Rabu, 5 Ogos 2009

ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

Website: Dave's ESL Cafe


Q1. What does the application attempt to "teach"?

A: The website that I finally chose to evaluate is Dave’s ESL Café. Dave’s ESL Café is maintained by Dave Sperling. He has a B.A in Psychology from Pepperdine University, and an MA in Applied Linguistics from California State University, Northridge. He had spent nearly a decade teaching EFL in Japan and Thailand .Therefore I am sure he is the expertise in his field especially teaching English as second language. This website basically “teaches” English as second language through different kind of approaches such as grammar lessons, giving notes about idioms, pronunciation, tutorial, forums and also quizzes. The quizzes provided, ranging from different topics which are Geography, Grammar, History, Idioms, Slang and Words, People, Reading comprehension, Science, World Culture and Writing. Although topics like geography, science and world culture has nothing to do with learning English but it act as a plus to this website where the student can improve their knowledge and indirectly practice and make use of English language.

However, since I was assigned to evaluate the ESL website I will focus on the part where teaching English take part. Under Quizzes topic, it is divided into several section where the users can choose the one that suit their needs most. For example, under the grammar section, there are present tense, simple present tense and nouns. The questions are suitable for lower and intermediate level language learners. Another section is Idioms, Slang and Word which I think very interesting for ESL’s students because normally, we have problem in differentiating some words and also understanding different slang that Western people use. Therefore, the quizzes provided are very useful. This website also teaches pronunciation. However, it will link the learners to Pronunciation Power, which is developed under another website that require them to register or purchase the product online.

This website also teaches the users to be independent learners. The users can always use this website without the help from other people because user friendly. Furthermore, the quizzes provide immediate answer for the user. It gives feedback informing the users whether their answers are correct or wrong, as well as providing them with the score that they obtain from every quizzes done. Another additional feature for this website, it provides notes and grammar lesson. Therefore the student can always refer to the notes and lesson provided in this website to have further understanding of the topics. They also can print out the notes and lesson for future use.

This website also caters the teachers’ need because basically, it provides stuff for teacher. I found it very useful because it “teaches” many things from how to manage your classroom, ideas for teaching activities, games, handout and many more. These materials can actually be use by other teachers and this will help to lessen the teachers’ burden in planning for their lesson. Furthermore, this website also has teacher forums where teachers all around the world can share information and exchanging ideas.


Q2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?

A: The website is quite simple and easy to navigate. Firstly, the users need to identify which category they want to access; whether teachers, students or everyone. Under each category, there are several topics that they can choose for example quizzes, idioms, grammar lessons or idea cookbook. Next, under each topic there are subtopics that the users can choose depending on their need and interest.

This website mostly provides the same type of quizzes where the users need to click on the best answer for each question and then submit the answer. Within seconds the users can get the feedback and their score. Therefore, the users will know their level, where they made mistakes and how well they performed. The font use for the quiz is clear and easy to read. The background color also helps to relax the eyes. However, in my opinion Mr. Dave could also include different kind of activities such as crossword puzzle or flash games to make it more interesting.


Q3. What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?

A: In order to use the application, the users only need to have basic skill in using computer such as the ability to control mouse and click the elements which appear in the website. The quizzes in the website only require the users to click the correct answer.

The users also need to know how to browse a website and to click the link provided to go to different page in the website. For the teachers who want to print out the activities or handout from the website need to know the printing skills. The teachers also need to know how to convert the notes into different form like Microsoft Word by the using copy and paste features.

Overall, the website only requires the users to have the basic computer skills in order to access this website.


Q4. 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?

A: Yes, it does remind me of my own experience in teaching while I was doing my practicum last semester. In my class, I usually use quizzes to test my students’ understanding especially on grammar lesson. Usually, I will print out the quizzes and photostate it to make enough copies for my students. During my practicum, I also browse many ESL website to help me with my lesson plan especially to get ideas on interesting activities. The teacher forums also reminds me about my life at my practical school where I always share information and exchanging ideas with the senior teacher about how to improve my lesson. The grammar lesson and quizzes reminds me about myself where I usually go to certain ESL websites to find information in improving my grammar as well as enjoying the quizzes.

