Making an Online Quiz (Using Quizstar)

QuizStar is a Web-based quiz maker that enables you to create, administer and automatically grade your quizzes online! With QuizStaryou can: - Manage classes and quizzes. - Attach multimedia files to questions. - Make quizzes in multiple languages.

Below are some screenshots of QuizStar website:

For further details we can visit http://quizstar.4teachers.org/ or http://quizstar.4teachers.org/instructor/quiz_repository.jsp?pl=qm&cl=qm_ov&qsts=1432453717597

Blended Learning

The definition of blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns: (1) at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace; (2) at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home; (3) and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience. The majority of blended-learning programs resemble one of four models: Rotation, Flex, A La Carte, and Enriched Virtual. The Rotation model includes four sub-models: Station Rotation, Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, and Individual Rotation.

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Below is the activity in blended learning in the form of infographic:

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Blended learning has some advantages(pros) and disadvantages(cons), they are:

Pros:

• Provides for individualized support for the students
• students can access material at anytime, anywhere, to review the material
• provides richer, more interactive learning experiences
• provides more time for collaboration with the students and teachers
• parents have access to what students are doing - better communication and support
• studies show it increases student and teacher productivity, improves teaching and learning, and provides more and better data, and helps customize learning.
• more and more colleges and even workplaces are using this model
• gives students more time to learn - extends the learning beyond the end of the school day

Cons:

• Teachers will need time to create and/or select content.
• Teachers will need training on using this method of instruction to make it effective
• students will need to be shown how to access, use the technology and what is expected of them
• Students need to be able to do work outside of school hours

• do they have access to technology at home?
• do they have access to internet at home?
• do they have other things that take up their time (job, etc.)
• students need to be self-directed to work at home

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The Era of E-Learning

What is E-learning? E-learning is the use of electronic technology in teaching and learning, and accordingly is a subset of educational technology. The origin and etymology of e-learning is contested, and the "e" does not necessarily mean electronic (as per e-mail or e-commerce)

E-learning is a learning technology is relatively new in Indonesia. To simplify the term, the electronic learning is shortened to e-learning. This word consists of two parts, ie 'e' is an abbreviation of 'electronica' and 'learning' which means 'learning'. So e-learning means learning by using electronic devices aid services. So in the implementation of e-learning use of audio, video or computer device or a combination of all three.

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 The purpose of e-learning is to allow people to learn for personal accomplishment or to earn a professional degree, without physically attending a traditional university or academic setting.

Types

• There are a number of types of e-learning that depend on the amount of physical interaction. Entirely online e-learning occurs without any face-to face interaction. Course work and materials are distributed electronically through email, websites, online forums and/or CDs or DVD-ROMs. Combined learning uses a combination of Internet-directed instruction, as well as face-to-face interaction. Most traditional colleges and universities use combined learning as students learn in physical classrooms, with instruction augmented by online lessons. For those learning for personal accomplishment, e-learning can also use a combination of e-learning types, as they can be entirely self-directed, or they can use the assistance of an expert in their selected field.

Location

• Because the only requirements for e-learning (in most cases) requires a computer with Internet access or a CD/DVD-ROM drive, e-learning students can learn from home, libraries, Internet cafes or any other location that has Internet access. This is why e-learning is a preferred option for those who work full time or part time and cannot afford to travel to a physical school. The ease of location with e-learning also makes it preferable to stay-at-home parents with young or special-needs children. E-learning can also save money in that e-learners do not have to pay for gas, vehicle repair or parking validation if they choose to remain at home while taking courses online. Ease of location is also beneficial to students who are home-schooled, as they can gain social interaction through online communications as well as educational materials.

Pace

• Another benefit to e-learning is that it is self-directed, meaning that the e-learner sets the pace of her learning. Unlike traditional methods of education, e-learning allows a student to pace her educational needs with her comfort level. This is especially true when a person chooses to use e-learning for personal accomplishment. For those seeking a professional degree, there may be requirements and course work that must be completed by a certain time, but these deadlines are usually more flexible than the requirements made at traditional learning institutions.

Drawbacks

• The most controversial aspect of e-learning is for those who are seeking professional degrees. Some online learning institutions may not meet the academic standards set forth by private accreditation organizations. Accreditation standards are used to confirm a learning institution’s academic quality. This does not mean that an online institution that is not accredited has poor academic quality, but it can cause problems when an e-learner seeks to transfer credits from an online institution to a traditional educational facility. Another drawback to e-learning is that it can be difficult for individuals who are not primarily self-motivated. While self-directed learning has been appropriately praised for its versatility, it can be a trap for those who need the external motivations physical classrooms and instructors can provide.

Cost

• E-learning has also been praised as a lower-cost option for those seeking additional education. Costs for individual classes and learning institutions vary depending on location, degree or type of program, and area of study. Online universities generally charge the same way traditional universities do, by charging per credit hour. But also like traditional universities, scholarships, grants, and student loans are available as well. See the Resources list below for sites with information about e-learning costs by discipline and degree desired.

