Task 3: Lesson Plan

Health Problems and Remedies

Level: Form 2 – Intermediate/Advance

Time: 60 minutes

Aims: To find specific information on a Website, to practice preparing slides for presentation using the Microsoft Powerpoint and to practice vocabulary associated with health problems and its remedies.

Technical Requirements:

A group of three (3) students per computer with an Internet connection, a Web Browser and Microsoft Office – Powerpoint.

Websites: http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/, http://www.grannymed.com/

Preparation:

1. Locate websites about health problems with home remedies solution
2. Prepare a comprehensible instructions and guidelines for the students before hands-on the activity
3. Prepare a worksheet using word processor based on the information from the websites found

Procedure:

1. Show a picture of a sneezing man and ask the students what they think is happening to the man. Tell the students to describe the man in the picture using complete sentences – eg. The man has a flu or the man is sick and he is sneezing.
2. Ask the students what the man in the picture should do to cure his sickness and ask them what are home remedies that they know then explain the meaning of home remedies.
3. Give out each group a worksheet prepared. Ask them to read the instructions given carefully. Then, tell the students that the answers are available online in the website provided.
4. During the activity the teacher is supposed to go around and facilitate the students if there is any question regarding the task carried out. Then, the answers are gathered and discussed.
5. Ask the students to open the Web Browser and search for an image of a sick person. The picture can be about anything as long as it indicates a sick person and save the picture into My Documents.
6. Then, open a new Powerpoint document and explain to the students on how to insert the picture saved earlier. Ask the students to work in groups in preparing a new slide of Powerpoint by including the hints or clues of what health problem that they want others to guess. They may also include the home remedies for the health problem issued.
7. The students are to provide the slide creatively with colourful backgrounds, layouts and animation schemes to make it more interesting.

Follow up: The slides are to be saved in a CD and to be submitted in the following class.

p.s. I have email you the worksheet for the first activity (table)

In-class task (Podcast)

Let's try out something new, please click HERE!

It's a new thing that I learn in CALL class today. It is fun and interesting and yes, when you hear Syamer's monotonous voice, lagi fun and interesting!

Thanks Syamer for lending me your podcast!

"merdu" suara kau! :D

Task 2: ESL Website Evaluation

The website picked to be assessed is the http://www.learn-english-today.com/ and you can access to the website through here. This website was taken in the http://tsl641.blogspot.com/ listed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Izaham Shah Ismail in helping the fellow students to get access with the ESL language games and content online.

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

This is an online lesson and wordgame that mainly to teach the students of various grade levels ESL and EFL. It also provides an e-Learning of vocabulary, idioms, proverbs and English lessons. For example, http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/ambition-determination.htm and http://www.learn-english-today.com/Proverbs/proverbs_A-K.html. The English lessons provided in the web teach the students the basic of English to the advanced level of the language. Its main concerns are to provide the students with the vast information of the language as well as to develop the students’ proficiency. For example, students can get access to English verbs and exercises online without any hassle of traditional chalk and talk by the teacher; http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/present_simple_lesson.html. Its detailed explanation, examples and exercises are very convenient and comprehensible. The wordgames included on the other hand, are merely to expose the students about the fun and interesting part about grammar and the language components. There are also jokes, riddles, and brain-teasers in which can help students to increase their vocabulary and power of the use of the language. For example, http://www.learn-english-today.com/wordgames/hotpot-xwords/entertainment.html.

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

The free and no-signing in application that provides the application users to gain access to build up and develop their skills in increasing their vocabulary as well as to brush up their grammar skills in English. The learning from this application can be applied by the students writing and reading comprehension activities. For example, after a detailed explanation of Active and Passive form of Verbs, teachers may give the students an exercise to replace active phrases to passive ones like this, http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/passive-ex.htm. The lists of idioms and proverbs provided here; http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idioms_proverbs.html can as well be the students’ reference for everyday conversations and reading.

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

This is an easy access application in which if the application users have the Internet connection and without worrying about the hassles of signing in as a member or underlying cost the application is ready to be operate/access/use. There is no need of downloading any special software to open the website or any usage of the Microsoft Office. All needed is Internet connection, a personal desktop and a basic language skills and the application is good to go.

