Week 11 reading review – Learning management systems

I realize that learning management systems are good for teachers or adminstrators to manage the works on websites, such as the Blackboard in CityU. Students can login to the Blackboard to view everything they want to know about the University or learning. Lecturers can set up websites by courses for their students in learning. They can communicate through the Blackboard. This is good for students to have another platform for communicatation, other than in classrooms. The systems can guide students to learn independantly. I am one of the users in it. I got the first touch about ‘Blackboard’ when I started to be a student in CityU. I had no idea before it. After using for serveral months, I found that it is really useful. If the adminstrators manage well about the systems, students can get benefit in them. I can sure that those systems can provide environments for students learning. However, students must not rely on the system only especially in learning. They should expose more through other channels or environments.

Week 10 reading review – Learner Autonomy and Tandem Learning

Tandem Learning’s concept is good in computer-assisted learning. However, it is not easy to complete as it involved students’ autonomy.
We all know that children like playing. There are a lot of things can attract children’s attention, such as watching TV or videos and playing PSP or NDS. How can they remain their autonomy? We realize that autonomy in learning is very helpful for children so we need to do something to help them to run in a right track. I think we may try Tandem Learning in secondary schools, but it may not in primary schools, just like my students. I agree that we can ask younger students to complete tasks by using computers. The tasks may have levels systems. Students can go to one upper level if they complete one level. Moreover, they have a report which can record their results about the tasks. They will get prizes when they are good enough. I think this system can draw younger students’ attention in autonomy. Some other physical prizes can attract them too, such as token, sweets and stationary.
There is a Reading scheme which can motivate autonomy in reading in my school. It is run in primary 1 and 2. Students need to read storybooks in two lessons a week. The books have different levels. Students can read the whole sets in a level, then they can go up to another level. They need to complete some worksheets. They have their reading records which can show their progress on reading. Therefore, different students have different levels in a class. They have goals on reading. It can motivate them in autonomy.

Week 9 reading review – Practical Considerations for Multimedia Courseware Development: An EFL IVD Experience

Teachers always use Interactive CDs or Electronic-books (E-book) by publishers when they are teaching in primary levels. We all know that English is a foreign or second language of Hong Kong students. They feel difficult in learning it as we speak Cantonese in the real world. So, the book or CDs can attract students' attention. They would feel more easy or interesting when they are learning. They would not feel frightened at least. Primary students love all the animations in it. My students love reading stories with E-book because they can watch those animations and listen different characters' voices through the book. Besides, they love playing games through it. They enjoy it very much. I think if teachers can use the multimedia approiately, students will get a lot.

Week 8 reading review – Hong Kong’s Amended Copyright Law

After reading this leaflet, I have a clear understanding about the Copyright Law. Before reading, I am query about the copying of those newspapers or pictures which are for teaching and learning purposes because schools need a lot of copying. How can school manage this? I wonder the example it sated watching DVDs after exam in a classroom would not be considered ‘fair’. It is because there are a lot of teachers would play movies after exam to students in a classroom for entertainment only. So, that means they have already broken the law. In conclusion, I think teachers and students do the things with educational purposes is the most important one. I agree that students need to know this Law comprehensively.

Week 6 reading review - Theory-driven CALL and the development of process

I accept that Rodgers model' s three levels called Approach, Literature and Survey' are very hierarchical. The approach of the development process are valuable. This is a constructed process. I would try using the process when I design a website. It is really good that if we follow the theory. Teachers show emphasis on modifying, rethinking, redefining and rewriting that they are fit together. However, I think that teachers should design the website based on students’ needs. That means 'Learners' fit. Othwerwise, all are failure. The efffect of the teaching becomes poor. Moreover, the follow-up activities are essential. Teachers should do the evaluation of the website afterwards and learners' feedbacks.

Week 5 reading review- Language Behaviour in a Virtual Environment

As Roed (2003) stated that working in a virtual environment is different from learning in a classroom. I agree with it. Students in my school need to do some online reading exercises regularly. They would get a result monthly. One of my students, Ian, is good at English. He does the online reading exercises everyday both in Chinese and English without my reminding. He is always the second in Primary 3 among my school in the online exercises. However, he seems not to participate a lot in class. He is quiet, quite passive and would not raise up his hand actively when answering questions even he knows the answers. He cannot answer the questions immediately. He needs time to think when answering questions. So, I think the virtual environment learning is suitable for him. I have a doubt that the development of virtual environment would reduce the communication with others in authentic situation. Their social skills become lower. They become weak on communicating with others and cannot manage interpersonal relationship fluently. Speaking and listening skills become powerless. How can we enhance their speaking and listening skills in such environments. On the other hand, they would use the virtual languages, such as msn languages or short forms of words in their writing in classrooms. Do teachers correct them?

Week 3 reading review - Chapter 7: Teaching Guidelines

I agree that technology can assist language learning. However, I think it is difficult to ensure the skills of using computer among teachers. Teachers have different levels of skills in using computer. Moreover, technology or media is a tool to assist learning. We should concern on how to help students' learning by using technology. It is important that those internet-based activities can support the class curriculum. Besides, I totally agree that Project-Based Learning is good for students to gain experience in developing their own goals and using the Internet as a resource to fullfill these goals. But I think it is suitable for Key Stage 2 or above only. Key Stage1's students cannot handle the skills on using computers fluently. The guidance of doing projects by teachers is esstential. Teachers should give clear instructions for students to do the project, otherwise, students learn nothing in the end. Learning with a purpose is valuable. Teachers should think more authentic tasks for students to do. Then, it becomes more meaningful.