Monday, March 14, 2011

HYPERTEXT & HYPERMEDIA


Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India, on October 2nd 1869. His father died when he was still a teenager. At the age of 13 he married Kasturba Gandhi who was three years younger and the marriage lasts for 62 years until her death in 1944.

As a young man Gandhi left India to study law in London. Then he spent two decades working in South Africa securing rights for Indian expatriates. It was during this time that his political reform through non-violence which he called Satyagraha was born. This movement meant resistance of tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa, total non violence, which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. This way, when he returned to India, Mohandas Gandhi emerged as a political and religious leader in the fight for independence from Great Britain and was accorded the country's Father of the Nation. India freed itself from Britain on August 15th, 1947. Five months later, on January 25th, 1948 Gandhi was shot by a conservative Hindu.

*Below is a short biographical video of Mahatma Gandhi

&

*Famous Speech of Gandhi : ONE WORLD

Lesson Plan : EARTHQUAKE!!



How does it happen?


Join in the learning & you'll know..



* This LP is targeted for Intermediate-Advanced students, 
using below video as source to promote listening skill.




Friday, February 25, 2011

ARTICLE REVIEW: YouTube!


A.  CITATION

Title           : EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES YOUTUBE FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGES: YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS VIDEO
Journal    : Volume 15 Number 1 (February 2011) Multilateral Online Exchanges for Language and Culture Learning          
Author      : Joseph M. Terantino

Joseph M. Terantino is the Director of the Foreign Language Resource Collection and coordinator for Online Learning and the Critical Languages Program at Kennesaw State University. He is also an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Foreign Language Education. CALL, FLED, and the integration of technology in teaching are his interest in doing researches.


B. SUMMARY
This article is written to enclose the issue on how YouTube can possibly be beneficial to the learning of foreign language. In the history of YouTube, the author stated that even though many people use the web for entertainment purpose, the web still have many functions that benefit foreign language learners. Before moving into the educational emphasis of YouTube, there is a vital term used, digital native that refers to a person who has grown up with digital technology. Socializing on the net, video games and text messaging had become the new norm of the digital native, replacing the normal daily activities before the emergence of the Internet and digital technologies. The author had placed several methods in utilizing YouTube in regards of having it as an instructional tool for foreign languages which are 1) YouTube for providing content and information, 2) video for less commonly taught languages, 3) culture-based videos, 4) YouTube for student-created video, and 5) YouTube for collaboration; as well as few concerns.
The first method to utilize YouTube is that the web can be used to provide content and information by having the videos uploaded provides linguistic and cultural content, as well as information related to the target language. These videos are created and uploaded by individuals or instructional institutions. YouTube videos utilization in informative manner is beneficial for illustrating a concept, presenting an alternative viewpoint, stimulating a learning activity and also motivating the students.
The next method mentioned is that the videos uploaded is beneficial to less commonly taught languages in which the videos grant learners access to spoken samples, instructional units, and reading and writing practice. Languages that are usually hard to access are now available for users around the globe through YouTube.
The third method is to use YouTube to give insight to learners of the representations of cultural information that may regard to foreign languages. It gives valuable resources for the content courses, and allows learners to experience bits of other cultures without being physically present at the place of event in the videos, although it might only be a glimpse of the real ones.
 The last two methods are YouTube used for student-created videos and collaboration. Student-created videos give learners or students the opportunities to create their own presentations in the target language, in which they apply the target language into the real-world situations. As for the collaboration, learners can collaborate with each other in making language-based project that will be viewed by others around the world almost instantly, giving them a worldwide venue that has real feedback from viewers. Also, learners and teachers can subscribe to certain channels that uploaded videos of their own, and are maintained by either individuals or companies around the world.
Whereas the concerns stated by the author is that there would be issues of privacy and safety in regards to the student-related videos posted on YouTube, as well as the appropriateness level of the videos uploaded where it might have explicit or sensitive contents. The other concern of the author is the potential problem that exists in accessing the videos online. There might trouble with the Internet connections or users might experience instability while waiting for the videos to get uploaded for viewing.
As conclusion, YouTube presents a radical new approach to providing linguistic input and motivating, as well as encouraging learners to engage in foreign languages. It is no longer a mythical fact that YouTube can provide powerful and sociable venue in which the learners’ potential can lead to be exponential.  