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?

Yes. The exercises provided in the English Verbs, Grammar and Vocabs where the explanation is slightly the same with the textbook and the exercise books. However, it is rather interesting to have it in an application whereby there are hands-on activities than reading and copying from the textbook to the exercise book. As for future teachers, the wordgames such as crosswords puzzles and matching exercises; http://www.learn-english-today.com/wordgames/hotpot-match/meanings_run-match2.html it would be easier to be used in the classroom rather than writing them out on a Mahjong paper. This will give less chaos in the classroom as well as saves the teacher’s energy, time and money in producing the game on paper.
As for the quizzes in the application, there are several questions in the quizzes that were used by the teachers during the in-class exercises such as; http://www.learn-english-today.com/wordgames/hotpot-quizzes/Prepositions-quiz1.htm and http://www.learn-english-today.com/wordgames/hotpot-missingwords/shaggy-dog.htm.

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

There are several theories of language learning that can be found in the application and one of them is the Bloom’s Taxonomy in which the activities provided are according to the students’ levels of thinking. The questions in the quizzes and wordgames are arranged accordingly level by level according to the students’ proficiency. The order of thinking skills varied from beginner, intermediate to advance levels and it is appropriately for the students to start from scratch and to keep up to date with the development from time to time. It helps to motivate the students to learn and at the same time to have fun with the ESL activities. Also, this application emphasizes on the Communicative Competence or the grammatical competence provided. Examples of this can be seen in the quizzes section.
This application’s vast activities on grammar simplified that the generator of the application believes that every child owns the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) by Noam Chomsky. According to David, 2004, Chomsky’s theory supposes that the ability to learn language is inborn, that nature is more important than nurture and that experience using language is only necessary in order to activate the LAD. Therefore, the exercises, quizzes and lessons of grammatical components are included in the application.

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

According to Jean Piaget, individuals construct new knowledge from their experiences through processes of accommodation and assimilation. This application focuses on the aspects of the two processes.
This application not merely providing grammar exercises also motivation for learning in which the learning is strongly dependent on the learner’s confidence in his or her potential for learning. The teacher acts only as a facilitator or instructor when the application is being operated. From here the Constructivist Intervention is applied, Baursfeld (1995) .

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

The matter of computers replacing the job of a teacher is oblivious. How can a career of a teacher be replaced by non-living things that we call technology? Is it simply because of its highly technological usage in everyday situation that teachers are no longer needed in school or the society? Well, as for me, computers made life easier and that does not give the implication that we don’t need a teacher.
Technology, computers and Internet are the medium of interaction in which everyone is able to use to ease the everyday routines. It can be used for good purpose such as retrieving new knowledge and education but can never be a replacement of a noble job as an educator. An educator or a teacher’s responsibility is not merely of teaching and implying knowledge also to guide the students towards moral, experience and the meaning of life. Yes, ironically we can see the whole world and experience events of life just at the tip our fingers but to think of it, can it help our future leaders and generation about the authenticity of life and how morality and humanity can be infuse in the hearts of our children.

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

Yes, I will use this application in my future work. Apart of its free access, simple and easily operated by everyone it also provides various grammatical exercises and interesting wordgames which are suitable for all age levels. Moreover, its various levels of thinking skills make it applicable to all grade levels.

9. Suggestions/recommendations

There are few recommendations and suggestions to help the application more lively and more interesting is that to add on more colourful pictures and images. The activities provided are fun but by adding some beautiful, 3D animations and pictures the experience can get more pleasurable.
Also, phonetics components such as pronunciations and sounds can be more interesting and authentic for conversations and dialogues.


Prepared by:
Siti Adibah Abdul Mutalib
2005478342
U8A

Date of Submission:
6th February 2009

They need our help

Today's program, Sehari Untuk Gaza is the day that worth each and every one of us to attend and participate. Though me and Oni's participation were very last minute and were not really prepared, we manage to collect a large amount of money to be contributed to the Palestines.

