References for TASK 1

1)Santrock, J.W. (2008). Educational Psychology(3rd Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill.

2)http://www.answers.com/topic/learning-theory-constructivist-approach

3)http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsd/2_learntch/theories.html#sensory

TASK 1 – ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

The website that I have chosen to be evaluated is Dave’s ESL Café (www.eslcafe.com)

1) What does the application attempt to “teach”?

Learning a language via online websites usually does help second language learners a lot in improving their accuracy and competency of the targeted language. As a matter of fact, most ESL websites usually offer language learning activities that encompass four fundamental skills which are reading, writing, listening and speaking. No doubt, the same focus is given by this website. However, Dave Sperling, the developer of the website, is found to stress more on speaking and writing skills where main attention are given to pronunciation and grammar areas. For instances, this application attempts to teach learners or users basically on how to develop grammatical sentences in English through learning the grammar rules and functions based on the explanation and various examples given. Besides that, it also teaches the users on how to pronounce the English alphabets properly and accurately through clear visual and oral demonstration in a form of video such as through browsing the cursor to “STAFF FOR STUDENTS” heading and click on the “Pronunciation Power” button. Thus, by exploring this approach, users or second language learners would find it a bit easy for them to learn to move their lips and tongue in order to produce the sounds of English word properly.

In addition, what makes this website is so interesting, special and flexible is because it has not only been developed with attempt to teach second language learners but, also to teach second language teachers with various teaching alternatives and techniques that can make their second language teaching process meaningful and achieve the intended learning objectives. For examples, teachers can browse to “STUFF FOR TEACHERS” heading and click on the “Idea Cookbook” sub-heading where; at this site, teachers would find loads of useful information on the numerous interesting teaching methods that can be developed as effective learning activities for their lesson plan. Last but not least, there are also some useful classroom management tips for teachers to refer to as guidance when dealing with indiscipline learners and most of them are found to be very effective!

Even though almost of the materials provided in the website are not been categorized according to the levels of the learner such as beginner, intermediate and advance, but still the teaching process that takes place is arranged in a sequence order; which is from the basic knowledge until the critical one, especially in terms of grammar aspect. Thus, it somehow leads the learners to develop their cognitive ability in learning the language step by step through experiential learning.

2) What sorts of thing is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?

With regards to learning the content, user is expected to do a number of things. Let say if the user is a second language learner, what she should do firstly is to browse to the “STAFF FOR STUDENTS” heading or button and from there she is expected to learn the grammar lessons first before further with other categories listed under the heading. There, she can browse the cursor to Parts of Speech category, Tenses category, Verbs category, Vocabulary category, Sounds and Spelling category, and lots more which according to the learners’ main interest. There are notes with clear explanation and examples provided under each of the categories in order to assist the learner to comprehend the basic things that she should know in acquiring the language. However, the site developed for the lessons is found to be less user-friendly where it requires the user to move forward and back in order to review each note; which might result in time-consuming and a bit tiring for illiterate computer user. Then, if the learner is curious about something related to the language, she also can click the “Help Center” button and writes her question over there for more satisfied feedback.

After that, the user can choose whether she wants to proceed to the next categories or want to move directly to the “Quizzes” button. At this site, the quizzes are divided into a number of different categories such as Geography, Grammar, History, Reading Comprehension, Writing, People, and others; where it enables learner or user to assess herself according to her self-interest or self-significance. By the way, for the less literate computer users, they do not have to be worry on how to make use of the site because the way to answer the quizzes is so easy where they just need to click on one of the round columns served next to the answers and finally press the “submit” button to check the result after they finish answering all the questions. However, as it is the only format designed for the quizzes so it perhaps becoming quite boring for visual type of learners as it lacks of pictures, symbols, graphs and soon to attract the learners to focus answering the questions.

3) What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/ access/ use the application?

Dave’s ESL Café is a website that indirectly developed for less illiterate computer users because the users are expected to have at least basic computer knowledge or skills in order to access to this application. For instances, they should know how to browse the curser to the desired button, able to move onto the next page or go back to the previous one, know how to play a video, to pause, to stop, and to rewind, to increase the video’s volume, to turn the video’s screen mode into full screen mode or to turn back to the normal mode; especially the videos for learning English pronunciation.

Then, the users are also expected to have ‘hyperlink’ skills so that they know how to open the links provided at the website or which link should they refer to for certain topics or categories as usually most of the links provided are beneficial to the learners’ knowledge and information. Besides that, they also should know how to open the link in new tab or window so that they can refer to it anytime they want without going back and forth to the same page.

