Hypertext

Kecak (pronounced: /'ke.tʃak/, roughly "KEH-chahk", alternate spellings: Ketjak and Ketjack), a form of Balinese music drama, originated in the 1930s and is performed primarily by men. Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of 100 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting "cak" and throwing up their arms, depicts a battle from the Ramayana where the monkey-like Vanara helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana. However, Kecak has roots in sanghyang, a trance-inducing exorcism dance.[1]Kecak was originally a trance ritual accompanied by male chorus. German painter and musician Walter Spies became deeply interested in the ritual while living in Bali in the 1930s and worked to recreate it into a drama, based on the Hindu Ramayana and including dance, intended to be presented to Western tourist audiences. This transformation is an example of what James Clifford describes as part of the "modern art-culture system"[2] in which, "the West or the central power adopts, transforms, and consumes non-Western or peripheral cultural elements, while making 'art' which was once embedded in the culture as a while, into a separate entity."[3] Spies worked with Wayan Limbak and Limbak popularized the dance by traveling throughout the world with Balinese performance groups. These travels have helped to make the Kecak famous throughout the world.

WWW LESSON PLAN

Weekend Blast!!

FORM: 1

LEVEL: Intermediate

TIME: 45 minutes

AIMS: To find specific information on a website; to become familiar with vocabulary associated with interesting places in Malaysia.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: One computer per group of 5 students with an Internet connection and a Web browser.

Websites: http://www.sunwaypyramid.com/, http://www.midvalley.com.my/, http://www.1utama.com.my/, http://www.suriaklcc.com.my/

PROCEDURE:

1. Teacher talks about favorite hangout places during the weekend with students.

2. Teacher list down the favorite hangout places as stated by students on the blackboard.

3. Teacher reveals the lesson of the day.

4. Teacher asks students to form 4 groups. Teacher gives a piece of handout to each group. Teacher explains the activity.

5. Teacher asks students to access the website written on the handout.

7. Teacher asks students to complete the sentence in the handout using the information on the website.

8. Teacher asks each group to present their work.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITY:

In the same group, students are required to write a short note inviting a friend to go to a mall with them during the weekend. Write the details on what to do at the shopping mall. Email the short note to teacher.

p/s- copy of the handout had been sent to Dr Izaham via email.

TASK 2: ESL website evaluation

I have chose a website called activitie for ESL students. the url is http://a4esl.org/

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

The aim of this website is to teach English through quizzes, tests, exercises and puzzles. All the activities in the website are mean for students who learn English as second language. There are activities for grammar, vocabulary and crossword puzzle. It can be said that the target audience of this website is secondary students with various level of proficiency in English. 

The activities are organized according to the level of difficulties. The difficulty level ranged from easy to difficult. This can help students to choose the best exercise and activities to suit their level. Hence it also can make a suitable lesson for students who have different level of proficiency.

Most of the exercise on the website is submitted by teachers all over the world. The webmaster even invites any one to write quizzes or activities for the website.

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

Since this is a free and open website, the users do not need to do anything before using the website. There is no registration or fee needed. Plus the website is quite simple. As stated on the website itself, the website has no advertisement, no nonessential images and definitely no nonsense.

Users only need to click the right answer to complete the task on the website. Beside that users also can use the keyboard to utilize the activities on the website. For example in the vocabulary exercise, users only need to choose the right answer for each question. Every answer will be followed by a feedback. This can be seen at http://a4esl.org/q/f/x/xz73mmn.htm.

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

There is no specific skills needed to use the website. Students with basic knowledge of computer still can browse the website easily.

It can be operated using the basic internet explorer software. Therefore users do not have to downloads any plug in or have a specific software such as JavaScript to operate the website.

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?

While browsing the website, I recall something that I did when I was a practical teacher at SMK Seksyen 7. Whenever I want to give exercise to my students, I will always follow the Bloom’s taxonomy whereby I give the easy questions first followed by medium and difficult questions. This will help students to learn English in an easy way because the difficulty is increase gradually. Plus it can enhance the students’ motivation.

I also recalled the time when I was in pre-tesl programme. In grammar class, the lecturer, Madam Lee Lai Fong, always drill us with lots of grammar exercise. The exercises in the website remind me with all the questions in the textbook. For me, to master grammar aspect, one should do lots of practice. This can enhance one’s proficiency in grammar. Plus, practice makes perfect.

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

The first theory that I can relate with the website is the experiential learning by Carl Rogers. One of the principles of this theory is self directed learning is the most lasting and pervasive. According to Rogers, learning will take place when students participate completely and have the power to determine the learning process. Based on this website, students involve fully with the learning when they do the exercises. This will help them to learn English language more effectively. This type of learning is significant and one will retain the gained information longer.