Below is an example of e- learning site:

http://www.go2web20.net/#tag:e-learning

E-learning has its own advantages and disadvantages

The Advantages of eLearning includes:

• More Flexible – eLearning can be done in short chunks of time that can fit around your daily schedule
• Mobile – As eLearning can be done on laptops, tablets and phones – it is a very mobile method.
• No Travel– As just mentioned, eLearning can be done wherever you have a device capable of doing so. Therefore again you can fit it in to your schedule, but also save money on the costs of travel.
• Lower cost – As you aren’t using a trainer’s time or any room or equipment, eLearning tends to be the much cheaper option.
• Tailor it to you – eLearning courses aren’t confined to be fixed to try and suit the needs of the majority. If you feel you already know a particular area well and don’t need to spend an hour on it again.
• Technological Possibilities – eLearning is fast becoming a more and more popular method and with it, so has the investment into how to improve it further. This is only going to improve as time goes on as well.
• Global – With very few restrictions companies can be confident that their staff can receive the same content regardless of their location, and in many cases, their nationality.

 The Disadvantages of eLearning Training includes:

• Lack of Control–A lack of routine or fixed schedule can mean eLearning becomes complicated with various deadlines often given to different people at different stages of their learning.
• Learning Approach – It doesn’t appeal to all learning styles so some learners will not enjoy the experience – especially strong activists and pragmatists
• Isolated – eLearning often doesn’t allow that with trainers often having to answer numerous questions all of the time and only doing it within working hours – where a lot of learners may prefer to do their learning out of working hours.
• Technology Issues – With heavy reliance on computers that eLearning brings, comes the potential risks that comes with it.
• Computer Competency – Some employees might not be too comfortable using computers, especially if their jobs don’t require them to.

Conclusion

Overall, traditional learning is expensive, takes a long time and the results can vary. E-learning offers an alternative that is faster, cheaper and potentially better.

Quiz Result

I got "84%" on this Quibblo quiz: ICDL Module 1 – Concepts of ICT (Test1 - 50 Questions)! My result for "ICDL Modu... http://qz4.me/wIfOJ6

Muhammad Salafudin
2201412057
ICT in Language Teaching (201-202)

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL)

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What is CALL?

Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is defined as "the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning." (Levy, 1997: 1) The main aim of CALL is to find ways for using computers for the purpose of teaching and learning the language. More specifically, CALL is the use of computer technologies that promote educational learning, including word processing, presentation packages, guided drill and practice, tutor, simulation, problem solving, games, multimedia CD-ROM, and internet applications such as e-mail, chat and the World Wide Web (WWW) for language learning purposes.

There are several terms associated with CALL. CALL is variously known as Computer-Aided Language Learning (CALL), Computer-Assisted Language Instruction (CALI) and Computer-Enhanced Language Learning (CELL). The first two terms generally refer to computer applications in language learning and teaching, while CELL implies using CALL in a self-access environment (Hoven, 1999). 

Types of CALL Programs

CALL programs/materials include (from ICT4LT Module 1.4): 

-       CALL-specific software: applications designed to develop and facilitate language learning, such as CD-ROMs, web-based interactive language learning exercises/quizzes.

-   Generic software: applications designed for general purposes, such as word-processors (Word),  presentation software (PowerPoint, see an e-book made by students "Many Moons"), and spreadsheet (Excel), that can be used to support language learning.

- Web-based learning programs: online dictionaries, online encyclopedias, online concordancers, news/magazine sites, e-texts, web-quests, web publishing, blog, wiki, etc.

- Computer-mediated communication (CMC) programs: synchronous - online chat; asynchronous - email, discussion forum, message board

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Types of CALL Activities

-          Computer as Drill and Practice

-          Computer as Tutor

-          Computer as Simulation/Problem Solving

-          Computer as Game

-          Computer as Tool for ELT teachers and learners

-          Applications of Internet for ELT

 What Computers Can and Can’t “Do”

Computers CAN	Computer CAN’T
Judge predetermined right-or-wrong answers, e.g., multiple choice and fill-in-the-blanks	Judge unexpected input
Provide immediate, yet fixed, feedback, suggestions, and encouragement	Provide individualized feedback beyond a predetermined list of messages
Provide authentic information through multimedia - texts, images, sounds, videos, and animations	Engage learner in rich negotiation of meaning characteristic of face-to-face interaction
Motivate task persistence •Record learner’s writing, speech, and learning progress	Motivate depth and quality of engagement characteristic of human interaction

Tips in Using CALL

The use of computers as teaching media can be very helpful to the teachers. The following are tips for ELT teachers in using CALL:

