(Reflection on reading week 5)
The paper reports a study of the behaviour of language learners communicating via a chatroom.
The author believes and proofs from her study that people behave differently when communicating online compared to a face-to-face situation. Some shy and passive learners in the classroom became more outgoing in the chatroom, while some very active or popular learners in the classroom became neglected in the chatroom.
I think learners generally feel more comfortable to chat online because the chatroom in the study is a text one, not a voice or video one. When poeple only deal with the words, they do not need to care about the voice quality such as volume and intonation, and also their body language such as facial expressions and gesture. But I think the behavourial difference would be very little if the nature of the online communication is closer to a face-to-face chat, say, using a mic or web camera.
Our plan for the session on Feb 14
After discussion with my group mates, Christine, Connie and Helena, we have decided to evaluate English Builder (sorry, you can't view the details at this moment if you haven't got a login name and password) with the use of Hubbard’s framework for CALL courseware evaluation. We would first state the operational descriptions of the courseware, and then assess the courseware in terms of teacher fit and learner fit. We would also make appropriateness judgments on it and provide some ideas on the use of it.
Internet for English teaching - Teaching Guidelines
(Reflection on reading week 3)
According to the article, the teaching guildlines are Dual Immersion, Integration, Project-Based Learning, Student-Centered Learning and Learning With a Purpose.
The traditional apprach to CALL only views technology as a tool for teaching English, without learning technology at the same time. Due to the development of the Internet, the author believed that this perspective is too limited and therefore the idea of dual immersion has been introduced. Students must learn the English language and the technology together so as to learn effective communication skills. In order to achieve dual immersion, technology is needed to be integrated into the curriculum. Project based learning would be a good method and it facilitates student-centred learning.
I think the Internet has created a very favourable environment for project learning and student-centered learning, as the Internet allows everyone of us to find and access important information and communicate to a real audience very easily.
According to the article, the teaching guildlines are Dual Immersion, Integration, Project-Based Learning, Student-Centered Learning and Learning With a Purpose.
The traditional apprach to CALL only views technology as a tool for teaching English, without learning technology at the same time. Due to the development of the Internet, the author believed that this perspective is too limited and therefore the idea of dual immersion has been introduced. Students must learn the English language and the technology together so as to learn effective communication skills. In order to achieve dual immersion, technology is needed to be integrated into the curriculum. Project based learning would be a good method and it facilitates student-centred learning.
I think the Internet has created a very favourable environment for project learning and student-centered learning, as the Internet allows everyone of us to find and access important information and communicate to a real audience very easily.
Hubbard's integrated evaluation framework for CALL resources
(Reflection on reading week 2)
Unlike what many people do with an ad hoc checklist when they evaluate CALL resources, Hubbard gave us some ideas of evaluating the computer courseware by developing an “integrated evaluation framework”. The framework consists of three components – operational description, teacher fit and learner fit.
Operational description provides an objective and detailed view of the operation of the software and it also determines the teacher fit and learner fit. Teacher fit shows how the developer’s assumptions about language and learning as manifested in the courseware correspond to those of the evaluator. And the idea of “Learner fit” suggests that learners’ characteristics are influential in determining their learning behaviour and success.
In short, Hubbard’s framework allows courseware evaluators to tailor-make their own criteria, and so evaluation can be done more context-dependently.
In the discussion board and lesson, there were some discussions about 'user-friendly'. For me, a courseware is user-friendly if the users can easily operate the courseware by themselves, or even without anyone teaching them how to use. Otherwise, learners would lose their interest (or patience) in using the courseware. I think this is especially true for young or begin learners.
Unlike what many people do with an ad hoc checklist when they evaluate CALL resources, Hubbard gave us some ideas of evaluating the computer courseware by developing an “integrated evaluation framework”. The framework consists of three components – operational description, teacher fit and learner fit.
Operational description provides an objective and detailed view of the operation of the software and it also determines the teacher fit and learner fit. Teacher fit shows how the developer’s assumptions about language and learning as manifested in the courseware correspond to those of the evaluator. And the idea of “Learner fit” suggests that learners’ characteristics are influential in determining their learning behaviour and success.
In short, Hubbard’s framework allows courseware evaluators to tailor-make their own criteria, and so evaluation can be done more context-dependently.
In the discussion board and lesson, there were some discussions about 'user-friendly'. For me, a courseware is user-friendly if the users can easily operate the courseware by themselves, or even without anyone teaching them how to use. Otherwise, learners would lose their interest (or patience) in using the courseware. I think this is especially true for young or begin learners.
CALL as authentic language using
(Reflection on reading week 1)
The article shows us a clear picture of the development of CALL from the time that CALL is mechanical one way language drilling to communicative interactive language practice. However, there was a rapid development of information technology after the article has been published. With the popularization of the Internet and the growth of Web2.0, I would describle CALL as authentic language using.
The article shows us a clear picture of the development of CALL from the time that CALL is mechanical one way language drilling to communicative interactive language practice. However, there was a rapid development of information technology after the article has been published. With the popularization of the Internet and the growth of Web2.0, I would describle CALL as authentic language using.
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