HYPERTEXT AND HYPERMEDIA

GLUTTONY

Gluttony is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. A sin it might be, but deadly i dont think so. To take pleasure in eating is a gift from God specially given to human kind. No other animals nor plants are given such pleasure to taste and indulge in tasting food. think again i beg of you, is gluttony a fault or a virtue?

According to Abraham Maslow, who created the wonderful Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the most important element for a human are breathing, food, water, sex etc. Food is placed at the most bottom of the pyramid, stating how important food is in human lives. To indulge in the simple pleasure of gluttony is not fault, but a virtue. to be able to satisfy one's need of a perfect meal is not a fault, more so if one stop oneself from enjoying the pleasure of eating food.

next time you decide to stop eating, know this, the moment you stop eating food, is the moment you die. and if you die while eating something good, you will die happy. remember, dont stop eating. take pride in your ability to eat. add it to the list of your life's simple pleasure. have fun gluttony-ing.

TASK 2 ARTICLE REVIEW

TITLE

The advantages and disadvantages of computer technology in second language acquisition

JOURNAL-VOLUME:

Doctoral Forum, National Journal for Publishing and Mentoring Doctoral Student Research, Volume 3 Number 1, 2006.

Taken from ERIC website

AUTHORS:

1. Cheng-Chieh Lai

PhD Program Student in Educational Leadership, Prairie View A&M University

2. William Allan Kristonis, PhD

Professor of PhD program in Educational Leadership Prairie View A&M University, visiting lecturer University of Oxford, distinguished alumnus Central Washington University.

The article explains the advantages and disadvantages of computer technology in learning a second language. The authors stated that computer has become an important tool in second language learning instructional theory. To fully utilize this tool, the authors promote the usage of Computer Assisted Language Learning in classrooms to further enhance the students’ ability in learning the second language. According to Perrett (1995), “if students are provided with the opportunities to use language and learning strategies in the second language, and some training or explanation in their application, they can develop these strategies through exposure to and experience in the second language”, (Cheng-Cheah Lai, 2006). The authors further explain the need to identify the benefits and drawbacks of using computers in classroom so that teachers and students alike can apply computer skills appropriately and use computer assisted language learning programs at their own wills. There are five advantages of computer technology. One, computers provide more independence from classroom traditional orientation. Second, computers and its attached language learning programs provide a wonderful stimuli for second language learning. Third, computers can capture, analyze and present data on students’ performance during learning process. Fourth, random access to web pages would break the linear flow of instruction. And fifth, many concepts and cognitions are difficult to express orally, and through using computers, the use of images greatly make up for this shortage. On the other hand, the disadvantages are as follows. First, computers increase educational costs and harm academia quality. Second, it is necessary for both learners and teachers to have basic technology knowledge before they apply computer technology in classroom. Third, software of computer assisted language learning programs is still imperfect. And fourth, computers cannot handle unexpected learning situations.

The journal is truly inspiring. It interests me in many ways, and one of them is it allows me to think that computers do benefits educators but at the same time puts up a hindrance in teaching. This article keeps me asking myself; do computers proves to be more beneficial or more of a hindrance, or is it worth my time to use technology in the classroom? These questions now have answers, thanks to this article. To me, this article is well written and well presented with fresh ideas. But the only weakness is that this article lacks in statistic. It is not a research paper, I do realize that, but citing statistics from past research here and there greatly supports the authors’ ideas. I suggest, in my own limited and inexperienced point of view, the authors to include statistical evidence and/or teachers and students personal testimonial in supporting their claims. This journal greatly inspires me to use technology in my classroom, if I have the opportunity. Computers are the trend nowadays, and to ignore this man-made gift is like defying the rule of gravity. For me, computers do help in teaching and learning in the classroom through the use of visual and graphic aids, it will greatly enhance learning in the classroom. All the advantages presented in the article are true if we, as educators use computers effectively. This article also can and will change the perception of computers in Malaysian educational setting. Most teachers do not rely on the use of technology in the classroom because it requires a lot of preparation time, waste energy and inefficient. Yes, these are the disadvantages of computers in general, but it will remain to be disadvantages if there are no changes being made. Computers are flawed only because men are flawed. Computers are great tools for educational purposes, we should turn it into our advantage if we want to improve the condition of our local education standard. Let us all try our best for the betterment of our local educational setting. Let us move forward, accept the changes and applied it in the classroom. When we stop changing, we stop growing.