1. Use CALL to serve educational purposes. Teachers should not jump in the bandwagon just because other people do. Many teachers use CALL because it is a new technology (like the language lab used to be about 30 years ago) without considering whether it serve or gives true value to educational objectives.
2. Do not isolate CALL from the rest of the curriculum. Try to integrate CALL with other subjects or disciplines in the curriculum. Using CALL across the curriculum will make it more integrative.
3. Consider CALL as one of many learning resources. Teachers should try to incorporate other learning resources and materials such as books, magazines, video, audio tape, with their teaching.
4. Choosing appropriate CALL software for the learner, such as age, need, and interest is important. Software evaluation guides are important tools for the teachers in choosing suitable software.
5. Using CALL is not the end in itself. Follow-up activities are also important. A lot of lessons end when CALL finishes in class. In fact, follow up activities such as group discussion, writing assignments, searching for more data from other learning sources e.g. interviews, and surveys are also important.
6. Do not expect that all students in class would enjoy working on the computer. A lot of students prefer human interaction (such as student – teacher or student – student ) than with the computer. Teachers should provide alternative activities for those students who prefer traditional learning approaches.
7. Do not expect that all students can work easily with the computer. Many students take much longer to learn certain skills such as using the keyboard, the mouse, etc., while other students pick up these skills easily. Teachers must be patient and willing to help the slow groups.
8. Try to incorporate a variety of activities on CALL such as desktop publishing (e.g. word processing), e-mail correspondence, web publishing (e.g. home pages, newspapers), chats and moos, and web based assessment.
9. Do not expect that teaching with computers would be easy for all teachers. It can be exhausting or may require a lot of preparation such as setting up the computer lab, preparing suitable software and materials (printed and online), including follow up activities. Team work seems to be the best solution for implementing CALL in school.

Teaching English using CALL can be a very good way to improve students and teachers’ ability, in learning English and technology nowadays. Students are tend to be interested in technologies and its development. So that, the use of technology or teaching using CALL as the method will be the most interesting way for the student in learning English. If CALL is used properly with clear goals, CALL can interest and motivate learners of English as stated before.

However, besides of the user-friendliness, and effectiveness of CALL, it will never replace the teacher. The effectiveness of CALL relies on how CALL is utilized to meet language learning goals for individualized learners in specific educational settings.

 ICT in Language Learning

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Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is very important to life in our modern technological society. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) content in language teaching for example English enables students to develop and apply skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in their composing, responding and presenting, and as part of the imaginative and critical thinking they undertake in English.

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ICT has its own advantages in language learning, such as:

1. Through ICT, images can easily be used in teaching and improving the retentive memory of students.

2. Through ICT, teachers can easily explain complex instructions and ensure students' comprehension.

3. Through ICT, teachers are able to create interactive classes and make the lessons more enjoyable, which could improve student attendance and concentration.

However, it is also has disadvantages:

1. Setting up the devices can be very troublesome.
2. Too expensive to afford.
3. Hard for teachers to use with a lack of experience using ICT tools.

In order to minimalize those disadvantages we can also hire technicians in technology, use the most affordable tools (for example using free or open source software), the language class teacher can be given training in using ICT. In using most affordable tools or software, we can freely access some applications for instance “Prezi”. A presentation tool, Prezi provides users with a large canvas upon which to pin text slides, video clips and images. So far, so PowerPoint, you might say.

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Integrating ICT into education or language learning seems to be an important issue for educators or education administrators in the world. However, if teachers cannot make good use of the ICT tools, the money and time spent on the ICT is going to be a waste. Also, if the educational budget is limited, looking for a cost-effective and high-performance ICT tool can be the first priority. Educational ICT tools are not for making educators master ICT skills themselves, but for making educators create a more effective learning environment via ICT.

1st Assignment: Management Information System (MIS)

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A management information system (MIS) is a computer-based system provides the necessary information to manage an organization or business effectively. The Management information system has three primary resources: Technology, Information, and People. One of the technology and information components to accomplish MIS is a web page on the internet. The web page contains from hypertext, hypermedia, and also multimedia contents.

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Hypertext is the presentation of information as a linked network of nodes which readers are free to navigate in a non-linear fashion. It allows for multiple authors, a blurring of the author and reader functions, extended works with diffuse boundaries, and multiple reading paths. Unlike the typical printed book, which is read sequentially from beginning to end, hypertext is inherently nonlinear: it is comprised of many interlinked chunks of self-contained text. Readers are not bound to a particular sequence, but can browse through information intuitively by association, following their interests by following a highlighted keyword or phrase in one piece of text to bring up another, associated piece of text.

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Hypermedia, then, is the generalization of hypertext to include other kinds of media: images, audio clips and video clips are typically supported in addition to text. Individual chunks of information are usually referred to as documents or nodes, and the connections between them as links or hyperlinks the so-called node-link hypermedia model. The entire set of nodes and links forms a graph network. The traditional definition of hypermedia as being `multimedia with links' belies many of the possibilities modern technology now offers.

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Another term is multimedia. It uses computers to present text, audio, video, animation, interactive features, and still images in various ways and combinations made possible through the advancement of technology. By combining media and content, those interested in multimedia can take on and work with a variety of media forms to get their content across. This is an exciting new field for those interested in computers, technology, and creative career options. Multimedia can be accessed through computers or electronic devices and integrates the various forms together. One example of multimedia would be combining a website with video, audio, or text images.

Finally the modern ICT is increasingly being developed. It is used in many fields of human activity nowadays. In the education field, the use of ICT itself can be an easier way to improve better access in acquiring teaching goals, such as the use of blog and the use of multimedia contents in teaching. Finally it can improve both teachers and learners ability in mastering certain material.  However, it can be a factor causing the lack of physical interaction and communication among us. So that, we have to be wise in using the ICT in our daily activities.