An Open Letter to ECC Department

There are a few concerns that i would like to propose in order to draw the attention to the whole department to improve the current grading system to be more enjoyable, student friendly, and less result oriented.

I have been staying with the department for 3 semesters, and to be sincere, all this while, i do not admire the system whereby it is stressful. For public information, in my previous second semester, courses that i prefer most were softball and handball, co-curriculum program where must be enrolled to fufill the conditions upon graduation. The reason is simple, because proper training is guided accordingly and adequate practice is conducted. My coach had never pressured us to play professionally especially we have no playing experience, instead commitment and contribution would be best enough.

I do not object to have tests as well as assignments compulsorily distributed, but the scheme should be refined to achieve the formerly goals. Current existing program promotes the better students to be the best while moderate students to be weak. From my personal observation, weaker students tend to keep silence while better students excessively raise themselves to lecturers. I would like to remind that, such situation may marginalized weak students further. My standpoint is lectuerers should neglect marvellous students and pay extra attention to weak students to achieve equilibrium. Like how Dr.Syamsiah did in ECC3201, she established an extra class to educate the needy students. If lecturers do not have much time on this, try to appoint some outstanding students to mandatory assist them. I believe with this solution, at least it encourages the students to take the responsibility to formally practice SCL effectively.

Besides that, marks are the biggest killer that spoil the meaning of education and hence retard the learning procedures. Marks may motivate students who able to pick up fast to drive forward, meanwhile it may discourage students who seriously encounter problems in studies. Undeniable, excessive of desperation to score high grade may lead to unhealthy growth and competition. To reduce or discontinue such woe from circulating among students, decent attitude should be emphasized specially when it comes to evaluation. Indeed, creativity and innovation is diverse on individual basis, but then merit only should be credited appropriately to those who possess them.

In addition, presentation test should be fostered where it involves group works. This method was firstly introduced in ECC3002 by Dr.Ing Fauzi. It helps to deliver knowledge better and make students to react spontaneously. Moreover, presentation tests cultivate the cooperative spirit among students which is essential in future workplace. However, imperfection takes place if the group presentation is dominated by certain people who hardly pass the chance to other members to involve themselves initiatively. This sickly incident must be prevented to disallow people to monopoly the whole presentation session. As a result, presentation test would be misused as the stage for individual advancement.

To conclude, study is not about results and grades, not to produce examination machines/robots but a person who can think independently and behave good moral values. Most significantly, the relish of human capital among students.

If any of you have different ideas, various thinking, i welcome you to invite me to discuss together. You may correct me too if i have wrongly expressed my view.

Cheers,
Candle