Task 2

ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION: http://www.isabelperez.com

1. What does the application attempt to teach?

The applications available at http://www.isabelperez.com vary from simple texts to difficult crossword puzzles. Basically the ESL website focuses on teaching the application users a variety of language functions not only limited to grammar or comprehension texts. The application also offered a vast range of language activities for the students to try out. Having said that the website offers various language activities, it does not only focus on certain aspect of language like grammar, where I presume the intention of the website is to also expose the students to a wide range of reading materials in the language in order to help them build a strong foundation of vocabularies.

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

The content of the website focuses on giving a model to the students and after viewing the notes as a model, the students are to complete exercises that follow. In the website, a plus point from my point of view is the fact that the exercises, quizzes, or the comprehension questions that follows the particular topic has been constructed well, because it is far from being boring and dull. The exercises are done in such a way that it still maintains the “seriousness” of question answering while adding the element of fun and it is very interactive with the application user.

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

There are no particular skills that the application user should possess besides basic word processor skills. This, in my opinion is perfect as the targeted user of the website is for primary as well as secondary students. It helps that the website does not require the users to be experts in computers for them to be able to operate the website. In my opinion, if the website required the users to have any particular computer skills, it might make it a little bit stressful for the users to operate the website. In my opinion also, because of this user-friendly feature of the website, it can be used in sub-urban schools or rural schools because it is simple and direct to the point. I believe that the developer of the website had all the intentions to make it easy to use by students as to not “kill” their excitement to learn the language. More of than not, people forget that learners of other languages who are learning the language get “turned off” by the level of difficulty placed on the content as well as applications of this sort. Therefore, I believe this particular website has applied the easy to use policy by not requiring the users to have any particular computer skills to be able to use 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?

The thing that I noticed about the website is that it tries to put forward issues that are relevant with the targeted users’ schemata or background knowledge. As teachers, we should try to manipulate the students’ schemata to help them to understand a particular lesson better. While I was browsing and exploring the website, I stumbled upon an article about Eminem, and cannot help but think that this is a brilliant move to ignite students’ excitement to read about something or someone that they are familiar with. There are also articles about drugs and movies which I think will help to sustain the students’ attention to the lesson. I felt that when I was teaching, and I think the same goes for my friends, we tried to find anything that we thought would be interesting for the students from anything that we laid our hands on. Be it newspapers, food menus, magazines, maps and television guides. I think it is a constant battle for teachers to find interesting as well as authentic materials to help them attract the students’ attention. This website however is a one-stop resource centre because it offers so much for teachers as well as the students to use the activities provided on the website.


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

I would personally suggest that the website uses principled eclecticism to teach the language. This means that the website does not only focus on a single theory but rather uses various theories and principles and theories of language learning and teaching styles to cater to each student’s styles and needs. The website also applies the Operant Conditioning Theory (B.F Skinner). This is because the website offers notes in small amounts and then students are to answer the questions (stimulus) that follow and they can then check their answers (response) immediately.

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

I believe that the website in relation to the constructivist theory of learning is applied to the website because through the website we can see that the learning process is an active, social process. In completing the tasks, the students may have to interact with not only the teachers, but they also have to interact with one another to get the tasks done therefore making learning an active process. Through practical; where the students complete the task, and speech; when the students work together with their classmates, we can tell that learning occurs when these two elements come together. Learning via the website also can be said to create collaboration among learners. Social constructivists Duffy and Jonassen (1992) proposed that there is a need for collaboration to oppose the traditional methods of learning and teaching. Interactive learning is also seen as part of the constructivists’ as one of the natures of the learning process, and the web quests activities available on the website can be said to have interactive elements where the students have to not only pay attention to the content but also to engage in conversations with their classmates to complete the task. In constructivist theory also the teacher is viewed as facilitators and we can assume that when learning using this sort of application in the classroom, the teachers are bound to become merely facilitators to support the learners to become effective thinkers.

7. In 1980’s and early 1990’s, there was a major debate on ‘whether the computer was the “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?

I personally feel that not in any way the computer has become the “master” of or “slave” to the learning process. The computer in my opinion is merely an aid to the teachers in making their lessons and tasks as a teacher simpler. Having gone through practicum, I found the computer as well as the internet to be a faithful companion to me in helping me create interesting activities for the classroom. But I also think that there may be a slight chance that in the future the computer may become either one of the roles mentioned above. With the major influence that the computer have on people and seeing how it assists people in their daily lives today, it is not impossible and would not be a surprise if one day people may no longer need teachers anymore.

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

Yes, I would most probably use the application myself in the future. I personally felt that the ESL website (particularly the one that I have explored) offers an immense amount of resources for teachers and would be a useful tool to aid me in my teaching. Not only does the website is useful on it’s own, it also provides relevant links to other websites pertaining to English Language Teaching and Learning. I also find the website to be very useful in terms if the resources provided, external links, the content materials as well as the enforcement activities are relevant and sufficient for a teacher to manipulate everything on the website in the classroom. I would also use the application by maybe taking my students to the lab to give them a chance to dabble in web based activities and not only use it in the classroom. This will provide a chance for the students to be introduced to technology as opposed to the traditional chalk and talk method. This will increase productivity in the classroom as well. I also see myself using this application in the future because I think it offers not only relevant materials but also creative materials for the targeted user of the application therefore making it in my opinion to have a high possibility that it will be a ‘hit’ with the students.

9. Suggestions / Recommendations.

For the website, the only suggestion that I have is for the web developer to use more colours in the page to stimulate the users’ visual. This is because the main page of the website is in white, despite the fonts being colourful; I believe it would be best if the background was in bright colours so that it would not look bare as it is. Otherwise, I think the website is completely helpful in assisting teachers as well as students to make learning English fun while still maintaining the learning part and mixing it with the elements fun in learning.