4) While you are “playing”/ “accessing”/ “assessing” the application, does it remind you of anything you do in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self-study?

I would like to state here, ‘absolutely yes’. Actually, parts of the reason for why I have chosen this website to be assessed is because it reminds be back to my primary school era where the way my English teacher explained the rules and functions of the grammar lessons just like what have been stated in this site; even though it is not as detail as that. The way it has been presented, step-by step; does really help me improve my understanding regarding the correct grammar usages.

Besides that, this application also comes with various interesting categories and one of them is ‘Food’ category where it shares on how teachers can make use of some interesting recipes for their teaching lesson plan. Incidentally, it recalls my memory back to my school age where I had learnt on how to write essays about cooking based on the given recipes by our teacher.

Furthermore, the videos present in this website also contain quite similar format or function with the Windows Media Player software available in my laptop. It is very user-friendly and easy to be used. Thus, I do not have much problem to operate the application.

Apart from that, when I went through the application I found that the process took place just more or less same with what I have done during my self-study such as I have to click certain links, figure out by myself what is the function of certain buttons, where should I press when I need help, how to cancel a particular operation, and others.

5) Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/ or teaching underlying the application?

There are few theories that I found much more related to the language learning and teaching underlying this application. One of them is the concept of Zone of Proximal Development as proposed by Lev Vygotsky in his theory on social constructivism. In this concept, he believed that children problem solving skills for difficult tasks given can be improved with the guidance and assistance of adults or more-skilled children. However, when apply for this scope; it could be interpreted that the second language learning process for less literate computer user can be improved with the help of the teacher.

Another theory related to this is Sensory Stimulation Theory where it stands on the principle that effective learning takes place when the senses are stimulated (Laird, 1985). This theory believed that learning process would greatly occurs if multi-senses are stimulated such as through a greater variety of colours, appropriate volume levels, facts presented visually, use of a variety of techniques and media. All these criteria are actually available through the learning process at a website where the students are able to learn in a new encouraging virtual environment of visualizing, listening, practising, pronouncing and so on.

6) How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website(s)?

It would be appropriate if I start with the definition of constructivist theory first. Constructivist theory is actually a theory proposed by a Russian psychologist named Lev Vygotsky who argued that children would build more organized, reasonable, and realistic concepts as a result of conversation with competent helper. Above all, this theory is more or less explaining about how people be acquainted with what they know and it centred at problem-solving aspect. Some of the concepts that quite famously debated under this theory are Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) concept, Scaffolding concept, and Language and Thought concept. ZPD and Scaffolding concepts are simply about amount or adjustment of guidance and assistance that have been given to a child in order to help them solve certain task or improve their learning performance. Meanwhile, under the Language and Thought concept, Vygotsky believed that speech is not only used for social interaction but it also helps young children plan, direct, and monitor their behaviour in solving tasks. He categorized this characteristic as ‘private speech’.

Now, this ‘private speech’ term is some more related with the learning process via internet or online where learners usually involve in collaboration process when it comes to online discussion and so forth. The social interaction here does not only mean to happen orally but it can also happen within the learners’ mind. For instances, I could say that in the website, Dave has developed good constructivist learning environment as in most topic or category published at the site encouraged users to participate or take part in the discussion or forum designed for the application so that they can motivate their minds to generate ideas, thought, or opinion as response to the other comments or ideas posted by the other users. Through this way, they will indirectly develop their thinking skills in gaining new knowledge or by coming out with solution or recommendation for particular issues or problems.

7) In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major a debate on ‘whether the computer was “master” of or “slave” to the learning process (Higgins and Johns, 1984). In relation to your evaluation – was the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

In relation to my evaluation, it is obviously unfair to state that computer can replace the roles or functions of teachers but I would rather in a positive manner perceive computer as “buddy” for students and “maid” for teachers. There are several rational and logical reasons behind my answers. First of all, as we all know, computer is developed by human and we always work hard in order to upgrade its function to the maximum; but still here, we are the creator of the computer. Therefore, there must be limitations and weaknesses with it. I would like to state here that whatever things that we developed usually have their pros and cons. If we think from positive sight, computer does help us a lot in carrying out our daily tasks where it saves our time, budget, improve our self-learning skills, makes our work at ease and so on. However, on the other hands, computer also limits our virtual learning process where sometimes the feedbacks given by computer do not really convey what are we intended to achieve or in other words; sometimes computer could not give us appropriate and valid answers to our questions like what human can do. Furthermore, computer also unable to portray sense of humour, emotion or facial expression to us which sometimes very useful in dealing with particular situations.

