CALL/CALLT WEBSITE(S) EVALUATION

TSL641 – CALL/CALLT WEBSITE EVALUATION

Karin’s Partyland

http://www.eslpartyland.com/

1. Who are the users the website/websites is/are targeting?

The target users of the website are students (secondary school students) and teacher. As for the secondary students, the website targets for all proficiency levels which include exercises ranges from easy to difficult.

2. What sorts of things are the application users expected to do with regards to learning and using (or even manipulating) the content?

The application users are expected to complete exercises which are categorized under business English, Grammar, Idioms, Slang and Phrasal Verbs, Reading, TOEFLesque, Trivia, Useful Expression and Vocabulary.

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

The application users are expected to have basic computer skills such as the internet explorer skills, basic window navigation skills. The reason why the application users only need to know basic computer skill is because the program can only be assessed through the Internet. Apart from that, computer skills like clicking to answers questions and to link from one page to another are also some simple computer skills that the users may naturally have.

4. While you are “playing” / “accessing” the website(s), does it remind you of anything you do (or have done) in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self-study?

While I was playing and accessing the website(s), it reminded me a lot of my previous TSL641 subject class before the semester break. This is when I had the experience to learn how to create a learning program using ‘HOT POTATOES’. The only difference is that, I learnt to create a learning program but when I assessed the website, I was actually playing / assessing exercises similar to the ones that can be created by the program ‘HOT POTATOES’.

Besides that, the program also reminded me of a senior’s (my roommate) final project for TSL641 which is to create a program. She created multiple choice exercises specifically the English Grammatical area. Therefore, I tend to recall my senior work which is some sort similar to the multiple choice exercises in this website.

5. What setting will the website(s) best used in: independent study lab with no teacher available, lab associated with a class, a teacher-led class with one or a few computers?

Since the website provide immediate feedback / result right after the user has done the exercises, therefore, it is best used in independent study lab with no teacher available. For instance, if the user is working on the multiple choice exercise, and he gives the correct answer, the website will automatically give feedback by giving a ‘smiley’ such as :-) to indicate that the user has the correct answer and vice versa. Due to that, the website is suitable to be used without a teacher’s assistance because the website provides immediate feedback for the user to evaluate themselves.

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

Personally, I would say that this website is best influenced by one of Stephen Krashen’s theory of language learning and teaching which is the ‘Input hypothesis’. To quote Krashen’s explanation regarding this theory, the Input hypothesis is only concerned with 'acquisition', not 'learning'. According to this hypothesis, the learner improves and progresses along the 'natural order' when he/she receives second language 'input' that is one step beyond his/her current stage of linguistic competence. For example, if a learner is at a stage 'i', then acquisition takes place when he/she is exposed to 'Comprehensible Input' that belongs to level 'i + 1'. Since not all of the learners can be at the same level of linguistic competence at the same time, Krashen suggests that natural communicative input is the key to designing a syllabus, ensuring in this way that each learner will receive some 'i + 1' input that is appropriate for his/her current stage of linguistic competence.

To explain on the ‘I + 1’ theory, According to Krashen, ‘i’ indicates the input of learning and 1 indicates the learner’s existing knowledge or intelligence. To relate this theory to the application, the user can acquire the language in a natural order which means that the user will improve on their English Language as they get used to the application. Krashen’s ‘i + 1’ input theory can be related to this application because the user is given a variety of exercises which challenges their mind. The users are expected work on their own to complete the exercises and in time they will learn by experiencing. Krashen highlighted in the ‘1’ as in‘I + 1’ theory that the learner should be given input which is slightly beyond their knowledge which is not too difficult or not too easy. Therefore, the user can choose the best level of exercises which suit them best such as easy, medium and difficult.

7. How well are the Vygotsky’s constructivist theory of learning and Garner’s Multiple Intelligence theory applied to the chosen website(s)?

Both the Vygotsky’s constructivist theory of learning and Garner’s Multiple Intelligence theory can applied to the chosen website (http://www.eslpartyland.com/). As for the Vygotsky constructivist theory, it is based on Student-Centered learning. Therefore, this website does promote Student-Centered because they can learn by discovering on their own. According to Vygotsky, we can distinguish between

• "cognitive constructivism" which is about how the individual learner understands things, in terms of developmental stages and learning styles, and
• "social constructivism", which emphasises how meanings and understandings grow out of social encounters.

