Matric Number: A182841

Date: 12 June 2023 - 9 July 2023

2. What have you done? 

During the first few weeks of my elective posting, I focused on the initial phase of the project, which is the design of the curriculum and preparation of the course learning material.

 

- I have finalised my target students as 11-19 years old, where the course will assist students in improving their knowledge in Math Olympiad and preparing for various competitions, including the International Mathematical Olympiad National Selection Test (IMONST) held every September.

- I have finalised the 10 topics to be covered in this course, which include algebra, number theory, combinatorics, geometry, etc.

- I have sorted out and collected some good Math Olympiad questions from competitions like IMONST, KMC, SASMO according to the 10 topics I planned to include as practical examples for students.

- I have started drafting the learning material. My target is to complete a ≈200-page e-textbook by the end of the project.

3. Points to remember from week 1 (Phase 1)!

1. Be Organized:

By thoroughly planning each phase in advance, I gained a clear roadmap of what needed to be done, which helped me stay on track and ensured a smooth flow throughout the course creation process. Besides, I realised that creating the course outline and identifying the 10 topics to be covered early on provided a clear guide and direction for preparing the learning material efficiently.

 

Initially, I tried to create the learning material from scratch, but I soon realised the value of being open-minded. By exploring existing Math Olympiad books and references, I gained valuable insights into how other educators structured their content, arranged topics, and presented ideas. This approach not only provided inspiration for my own course material but also expanded my knowledge in Math Olympiad, further enhancing the overall quality of the course.

4. Your feelings & thoughts
I felt excited and motivated to start the project. I can't wait to see the final product! Developing the course outline and learning objectives made me more confident in the direction of the project, and I am eager to move on to the next phases.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

Difficulty/Concern 1: Content Selection

Explanation: Choosing the 10 topics for the Math Olympiad course was quite challenging. Math Olympiad covers a wide range of topics, and I aimed to ensure the course covered all the most important knowledge that my students could apply effectively in their math competitions. Therefore, I had to carefully consider which topics to include in the course.

 

I addressed this challenge by extensively reading Math Olympiad books and online resources. This provided valuable insights into different topics and their relevance to Math Olympiad competitions, eventually helping me to select the 10 topics. To ensure a more comprehensive coverage, I grouped several related topics into single topics. For instance, I combined Triangle Inequality Rule, Regular Polygons, Pythagoras’ Theorem, Heron’s Formula, and Similar Triangles into a single topic, namely Geometry.

 

 Explanation: Another difficulty I faced was arranging the sequence of the 10 topics. Initially, I intended to arrange them from easy to difficult. However, I realised that subtopics within each main topic themselves had varying levels of difficulty, making it challenging to determine an overall difficulty for the main topic.

 

To address this concern, I organised the subtopics within each main topic from basic to advanced, ensuring a reasonable progression within each individual topic. I then carefully arranged the sequence of the 10 main topics, considering the logical connections between them and whether prerequisites from one topic were required for another.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far
Organised, Energetic

7. Your plan for next week (Phase 2)
For the next few weeks (Phase 2), I will speed up my progress of preparing the learning materials. And then, I will move on to recording the lessons.

 
3. Points to remember from week 1   
(Phase 1)

4. Your feelings & thoughts

Throughout the first week, I was filled with enthusiasm, determination, and eagerness to learn and grow. Mr. Clarence's engaging training sessions ignited a genuine passion for promoting health and wellness products.

The visit to the manufacturing facility showcased Amway's commitment to quality, further strengthening my belief in the brand. Becoming an Amway Business Owner (ABO) evoked a sense of pride and responsibility as I embarked on my entrepreneurial endeavor.

5. Any difficulties & thoughts? How did you cope?

The abundance of information presented during week 1 was challenging to absorb fully. To cope with this, I actively engaged in the training sessions, diligently taking notes, and seeking clarification when needed.

Collaborating with my business partners and participating in discussions allowed us to support each other and reinforce our understanding of the business model and product details. The unwavering support from Mr. Clarence and the team played a crucial role in overcoming any difficulties.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

 2. What have you done 
I began this first week by restudying the steps on how to make the banana chips with my mother.Since this was my first time selling the banana chips using my mother’s instruction, I hoped that the homemade banana chips would satisfy the customer.  

Luckily enough, in the beginning of the project, I was able to easily locate and obtain matured banana, also known as ‘Pisang Tua’ fresh from the farm. I got 2 types of the banana which are ‘Pisang Tanduk’ and ‘Pisang Nipah’. Aside from the banana, I purchased enough cooking oil to fry the banana. Then, I tried to make a first batch of banana chips. 

4. Your feelings & thoughts
I was excited to start a business which had always been a dream of mine. Thus, I was grateful when this elective posting gave me an opportunity to try my hand at running a business. In the meantime, I worried if my business would not be well received. Do people want to buy these banana chips? That was my primary concern. However, I wanted to approach this as challenge and do my best. 

5. Any difficulties / concerns? How did you cope? 
In producing the banana chips, I think the peeling process gave some difficulties to me. It took a lot of time to peel the banana. This type of banana had a hard banana peel and it was extremely sticky. I needed to use the knife and wear the glove to peel the banana. I had to change the gloves twice as the banana was too sticky. As time passed, I adapted and discovered the proper technique for peeling  the banana. 

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far
Exciting and Curious 

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)
To produce a promotion poster or promoting the banana chips, I need a picture of the banana chip itself. Since I already made the first batch of banana chips, I plan to find a suitable packaging and then take a nice picture to promote the banana chips. Then, I would like to find any suitable platform with targeted customers to promote this business. 

