1. What does the application attempt to “teach”?
The website that I chose to evaluate is
www.ManyThings.org which offers people to study English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL). There are quizzes, word games, word puzzles, proverbs, slang expressions, anagrams, a random-sentence generator and other computer assisted language learning activities. Even though the primary focus is for ESL, native English speakers may also find some interesting things on this site.
This site has many featured sections which are vocabulary, speaking, grammar & vocabulary, listening & reading, singing, writing, and others which include daily page, anagrams, slang and proverbs. It offers many English games which can trigger learners’ mind for the beginners to experts. Basically, this site is attempted to teach learners on English by providing interesting activities as to make the learning more fun and enjoyable. For example, there are many games provided as to learn vocabulary. Namely, “Hangman”, “Word Drop Games”, “Word Find Puzzles”, “Matching Quizzes” and many more. As for grammar, it offers activities in specific categories which are pronouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, countable and uncountable nouns and also listen and repeat podcast where learners can find out or review the irregular verbs in an easy way. For listening section, it provides activities such as listen and read along where learner has to listen first to the text that has been provided and then read it. They also have dictation quiz where learner has to listen then type in what they have heard. Other than that, it also has pronunciation game where learner can listen and repeat podcast as to learn it in correct pronunciation, rhythm and intonation.
2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?
For the first time visitor, they should read the website description provided at the bottom of the page. By doing so, visitors will know what the website is all about, the content of it and to make them be on the right track. In the application, user is expected to learn ESL or the content independently. They have to think in order to complete the activities that they have chosen. However, guidelines are given to make the activities more effective and easier or else learners might be lost. To learn the content, there are many things learners have to do. Learners have to read in order to find information from the website. They also have to keep updated with recent information and additions. In terms of activities, for examples in playing games learners have to be creative in matching the words, fill in the blanks and many more. For listening, the application has made it more convenience for users to learn. They provide audios where learners can listen to songs or texts and fill in the blanks. For reading activities, users can learn how to read signs and stories on the web page while listening to the MP3 file. The texts have been reformatted as to make it easier for learners to listen and read along. There are also reading comprehension quizzes provided in the website. Besides that, learners are also advised to try games and activities offered as many times as possible as to train themselves to master the language better. Learners should not be afraid to make mistakes as there is a saying “Practice makes perfect”!
3. What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?
Essentially, it requires learners to have the basic and intermediate of computer skills. Basic skills are being able to use a mouse to interact with elements on the screen and being able to use computer keyboard. The intermediate computer skills can be categorized into four skills which are computer operations and concepts, word processing, internet and databases. The first skill is computer operations and concepts. In this application, users must have the knowledge in matching equipment with the correct purpose, how to select menu items and how to start an application. Second is word processing. Learners need to know where to locate and when to use enter, delete, caps lock, shift and back space as well as how to inserts and deletes text. The third skill is internet. In order to view and use the application, learners must have the knowledge on how to surfing the internet. Other than that, they have to know how to use key words in a simple search, the uses of hyperlinks and navigation buttons and also choosing appropriate sites from a search. And the last skill requires is databases. In this application, it requires learners to have the knowledge in locating specific information searching by subject or keyword and also using relevant fields.
4. While you are “playing”/”accessing” 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. While I am enjoying myself playing and accessing this website, it reminds me of activities that I did during my school years as well as my experience in teaching practicum. During my school years, my English teachers always taught us by using fun and interesting activities such as matching, quizzes, fill in the blanks and many more. Normally those kinds of activities will come with attractive graphics just like the application used in the website. I remembered when I was to ask to match the word with the correct meaning on the board. Other than that, they also used songs to teach English for example grammar. We have to fill in the blanks with the correct words after we listen to the songs. And after that we were asked to categorize words for example past tense, present continuous tense and modals. Once in a while, my teacher made quizzes for us. We did play “Hangman” in class. This is to test on our vocabulary. For reading and speaking, we will ask to listen and repeat after them. If there are any mistakes made by us, they will correct it quickly. All these activities I used during my teaching practicum. I found that my students improved their English day by day. At first they dislike the subject. But after giving them fun activities each and every day, they started to like and master it slowly. I was impressed and very happy.