In similar, as human, we also have our own weaknesses and limitations and that is why we create computer. Thus, it is important to bear in mind that technology is always moving with the era and what teachers can do here is to use or manipulate the technology as effective as they can while at the same time assist the students to improve their performance based on dual learning process; which is through self and mentor-guided learning.

8) Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?

In my opinion, I would like to say ‘Yes!’. There are several rationales for why I am willing to use this application in my future work. First and foremost, as future English teacher, this application would benefit me a lot in terms of diverse aspects such as discipline aspect or classroom management aspect which not only with respect to language teaching and learning solely. For instances, I can create various teaching materials based on the information given in this website which can grab my students’ interest and motivation towards the learning process of the language.

Second, this application is very user-friendly and flexible where I do not have to be a computer geek in order to use it. Just by clicking few buttons on the website and everything would be at my fingers. Besides that, I also do not need specific time or special venue to use it. I can bring my laptop to a wireless zone and access the website any time that I want.

Last but not least, the website is much cheaper and affordable compared to the courseware and I can have it at good price for long term usage. Apart from it, it also effective to be used as it has been developed by language specialist who already expert in the field.

As for suggestion, more images, animation pictures and variety designs of exercise can be add to this website so that the learners are not tied up to only one type of assessment which may becoming dull and boring. At last, I also would like to recommend the future second language teachers as well as second language students to make use of this website to the maximum as it can help improve the language teaching and learning performance. However, it does not mean that we have to leave the traditional way of teaching, it just that we have to know how to balance it.

In-Class Task 4

The Princess and The Pea

In-Class Task 3

http://www.mediafire.com/?wxwtjkkccueaobx

IN-CLASS TASK 2

In-Class Task 1: About Myself

1. My name is Wan Nurul 'Arifah binti Wan Nor. I am from Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu, Kelantan and right now I am doing degree in TESL programme at UiTM, Shah Alam. My student identification number is 2006146139.

2. When talking about computer skills I would like to honestly rate myself as 'illiterate' because I am not a type of person who loves to be up-to-date with modern ICT gadgets and information. However, it does not mean that I have know nothing about this recent technology tool, or in specific, I think I can categorize myself as at beginner level; where I just know some of the basic things about computer as I have to accomplish my course assignments and sometimes get myself a little space to be a bit familiar with all those features and things. For instances, at least I know how to upload photos and videos on my facebook wall.

3. If I would like to explain my knowledge regarding the computer software and hardware..all that I can say here is about 70 percent 'zero'. I do not really know about the hardware's that are famously used in computer. I did learn about them during my first degree semester but I could not be able to recall them back. However, I do know a little bit (or extremely too narrow) about certain software's such as language translation software and computer antivirus software as all students are used to it.

4. I do not really sure what does it mean by "having experience of learning via computer". But according to my understanding, I think yes, I have experienced it either directly or indirectly because I do online when I need to search for some information and new knowledge such as "online language teaching". However, since it is quite hard to get into such website, like I have to purchase, or become a member of the web..so I just forget it. But, I agree that learning via computer can bring many advantages to its user rather than the disadvantages.

5. Yes, I did incorporate technology in some of my lessons during my practicum teaching especially for literature elements, and speaking and listening skills. I taught Form 2 students and they have to learn a novel entitled, The Phantom of the Opera. It is a very amazing story but since the concept of the story is quite unfamiliar to the students' background knowledge; so by using computer technology such as through showing the students some videos and pictures regarding the story it would really help them a lot in comprehending it. Besides that, I also found that majority of the students were so interested and motivated to learn English when such tools have been incorporated in teaching; if compared to the traditional way of teaching (i.e. using chalk and board).

6. In my opinion, it is really important and necessary for all language teachers to equip themselves with knowledge in IT or technology because it will help them a lot in their teaching and learning activities; as well as achieve the targetted learning outcomes. It does not mean that the traditional way of teaching is no longer relevant to the new generation and has to be put aside, but what I mean here is that it is really worthy to explore new things that can give valuable benefits to our current education achievement. Language teaching usually focused on four main areas which are listening, speaking, reading and writing. I think the students can best learn all these four skills if they are helped with this new technology. As we know, students' development and growth are also much more affected by their environment and most of them already explored about IT by themselves out there. Therefore, it would be meaningful if teachers are able to channel their IT knowledge to learn about language.

7. As future language teacher, I do expect this course to equip me with latest knowledge in IT, especially about language teaching and learning, and at the same time enable me to maximize the use of computer technology in the learning activities.