A Journey to Birmingham: Association of Science Education (ASE) Annual Conference 2014

BIRMINGHAM UNITED KINGDOM, 8-11 Jan 2014 - It is an unforgetful experience when Cikgu Waheda Abd Wahab from  MRSM Gemencheh and i get the chance to attend ASE Annual Conference hosted by Association of Science Education (ASE), United Kingdom.This year the conference was held at Birmingham University. Our new journey start at 3.30 am 6 januari 2014 when we left KLIA for Doha by Qatar Airways .From Doha we flew to Heathrow Aiport at 12 noon. We reached Heathrow Airport at 5.pm and took bus to Birmigham.It tooks 3 hours to reach  Birmingham Central station.We safely reached Awenstbury Hotel at 12 am.

The next day, we walked to Edgbaston Campus Universiti of Birmingham.Although the registration starts at 12 noon we came early to walk around the Campus and take some pictures.Edgbaston campus has a very nice view combining the typical British look with modern touch.Welcoming speech was held shortly by ASE representatives for 15 minutes. After that, the session starts.The conference included talk, workshop, Booked course, drop in session and frontier science. ASE also held exhibition, open conference and book sale.

I received varies input and interesting experience during the conference.I was amazed by the technology application that can be used in classsroom based on different type of multiple intelligent of students.I get a chance to have discussion with a few presenter such as Dr John Oversby, Dr Mark Windell and Dr Glenys Hart besides new friends like Zaher Ahmad , Ganiyu, Julia and Sharon also Associate Prof Dr Ryuko Oshima who went into session as mine.On the last day of the conference, Waheda and i explore the campus, taking more pictures and stop at the exhibition.The exibition provide information, short competition and book sale.

On the next day, we went to famous shopping area at Birmingham which called  “Bull Ring”.The trademark of this area is a bull with brown colour.This area fulls with shops aand also fresh market. There is also a church with tradisional architecture. We stopped by to watch tradisional dance at the centre of the ‘bull ring’. Here we didn’t  pass the chance to check for shops like  Mark & Spencer, Clarks dan Guess.

On 12 januari 2014 we went to London by train.It took nearly 1 hour. From the train station we moved to Paddington using ‘tube’.’tube’ is local underground train in London.Our next destination, MARA House is just walking distance from the Paddington station.

On 13 January with the help of my former student,we were guided to discover London.Buckingham Palace, St James Park, London Eye, London Bridge, London Tower, Royat Albert Hall, Lilywhite building, Stadium Arsenal and  Oxford Street are the our destination for that day.

We start our journey back to Malaysia on 14 Januari 2014. At 8.30 pm we flew from Heathrow Airport to Doha. After 1 hour at Doha we continued the journey to KLIA and safely landed at 8.30 pm. The experience is really meaningful in page of our lifeas a teacher indeed.  Thank you MARA for the rewarding chance. We also would like to thank our friend in Birmingham and London for being a great host to us. May Allah ease our journey’s life.

Written;

Cikgu Zilawati Roslinda Mohd Zain

MRSM Baling, Kedah