1. Who are the users the website/websites is/are targeting?
The targeted users for the website are children from age 4 to 11 years old. As we can see, the website is full of colours, graphic and interesting features. The website is attractive to keep children’s attention while browsing the page. The screen page is also not much of scrolling involved, so it is easier for children to handle. However, the text on the pages is too small and the page is crowded with too many words. Some of the text colour is too bright. The web page loads up quite fast and it is good that it will not keep the users waiting.
The materials for children are very useful for learning language. It includes games, songs, flashcards, writing activities, poems, stories as well as a web page for parents to get to know the resources and how the resources can help the children to learn. The websites also easy to navigate and users can move easily to other directories and pages. What make this website useful is that, users (children) who want to browse the websites do not have to register or sign up to create new account. No personal information is needed for this website. The language is readable and can be understood. It does not use complicated vocabulary.
The website will be very helpful not only for children but also parents and English teachers. Parents will learn together with their children and at the same time they can bring the bond closer. Parents can find out about the courses and tips on utilizing the latest resources. Furthermore, this website can also be visited by teachers to find ideas for using the latest resources English classroom.
2. What sorts of things are the application users expected to do with regards to learning and using (or even manipulating!) the content?
The application users will be expected to engage in various language activities. Most of the activities are user friendly since the website is designed specially for children. Children can learn to play language games such as Cracking the Secret Codes, Animal Countdown, Filling Gaps, Counting the Time, Teddy Dresser, Painting, Word Mazes and so much more. The users can also listen to educational songs, nursery rhymes and traditional songs, short stories and fairy tales.
Besides that, users can read a story from the website. There is a wide range of stories for the users to read. This website also offers interesting writing activities such as creating our own poems and together with the background and decoration. Users can send their poems to friends through email to share opinions. Users can also create their own story, read and give review about books and films. E-card is also available for the users to be creative and interactive. Art is included in the website especially for the users who love to paint. Parents and teachers can print flashcards, notes and download the songs to for later use.
3. What sorts of computer skills are the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?
Since the British Council is an established network, they understand the needs of the users they are targeting. The skills needed to operate the website are very basic. It is user-friendly, accessible and fun to explore. The users will not have any trouble navigating the websites. Beginners of computer learner will also be able to use the website efficiently.
Users do not have to download anything to navigate the website but users can download Browsealoud for optimum use. Browsealoud will read websites out to you and highlight words as they read out. The website use Java and Flash for the games and the songs. Users can also print the materials.
4. While you are “playing”/”accessing”/”assessing” the website(s), does it remind you of anything you do (or have done) in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self study?
It does remind me of two events that I have encountered throughout my life. The first one was when I learned Methodology in Teaching Listening and Speaking during Part 3 and the second event was when I browsed some of the interactive games during my free time. For the first event, when we were learning about how to teach students listening and speaking, the lecturer showed us some of the interactive learning games from educational software. The instruction is clear and the story is quite interesting and up to date. The set up is very easy, you can insert the CD-ROM and the installation is very quick. If we pick the wrong answer, it will respond immediately and give the correct answer.
For the second encounter, sometimes I spend my time browsing the net just to play interactive games. This website evaluation really reminds me of what I did. I love the poem making and learning the short stories. This website offer many activities and it is for free.
5. What setting will the website(s) best used in: independent study lab with no teacher available, lab associated with a class, a teacher-led class with one or a few computers?
In my opinion, the website is best used in study lab where the teacher will be monitoring each and every student as they browsing the web. Even though the activities are quite easy for each level, the students still need special attention from the teacher if they come across difficult words or having problem with the website. So, basically it is better if they work with their own computer, because each individual has different needs and interests. They work better with their own momentum.
Personally, this website can be very useful for our primary school whereby the teacher act as a monitor. It can be one of the special subjects in school. This will help them to learn interactively and keeping abreast with the latest technologies. However, there are many limitations for this. Computers must be adequate in the computer lab to cater to each student and sometimes the school does not have budget for that.
6. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
From my analysis of the website, there are some theories that I can relate to. I will first talk about the first theory which is the communicative language teaching. In relation to this theory, the website activities focus on all of the components including grammatical, discourse, functional, sociolinguistic and strategic (Brown, 2000). Students (users) are also given opportunities to focus on their own learning process through understanding their own pace and learning styles. They generate their own autonomous learning. In this theory, the role of the teacher is as facilitator (Brown, 2000). Users can choose certain activities that they like and do it with their own pace.
