ESL WEBSITE EVALUATION

After numerous reviews on various websites, the winner is…. Grammar Bytes! (The website evaluated) 

1) What does the application attempt to “teach”?

          From the title itself, Grammar Bytes!, it is clearly stated that this website is primarily about grammar learning and teaching. Both student and teacher can benefit from this website as it provides complete components of grammar items such as nouns, adjectives, verbs and so forth. There are more than 60 detailed definitions of common grammar terms ranging from abstract nouns to verbs. For each of the grammar component, the definition and explanation is accompanied with simple and clear examples. Students are welcome to challenge their grammar knowledge by completing interactive exercises provided which are quite tricky. Students from different proficiency level can utilize this site to enhance their grammar knowledge. Upper intermediate and advance students could challenge themselves in the exercises section which is challenging yet appealing at the same time. For low proficiency level students, the definitions provided are easily understood which could lead to greater retention in the memory by understanding simple and meaningful examples offered. They can as well challenge themselves by completing all the exercises. Every answer is followed by a comprehensible explanation of grammar rules including important exceptions to the rules. Although this site only touches on grammar components, it also integrates several skills such as reading, and critical thinking. Therefore, apart from the grammar components, this site attempts to tech students to challenge themselves on how to improve their grammar knowledge by working on their own. Besides, it encourages students to think creatively while answering the exercises and link the answers to specific grammar rules. In addition to the teacher and textbook, this site helps students to get the concept of certain grammar rules and proves that grammar does not bite at all!

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

          This site is designed in a simplistic way that allows user to look through it in ease. It is very much user friendly as there are 9 sections in the homepage which direct user straightly to the specific content. First of all, the application users need to choose which grammar components that they would like to know by reading on the definitions before they can proceed with exercises. Users then can select various interactive exercises which require them to identify errors, fill in the gaps, correct errors in a sentence or many more. The interactive exercises give opportunity for users to observe their own progress because each activity comes with handout which enable marks to be recorded. Users can also view explanations if they get any wrong answer. Interestingly, users will be rewarded a picture of burger, ice lemon tea, ice cream and others if they find the correct answer and this could as well enhance one’s motivation. Besides, there are handouts provided which can be used as classroom practice. Furthermore, users can as well view YouTube video or Ms Power Point presentation in order to understand certain grammar concept in a better way with interesting graphics. The instructions are all very clear, so users will surely know what are expected from them with regards to the learning content.

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

       Certainly they need the basic computer skills including on how to manage Ms Power Point. Skill on how to use mouse, keyboards, etc is assumed as a must for everyone in this modern nation. As we move towards nation 2020, almost everyone in this world know how to operate computer even children nowadays have their own Facebook page! Unlike before, only advance learner could use computer technology in their learning but nowadays it is becoming a trend in our society. However, not to be forgotten for those who are still considered as beginners, I can say that only basic skills needed to operate this application. Users just need to make sure that they have Adobe Reader application in their computer if they want to view the handouts. Ms Power Point skill is needed when users would like to view the presentation or use it as classroom materials. On top of that, of course users need to know how to surf the internet in order to view this site. But, I believe it is not a big issue as our teenagers nowadays go online almost everyday and they surf the internet for more sophisticated site than this especially for online games (Angry Birds, The Sims, etc) and social network (Facebook, Myspace, Yahoo Messenger, etc). Then, they should have no problem to use/ access/ operate this application.

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?

       Yes, very much indeed. When I browse through this site, the first thing that appears in my mind is my secondary school ICT teacher. I used to be the class monitor when I was in form one and among my favorite subject is ICT. Every time the teacher brought us to the computer lab, we were extremely excited, (more than the excitement when I met Tun Dr Mahathir) carefully listened to the teacher’s instructions and happily examined the huge box (old style computer) in front of us. As the class monitor, I always got the privilege to enter the lab earlier than others in order to ensure that everything is ready when sometimes I had the chance to play computer game. We usually ended up late for the next class because we were so thrilled learning and experiencing the new input in ICT class. I had a great fun playing with Macromedia Flash and browsed the school’s website. I can still remember, during that time, online chatting was so famous among teenagers especially through miRC (Internet Relay Chat). My friends and I used to arrange specific time for us to have chatting session whenever we were back at home during holidays. (I was in boarding school) Besides, I also remember playing computer games and using educational software with my little brother when my father bought us computer when I was in primary school. Both of us loved to play the old arcade games such as pac-man and puzzle bubble. I remember my father bought me learning software that teaches on quranic alphabets and recitation of certain verse in Al-Quran. As for now, this site is very useful for me to practice my grammar knowledge and it also reminds me of my current learning environment in university where I always seek information from the internet, downloading note from I-learn and lecturer’s blog, contacting my supervisor via email and online learning with friends from other country through Skype and Yahoo messenger.

