For teachers of mathematics and science are receiving English language training through the English for Teaching of Mathematics and Science (ETeMs) program conducted by the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, public universities such as UKM also develops programmed that aim to prepare lecturers trained in Bahasa Melayu, to conduct their lectures and tutorials in English by 2005. This paper proceeds to share the experience at the School of Language and Linguistics of UKM which was commissioned to develop the English language training module for in-service lecturers at UKM.
So, as the conclusion the experience in developing and conducting the online test for the UKM academicians so that profiling of their language proficiency can be conducted for the purpose of placement of English training modules is very valuable indeed. Ideally, the online test should inform on the lecturers' general language ability, linguistic knowledge, and domain use of language. The UKM community also needs to be informed about the test so that majority of the lecturers will come forward and self-rate their proficiency level online.
First let me describe to you what an online journal is. A blog is more likely to be as an online diary but an online journal is likely to be like an educational site which it has an editorial control. Journal of all kinds have editors or editorial boards who review submissions and perform a quality control function to ensure that all material appearing in the journal meets the expectations. Journal is a place where new ideas emerged from people that are sharing the journal in getting new information about a topic. Journal also can be a method of teaching. Typical examples of online journals are literary journals, news and popular interest magazines, and ones devoted to specialty subject such as professional or academic publications in other words, e-learning.
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Abstract Designing and implementing effective e-learning is a complex process, which involves many factors. Lecturers need to constantly consider, evaluate and adjust this factor to provide effective e-learning environments for students. In this paper, we report on the design and development of the Online Learning Environment Survey (OLES), an instrument which can be used to gather and represent data on students' 'actual' (experienced) and 'preferred' (ideal) learning environments. We describe the use of this instrument in blended learning environments with university classes, illustrating how OLES can be used by educators striving for good practice in the design of effective online learning environments.
Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia with the intention of defining an initial research agenda for discipline-specific factors in the usability of e-learning websites, this article focuses on the example of foreign language learning. First, general notions and concepts of usability are analyzed, and the term "pedagogical usability" is proposed as a means of focusing on the close relationship between usability and pedagogical design. Then, to address the key issue of whether there are aspects of pedagogical usability that are discipline-specific, the article examines how language learning and teaching, in particular Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL), has approached usability when developing technology-enhanced learning materials. Three elements of a research agenda are identified:-
(a) Pedagogical usability,
(b) Inter cultural usability and
(c) Website evaluation.
In conclusion, it is suggested that, just as language learning websites may require a discipline-specific approach, other disciplines' pedagogical usability may also need to be considered in relation to the specific requirements of the discipline, and that a debate around these issues is timely. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
This time I’m going to talk about the using of blog. The term “blog” is a portmanteau, or in other words, it’s a blend or a combination of the word “web” and “log” (Web Log). “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. Blog is a web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Blog can be use to express feeling also the opportunity to write what you feel or what you think.
It is a medium to deliver opinion to the others. In general, a blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. For an example, I’m using a blog for one of my studies method. A typical blogs combines text, images and links to other blogs, web pages and other media related to its topic.
Blog or web blog is a reasonably new phenomenon for teacher and trainee teacher. Blog can be posted from mobile phones that have blog software. It also allows the user to log on directly to their sites for updating their blog. The importance of blog for teachers and trainee teachers are able to provide the trainee teachers a first-hand experience and develop their confidence in using the internet as a resource for teaching and learning.
Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author. For me, blog is a space for anyone who wants to write their journal, dreams, ideas and many more. Blog also have many applications such as using as a journal and it is a place for those who want to express their opinion and share it with others. Besides that, blog also can be use as a practice for those who want to improve their writng skill and improve their English.
Nevertheless, blog has advantages and also the disadvantages. First I will discuss about the advantages of the blog. Blog writing can help someone to improve their writing skill and also their English and at the same time it can help to build out confidence. With blogging activity, someone is able to write and express their opinion. When writing a blog, someone will cautious with their words, because they know the whole world will watch their writing.
In addition, from blogging we can gather much information, because blog is a place for us to express opinion and share it with others. This thing can make us view things differently. In addition, blog can help to improve the using of technology. For instance, during the making of blog we have to explore and design the blog with our creativity. This thing make us to explore the internet to find a graphic, video, animation and more thing to make our blog more interesting and not to dull or boring.
However blog also have the disadvantages. First it can spread the rumors that can give a negative effect to somebody. The rumors that spread can embarrass the people. Besides that for those who want to make a blog as a diary, they can't get privacy because the whole global world will be able to read the content. Blogging also will give a bad effect especially for student because they will spend most of their time writing the blog and forget about other things such as their assignments.
Now let’s move to my experience in writing a blog. Before this I always just heard about a blog from my friend. They always told me about their experience in blog writing, but I'm neglected it because I’m a person that dislike to write a blog. Afterwards, when I’m given an assignment about to create my own blog, I started to realize that actually blogging is something enjoyable and fun. From blogging activity I can express my opinion without feeling embarrassed to others. This is because in classes I'm not brave enough to express my opinion because my English is not good and I'm worried if my friend will laughed at me.
The important thing about blog is, I've learn how to improve my writing skills. It’ll be a sort of tool that will make sure that I work hard in using the proper English. Moreover, blogging help me to build out my confident in using English and it is really useful for me as a BA ELS student. Besides that blogging also push me to explore more new thing about using the technology. For example, I can learn how to insert a picture, video, animation and more things to make my blog interesting.
One thing that make me feel satisfied when I have my own blog is that I feel excited when I read it again and over again. It is unbelievable that I have my own blog now. Honestly, I really enjoyed these blogging activities that give me a lot of benefit and experience. I would like to thanks to my beloved lecturer Datin Norizan that help me more in blogging activity and also to my entire friend. Hope all of you enjoy reading my blog...♥
