Assalamualaikum w.b.t and a very good morning/afternoon/evening (to make it suitable for every occasion/current time for the person who is reading this 😄)
This is a post specifically for Virtual Microbes 2017 (VM3) 💝
For this time around, I am grouped in Group 14 that consists of 10 students, 4 from UPM, 4 from UKM and 2 from UM.
I will talk about what have I learnt about VM3 but in separate categories, one by one. 😌
First, in terms of learning new things.
This will be the second time where in my studies, I am required to do a virtual meeting with people outside of university. For the previous VM, my past group members are the ones who had to set up the video meeting and all, but for VM3, it was me who is (kind of) responsible to make the video meeting for all us. That requires me to get the e-Mails of all of our members (with the help of our Whatsapp group chat) and add them into my contact in the Zoom application. And then, record the meeting and upload it in Youtube for submission.
It is safe to say that I know how to conduct a virtual meet up now, that includes inviting the group members and record the meeting. Unlike before, I did not really take notice on how my past group members did it because all I needed to do was accept the invitation and I'm in. Thus, VM3 gave me the opportunity to know all the important features the Zoom application could offer and by the third discussion video, I am quite familiar with the app already. I'm sure I will not have a problem to use it again in the future. 🙆
Second, in terms of doing the literature review.
For the previous VM activity, we are all required to do a video and an infographic about enteric viruses. Doing that activity did greatly enhance our skills in doing videos and infographics. However, for VM3 we are required to do a literature review. In my study years, this will be my second time doing it (in group). There are few questions prepared and we all have to answer the questions in the form of a literature review.
For a second time, I think it is easier to do it now. Honestly, what's taking my time in doing the literature review is not the writing, but in finding the suitable journals. 😅 Just to find the suitable journals took me one full day. Writing the literature can be done easily (not that easy of course 😂) once you managed to piece together all the informations that you get from the journals.
I like to see the progress of my work, from a Word document that is filled with fragments of informations from several journals to a properly paraphrased sentences with citations and with a flow of 'story'. A fruitful result, you would say. 😊
Other than writing the literature review, I also learn a lot about the importance of citation. I referred a lot to the first literature review (we did a our first literature review when we're in our 2nd year) where Dr. Wan did stress a lot on the importance of citing our work properly. Thus, it is safe to say that I learn a lot from the first literature review. Before I was a 'know-nothing' about citation and referencing, now I am a lot better in doing it. 🙌
Third, in term of teamwork.
From the beginning (the first virtual meeting) until the end (completing and submission of our group's literature review), there was no problem at all that arise between the group members. Everybody did their part with full cooperation and all possible problems are handled smoothly.
For example, if anybody has a problem with the meeting time for our discussion; we will adjust the time until it is in favours of everybody's schedule. Also, regarding our literature review, at first it has a high percentage of similarity when submitted in Turnitin. After discussing with the group members and pointing out which parts needed to be altered, everybody is able to comply and alter the parts readily.
It is the kind of attitude that needed to be instilled in every students especially the students that are going for their internship. I honestly think that 'able to work in a team' or 'able to tolerate with others' ia the most important 'learning objective' that should be achieved by everyone that is involved in VM3.
Finally, I would like to thank all my groupmates from UPM, UKM and UM for the very good cooperation to complete this activity. For my UPM members, it was a memorable experience having to do the literature review with you guys despite the electrical malfunction in our college. 😂 We had to go out of college and sit in a cafe at the mall to get Internet connection as well as to charge our laptops. It was all good experience. 😊😄
As for my UKM and UM members, I would to give a sincere thanks for your hard work throughout the activity. It has been a pleasure working with you guys. You guys are the kind of people that are good to work with; I'm sure any work can be done on time and with good qualities too with you guys. I wish you all good luck for your next big challenges in your studies and farewell. 😊👋
And of course, a very big 'Thank You!' to Dr. Wan and all the lecturers involved in VM3 for your hard work in supervising us from the beginning until the end. 💝