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

          There are several techniques and theories of language learning and/or teaching underlie this application. First of all, this site gives freedom for the user whether to choose inductive or deductive style of learning. As we can see, this site provides specific explanations on grammar rules which then followed by exercises. However, users can choose to do the exercises first and discover the rules by themselves. After that, they can confirm their learning by viewing the explanations provided. This type of learning is known as inductive and the other one is deductive where students review and understand the explanation of grammar concept first before they do the exercises. In some ways, although this site does not go specifically on deductive or inductive, it does apply the audio-lingual method. The usage of YouTube video shows concern on the need of visual aids for some students.  Secondly, this site brings about the acquisition theory. As proposes by Krashen, there are two independent systems of second language performance: ‘the acquired system’ and ‘the learned system’. ‘The acquired system’ requires meaningful interaction in target language and this site has excellently uses meaningful examples which could trigger students’ attention and helps them to grasp the grammar concept. ‘The learned system’ is the result of formal instruction such as knowledge of grammar rules. In this site, explanations of grammar rules are presented formally and students learn it in a conscious mode. When they choose to view the grammar explanation, they are actually ready to understand or learn the content. Besides, this site also encourages experiential learning and self-control theory when students learn by doing. They can control the amount of input and they could also measure their own progress. While completing the exercises, students get rewards such as a picture of ‘ice lemon tea’, ‘ice cream’, etc for every correct answer and they get mooed at by a cow if the get it wrong. So, this type of learning increases their level of intrinsic motivation in order to gain self-satisfaction. The use of interesting images, graphics, background music and even the ape sound show that this site also lie beneath the second principle in cognitive theory which is meaningful learning. All of those images and sounds create meaningful learning environment that will lead toward better long –term retention than rote learning. 

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

       The constructivist theory of learning is proposed by Vygotsky who claims that each learner individually constructs knowledge for themselves as he or she learns. This theory is in between humanistic and cognitive views which demands on realistic way of learning yet at the same time meaningful. In my evaluation, this site provides enough space for students to experience learning by themselves. They can decide on how to start the learning, which button to click on first and what grammar components that they wish to learn. This site integrates various skill in learning (reading, thinking, etc) so that students can make sense in their mind of the material which is presented. In this case, students learn actively in their own environment by assessing and accessing things around them. They could even control the learning process and involved dynamically throughout the process. If they find the exercises are real tough, the will experience of loosing marks and they will absolutely think of ways to improve. This site encourages students to think of the best for their own learning and I can definitely say that the constructivist theory in this site is well planned.       

7) In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major debate on ‘whether the computer was “master” of or “slave” to the learning process (Higgins and Johns, 1984). In relation to your evaluation- was the computer a replacements for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?

          Master or slave? That is quite tricky! Who is a teacher without student?, and who is student without a teacher? I have this strong believe that no matter what happens, the computer will never be the replacements for teachers. Teachers are humans, and humans create this gadget called computer. Regardless of how modern or marvelous the computer is, the role of computer will never be the same as the role of the teacher. There are two big differences learning with computer and learning with teacher. The computer does not have the most precious thing unlike teacher which is feeling. Feeling here could give great impact in the learning process. If computer replaces the teacher we will lose the sense of human uniqueness. Computer cannot produce students as what a teacher can produce. If only computer could produce, the product will absolutely be similar from each other and loosing the natural, unique of human personality. I agree that computer has lessened the burden of a teacher but still for the replacement of it I could not be agree much. Computer is more like an assistant who works without any questions asked and if we would like to compare, it is just about 30 % of what a teacher could think of. Computers are not master but slave to themselves. They have to perform process which determines by other and they are indeed obedient servants to students.

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

       Yes, absolutely. There are many advantages which cannot be denied from this application. This site is resourceful for both student and teacher. First of all, in learning grammar, students always regard it as a tedious process. Why? Boring, dull, difficult to understand, uninteresting, too much drilling, too much repetition and etc. All these excuses could be handling up if the teacher teaches in a different way rather than using the traditional method. Long time ago, chalk and talk was one of the popular method of teaching but not anymore. World changes everyday, the need of life long learning has pushed us to update ourselves with the current trends. The inclusion of modern technology in teaching and learning process makes the learning environment less stressful, looks appealing for both teacher and students. Students could experience learning independently by doing the interactive exercises. This site is very interesting and full of knowledge which is adequate for students to understand the grammar components. This sites as said before, is very much user friendly, the page load faster and the instructions are all simple and clear. Most of the exercises were built using Hot Potatoes application which is very convenient. Moreover, some activities also available in two format which are HTML and PDF versions.  In addition to that, this site is clean from any advertisements and the layout looks professional and tidy. Another thing that captures my attention is the YouTube videos which allow students who prefer visual learning rather than merely reading. On the other hand, teachers could also benefit from this site as it provides handouts and power point presentation which can be use in classroom teaching. Besides, the owner, Robin L. Simmons usually keeps this site update with the current content and material.  

Suggestions/ Recommendations:

       I am very much adores the simplicity of the site and the division of 9 sections which are very tidy and clear. Frankly speaking, the homepage with the ape picture really grab my attention and baits me to explore this site further. I think that was a great effort by Robin. However, it would be better if there are more pictures decorating the site especially in the exercise sheet so that it would not seen as very rigid. Educational website should contain more pictures particularly animated flash pictures. These pictures can function as attention grabber and lead students to explore the site more in depth. In terms of choices of colors and other decoration is satisfied enough for me. Alternatively, I think that it would be good if the comments by users could be visible to the other users. In that case, we can learn from each other and share the unique ideas on how to increase the effectiveness of current site. Also, it would be great if the content of the site expands to other components such as vocabulary since vocabulary and grammar are the main components in learning a language. As for that, maybe Robin would consider of having the new site’s name such as “Grammar Bytes Vocab?” =)