reflection on "Technology in testing: the present and the future"

The web-based or computer-based testing programme is a good news for students, especially the college students. It is because there is no more date limit and place limit (it means that the students can choose their own time for testing at any place). Of course, it is not suitable for junior students, but it is a good idea to explore or develop this kind of technology in learning. As a student, I can choose the right date that I think I was well prepared. Also, I can do the test at home whenever it is raining or storming. And the students can get the result immediately. It save a lot as the cost reduced (e.g. paper, rent and electricity of the examination centre, marking time, salary for markers, etc.). It seems like what we are going to do in our assignment 3.

However, it has some disadvantages. It cannot make sure that the students work alone without any 'helper' around him/her. Helper means the one that the students ask for help. It makes the test unfair. And, the students may take out the reference books while they are taking the test. It makes the test unfair. Also, the students, who decide to take the test, can ask for tips from the previous students who did the same test right before. It makes the test unfair.

Therefore, the web-based or computer-based testing programme is not suitable for public or very important examinations. It can only be the mini test or test for self-learn.

reflection on "Learning Management Systems: The wrong place to start learning"

According to the article, the Learning Management Systems (LMS) seems like a tool for learners who learn for a long period of time. It means that the learners have certain experience on learning.

However, the LMS is not suitable for young learners, especially the learners who just start learning. As a primary school teacher, I think it is not good for my school as well as my students. It is because the LMS is not designed for the learners who just start learning (these learners need more help in learning). It is designed for the learners to control their learning.

After reading the article, I found that I have got more ideas about learning environment. I would think about providing a suitable place for my students. I also learnt how to choose the right tools for my students in learning language.

reflection on "Learner Autonomy and Tandem Learning: Putting Principles Into Practice in Synchronous and Asynchronous Telecommunications Environments"

Learner autonomy is very important. I did not know anything about this before. After reading, I know that learner autonomy is not only learn independently. It has a wide meaning about how learner learn.
Teachers have to do a lot of things for motivating the students to learn. But after reading, I found that teachers should do much more for helping and supporting the students to develop their learning habit.
The tandem projects suggested by the author is quite interesting. The author suggest that learners should involved in selecting the learning tools. I think that the students from secondary or above can make decision like this. But the children under age 12 cannot make decisions by themselves. Teachers have to decide for them. I think I should change my mind to try this new concept. It may motivates my students more (in learning).
I think it is useful for teachers in Hong Kong, too. I'll suggest my friends(teachers) to read this journal and get some ideas from it.

reflection on "Practical Considerations for Multimedia Courseware Development: An EFL IVD Experience"

After reading the journal, I found that the IVD is very interesting for me. It is very useful for my teaching.
Although I just start my English teaching, I did try to make use of film in the past. In the past, I mainly taught Mathematics and General Studies. I tried to find some films to show something related to what I was teaching. I found that students always pay attention to something other than textbook. They are not interested in learning from books. This generation really needs more interactive in the classroom. The IVD is interesting. Students can learn individually. But at the same time, they can learn from others. The idea of group story is similar to what I am doing now. I try to ask my students to write a new ending for the story they read. Students are very creative. But they cannot do it very well when they are not good in writing. It is a limitation for them. I think the IVD can provide various kinds of guidlines for the students to rewrite the story (even I did not know about the IVD). Also, I think I got some ideas of group story. I think I can ask my students (with lower ability) to draw a picture for the story. Afterwards, I can ask the others (those with ability to write on their own) to write some sentences for the picture, of course I will participate in this writing.

about the copyright law

In the past, I did not know what the copyright is and I did not concern about the copyright law. After reading, I found it is very important for everyone. There are a lot of people who work and create something for improving our daily life. They have to be respected by everyone, even their products. We, as a consumer, should do something.

I tried to ask our staff in the general office that what should we do under the copyright law. They said that we have to approach to the publisher before we make any photocopy. For example, we have not to 'copy' any books neither for our studies nor for our students. If we have to give our students the 'copy', we have to contact the copyright owners in order to get permission.

I read Dora's message in her blog. I think she is right that we cannot photocopy more than 1/10 of the book as well as state the source. I also teach my students to state the source in their work. And I think that we should teach our students to respect the owners and have a good attitude on surfing online.

reflection on "Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Environment"

Online chatroom is new idea for me. I never use this kind of technology in my teaching before. And I never use it in my study. I don't know that it is a good tool for teaching and learning or not.

In one of our tutorials before, we tried to have a taste in using an online chatroom. It was quite interesting for me. But it was also quite difficult for me, too. I didn't know what I have to do with it. Eventually, I found the way to participate in (read all the commands). I found that people have to memorize all the commands very well in order to participate and response quickly.

I believe that the students are familiar with the technology that they used in the classroom (in this reading). And also, the school facilities are essential, too.

I think that online chatroom is good for the students, who are nervous to speak or express themselves in the classroom. But it is not enough for them. They have to try to communicate with others orally (face-to-face communication). It helps them to practice their interpersonal skills (which is good for their future). I think that online chatroom can be used as part of teaching to encourage the students the express more. I believe that the nervous students will be happy to use it (if it was found in the past, I can be a more active student).

my lazy student

I have a class in primary 3 today. This is a General Studies lesson, not English.
One of my students did not do the workbook. She showed that she did not know how to do it (but all the rest did the job). I tried to teach her. But I found that she could not spell and understand all the words (even the DATE).
Poor girl, what can I do for her?
I wanted to help her, but she refused. She showed that she is lazy and does not want to learn.
How can we help the LAZY students in learning (all the subject, including English)?

my cousin

In the Chinese New Year holiday, I went to my cousin's home. I saw that she had opened her computer, but she was not working with it. I wondered that why? Her answer was that she was playing an online game (that she cannot keep the game working when she offline).

I believe that she has to pay a lot for it (fee of electricity). I also think about what is going on in my students' home. I heard that some of my students like playing online games. They spend a lot of time on it. But these games are just for fun. There are a lot of online games for learning. I hope that students (or learners) can spend their time on playing it.

feeling from presentation

After presenting the assignment 1 (English Builder), I found that the courseware is quite interesting.

But I think that online exercise is just one of the tools in learning English. Students still need to learn from teachers as well as classmates.

little info

I love dreaming. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I dreamed when I was traveling.
I dreamed when I was reading.
I dreamed when I was working ......
If you talk to me without any feedback ... that means I'm dreaming.
Please forgive me! :>