C. REACTION
            The article to me is really interesting as YouTube nowadays, are a common website that receive millions of visits a day. People are inclined to visit the website as it offers multiple kinds of videos that could either be watch as part of entertainment or to help in doing educational project, as well as learning. There are tons of tutorial videos in various categories that will definitely gives a lot of help in the learning process. For example, my friend learned how to play guitars from YouTube and another friend of mine followed a series of learning Japanese language tutorial to improve his foreign language.
Having videos that definitely have audio embedded with it are a very big bonus to teaching and getting the students attentions and interest in learning language. Students nowadays are circled and surrounded with lots of Internet and digital technology usage that entitled them as digital natives. This means that they are grown attached to technology especially Internet. Students often spent their time socializing on the net, and have many things by the Internet. Prensky (2001) in the article stated that digital natives had several things that would make them more prone to education which are:

1. To receive information at twitch speed
2. To be able to multi-task
3. To have hands-on activities
4. To have graphics before text
5. To have random access to information
6. To be networked socially
7. To play games rather than do serious work
8. To have frequent rewards

From above demands of digital natives for education, it can be seen that they prefer to have something that is interesting and graphical, as well as being able to be networked socially. Looking at this describe how beneficial it is if the teachers are able to use videos from YouTube as learning materials that will definitely be fun for the students and also interactive. Teachers have to know how to pick the correct videos that can have the students’ eyes and attention glued to videos, making them more interested to learn the language. Not to forget, teachers can also look for ideas to be used in their teaching simply by browsing the videos on YouTube. English for example, would have various and tons of video material that can be found on YouTube and interesting videos can be evaluated by looking at the “likes” and “dislikes” rating down under the video, as well as the responses given by viewers. This method of using videos is very much applicable to all language learning classes, be it in Malaysia or foreign countries like Japan or Korea. Different videos introduced in class would make the learning more variable and fun for the students to learn, instead of learning the traditional way. So teachers, wait no more! Lead your classroom learning with interesting yet educational videos! Use YouTube!


* Click picture to see example of tutorials on YouTube








Tuesday, February 15, 2011

SUPERHEROES CROSSWORD!

You think you know all superheroes?


 Try this and test yourself!
 Click Doraemon to download the crossword.
HAVE FUN!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Hot Potato! JCloze

The Hot Potato is easy to use and would definitely be very beneficial in constructing interesting exercises or activities for the students. 

This is fun!

Click here to download the file

Friday, January 21, 2011

Website's Evaluation! - Isabel's ESL Site -

1. What does the application attempt to “teach”?
I browsed through several websites and among all, there is this one particular website that interest me which is the “Isabel’s ESL Site” (http://www.isabelperez.com/). When I entered this website, it seems very simple and straight forward, without colours that are too flashy or disorganized contents. This website is designed with the intentions to teach grammar, vocabulary, reading and also writing. Basically I think many ESL websites intents to teach all those four aspects as they are the basis for learning the language. As for this site, what makes it special is that it has many functions and links that will direct the users to another webpage when clicked. And in this new webpage, there will various other links that will direct users to explanations and exercises.
The homepage offers 3 main categories; CALL Methodology, My Own Materials and Selected Links. The CALL Methodology category gives the users introduction and also links to the computer assisted language learning, which would be very resourceful in teaching and learning for both teachers and students. The webmaster also prepares own materials which are frequently updated and are classified within certain categories. This website tried to maintain the learning within a balanced manner, in which the users may find resources or exercises to reading, writing, listening, grammar and also vocabulary. These resources had also been categorized for primary and secondary level; in which the tasks are very interesting and interactive.