Me and my partner, Shazni Bahari aka Oni, opened a Vintage Clothing shop at the Tesl Square and the support from the students here were very extraordinary! Many people came to look around and buy our clothings and there were even some of them who wanted to contribute their clothes, pants and even bags to be sold to help our brothers and sisters in Gaza!

The program is held for only one day and everyone hopes that it could be longer so that they could participate and sell more things at the faculty!

Some of us did think of selling food and drinks at the cafe if the program continues on the next day! - TESL students can be business-minded at times!

No worries, you can still help by coming to an event held by Rantai Art in March. There will be an Art Exhibition where our talented, local artistes from all around the country (and of course most of them are indie painters and artistes) gather at the Red Bungalow and exhibit their arts to be sold and the fund collected to be used to help the Palestines!

Here's a poster of the upcoming event in March!

p.s. Holidays are here again. Enjoy your holidays everyone and don't forget our little Jihad, pray for them, boycott and donate because these are the very least that we could do to help our brothers and sisters!

Task in class II

This morning I sat next to Syameer Awal and it was the first time in so many years that I finally in the same class with him again. Also, the first time for me to join CALL with the rest of U8A team mates.

After a massive, factual and mind-refreshing moments by Dr. Izaham about the introduction and history of the subject, it was time for the hands-on experience whereby we were instructed to produce a sample of activity using the word processor. The activity constructed may varied from the various techniques of copy, paste, drag and drop. (I'm no expert but I do know a little bit of here and there)

So, here's my example of English activity produced using the word processor:

figure 1.0: Copy and paste activity where the students need to replace the words in BOLD with the suitable synonyms in the box given.

p.s. sorry for the indistinct picture I will try and do better next time!

In-Class Task Uno (1)

Hello sir!

The first task of CALL is the most interesting part of all. I would generally assume this is the most fascinating and one of a kind experience. Normally, people would like to introduce oneself or being introduced by anyone in face-to-face situation but with the technology today, here I am introducing myself through the World Wide Web's blogspot.

A little bit of myself:

Name: Siti Adibah Abdul Mutalib

A simple yet intriguing name I must say. Since there are two people in U8A who share the same name, so I would prefer people to call me adeb as in /adi:b/ to avoid confusion.

Age: 22 years old

Well, soon to be 23 years old on the 26th of November 2009 and yes, I am a saggitarian.

Occupation: A student of B. Ed TESL final semester and soon to finish studying in Universiti Teknologi MARA and still deciding which road to be taken. A full time daughter of a fierce and strict father and also the eldest child in the family.

Interests: LOMOgraphy, Photography, Arts, Music, GAMELAN, etc.

Well, you know sky is the limit. Therefore, it's hard for me to list down everything that I am interested in here.

That's pretty much everything about me. Not knowing what else to share right now but soon I will try to include more interesting details about me, friends, family and people around me!

Now, let's take a peep into the knowledge that I have about computers and my skills

I don't really know that much about computers and I have to say I am a little bit conservative when it comes to technology. I do know how to use the simple Microsoft Office (Words, Excel and Powerpoint) and there are times when motivation strikes my alter ego that I wanted to try and brush up my skills with the artwork using Adobe Photoshop or the Microsoft Publisher.

I do have my own personal blog and you can have a view here and as far as I am concern, Facebook is where I get connected with the people all over the world.

As for family matters, I logged in to the Geni website whereby all of the family members from my nuclear to the extended family gather and share information about everyday life and when to meet for family gatherings.

Just like everyone else, I do ym-ing (Yahoo Messenger) and it is hard to resist from doing it whenever that I have the time to do so. Also, downloading songs, movies, video clips and even files from Bitcomet, Limewire, Ares and other computer softwares.

I have my own laptop which is powerfully supplied with the Altec Lansing audio speakers and it eases me to listen to the musics that I like or simply to watch movies whenever I want and wherever I want.

That's all for now and I shall continue to write more about the things that I know about computers as well as the skills that I have regarding the machine and it's phenomenon. Till then, toodles~



p.s. I think I have added you at facebook suggested by Dr. Shireena during last semester break!