4. Feelings and thoughts

The week was filled with a mix of emotions and experiences. I felt both nervous and thrilled as I launched my baking business and shared the news with friends and family. The support and positive feedback I received from them boosted my confidence and motivated me to push forward.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?
Taking orders and managing the business was a new challenge for me. I had to handle orders efficiently and communicate with my customers. It required careful planning but it was a rewarding process as I saw my hard work result in happy customers.

In the midst of fulfilling orders, I also encountered a few hurdles. There were moments when I miscalculated ingredient quantities or when unexpected demands tested my time management skills. However, these challenges were valuable learning opportunities that taught me the importance of being adaptable and staying organized.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far
Fun and gratifying

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

Nur Hanin Nasuha binti Shamsul

A181050

18/6/2023-25/6/2023

The first week of elective posting has been very productive. As I have had the business for quite awhile, I already have most things figured out and handled, so I only have a few things left to settle. 

The first thing I did was restock my ingredients and packaging materials. As I was doing so, I realized that almost all of them have increased significantly in price. Hence, I did some calculations to determine if I could maintain the price I had or if it was time to update them. After a lot of consideration, I decided to increase the price of my baked goods to maintain the quality of my products.

Before I took orders, I gave out some samples of my baked goods to family and friends to gather feedback and ensure the quality is still maintained.  I then moved along to updating my customers on our social media about the price change and that we are open for order as usual! I also promoted my business through Instagram ads and food delivery groups. I was overwhelmed by the amount of response I gained. 

I have been taking orders for brownies, banana cakes and burnt cheesecakes. So far, I had a total of 21 boxes ordered and delivered. I had orders for office gatherings, birthday celebrations and some were from repeating customers. I would bake them depending on the delivery time chosen to ensure they are freshly baked. I would then deliver them through Grab Express, but some customers also opt for self pick up. 

I feel very excited to continue this entrepreneurship journey and hopefully gain more knowledge that will help my business to grow in the future. I am also thankful that I finally have the time to pursue my love for baking and properly take orders again as the past year has been quite hectic. I am also thrilled that I still have the support of my existing customers even after a hiatus and gain new ones and that the feedback I received has been very pleasing.

Baking requires a lot of time and patience, hence I planned my days as needed to ensure everything is prepared on time. I was also concerned that the existing customers would be asking about the price change but thankfully, they are understanding of the situation. To avoid any miscommunication I have already updated this in advance so they are aware. 

Exciting and productive

For week 2 I have planned to proceed with the orders I have taken for Raya Haji weekend and to hopefully find new ways to attract more customers. 

Your feelings and thoughts
I have always loved cooking and so I wanted to try and make a business out of it this time. I did not put much thoughts into it at first, however now I am realising the amount of time and energy it requires to cook for quite a number of people when there are only 2 people working in the kitchen. Despite all of that, I am still just as excited for this new journey ahead.

2 words to describe elective posting so far
Challenging and productive

Your plan for next week (Week 2)
I have started planning the menus for the following week, and continue to promote to the current existing customers.  

Michelle Tan Momoka A179979

July 24, 2023 - July 30, 2023

During the first week, I established an Instagram page for trading and selling preloved items. I chose Instagram over Facebook and Xiaohongshu because it seemed to have a larger user base. I designed a logo for the page and planned my business model, outlining the types of preloved clothes and bags I would accept for trade-ins.

To kickstart the business, I created some eye-catching posts using Canva and began promoting the page to my close friends to gain followers. Although the follower count was still modest, I aim to work on increasing it in the upcoming weeks to reach more people.

- Emphasize Time Management: I realized the importance of creating a timetable to ensure specific tasks are accomplished each day, rather than relying on my mood. Proper time management prevents unnecessary delays.

- Prioritize Creativity: Producing attractive, informative, and concise posts is essential. Being creative allows me to stand out and engage with my audience effectively.

- Understand Customer Needs: As I venture into selling preloved items, I must empathize with potential customers and consider what items and conditions they would prefer.

Initially, I thought the first week would be relatively relaxed, focusing on terms, conditions, and creating posts. However, it turned out to be more challenging than expected. I needed to consider various aspects, not just what I posted, but also detailed considerations for the next phase. Anticipating potential questions and problems, such as pricing explanations, required careful thought. Despite the increasing challenges ahead, I am content with my progress during this phase.

I faced several challenges, particularly in anticipating specific customer questions. To cope, I proactively identified potential queries and sought help from my family and friends, asking them to play the role of customers to simulate real scenarios. This practice helped me prepare for future challenges.

Besides that, I noticed that the count of my Instagram followers is relatively low. Consequently, I decided to take action by reposting my business page on my personal Instagram account, accompanied by carefully crafted and alluring captions. This strategic move aims to captivate the attention of my existing followers and entice them to engage with my trading venture.

Considering that I initiated this approach somewhat late in the current phase, I am determined to carry it forward diligently into the following week. By doing so, I expect to witness a gradual but steady rise in follower numbers as my content gains traction and exposure.By crafting and sharing posts that are not only informative but also creatively engaging, I hope to attract more people to follow my page and become potential customers for my preloved items.

Exciting and Enjoyable

In Week 2, I will focus on finding potential sources for preloved clothes and bags. I'll continue posting as I did in Week 1 and seek assistance from family and friends to share my posts. Additionally, I will update the terms and conditions and explore networking opportunituies on social media. Furthermore, I plan to search for relevant groups involved in the second-hand market to expand my reach.