5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
I found three theories of language learning and teaching used in the applications which are cognitive, behaviorist and constructivist. Cognitive theory is a theory that focuses the load on working memory during instruction. According to Mayer, a cognitive theory of multimedia learning based on three main assumptions: there are two separate channels (auditory and visual) for processing information; there is limited channel capacity; and that learning is an active process of filtering, selecting, organizing, and integrating information. The second theory is behaviorist theory. Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation. Last but not least is constructivist theory. Constructivist theory is a theory of knowledge that argues that humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas. Constructivism as a paradigm or worldview posits that learning is an active, constructive process. The learner is an information constructor. People actively construct or create their own subjective representations of objective reality. New information is linked to prior knowledge, thus mental representations are subjective.
6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applies to the chosen website?
Constructivist theory is a theory of knowledge that argues that humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas. It is when the learners construct the knowledge for themselves which means they construct meanings as they learn. In the website chosen, the theory of constructivist has been using well. Learning is an active process in which the learners uses sensory input and construct the meaning out of it. In the website, people learn to learn as they learn. For example if we learn the chronology of dates of a series of historical events, we are simultaneously learning the meaning of a chronology. Each meaning we construct makes us better in able to give meaning to other sensations which can fit a similar pattern. Besides that it provides activities which engage the mind as well as the hand. One needs knowledge to learn. It is impossible to assimilate new knowledge without having some structure developed from previous knowledge to build on. The more we know, the more we can learn. Therefore any effort to teach must be connected to the state of the learner, must provide a path into the subject for the learner based on that learner’s previous knowledge.
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?
In my opinion, computer is not a replacement for teachers. Education is one of the greatest services provided by teachers. It is vital for anything. The role played by teachers becomes a very important component and in fact it can be said that they are in way our nation builders. For any students, education and character are the basic foundations and it is laid by teachers as well as parents. They tend to instill values, attitudes and behaviors in children right from childhood which can’t be done by computers. Today with challenging environment, in any school or college, everything primarily depends on the teacher. The role of teachers becomes very important as they are the ones who mould students in the right way. There are various roles played by teachers in understanding students needs. Some of them are learning about students interests, planning and organizing classroom activities, assessing the students performance, understanding the basic needs of students, encouraging them to improve, calling for students-parents meeting and discussing with them about the students performance or discipline, motivating students to do more better, encouraging them to participate in extra curricular activities, and many more. Computers can definitely help students in a big way to learn. Similarly they can help teachers in teaching more effectively. But computers can never replace teachers completely. To begin with teachers are needed to decide and tell computer software developers what the computers will teach and how they will teach it.
People have figured out how many of the routine lecturing and checking activities can be done more economically using computers. For example, lecture by teacher recorded once can be made available to students all over the world on their computer through the Internet. There are many ways of making these lectures interactive. Still there are many other useful features of face to face interaction between a real teacher and students that can not be replicated on computers. For example, teacher can sense when students are loosing interest in the class or lecture and introduce some changes in the patter of class to revive their interest. This cannot be done by computer.
8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?
Yes, I definitely would like to use the application myself in my future work. Being a teacher is not as easy as ABC. During my teaching practicum, it was hard for me to come out with good and interesting activities everyday. Thus, I have to look out for great materials in order to teach my students. Such applications can give huge benefits. It is easy to be applied and I don’t have to spend much money in getting great reliable sources. I just need to spend time to access and learn it. The more we learn the greater information we obtain. Everything has been provided namely lessons for vocabulary, speaking, reading, listening and many more. The activities and games provided are very attractive which can motivate my students as well as me to learn about the language effectively.
9. Suggestions/Recommendations
I don’t have many suggestions as the application is quite great for me. But I think to make it more effective, the application should provided lesson plans, books or articles and forums regarding ESL so that users can obtain more information about it. Besides, to make it more fun and attractive, maybe they can provide more colourful graphics to draw the attention of the users.
