavor at the Matriculation
can be facilitated by the use of concept mapping, a
constructivist tool for learning. It is able to restructure or
reconstruct the students understanding of biological
processes visually where misconceptions if any can be
addressed. Students working together in small groups to
create concept maps allow social interactions among them.
This allows deeper processing of ideas; often more concrete
initially to abstract and challenging concepts.
It is my responsibility as a teacher to stimulate and
foster my students’ engagement in such a constructive
process, and to guide it by means of clearly formulated
teaching goals. My approach to teaching informed by this
philosophy will be illustrated in the following section.
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
3
Teaching Goals & Strategies
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
Others
 Contributions
Skills needed in the 21st century that go beyond basic
literacy. Students must be able to read critically, write
persuasively, think and reason logically, and solve complex
problems.
At my teaching however, I encounter many of my students
fail to integrate biological knowledge into larger conceptual
frameworks. They often appear to be randomly grasping at
disconnected sound bites of biological knowledge. The
knowledge they have accumulated does not seem to be
connected with concepts in a manner that allows them to
develop explanations of biological phenomena. Learning
biology to many of them is merely memorizing with little or
no integration of new knowledge with existing knowledge.
Marzano’s (1998) research of 4000 different instructional
interventions found that those that were most effective in
improving student learning were those that focused on how
students think about their thinking processes.
I have tried and confirmed that concept mapping is effective
in learning Biology as it allows students to understand the
relationships between ideas by creating a visual map of the
connections. Concept mapping has been shown for the
past 20 years as being an ideal strategy for promoting
meaningful learning (Pankratius, 1990; Okebukola, 1992;
Novak, 1976; Novak & Gowin, 1996). Lumpe & Staver
(1995) demonstrated that students who created concept
maps in small groups out performed students working on
their own.
As a teacher, I see my responsibility in creating the
conditions to make this possible – an atmosphere of joint
discovery in interaction and sense-making in collaboration,
that supports individual processes of knowledge
construction, integration and application and ultimately
helps learners to become managers of their own learning.
While teaching I endeavor to make lessons as much a
collaborative effort as possible, strengthening the cohesion
of the learner group by low anxiety activities to create a
comfortable environment, and giving ample room to the
application of new knowledge in group work, partner work
and guided peer interactions.
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
4
Teaching Biology and Reflection
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
Sample Lesson
Study_Lecture
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Date
Activity
By the end of the lecture, students
A. My Reflection:
should be able to:
B. Observer 1:
Chapter 3.4: i. define chromatid, synapsis,
Meiosis
bivalent, tetrad, chiasma,
C. Observer 2:
17/07/2014
Class: 7M1
Awards
D. Students:
crossing over and centromere.
ii. explain the position and changes
of the chromosomes at each
stage.
iii. state the significance of meiosis.
Evaluation_Self
iv. compare meiosis and mitosis.
Evaluation_Observers
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Reflections
Lecture Notes_Student’s Version
Lecture Notes_Teacher’s Version
Report on
Lesson
Study
Meiosis Dance
Animations
Lesson highlights and Student’s
Feedback
Others
 Contributions
Lesson highlights for Observers
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
5
Research & Development in T&L
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
7M1S44
TAJUK
1.
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
WHO IS MORE ANXIOUS IN
LEARNING SCIENCE AND TAKING
TEST: MALE OR FEMALE?
SEMINAR
PENYELIDIKAN
PENDIDIKAN PROGRAM
MATRIKULASI TAHUN
2012
(25 – 28 NOV 2012)
PERINGKAT:
KEBANGSAAN
SEMINAR
PENYELIDIKAN
PENDIDIKAN PROGRAM
MATRIKULASI TAHUN
2012
(25 – 28 NOV 2012)
PERINGKAT:
KEBANGSAAN
SEMINAR
PENYELIDIKAN
PENDIDIKAN PROGRAM
MATRIKULASI TAHUN
2009
(2 – 3 OKT 2009)
PERINGKAT:
KEBANGSAAN
SEMINAR
PENYELIDIKAN
PENDIDIKAN PROGRAM
MATRIKULASI TAHUN
2009
(2 – 3 OKT 2009)
PERINGKAT:
KEBANGSAAN
EFFECT OF CONCEPT MAPPING
SEMINAR
ON STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING
PENYELIDIKAN
OF OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION PENDIDIKAN PROGRAM
MATRIKULASI TAHUN
2008
(2 – 5 DIS 2008)
PEMBENTANG & PENYELIDIK
KEBANGSAAN
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
Research &
Development in
Teaching
2.
PENGGUNAAN HEART TABLE
DALAM MENINGKATKAN
KEFAHAMAN PELAJAR SAINS
HAYAT KMPH BAGI SUBTOPIK
CARDIAC CYCLE
PEMBENTANG & PENYELIDIK
3.
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
STRESS AMONG PAHANG
MATRICULATION COLLEGE
STUDENTS AND THEIR COPING
STRATEGIES
PENYELIDIK
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
4.
STUDENT’S UNDERSTANDING OF
OSMOSIS AND WATER POTENTIAL:
A CASE STUDY
PEMBENTANG & PENYELIDIK
5.
OSMOSIS AND WATER POTENTIAL
WITHOUT TEARS: AN ACTION
RESEARCH REPORT
Others
 Contributions
PEMBENTANG & PENYELIDIK
6.
PERINGKAT
PERINGKAT:
KEBANGSAAN
PEMBENTANG & PENYELIDIK
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
SEMINAR (TAHUN)
SEMINAR
PENYELIDIKAN
PENDIDIKAN PROGRAM
MATRIKULASI TAHUN
2012
(25 – 28 NOV 2012)
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
MODE: ORAL
PRESENTATION
PENCAPAIAN:
SAGU HATI
MODE: ORAL
PRESENTATION
MODE: ORAL
PRESENTATION
PENCAPAIAN: TEMPAT
KEDUA
MODE: ORAL
PRESENTATION
PENCAPAIAN: SAGU
HATI
MODE: ORAL
PRESENTATION
MODE: ORAL
PRESENTATION
PENCAPAIAN: TEMPAT
KETIGA
6
Responsibilities (T&L)
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
"A bad teacher teaches students WHAT to think.
A good teacher teaches students HOW to think
The difference is wider than an ocean"
(Confucius)
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
Senior Biology lecturer in KMPh
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
Others
 Contributions
Heading PLC & R&D in KMPh
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
7
Awards
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
Others
 Contributions
Award of Excellent Performance by the Malaysian
Ministry of Education Year 2015
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
8
Others
Introduction
 Personal Information
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Goals &
Strategies
VARK: 6M1S39 &
7M1S44
 Concept Mapping
 Cooperative Learning
Represent Matriculation in SEAMEC
Teaching Biology &
Reflections
 SB016 Syllabus
 Semester Schedule
 Lecture
 Tutorial
 Practical
 Quizzes &
Worksheets
Research &
Development in
Teaching
 Research Papers
 Contributions related
to research
Responsibilities
 Teaching &Learning
Biology (Unit &
College)
 Research &
Development
 Cleanliness of
College Premise
Awards
Others
 Contributions
An Advocate of
Concept
Mapping in T&L
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
9
Thank you for your Attention
A Collaborative Culture
With a Focus on Learning for All. I
wouldn’t be here today without
YOU.
Tor Siong Hoon_Pensyarah Biologi_KMPh
10