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.