ive been tagged!!

ive been tagged by Dr. Nabilah on facebook...
here it goes~

Academic detail:
1) Gender:
Male

2) Program :
ED 220

3) Major :
TESL

4) Minor :
Counseling

5) Point of entrance into Faculty of Education : STPM/Matriculation/ Diploma
Pre-Degree

6) CGPA :
3 ^

7) Was your major your own choice or that of others (i.e: your parents)?
mine but influenced by others too!!

8) Do you hold any scholarships (KPM, KPTM, Yayasan, etc)? If so, please state.
none


Family background:
1) Father’s occupation : farmer
2) Mother’s occupation : housewife of a farmer
3) Annual family income (approximate) : RM (not sure!!)

Teaching experience:
1) Succinctly describe your experience throughout practicum.
practicum?? i think it was my best experience so far yet...i really mean it!! yeah!!

2) Do you plan to teach in schools upon graduation (assuming that the post is there for
you)?
Yes

3) If YES, please state specifically reasons behind your decision, specifically indicating
major motivation for servicing in schools.
its just natural nowadays...haha!!

4) If NO, kindly list and explain your reasons.
5) Did your practicum experience deter you from serving as a teacher in Malaysian
public schools?
not at all...

6) If teaching is still a choice, where (and at what level) do you plan to teach?
i long plan to teach back at my kampong which is Bario (very rural!!)
i prefer rural rather than urban...rural kids appreciate u better!! they know how hard life is<---any connection??haha...

any level would do...i don't mind actually...

7) If teaching IS NOT your choice of a profession, what are your plans upon graduation?
i can do part time barista...for the mean time la...hehe!!
if not teaching,my long term plan would be??
hmm...cant think bout tat!!


cheers~

Website Evaluation

The website is taken from http://www.esldesk.com/index.htm


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

The application attempts to teach ESL learners who want to learn English online at ease. It is suitable for learners of ages 12 and above. The online learning method provided by this page includes grammar, vocabulary, dictionary, and spelling or grammar quizzes. All details shown are also comprehensive and with the usage of simple, straight forward English. This in a way can brush up ESL learners’ usage of English as a whole using direct, simple and easy English. It is suitable for young learners as well because the usage of English available is not bombastic.


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

At the point of starting to navigate the page, users can just straight away select activities they want to do. The page is created in a way which does not intimidate users because it is user friendly. The page is free for all and no signing in is required. All grade levels can easily navigate the page because activities on the page are available for all levels and at ease. In fact, the page gives space for users to navigate the page on their own pace of learning. For example, if a user wants to check on ‘What are Nouns’, the user can easily click under ‘English Grammar’ and it will guide the user to the desired learning content. Apart from that, if a user wants to try spelling activities, the user can easily point to any options under ‘Spelling Quizzes’ and try them out.

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

Users of the application can navigate the web page at ease. Users do not need any sorts of advanced computer skills which require users to download any particular software or such. They can navigate the web page at instance by clicking on desired activities. Again, the application is free for all and no signing in is required before users can get access into the application.

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?

As I browsed this application, it reminded me during my secondary school years. Although it was years back, I recalled an English lesson in Form Four where my teacher brought us to the computer lab for an interactive English lesson. It was quite similar to this application where we were told to do exercises based on a particular topic in the textbook by using the exercises available on the website she showed us. This session attracted the whole class because it was interesting and interactive too. It was not the traditional teaching and learning method which we usually face everyday in class.


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

According to J. Bruner (constructivist theorist), he stated “there is a major theme in the theoretical framework of is that learning is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their current or past knowledge.” Here it refers to how learners trigger their current or past knowledge about the target language. This can be related to how users may utilize the application in a way that it triggers their schemata of the language itself. Once they choose what they want to do or learn, the cognitive brain immediately starts to work. Hence, learning occurs at this point of process. Apart from that, cognitive structure provides meaning and organization to experiences and allows the individual to "go beyond the information given" (Bruner, J). This is where users do self-learning where they can go further and make explorations themselves by doing other activities on the website.

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

Learning involves language where the language we use influences learning. Vygotsky stated that "language and learning are inextricably intertwined". This shows that through online learning such as on this website, users will be able to enhance and improve their language learning because users will eventually learn the language through the interactive session they have with the website itself. Hence, the more we know, the more we learn.
Apart from that, Vygotsky also stated that "the crucial action of constructing meaning is mental: it happens in the mind". To enhance our memory, providing activities which engage the mind as well as the hands can help in the language learning process. This is applicable when users navigate the website because through learning interactively with the website may help to enhance the process of language learning faster

7.In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major debate on ‘whether the computer was ‘master’ of or ‘salve’ 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?

As for me, computers will never replace the job of a teacher. Technology can squeeze in to fit in the teaching and learning process but the role of a teacher will never can be replaced by technology. Technology is merely a tool to enhance the process of teaching and learning but nothing is compared to the ability of a teacher can do. On the other hand, the computer can eventually become a servant to students when it comes to interactive learning. The computer has always been essential in the technology world so it has become quite a servant to students somehow. Students will rely on the computer to get access to vast information on the internet, do presentations and such.

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

Yes, I definitely will use this application as a teacher in the near future because it can help me in my teaching. This application is beneficial in a way it can help enhance the teaching and learning process because in most schools now access to computers is easy. I can utilize it for class activities whereby I can ask students to do the quizzes in the application and later ask them to send their tasks through emails, blogs or such. This is more interactive and I am sure students will prefer it this way.

9.Suggestions/Recommendations

The application is overall remarkable but I suggest more colours and graphics would add to the impressiveness of the web itself. Users will find it more attractive and cheerful. By adding more graphics or animations on the application will actually make it more interesting and lively. Most users would prefer websites with more animations and graphics rather than ordinary, plain ones.


Doned by;
Vincent Ungko (U8A)
2005478104