From the above extracts, ‘the cognitive constuctivism’ implies that the learner tends to improve on learning using their own learning style that they are most comfortable with. Meanwhile, the ‘social constructivism’ implies that students will learn when the teacher plays their crucial role to assist the students and not spoon feeding. Vygotsky emphasizes that teacher’s role is only to provide authentic material and this website (http://www.eslpartyland.com/) is definitely authentic for learning.

As to relate this website to the Garner’s Multiple Intelligence theory, he proposes that eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These intelligences are:

1. Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
2. Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")
3. Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")
4. Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")
5. Musical intelligence ("music smart")
6. Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")
7. Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")
8. Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")

According to Garner, each individual differs in their own unique intelligence and to relate this matter to the chosen website, the users should focus on their own intelligence when playing / assessing the website. They should explore the kind of area that they are good such as Grammar, Reading and etc while considering their level of proficiency which is beginner, intermediate or advanced. By doing that, they are able to improve on learning on their own pace. Apart from that, they should focus on their area of interest while exploring the website.

Since this website also targets for teachers, then teacher can use this website by investigating their students’ area of interest as well as their level of proficiency and use this website to conduct exercises in class. For example, if his or her students are beginner levels, then the teacher might want to consider exercises from the easy exercises and asks the students to complete the exercises given. By exploring the website, students can discover their own potential and this promotes Student Centred learning. Besides that, Garner also highlighted that the theory of multiple intelligences gives adults a whole new way to look at their lives, examining potentials that they left behind in their childhood (such as a love for art or drama) but now have the opportunity to develop through courses, hobbies, or other programs of self-development. In short, to relate Garner’s theory of multiple intelligences to the chosen website for teachers, it does give an exposure to today’s growth of technology as well as to improve on their teaching.

8. 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 – is the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

From my evaluation, the computer does not replace teacher’s role in the teaching and learning process but it is merely an obedient servant to students.

Firstly, the computer serves only as a medium of learning and students can control the computer anyhow they like. Therefore, the computer can be regarded as an obedient servant to the students. For instance, if students want to view next page, all they have to do is to simply click on the next page icon. Or if the students want to start saving documents they simply have to click and save in a folder. The computer will do whatever as ordered by the user.

Secondly, the computer does not replaces a teacher because of one simple reason which is the computer cannot talk. The computer cannot educate people although at times it does give ‘hint and help’ when the user needed one. However the ‘hint and help’ given is something that is already programmed and limits to only certain enquiries. For example, if the users have no idea on how to delete a document, the user can read the guidelines provided by the programmed computer.

Finally, the computer is merely an obedient servant to the students because it helps students to survive in today’s rapid growth of technology. Today, learning is not complete without a computer because all the information can be gain though the Internet and all the assignment can be completed by using word. In other words, the computer is indeed an obedient servant because of the saying that ‘once you have the internet, the world is on your fingertips’.

9. Would you like to use the website(s) yourself in your future work? Yes or no (Give reasons)

I would say yes because this website provides a variety exercises that focuses on all level of proficiency such as beginners, intermediate and advanced. Besides that, I can inject creativity in teaching by using a variety of materials provided by the website. Therefore, learning can be made fun instead of dull and teacher centred learning.

Apart from that, the website also helps to ease workload as a teacher because I do not have to spend hours to do lesson plan since the website has provided a variety of website from a variety of exercises such as grammar, listening and speaking, reading writing vocabulary, integrated skills and etc.

Finally, I would say that I would use the website in teaching because it does include exercises that are up to date to today technological era. For instance, the use of Internet in teaching has already proves that the learning copes with today’s technology growth. Besides that, the website also includes up to date issues such as the importance of using the Internet.

10. Suggestions / Recommendation?

As I browse through the website, I realize that although is does include a variety of exercises for students and lessons for teachers, there is a section on discussion forum for student and teachers in this forum. Supposedly, this section is for them to get on how to improve their English and for teachers to improve on teaching. But I realize that, there is no single response in this section whether it is from the students or from the teachers. Therefore, the teacher plays the crucial role to introduce this website to students and their colleagues as well as to encourage them to start discussing through this forum.

Besides that, this website should also be upgraded from time to time because I realize as I click at

· link icon,

· then I click grammar button,

· and finally I click on proffreading icon, the page cannot be display, so the person who created this page should upgrade from time to time.

I supposed the person in charged of this webstie should be aware of this matter because at times users not only use the website to complete exercises or etc but they might want to explore other areas provided by the website. If it does not function, why bother put it on the website?