2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?
The users that enter this website do not really have to be of intermediate or advanced level as there are also activities and also exercises that are suitable for those in beginner’s level. There are links prepared that had been categorized to areas that the users would like to improve on such as grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing and etc.       
The interface is easy to understand and the users would only have to click on the desired link. When clicked, it will direct the users to another webpage that will have various links to activities and exercises. The users will then have to choose any topics of the exercises that they might be interested and they will only have to click the link to start viewing or doing the activities. Depending on the activities chosen, the users will have to follow the instructions to get it done. For example, if the users had clicked on the link that direct the users to the listening activities, they will have to hear songs or other listening materials chosen to complete the task.
There are many of other interactive activities provided and it is totally up to the users to choose their preferred choice of task. If it is reading and writing, then the users will have to be able to comprehend the text given and know what to do to answer the questions (e.g. multiple choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks). So basically, the users are only expected to be able to read and follow the instructions given to do the task, as well as knowing how to make their choice on which tasks to do to improve their language.


3. What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?
To be able to access this website’s resources, the users will need to have the basic computer skills such as what is browser and its functions, or what is link and what does it do. No advance computer skills such as programming are needed as the website is definitely targeted to English learners of all levels, including children. Thus, the interface is very simple and direct to make it easier for the users to access any webpage, tasks or resources. The users can click on any links to try the activities prepared and if they don’t prefer it, they can just return to the previous webpage to choose other activities or tasks.

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?
YES, it really does reminds me of the moments when I first surf the Internet to find materials needed for completing an assignment during my primary school. It was pretty much an ESL website that offers activities and tasks, but because of my young age and lack of interest in web-based learning, I didn’t do any of the tasks offered in the Internet. But when I moved into secondary school which my school is a boarding school (SMBP), I had more opportunities to explore FLASH based learning software and also few of the web-based learning where the teacher will tell us what tasks to do and given certain amount of time, we were free to do it at our own pace. When the “Sekolah Bestari” programme was introduced which I was in Form 2 (if I’m not mistaken), my school tried to integrate the computer-based leaning as much as it could and thus, during that time, I had more time with computer-assisted learning. Though interesting, the computer-assisted learning didn’t last long and it all went back to traditional teaching and learning in class. During my secondary school, computers are only available at the school’s computer lab and its usage is quite limited to certain degree. It can also be found outside school in cyber cafes but the students will mostly spend the opportunities playing games with friends, including me. So what’s important is that browsing through this website reminds me mostly of the times when I had computer subject (it’s one of my favourite subject and fortunately my forte subject).

5.  Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
When using the website and looking at it carefully, I found out that the website has several underlying theories of language learning incorporated in it to promote better learning for its user. One of it is of course Constructivist Theory where all the activities and tasks designed to purposely let the users experience the language themselves and with it, they will be able to construct knowledge and better understanding by relating the experience with the ideas that they have.
            The other would be the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as in this website, it offers problem-based tasks that will acquire the users to be actively involved in constructing answers to open-ended questions which don’t any specific right answers. This website here is the example of tasks given to challenge the users creative and critical thinking skills; http://poster.4teachers.org/worksheet/view.php?id=90780. The task also provided links to other website that offers information and resources regarding the problem to help the users solving it.

           The third one that I would like to state here is the Experiential Learning (Kolb, 1984) where it stated “learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience”. Through the four stages of Kolb experiential learning cycle, the experience that the users gain in doing and completing the tasks will then turn reflection of ideas into concepts, which in turn are used as guides for active experimentations, as well as for the choice of new experiences.
           There are might be several more underlying theories and concepts applied but there is this one that I see is also relevant and is actually quite related to PBL which is ARCS Model of Motivational Design developed by John Keller. The model had mentioned that attention can be gained in two ways; (1) perceptual arousal – the use of surprise and uncertainty to gain interest, (2) inquiry arousal – stimulates interests by posing challenging questions or problems to be solved. The second way, the inquiry arousal is related to the PBL as the there are various problems posed in the website and the users might choose one that they like. This will then relate to another part of attention in the model where it stated that there should be variability in terms of the materials presented and its level to better reinforce the materials and account for individual differences in learning styles. The website definitely prepares many materials and tasks that can be picked and chosen by the users themselves to suit their distinctive learning style for better and much efficient result.

