The ART of plating

Ever heard of the quote ''first impression counts?''

So my dear groupmates, since our microteaching is in 3 weeks time, lets us all learn one or two techniques of food presentation which hopefully can please the judges :p

Lets take a look at this video! May it be beneficial to us :)

Investigative Task: To investigate the physical changes on the different baking duration of chicken fillet.

Have you ever wondered why do meat turn brown when baked? Why does it turn darker when treated with a more extensive heat treatment? What is the reason behind that browning reaction?
Our group carried out an investigative task to investigate the physical changes on the different baking duration of chicken fillet. So this is the result.

As seen in the diagram above, the chicken which acts as the Control is raw,Variation 1 is baked for 5 minutes, Variation 2 is baked for 20 minutes and Variation 3 is baked for 35 minutes. When chicken is baked loniger, it turns from translucent to opaque due to the coagulation of protein, then eventually exhibited some brownish coloration on the surface due to Maillard reaction.
Maillard reaction, is a type of non-enzymatic browning, where the simple sugars(carbonyl group) react with with the amino acids (amino group). During this reaction, the condensation of the amino group and carbonyl group results in a polymeric carbonyl-amine compound of low solubility. The conjugated double bonds of the products of this reaction account for the brown or yellowish coloration on the meat, in this case chicken.Maillard reaction generally only begin to occur above 140°C.

Therefore, the longer the chicken is baked,  greater extent of Maillard browning will occur.

Source:

http://www.mnstate.edu/provost/BCBT100%20Browning.pdf

NOT JUST a Bowl of Soup.

I came across this very interesting video. A bowl of soup may look no different from the rest but these interesting touches really work wonders!

Reflection (Atiqah)

During textile class last week, we went through on the ways to write up lesson plan.  There were so many lesson plan samples and from there, they were a lot of key points to highlight.

I felt that this was a good session as we are able to learn from the seniors previous mistakes and not to repeat it. Although lesson plan is a tedious thing to do, I believe that it makes an inexperienced teacher like me to be more structured and organized in content. Writing a lesson plan with a general objective (GO) and specific instructional objective (SIO) focuses on what teachers hope students to accomplish at the end of the lesson and how teachers hope to accomplish it.

By planning of the lesson, I feel that as teachers, we would know what to do when we enter the class and its shows a sign of professionalism. It also gives us a chance to predict the problem created by students in class and how to deal with it. 

Storing clothes is simple... Or is it complex?

Ever had that one woollen sweater which you use only when you travel to cold countries? Or that dress which you wear only once in a blue moon? Everyone has clothes which they need to store from time to time. While this may seems like a no-brainer, there are certain tips which we can follow to ensure our clothes' quality is not compromised during storage.

1.) Store only clean and dry clothes - This may sound redundant but there are actually people who store clothes which are not thoroughly well-cleaned or dried. Sweat or dirt left on the clothes is a great attraction for pests or molds.

2.) In Singapore climate which is warm and humid, molds grow easily. To prevent, store clothes in a plastic bag with no holes. To prevent humidity, use a de-humidifier or store in a well-ventilated area.

3.) Since mothballs are toxic, consider using natural moth repellent. Lavender is actually a great moth repellent and it smells good!

4.) To remove mildew from leather, wipe them with a cloth moistened with a solution of alcohol and water, 1:1.

5.) Linen garments should be rolled up rather than folded to avoid permanent creases.

6.) Knitted and silk fabrics should be stored flat on a surface rather than hung up.

Hope you find these tips useful!

Reflection on lesson plans

Any teachers would know that before you get used to it, standing in front of a class and conducting a lesson is a nerve-wrecking experience. Most people would get nervous and when we are nervous, we forget things. This is when a good lesson plan comes in handy. When there is a solid plan for us to follow, we will be more stable and less prone to forgetting things. One important factor is to be very detailed so that it is easy to follow.

I used to think lesson plans are just something that we show our superiors to prove that we are doing our job. However this session has made me realised that a good lesson plan can be our best friend in a lesson. It can and should be very personalised because it is for ourselves. It is our lesson and how well we construct the lesson plan would directly affect the lesson. When a teacher goes into a lesson without proper planning, she is simply showing that she does not care.

However I feel that while it is good to have a plan, the reality may be different from what we imagine. Hence it is important to be flexible and always have a plan B in mind. This way, we won't be like a deer caught in the headlights when something goes out of our control.

Reflection on Lesson Plan

I believe that a good lesson plan is essential to guide us through our lessons once we start teaching. After viewing a few examples of lesson plans, I somewhat have an idea how I want my lesson plan to be. In my opinon, a good lesson plan has to be practical in the duration given to carry out activities. Therefore, it is helpful if the duration and time is stated on the lesson plan and appropriate activities to be planned with the stipulated time.

Some of the lesson plans I saw, included the level of learners' ability. Knowing the learners' capability can help me prepare suitable activities appropriately so that I will have minimal problems when conducting the lesson. To anticipate the conditions of the class during the lesson is also important as I can prepare myself mentally before the lesson. Therefore, I feel that it is a good idea to include the students' anticipated response. To prepare myself further, the pre-preparation column will be a good guide to prevent any last minute problems when conducting the lesson.

Although time and duration is important to take note of, the preparation before the lesson is also crucial. With this in mind, problems can be avoided and lesson can be conducted smoothly with the lesson plan as a guide.