Task 1
Name : Nur Raihan binti Ab Rahman
Student ID : 2014661122
1. What does the website or MOOC or app or tool attempt to “teach”? Are exercises or activities included in the website? What are the types of exercise or activities included? Are there immediate feedbacks? Are there different levels of difficulty for different proficiency levels? {You can any other comments you deem necessary)
The ESL website that I referred to is englishmedialab.com. The website provides a lot of interactive exercises, games, as well as quizzes that reinforce important skills and knowledge related to language which include Grammar, Vocabulary, Pronunication, Spelling, as well as Listening skills. All these areas of language that the website attempts to "teach" would be highly achievable for the ESL learners to acquire as the exercises, games, activities, and quizzes are mostly created to be interactive, thus, would be very effective to attract the learners' attention to be engaged in learning English. Of the activities or games provided including Snakes and Ladders that associate grammar rules in questions, Word Search puzzles that enhances learners' spelling ability, listening memory games in which learners listen to the audio that explains the activity (for example is Merry-Go-Round) and then select the image that suits the activity, as well as videos that teach learners the correct pronunciation of English words. Most of the games and exercises also have amazing graphics and themes that could attract learners' interest to play them. Some exercises provide immediate feedback as to respond to learners' progress or understanding, such as commentaries like "Excellent!" and "Well Done!". However, many exercises do not provide such feedback and learners are only able to be informed of their performance at the end of the exercise based on the scores they gain.
Speaking of feedback, despite the numerous activities provided on the website that can be associated into ESL lessons, the website however does not provide any section for those who have tried the exercises to give their feedback. It would be much more helpful if feedback or comments are given so that the teachers, especially, who would future consider to integrate the certain exercises into their lessons could identify any possible issues beforehand and prepare for any changes to adapt with their students' levels and preference. Regarding the levels of difficulty, a lot of exercises have been categorized into different levels - from beginner to advanced, so that teachers can filter which exercises can be suited to their students' performance levels to ensure the effectiveness of the lessons.
2. What are the learners/visitors required to do with regards to learning the content of the website or MOOC or apps?
All the exercises, games, quizzes and other activities provided on the website are easily accessed for all learners and visitors. The learners are not required to sign up for an account to access to the activities. They can simply click on the link provided and they will be directed to the games, exercises, or the activities they clicked on. Unlike some other websites that require visitors to sign up to access the materials and activities, this website is created to make learning English easier for all learners.
3. Does the website or MOOC or app or tools present learners with something that cannot be done in a face-to-face classroom? If yes, how so?
The use of the ESL websites provides basically a similar condition in a face-to-face classroom, such as students working on exercises and receiving response from teachers for their performance, but it is done in a way that is more interesting and more convenient. In conventional classrooms, students are usually provided with worksheets and are expected to complete the exercise in isolation. Worksheets have somehow become a norm in conventional classrooms that it has formed a dull condition and environment in the learning process, which causes students to lose interest in learning. However, associating the website into ESL lessons would provide a different learning experience to students as they get their hands on working on the online exercises and games and get access to fun audio and videos that provide entertainment while learning the language. Also, collaborative and communicative learning which is highly suggested to be done in classrooms today can be carried out in a more interesting way as students get to compete with one another in groups to win the games played on the website, for example is Hangman game that enhance their spelling ability and vocabulary knowledge while promoting cooperative skills with one another.
4. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
The exercises featured on the website mostly focus on game-based learning, in which learners learn grammar, pronunciation and many other knowledge relating to the language from the content of the games they play. According to Singh (2016), language learning activities that are done in the form of language games can benefit learners in many ways, which is apart from fostering the learners' interest in language learning, it also helps to teach new items to learners, help them practise language forms as well as to revise their knowledge of the language which is effective to speed up the learner's language acquisition pace. This belief regarding the effectiveness of using games as part of teaching and learning can be related with the Game-Based Learning concept that is developed based on Piaget's Play and Cognitive Development theory. According to Piaget (1962), play contributes to children's cognitive development by activating their schemas in ways that enable children to transcend their immediate reality. In a way, it can be said that the cognitive development of the children, or in the case of using games as a medium of learning is the language learners, can be actively stimulated and enhanced through the games they play. This means that learners will be able to understand and learn language better from games rather than learning the language rules in isolation, which is in the absence of play.