Another learning theory that can be related with the website is the reward system. The exercise on the website will give a reward in form or written praise whenever students answer the question correctly. Words such as ‘correct’ can acknowledge the students accomplishment. This can enhance the students’ motivation. With high level motivation, students will tend to learn more. 

Lastly, as mention earlier, the exercise on this website is organized according to Bloom’s taxonomy. As can be seen on the homepage of the website, the exercise is divided from easy to difficult. 

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

The main notion that underlying the constructivist learning theory is individuals construct new knowledge from their experiences through processes of assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation is when a person incorporated a new experience with the existing framework or schemata. Accommodation is the process where a person reconstructs their schemata to fit with the new experience. 

Referring to the website, it can be said that through the exercise given, students can learn English language through the process of assimilation and accommodation. For instance, before doing a grammar exercise, students were taught about 2 types of tenses which are past and present tense. Later when the students are doing a grammar exercise on tenses, the student will try to recall what they have been taught before in class (assimilation) in order to complete the task. After that if they ever find anything new, for example, future tense, the students will reconstruct the existing schemata (accommodation). They will learn that there is other type of tense besides past and present tense.

By going through these two process students can gain new knowledge about English language. Therefore it can be said that this website applied the constructivist learning theory in the exercises.

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?

In my point of view, this matter is oblivious. How can a man made gadget replace the noble profession of teachers?

By referring to the national education philosophy, the aim of education in Malaysia is to create a well balance and harmonious individuals. If teachers are replaced by computers how can the nation create well balanced individuals? Of course the computer and the internet has vast amount of information. It can create people who are competence cognitively. But how about te mentally and spiritually? This is the weakness of computers. It cannot cater the students need in regard of mentally and spiritually. By doing the exercises on the computer, students cannot inculcate the good values inside them. 

We don’t want to create a robot that is full with knowledge but lack of emotions and moral values. As a Muslim, I personally believe that, by learning, we should be a better and wiser person I all aspect. Being a well balanced person is the aim of all Muslims as stated in the holy Quran.

It can be said that the computer is just an obedient servant to students in the process of learning.

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

I will definitely use this website in the future. As an inspired future educator, I think this website is suitable for in class task. It can be use when I want to cater the needs of students with different level of proficiency. I can play the role as facilitator while students are fully engaged with their own learning. This can create an experiential learning which can benefit the process of teaching and learning. 

Furthermore, the website can be easily access without any hassle. This can make the lesson easier and not time consuming. Plus, there will be no difficulties for students to browse the website since it is simple and straightforward. 

Lastly the website has links to other ESL website on the internet. Students can explore those websites by themselves and get engaged with various activities in their process of learning English language. This can make the learning process more fun compared to the chalk and talk method.

9. Suggestions/recommendations

To improve the website, I would suggest the webmaster to put in graphic user interface, animation or pictures to make the website looks more attractive. By adding those elements in the website, students will be more attracted to browse the website and complete the task.

Other than that, I would be great if the webmaster can create a forum on the website for teachers and students to discuss any topic regarding ESL. This can help teachers and students all over the world to overcome any difficulties in regard of ESL. Plus they forum participant also can exchange ideas and view about ESL.

Lastly, the website could be more useful if it can provide users with other component of English language such as writing, listening and even literature. If all these components were added in the website, I personally think that the website can be perceive as one stop centre for those who want to learn English language.

Prepared  by

Muhamad Izzat Rahim 

2005478223

U8A

In-class assignment 2

We are isntructed to create an exercise for school students using Microsoft Words. I create a garammar exercise. The first one is fill in the blanks with life, live, or lives. The second activitys is the word snake where students need to put space where it is appropriate.

In class Task 1

Assalamualaikum.

• My name is Muhamad Izzat Rahim, a TESL student. Currently I am on my last semester, Part 8.


• I love to blog. I already have my own personal blog.This blog is created specially for TSL641 course.


• In my 22 years of life, i had learnt how to operate many computer softwares. Among them are Word processor such as microsoft words, games, Adobe reader, Adobe photoshop,Microsoft moviemaker, Sony Soundforge, P2P software such as Ares and Limewire and media player such as GOM player, Winamp and Windows media player. There are countless softwares out there and I wish i could master all of them.


• Hardware skills? I have a few. Through informal learning from my friends, I learnt how to assemble, upgrade and repair my own computer. But I only posses the basic skills regarding this matter.


• During my free time I love to surf the internet. The most basic thing i would do when I'm on the web is to check on my Myspace to keep updated with my friends and the latest trends and music. Myspace is the easiest way to socializing and know what is happening around the world. Since football is my passion, i would browse through various football website to keep updated with the football world. Other than that I also often download songs and videos using P2P software. Once in a while I will write something on my blog. Blogging helps me to express my emotions and feelings.
• Im looking foward for this course and I think this would be a great class for all of us.