The website is also focuses on the learner itself and this is what we called learner-centered instruction because the techniques used by the website allow students to create their creativity and innovation (making poems and creating stories). It also enhances a student’s sense of competence and self-worth. This website also integrates interactive learning (Brown, 2000). Users learn authentic language input in real world contexts, and producing meaningful language. Students can as well share their book review and film review to other student in a different part of the world which is very interactive.
Last but not least, I think the major theory that is much related to this website is the content- based instruction. Content-based instruction can be defined as the “integration of content learning with language teaching aims.” (Brinton, Snow and Wesche, 1989: vii). The website presents wide range of subject matter that is related to our daily life; for example, science, mathematics, cultural event, social issues which can be found in the Topics A to Z. Language becomes a medium for accomplishing a set of content goals. Students can relate easy with the content and not limited to only drill practices (Brown, 2000).
7. How well are the Vygotsky’s constructivist theory of learning and
To begin with, constructivism perceives learning as a process whereby the learner actively construct and create new ideas or concepts based on their schemata. It involves “constructing one’s own knowledge for one’s own experience”(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)#Constructivism). To relate this theory with this website, student plays an active role engaging with this websites, they derive their own concepts that can be applied in the real world context for example counting the time, learning how to be safe online and even experimenting with simple recipes! In the website, teacher’s role is only as a facilitator who let the student discover themselves. Basically, it promotes freedom for students within a given framework or structure. It is clear that it does integrate the Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism.
Howard Gardner developed multiple intelligences theory of learning in 1983. He suggests that each individual has different abilities and intelligences. He classified seven main intelligences including: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal and intrapersonal (Santrock, 2000). In relation to this theory, this website does offer various skills and intelligences. Users can learn language (linguistic), mathematics (logical-mathematical), direction (spatial), listen to songs (musical). It does integrate different skills so that users with different ability can enjoy the activities from the website.
Therefore, this website does apply both theories of learning.
8. 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 - is the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?
Computer is neither a master nor servant for the user. In my opinion, computer is just a medium of instruction that is very useful and interactive. It facilitates learning to be interesting and at the same time meaningful. It helps the teachers to deliver their materials in a very creative and modern way.
Coming back to the main issue, if we regard the computer as our master, we have to be aware that we are the one who created it. It has flaws such as viruses and others threats. Furthermore, computer is programmed by human and it responds to certain command. How can we regard them as our master? I believe that somehow we need ‘real teachers’ to help us with learning. We cannot rely solely on computer to do the teaching. Human touch will definitely aid the learning process. Students will feel the real attention given by teacher and computer fails to do so.
Overall, both teachers and computers would be a great ‘team’ to be the effective medium of instruction. We cannot say that one is better than the other. They actually work best together.
9. Would you like to use the website(s) yourself in your future work?
Yes? Give reasons:
No? Give reasons:
Yes, I would love to return to this website and use it as teaching resources. There are three major reasons why I would like to use it in future. The first reason is the variety of topics offer by this website. Even though I am an adult learner, I really enjoyed the topics that I can choose from. This website offers wide ranged of topics and it is also very global. For example, they use science, math, and cultural event as a topic to learn English. Thus, it will not bore the students. The characters for the topics and stories are also universal, it have Ali, Bruno, Zeyneb,
Secondly, I like the idea of teachers and parents who can access to the website. This gives them an opportunity to know what is the latest teaching resources and how they can use it for the children’s’ benefits. The creator of this website considered the needs for their targeted audience.
The third reason is the convenient of using the website. We do not have to download certain application to play games or listening to the audio effect. We can get it for free in this website. In addition, it does not require any personal information or registration in order to play with the activities. I think it is very convenient.
Thus, I would really like to return to this website again.
10. Suggestions/Recommendations.
The materials offer in this website is already adequate for learning the language. However, it would be better if:
- They include on line quizzes so that users can measure their understanding of what they have learnt. They can also make online writing assessment whereby users can submit their composition about particular topic and the British Council will respond to the work. This will help the students to be interactive and creative.
- Since this is a website from
- Even though the games offers in this website are fun it should be more challenging. Some of the games are too easy and at one time, users may be bored because it does not really test their cognitive ability. Children can have fun in learning but it does not mean having fun all the time.
- They should create blog so that users can express their ideas and exchange opinions with one another. They can discuss current issues and this will help them with writing skills and communication skills. In a subtle way, they also learn computer and language and we can say that there is where computer assisted language learning exist.
By
Tg Mohd Farid b. Tg Abd Aziz
2004327229
