ESL Website Evaluation

http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~adelegc/index.html


1. What does the application attempt to ‘teach’?

The website attempts to teach grammar, listening and vocabulary. It consists of only two categories which are for beginner learners and for intermediate learners. The exercises are more on drilling and practices. It may help students who want to improvise their knowledge on grammar. For beginner, the application provides three categories for user to explore; Grammar, Listening and Vocabulary. There are lots of topics under each category that can be chosen by users in order to learn by using this application. For Grammar, some of the topics are Adjectives, Plurals, Articles etc. Meanwhile, for Listening practices, users are able to choose topics such as Personal Information, My Day, A Letter to a Friend etc. As for Vocabulary, on the other hand, users are able to choose Colors, Numbers, Time etc. On the other hand, for intermediate users, there are only two categories which are Grammar and Listening. Some topics for grammar are Past Continuous Tense, Present Prefect etc. As for Listening, the users can choose the topics such as My Husband etc.

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

The website is easy and simple to explore. The user needs to click the linked items in order to do the exercises. There are lots of interesting topics under each category that can be chosen. Once the user has chosen the category, they will give questions to be answered. The users are able to check their answer and to re-do the same questions. Once the users completed the questions, immediate feedback will be popped out. In short, the users will have to do the questions in order to learn the content.

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

In order to do the exercises offered, the users are recommended to have an access to the internet as to browse the website. Once the users get access the website, what they have to do is just to click whatever exercises they like to do. They are required to have basic skills such as know how to type etc. It is really friendly user.

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

Yes absolutely, it reminds me those days when I was still schooling. I used to have computer lessons in my primary school where the teacher will brings us to the computer lab in order to access the internet. We are taught on how to do some exercises online and also by using some courseware that the school had at that time. The students including me were very excited as the lesson conducted was not like the usual chalk and talk ones. Rather than doing the usual grammar drills, by having these kind of learning will be able to engage the students to have interest in grammar. I have also used to have these kinds of drills when I did my pre-TESL few years back. We had to do some drills on listening just the way the application offers to the users. Other than that, it is also reminds me to the class that I have with P.M Dr. Izaham recently. The drills offered reminds me on how to create the task. I have just learnt on how to produce the same type of exercises by using Hot Potatoes. It is simple and interesting to do and to apply it as a teacher will make my lesson more interesting.

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

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them”
Aristotle

There are lots of theories in language learning that I have learnt throughout my study. In term of this application, I believe that Experiential Learning Theory by Carl Rogers suits the objectivity of the application. As the application focus on grammar drilling, it is well said that by doing all the exercises, the users are expected to have good understanding in it. As it focuses on individual learning, once the user make mistake in doing the exercise, they will be able to learn from their mistake. And, hopefully they will not going to do the same mistakes. Other than that, Audiolingual Method may also be applicable. This is because the application offers listening drills as well. The Audiolingual Method drills user in the use of grammatical patterns (Brown, 2000). They learn on how correct sentences are structured based on listening and they may learn on the pronunciation too. The users are able to repeat the sentences in their attempt to answer the questions. By doing this, the users will repeat and mimic the correct words with the correct pronunciation. Moreover, as the application need computer in order to learn, I believe that Behavioristic Computer Assisted Language Learning can be applied. According to Taylor, 1980, drill and practice courseware is based on the on computer as tutor. It means that computer server as a vehicle for delivering instructional materials to students. According to this method, a computer is the ideal tools for carrying out repeated drills since computer does not get bore with presenting the same materials. Thus, the user is able to repeat the exercise to deepen their understanding. By using this tool, the user may proceed to the next level or activity based on their own pace and time.

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

Constructivist Theory refers to the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves which each learner individually and socially constructs meaning as he or she learns (Hein, G.E., 1991). It can be understood that Constructivism emphasizes individuals actively construct knowledge and understanding on their own (Santrock, 2006). I believe that the theory does apply in this application as it can be clearly seen that users learn and make their learning independently. They learn the rules by doing it as they explore more about the application. According to Social Constructivism strongly influenced by Vygotsky's (1978) work, suggests that knowledge is first constructed in a social context and is then appropriated by individuals (Bruning et al., 1999; M. Cole, 1991; Eggan & Kauchak, 2004). According to the theory, individuals make meanings through the interaction with each other and with the environment they live. However, this application does not offer any two communication or any mediums to share their views, knowledge etc. This application is only drills and practices. Nevertheless, as they explore more, they will eventually gain knowledge form it. The mistakes they made will help them in learning as making mistakes is a process of learning.

7. In 1980’s and early 1990’s, there was a major debate on whether a computer was a “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 my opinion, computer is neither a replacement for teachers nor merely an obedient servant to students. Computers are created to help people as it simplifies work. But that does not mean that it can replace the teacher. Learning through computer will not ever be the same with learning through teachers. As human, we are gifted with brain and emotion to be compared to computers. These two features will have enormous impact on students. As teachers, they can understand the need of the students and they are able to motivate the students to learn. As compare to computer, even it can provide with lots of knowledge and immediate feedback, it would not be the same. It will not be able to touch the students’ heart. As the technology develops rapidly, computer plays as an important gadget mostly for everyone. However, it is over generalized if we say that computer is merely an obedient servant. As I mentioned earlier, computer simplifies our work. We can do lots of things by using computer and with the help of internet; we can do lots of stuff in a click away. In term of teaching and learning, by having computers it can provide the learning atmosphere which is more interesting and thus can attract students’ attention. Matter of fact, we have to agree that students nowadays are engaged with technology. Thus, if the lesson is not cooperating any of it and only uses chalk and talk, the students might not have interest in learning. All in all, computers are not master of learning or merely an obedient servant. It is just that they complement each other in getting the best lesson for the students to have interest in.

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

Absolutely, I would like to use the application in the future. The application is the simplest way to use and to apply to the students. It is also not require high technology skills as what it takes only simple and basic knowledge on computer. It is also provides arrays of selection on topics that will helps the users learn and understand the context better. Moreover, if I want to teach listening skills, the application offers the faster way in retrieving audio materials. We do not have to wait too long in order to listen to the listening exercises. And, most important thing is by having this application in class will help in the time consuming as it is less time consuming for both teachers and students. The content is well prepared and the immediate feedbacks for the answer will enhance the students’ motivation in the learning process.


9. Suggestions/Recommendations

I would like to use the application in future but there are some suggestions/recommendations that I would like to make. I think the content is well prepared; but, it is only focus on beginner and intermediate users only. What about the advanced users?? If the application is also available for advanced users, it will be more convenient for the teachers to apply or to use the application in class. Other than that, like people says, first impression is important. However, the application does not have any images that will intrigue the users’ interest in learning. It will be lots of fun if there are pictures and more colours used throughout the activities.

REFERENCES

1. Brown, H.D (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. New York: Longman.