6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website(s)?
The constructivist theory is applied quite well in the website’s activities and tasks as it let the students experience the language themselves in making them construct their understanding of the subject learned. Students or users might learn the rules and other things in classes or from books but only through that will not allow them to experience much with the language; but with the activities and tasks prepared in the websites, it will allow their idea of the language to interact with the experiences with language, and thus allowing better understanding and knowledge to be developed. The students can also do exercises and activities that suit their competency level as they can choose their own preferred tasks. In making it more effectively efficient, the teacher would be best present to guide and provide scaffolding for the students.

7.  In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major 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?
Teacher is the best medium in transferring knowledge, compared to others. Even though some might say experience is the best teacher, nothing can actually be achieved without having teachers to guide us in our experiences. Only experiencing some events would not be enough to ignite the understanding of certain subject. Learning just by looking at computer and doing all the computer-based task and activities wouldn’t really help students to achieve full understanding. The teacher must be present in any case for the students to inquire things that they would not understand, as computer couldn’t actually explain in an effective way like the teacher would. Truth to be said, computer is nothing but tools in gaining knowledge, it merely act as an obedient servant to the students. The students must be the one in control of their learning and have full access to whatever they would prefer to learn, as people would learn best when they are interested in it. But of course the students learning would have to be under the guidance of the teacher as to make sure that their learning is really effective and meaningful for them.

8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work? Yes? Give reasons: No? Give reasons:
The answer would definitely be yes. It is beyond doubt that this website is useful in providing the teachers and students fresh ideas and activities to be done in teaching or learning the language. The activities inside can be used as something that would spark the students’ interest in learning the language. It is never undeniably true that the teacher is responsible in bringing the lesson to the level that would make the students interested in the language learning. The contents of the website is very easy to comprehend and the activities are also varies to each competencies level, making it adaptable to the students in my future work as a teacher or educator. But still, it might not be to interesting to the students in the future if it is not upgraded to have more colourful and captivating designs. So it all comes back to the teacher to make it interesting for the students, by just maybe taking the information, activities and games in the website to be used and implemented in classroom teaching and learning.

9.  Suggestions/Recommendations.
This website is really helpful and resourceful as it offers many links, information and also activities but it lacks something that is very basic; attractiveness. The homepage is very simple and direct with white as its background with blue fonts. It sure is easy for the users to easily comprehend its contents but it is also plain and would not be very much attractive to students, especially primary school students. Therefore I would suggest that the homepage could use some pictures or FLASH embedded to make it more lively and interactive. The same goes to the other links that directs the users to other webpage. It all needs to have illustrations of some kind that represent the theme that want to be covered in the activities. Some of the webpage also have colours that might be too bright and flashy, which is a minus to attract the users’ attention.
The website is actually an English- EspaƱol based site as the webmaster is a Spanish teacher but I think that it wouldn’t be much of a problem as most of the instructions used are in English and there are some Spanish instructions that are accompanied with English translations. As for the other Spanish descriptions without translations, I would suggest that it is updated with the translations to it even though the users can actually use Google Translate to translate to whole webpage to English language.



References:

Constructivism. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2011, from Learning-Theories.com: http://www.learning-theories.com/constructivism.html

Keller, J. (n.d.). ARCS Model of Motivational Design. Retrieved January 20, 2011, from Learning-Theories.com: http://www.learning-theories.com/kellers-arcs-model-of-motivational-design.html

Kolb, D. A. (n.d.). Experiential Learning. Retrieved January 21, 2011, from Learning-Theories.com: http://www.learning-theories.com/experiential-learning-kolb.html

Problem-Based Learning (PBL). (n.d.). Retrieved January 21, 2011, from Learning-Theories.com: http://www.learning-theories.com/problem-based-learning-pbl.html




Tuesday, January 18, 2011

EXCEL WORK!! The New 7 Wonders of the World!


This is prepared for secondary school students with low to intermediate skill level, preferably lower forms as  they would most likely be more interested than upper form students with the intentions to let them have fun while learning; thus would make it more meaningful to the students. Have fun!

Pick your favorite place!

click here to download the file


Sneak Peek below~





p/s: you weren't supposed to look. =P