Wednesday, 19 March 2014

ESL Website Evaluation: @eslpartyland

ESL Website Evaluation

1.       This website attempt to teach about the basis of English knowledge as well as how to add fun to the learning process itself. It has the basic structure of reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and other items that would help a learner in learning English the easy and fun way. There are exercises as well as games available in the website to test the learner of their knowledge about what have been learn in the web. Learners could also be going through the web for its exercises as it offers a variety of exercises on different topics ranging from educational to games that will help the learners to test their understanding. The website has two parts, which is one, for the teachers to teach, and the other one is for the learners to learn. It offers both as the two parties could use the website to their liking. Yes, there are immediate feedbacks to the quizzes and exercises provided as it uses the web to check for answers and not in a printed version. It is an electronic media that requires the learner to fill in the answers and clicking check to find out about their results. Besides each exercises, there is a note about the level of each quiz, whether it is a beginner, or hard. The user can try their ability and be able to receive immediate feedbacks.

2.       The learners have to click on their respective links on the left side of the website. They pick their item, and the web will display the content of the subject that they have chosen. The learners would be provided with the content, as well as links to different items related to the topic they have chosen. There is also a section on articles of the knowledge on hot to teach, or how to learn English, and some other topics that would be helpful in understanding the basis of certain things that the learner wishes to know. The learners could pick from lessons, learning English or quizzes and games. There are a lot to be picked from, so it’s up to the learner to decide. Meanwhile, for teachers, there is a section for them in the website. There are sections for lesson plans, articles on learning as well as exercises to help the teacher boost their lesson. The teacher could use the materials provided there to create lessons which is educational but at the same time fun, as the website name implies. The content in the website is easily access with a click, and there are a lot to be chosen from. Thus, it is a matter of choice, which one would you want to click and learn first. It is as the saying goes, “Information in just one click, and knowledge at your fingertips.” Pick your choice, and click to learn, it is that easy.
3.       Going through the website, it is like browsing through materials during my practicum. I like to use materials outside of the normal system of textbook or exercise book; I like using item that is current, related to educational, and have some moral values to it. I like something fun, and attractive for the students, that is why I like to use materials that I found on the web; it is more appealing for the kids. The article’s, yes, I did some research on educational psychology, as how to attract students in learning, and I found that the articles in the website that I have chosen is relevant to the process of teaching and learning. It reminded me of practicum, and the process of education, the long process in which the final goal is not to only teach, but to educate. Self-studying is one thing that this website offers as it let you pick your item of interest and then let you learn the item. It provides you with the freedom to choose and try-out different activities to suit your liking, not only paper and pen of the usual learning process in school. And of course, self-research. I usually like to do research in order to better understand a topic to teach, and be able to share what I am teaching better. Gaining knowledge and learning while you are teaching is a must, as the learning process always went on and never stop till death. So, self-research

4.       The website gives something which is not present in a textbook as it lets the learner discover things on their own and let them pick what they like. To try things differently and be able to see things from different perspectives is what the website offers. It has different titles up for grab and multiple types of exercises as well as games to let the learner learn in different forms, not only by paper and pen. They learn things outside of the textbook context, adding items related to language learning and the world. The web provides the learner with a platform to choose their activities and topics from. The learner themselves pick what they like to know and what they like to learn, as well as do exercises in their own liking, play games that help them learn better or challenge their interest and knowledge. Sometimes, the textbook and workbook are too rigid with their format and exercises, like teaching for exams instead of teaching for knowledge. This website helps the learner by providing a holistic integration of learning and knowledge attainment. You not only learn for exam, but a lifelong learning process.

5.       Learning styles differ among students. Therefore, it is important to apply differ skills while teaching, not only chalk and talk. There are numerous theories that one can use to describe the website. The fun in learning is one, with the addition of memorable learning. The lesson does not have to be full of educational input, but at the end students are not able to produce any output. Rather, when the learning is fun and memorable, the students will better remember the lesson, making the lesson a successful one, and meaningful learning occurs. The students are also learning by their own way, thus, experiential learning occurs. They click on any topic they like, and try out the exercises, making their own way through the lesson, and experience learning by themselves. They practice and practice to become more skilled and more knowledgeable. They actively engage in the learning process, making it a learner-centred lesson. They become more aware of what they learn.

6.       Language learning occurs when one receives input and can produce quality output from the item learned. The website provides such a field, in letting the students discover their own potential in learning. The students learn in their own way, with the help of the website, letting them discover learning in their own method and ways, thus becoming more effective as they learn better in their own style. The activities and games as well as the lesson available in the website makes the learning process easier and show great potential for the students to learn. The students learn their own way, in their own style, and the activities present there challenge the students to try harder, and succeed in their trials. The website integrates challenging but fun activities so that the students will learn better as the content is one point higher from their existing knowledge. A mixture in the item and exercises surely will help the students achieve better understanding and attain new knowledge from the website.

7.       Yes, definitely, this is one of the best website that I came across while browsing through the net. It has a lot of integration to it, not only teaching materials but also games and fun items in helping to make learning a better and fun process. If people ask me, what kind of materials that you integrate and use in class, I would say, something fun from the internet. There are a lot you could find on the internet, and fit the materials you found with the item that you are teaching, and poof, it is an interesting teaching material. I would recommend this to new teachers as well as the existing teachers for them to look for new materials to use in their lesson, making each lesson fun and memorable. If more and more teachers are able to use interesting materials in their teaching, it will attract their students to learn the lesson, receiving more input and producing more output. Catering to the student’s need, and altering the process of teaching and learning will make the students attracted to learn. Surely, with the usage and incorporation of this website in teaching and learning, it will hopefully help increase the productivity of the lesson taught in schools and classes will become more attractive.

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