Q5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the aplication?

A: From my point of view this website applied several theories. The first one is collaborative learning. According to Brown (2001) in collaborative learning the learner engages “with more capable others” (teacher, advanced peers, etc), who provide assistance and guidance”. This website provides opportunity for discussion under teacher or student forums where it allows the users to seek for help if they do not understand anything regarding the language topic. They also can exchange ideas and this somehow promotes collaborative learning.

The second theory is the Silent Way. The Silent Way capitalized on discovery-learning procedures where learning is a process of personal growth. Learners are responsible for their own learning and must develop independence, autonomy, and responsibility. While the users accessing this website, they need to read the instructions and questions in order to learn. They also need to decide what they want to focus on. Thus, they have the opportunity to discover the language by themselves.

Howard Garder’s Multiple Intelligences is another theory underlying this website where bodily- kinesthetic skills and visual spatial were applied. The use of computer relies most on eye-hand coordination for their operation-keyboarding and the use of a mouse or touch-screen. These kinesthetic activities that the users did during accessing the website make the users an active participant in learning. Another multiple intelligencies applied in this website is
linguistic intelligencies since this website try to teach English language.


Q6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website(s)?

A: Constructivist theory of learning refers to the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves – each learner individually (and socially) constructs meaning as he or she learns. It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. When we encounter something new, we have to reconcile it with our previous ideas and experience. In any case, we are active creators of our own knowledge. To do this, we must ask questions, explore, and assess what we know. Therefore this theory clearly applied to this website where the users can ask questions that they want in the forums. The users can also search the answer by themselves by referring to the notes given and lastly they can assess their understanding by doing the quizzes provided in the website.


Q7. In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major debate on 'whether the computer was "master" of a "slave" to the learning process (Higgins and John, 1984). In realtion to your evaluation - was the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

A: In my opinion based on my evaluation I think computer will never be a replacement for a teacher. Therefore, I would say computer is a tool to help teacher to teach the student. During my practicum I found computer is useful to help preparing for my lesson in classroom and also make my students more interested in learning activities. However, I don’t think computer can replace the existent of the teacher solely because it is a nature for student to have teacher to facilitate and guide them along the process of learning. If I just leave my student to use the computer by themselves there will probably some students who end up doing nothing. Teacher needs to be there to monitor them and at the same time human posses so many things that computer can never replace such as affection, love and can understand people need and feeling.

However, for the second statement I do agree that computer is an obedient servant to students. Student can do lots of things using computer by just using their finger (clicking). It helps the student the complete their task (homework and assigment) and also help them to search for information. The computer will just follow the instruction and go wherever the student wants to go (internet). Therefore, I do agree computer is a servant to students but it is absolutely not a replacement for teacher.


Q8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?

A: Yes. I would positively use this application in my future work. As a future teacher I definitely will need some help in planning for my lessons in class. This website gives opportunity for me to exchange information about teaching with other people around the world. It also provides notes, ideas for activities, and other material that I can always make use in my class. I would also recommend my future students to access this website.


Suggestions/Recommendations

The website is very useable for the teachers and also the students. However I would suggest that Mr. Dave could include different kind of activities rather than just focusing on the quiz. Mr. Dave could include language games and crossword puzzle to make learning more interesting.

The content of the website can also be improved by adding more options like listening and speaking activities. Currently, it only focuses on grammar, idioms and verbs. If possible, it is better if the Pronunciation Power can be access by everyone without the need to pay for it. Other than that I am quite satisfied with this website.

I would recommend this website to the English teachers as one of the references for their teaching plan and also for students to improve their English language.


Evaluated by:

Marina Mohamed Zahidi
2005755370

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