Games for entertainment have been shown to be able to act as a motivation for language learners to stay engaged with the lesson through the motivational features used in the games, such as stars, points, leaderboards, badges and trophies (Plass, Homer, & Kinzer, 2015). Most of the features are available on the exercises and games provided on the website. Thus, as motivation can occur as a highly effective tool to produce an effective learning experience for learners, the ESL website can be considered as a great medium to be used in ESL teaching and learning process as it can benefit the students' learning. Also, a technologically rich learning environment can increase learners' self-esteem and enthusiasm for learning (Fouts, 2000). Therefore, this website is highly suggested to be integrated into language teaching and learning process as it develops positive implications on learners.
5. An important criterion for evaluating a CALL program, task or activity is the potential for language learning (i.e. will student learn something?) Does the website or MOOC or app fulfill this criterion? If yes, how so? If no, why?
Yes, the website does have the potential to provide an effective language learning experience for the learners as the exercises, games, and activities are suitable for all levels of learners and are appealing to attract the learners' interest, especially young learners like school children, as the graphics in the games and exercises are colourful, have interesting audio, as well as fun themes that suit their age, such as "Theme Park" and "Zoo Animals". Adult learners can also be benefited from the website as they are exposed to exercises of IELTS, TOEFL exam questions apart from enjoying the games and activities on the websites that could give them practice of their language knowledge, thus, enhance their language mastery. Also, links of online dictionaries are also provided on the websites which are significantly helpful to assist learners to search for the meaning of unfamiliar words as they go through the exercises on the website. Therefore, the website, as a whole, does provide an effective language learning experience for the learners.
6. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work? Yes? Provide reason(s), No? Provide (reason)
Yes, I would like to use the application in the future because I find the website to be very helpful to provide interactive and interesting lessons for my students. As the learning process today is suggested to be more interactive and student-centered as to cater to the young generation's enhanced knowledge in technology, I believe the games, exercises and activities on the website can fulfill the requirement and can stimulate the students' interest to get engaged with the lessons and gain knowledge from the content of the exercises. Plus, I believe that this website and other similar applications are anticipated by students of the 21st century as they would prefer lessons that integrate technology as part of their learning process since nearly all aspects of the society today especially the new generation have been influenced by the use of technology.
Student ID : 2014661122
1. What does the website or MOOC or app or tool attempt to “teach”? Are exercises or activities included in the website? What are the types of exercise or activities included? Are there immediate feedbacks? Are there different levels of difficulty for different proficiency levels? {You can any other comments you deem necessary)
The ESL website that I referred to is englishmedialab.com. The website provides a lot of interactive exercises, games, as well as quizzes that reinforce important skills and knowledge related to language which include Grammar, Vocabulary, Pronunication, Spelling, as well as Listening skills. All these areas of language that the website attempts to "teach" would be highly achievable for the ESL learners to acquire as the exercises, games, activities, and quizzes are mostly created to be interactive, thus, would be very effective to attract the learners' attention to be engaged in learning English. Of the activities or games provided including Snakes and Ladders that associate grammar rules in questions, Word Search puzzles that enhances learners' spelling ability, listening memory games in which learners listen to the audio that explains the activity (for example is Merry-Go-Round) and then select the image that suits the activity, as well as videos that teach learners the correct pronunciation of English words. Most of the games and exercises also have amazing graphics and themes that could attract learners' interest to play them. Some exercises provide immediate feedback as to respond to learners' progress or understanding, such as commentaries like "Excellent!" and "Well Done!". However, many exercises do not provide such feedback and learners are only able to be informed of their performance at the end of the exercise based on the scores they gain.
Speaking of feedback, despite the numerous activities provided on the website that can be associated into ESL lessons, the website however does not provide any section for those who have tried the exercises to give their feedback. It would be much more helpful if feedback or comments are given so that the teachers, especially, who would future consider to integrate the certain exercises into their lessons could identify any possible issues beforehand and prepare for any changes to adapt with their students' levels and preference. Regarding the levels of difficulty, a lot of exercises have been categorized into different levels - from beginner to advanced, so that teachers can filter which exercises can be suited to their students' performance levels to ensure the effectiveness of the lessons.
2. What are the learners/visitors required to do with regards to learning the content of the website or MOOC or apps?
All the exercises, games, quizzes and other activities provided on the website are easily accessed for all learners and visitors. The learners are not required to sign up for an account to access to the activities. They can simply click on the link provided and they will be directed to the games, exercises, or the activities they clicked on. Unlike some other websites that require visitors to sign up to access the materials and activities, this website is created to make learning English easier for all learners.