my journal article

http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/1b/d8/84.pdf

assignment 1 website evaluation

WEBSITE EVALUATION

Website evaluated: Larry Ferlazzo Teacher

Website address: http://larryferlazzo.com/english.html

Evaluated by: Ahmad Hafizuddin Zainal Abidin

Student I.D number: 2006673395

1. What does the application attempt to “teach”?

Believe it or not, the website application I evaluated tried to teach everything there is in the school curriculum. There is science, history, geography, and of course the main element of the website is teaching English. I am quite surprised to see there are so many things we can learn by just using this one website only. I have checked out the science section and it was great. In relation to the teaching of English language, the website offers many English related topics in which the users can choose on their own. The website utilizes full usage of the language skills; reading, writing and listening, to its full potential. Moreover, these skills can be learnt individually and not incorporated with other skills, which is good for beginner and intermediate learners. In relation to the question, the application does not attempt to teach as a teacher in a classroom. Most of the exercises which I evaluated myself, there basic directions or instructions as how to complete the exercise and the user is expected to complete the exercise on his/her own methods. The website primarily focuses on games and animations for its language-based exercises. In the end, the users are expected to learn and teach themselves on how to write, read, spell and all language-related skills on their own.

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

Most of the exercises and games in the application require the user to answer simple questions. Filling in the blanks, identify the correct answer by clicking the right box, click and drag pictures to its designated place are some of the examples users are expected to do to complete the games/exercises. In terms of learning the content of the application itself, there are a lot of thinking skills involve. Solving problems, searching for clues, implied meanings are examples of mind activity the user is expected to perform while doing the exercises/games.

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

Simple skills involving the use of mouse and very little use of keyboard involved in most of the activities. A beginner computer user with limited computer skills can maneuver him/herself perfectly using the application. There are no higher-level computer skills needed to operate the application. Simply put, skills in operating a computer mouse is all the user needs to operate the application.

4. 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?

Larry Ferlazzo, Teacher is a website specifically designed to fully appreciate the students’ ability of self study. The website is the best way a student can do to break away from the normal norm of classroom environment, especially in local Malaysian classroom situation where the students are spoon-fed and less character building takes place. Through this application, the students can fully utilize his/her ability in learning alone, making full use of the their thinking skills.

5. Can you pin point some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?

The most fitting theory of learning to best fit the application is in my opinion the i+1, developed by the famed linguist Stephen Krashen. His comprehensible input hypotheses states that ‘we acquire language only when we receive comprehensible input’ (Wikipedia Online). The application is heavily laden with input and information for the students to use in completing the exercise/games given. Even though the application does not directly “teach” the users, but indirectly, the input and information given is enough for the users to use in completing the exercises/games and hence learning is achieved.

6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website?

Constructivist theory of learning basically focuses on experiential learning; that is learning through experiences. Judging from the website’s countless exercises which stresses on right and wrong answer, I got to say, Larry Ferlazzo Teacher is a website which inclines towards the use of constructivism approach. That is because learners learn through mistakes. And the more mistakes they make, the more things they learn. This is the objective of this website. This website focuses on the strings of right answers the user can give. Users who use this website is involve in an active learning, where they always strive to get all answers correctly.

7. In relation to your evaluation – was the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

In my own personal and limited point of view, neither. The computer can never replace a teacher’s role in the classroom and the computer is not a servant to students. To argue my first point, teachers are living beings, with the ability to think and talk and give responses to the students. It will not be a one way learning. The students can ask questions and the teachers will be able to answer the questions. I cannot see a computer doing all the work a teacher can do. No matter how advance the computer technology will be in the future, a computer can never replace a teacher in a classroom. Even with the advent of artificial intelligence and talking robots, no technology can replace a teacher’s heart. The heart of a man with feelings and the ability to inspire others. No computer or man-made machine can equal to that. My second argument states that computer is not a servant to students. It may be a tool, but not a servant. A master cannot function without its servant, and learning can still takes place even without a computer. A student must not be taught to be too much dependent on computer, as it can backfires. A computer is not a servant, nor it is a master. It is merely a tool, an instrument to make our life easier and better.

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

For classroom teaching the answer is definitely yes, especially in teaching grammar. Grammar instructions and exercises in the website are clear and vivid and makes any language teacher’s job easier and makes the student’s understand better about the rules of grammar. Most of the grammar games included in the website are interesting and are able to capture the students’ attention. It is a great way to incorporate technology in the classroom. Thank you Larry Ferlazzo for creating this awesome website.