3. Does the website or MOOC or app or tools present learners with something that cannot be done in a face-to-face classroom? If yes, how so?
The use of the ESL websites provides basically a similar condition in a face-to-face classroom, such as students working on exercises and receiving response from teachers for their performance, but it is done in a way that is more interesting and more convenient. In conventional classrooms, students are usually provided with worksheets and are expected to complete the exercise in isolation. Worksheets have somehow become a norm in conventional classrooms that it has formed a dull condition and environment in the learning process, which causes students to lose interest in learning. However, associating the website into ESL lessons would provide a different learning experience to students as they get their hands on working on the online exercises and games and get access to fun audio and videos that provide entertainment while learning the language. Also, collaborative and communicative learning which is highly suggested to be done in classrooms today can be carried out in a more interesting way as students get to compete with one another in groups to win the games played on the website, for example is Hangman game that enhance their spelling ability and vocabulary knowledge while promoting cooperative skills with one another.
4. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
The exercises featured on the website mostly focus on game-based learning, in which learners learn grammar, pronunciation and many other knowledge relating to the language from the content of the games they play. According to Singh (2016), language learning activities that are done in the form of language games can benefit learners in many ways, which is apart from fostering the learners' interest in language learning, it also helps to teach new items to learners, help them practise language forms as well as to revise their knowledge of the language which is effective to speed up the learner's language acquisition pace. This belief regarding the effectiveness of using games as part of teaching and learning can be related with the Game-Based Learning concept that is developed based on Piaget's Play and Cognitive Development theory. According to Piaget (1962), play contributes to children's cognitive development by activating their schemas in ways that enable children to transcend their immediate reality. In a way, it can be said that the cognitive development of the children, or in the case of using games as a medium of learning is the language learners, can be actively stimulated and enhanced through the games they play. This means that learners will be able to understand and learn language better from games rather than learning the language rules in isolation, which is in the absence of play.
Games for entertainment have been shown to be able to act as a motivation for language learners to stay engaged with the lesson through the motivational features used in the games, such as stars, points, leaderboards, badges and trophies (Plass, Homer, & Kinzer, 2015). Most of the features are available on the exercises and games provided on the website. Thus, as motivation can occur as a highly effective tool to produce an effective learning experience for learners, the ESL website can be considered as a great medium to be used in ESL teaching and learning process as it can benefit the students' learning. Also, a technologically rich learning environment can increase learners' self-esteem and enthusiasm for learning (Fouts, 2000). Therefore, this website is highly suggested to be integrated into language teaching and learning process as it develops positive implications on learners.
5. An important criterion for evaluating a CALL program, task or activity is the potential for language learning (i.e. will student learn something?) Does the website or MOOC or app fulfill this criterion? If yes, how so? If no, why?
Yes, the website does have the potential to provide an effective language learning experience for the learners as the exercises, games, and activities are suitable for all levels of learners and are appealing to attract the learners' interest, especially young learners like school children, as the graphics in the games and exercises are colourful, have interesting audio, as well as fun themes that suit their age, such as "Theme Park" and "Zoo Animals". Adult learners can also be benefited from the website as they are exposed to exercises of IELTS, TOEFL exam questions apart from enjoying the games and activities on the websites that could give them practice of their language knowledge, thus, enhance their language mastery. Also, links of online dictionaries are also provided on the websites which are significantly helpful to assist learners to search for the meaning of unfamiliar words as they go through the exercises on the website. Therefore, the website, as a whole, does provide an effective language learning experience for the learners.
6. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work? Yes? Provide reason(s), No? Provide (reason)
Yes, I would like to use the application in the future because I find the website to be very helpful to provide interactive and interesting lessons for my students. As the learning process today is suggested to be more interactive and student-centered as to cater to the young generation's enhanced knowledge in technology, I believe the games, exercises and activities on the website can fulfill the requirement and can stimulate the students' interest to get engaged with the lessons and gain knowledge from the content of the exercises. Plus, I believe that this website and other similar applications are anticipated by students of the 21st century as they would prefer lessons that integrate technology as part of their learning process since nearly all aspects of the society today especially the new generation have been influenced by the use of technology.
Ok, 7.4/10
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