News web with "Hot potato" practice

http://hk.geocities.com/heatherbell0816/index.htm news and hot potato

BlackBoard (ch 4)

Chapter 4 talks about “Communication and Collaboration,”

offering some websites for this subject, just like BB system, Msn messenger,

yahoo groups, etc. We students are all familiar with these,

so I just pick up one. That is, blackboard system.

Goal:
Blackboard (also know as BB) is a software company, whose product can provide learners with a space to raise their discussion in reaching the function of communication and collaboration. It’s like an online conference, which can be the platform of different topics to be discussed in different forums. It might be the practice of e-learning. Learners can learn anywhere and anytime. This Company develops with software applications and related services to thousands of education institutions in the world.

Presentation:
I’m not talking about the official website of BB, but my authentic experience in using it in reality. First, basically, it offers the guideline for the key features and functionality. There are also a place for announcements from the classes we choose, a calendar of one’s own to mark out the personal events of learning, a place for courses links, and quick tutorials for learners to understand more about this tutorial system.
In each course section, there are “announcement,” “course information,” “staff information,” “course documents,” “assignments,” “communication,” “discussion board,” “external links” and “tools.” The function is just like the name. However, I want to mention about “discussion board” because it fits the subject of this chapter. This is made for learners to have a platform to express or respond the ideas of one issue.

Appropriateness:
This system, out of question, is suitable for every learner to learn everything. After all, it is designed to help the class in the school.

Outcomes:
In my opinion and according to my experiences, BB is just a system with a format to help learning so that the learning can be more flexible and available. Therefore, it probably should be use with extra content according different courses.

Evaluation:
The evaluation, of course, should depend on the interaction of the classmates, tutors, and the teacher, especially in “discussion board.” In there, learners are expected to have a great interaction and feedback from others. That is the evaluation for learners themselves.

Notes:
I’ve used it for a long time since I got into NCU. I think BB is great because it can offer a space for students to catch more beside classes. I can discuss with other people there, notice the announcement of the teacher, and download the documents in class so that we can facilitate the learning more. It has some short points, but it is great enough for me.

NASA for kids (ch 7)

NASA for kids

Goal:

As everybody knows, NASA is The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the nation's public space program.

This NASA's public Web Portal offers users with multiple paths to information. And of course, NASA sets up a specific section for kids with access to thousands of resources. It can be educational, entertaining, and appropriate for children.

Presentation:

It is very complete with introduction, guideline for parents, teachers, and children, links to other related websites. As to the main content, there are “Games,” “Art & Stories,” “Activities,” “Kid’s club.”

“Games” surely attract kids’ attention. From this, kids can learn something about astrology knowledge by playing those interesting games. “

Art & Stories” provides pictures or drawings with different topics, which can give kids the visual enjoyment.

“Activities” teaches several simple experiments for kids to do it on their own. “Kid’s club” offers five levels to play some games or testing, which can evaluate their learning from this website.

Besides, this website includes some cool stuff for kids to adventure, like video showing, or Q and A. there are even some news for kids to update their cognition about NASA or astrology.

Appropriateness:

I think each of the section is appropriate for any kid to experience the astrology adventure. Kids can see the news, play the games, accomplish some experiments, and have several evaluation tests according to the level. This website facilitates kids to understand something seemed difficult to them. And it is complete enough to give kids a whole learning to a specific subject.


Outcomes:
I believe that it is quite useful for teachers or parents to let the kids learn something. Therefore, this website can offer the content-based learning with a wonderful content. It will be perfect if it is used to help the science class.

Evaluation:

In the part of “Kid’s club,” there are several tests or games for kids to evaluate themselves. The topic and the level are different. There are just simple words like “correct” or “try again” to remind or mark the performance. But I think it’s enough for kids.

Notes:

I really like this website for its beautiful format and design and its wonderful and complete content. By experiencing it, kids not only learn to gain more understanding about the subject, but also polish their language ability at the same time.

scripts for broadcasting

Hello, everyone I am abby,
I am vercy.
Today we are going to discuss the article from the CNN Website about Consumption with a conscience.

First paragraph says Shopping is big business throughout the globe,
but how much is actually being consumed responsibly?
Oh, so does the topic talk about the responsibility of consumption?
Yeah it is obvious to understand. Let’s move on.

This month on Art of Life,
Wait, wait, wait, what is art of life?
A program belonging to CNN talks about lifestyle.
Oh oh I see
And then it says that we meet the people, products and charities that can help you make positive changes.
Here are some examples to explain how we make a choice from purchasing the commodities that can help in responsible consuming.

First one isTwo worlds apartFrom Brazil's shantytowns to the catwalks of New York, we discover how one designer's social work is connecting these two very different worlds.
What do you mean by shantytowns?
Let’s check this word on the online dictionary…s h a n t y t o w n…
here’s the result. a city district inhabited by people living in huts and shanties.
But what exactly is shanty?
Okay I’m so sorry. Shanty means small crude shelter used as a dwelling, okay?Okay! let’s continue
Carlos Miele's powerful social conscience is just as strong as his fashion sense. Through his luxurious creations, he's giving a lot back to his native country. From From..uh….uh…what’s the pronunciation?
Let me see, oh, Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo
Yes , from them,we meet the women and children who are benefiting.Oh!!! Here’s a video link for us to see this program. Here’s one part of this program talking about how Carlos Miele's designs help shantytowns in Brazil
But we can’t be so selfish to enjoy it without you participants because you can’t see this clip on air, hahahahah, so~~rry

Let’s continue
Okay The second paragraph isGreen with styleGone are the days of choosing a 4 x 4 for its off-road capabilities alone. Monita Rajpal gets behind the wheel of the Lexus RX to test drive the world's first luxury hybrid vehicle.
I like lexus!!!
Oh, so what?
I just express my feelings!!
Okay whatever.
Its engine uses both petrol and electricity. It's kinder to the environment but how does it perform? We find out.
Find out what?
Well, I don’t know either.
Whatever.It’s my turn.

The third example saysSeeing beauty in the unwanted
Yes, I know, it’s 3 R! reduce, reuse, and recycle!
Smart girl! You’re right.
Thank you
For Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek there is no such thing as waste.
Seeing beauty in the unwanted, he uses discarded material from scrapyards
Wait! I’m wondering about the meaning of scrapyards.
Ok I’ll check it. S c r a p y a r d...
Well, scrap is just the trash or junk. So scrapyard is a yard to put trash there.
He uses the trash to make high-end furniture.
We find out how he's transforming recycled materials into unique designs in a slick re-purposing of junk.
Here’s also the video for this example. And we’ll skip that.

Okay and The final example is Rock in the name of charity
Art of Life is at London's famous concert arena the Royal Albert Hall where three top British musicians, including the Kaiser Chiefs, are rocking this venue in the name of charity.
What is the Royal Albert Hall?
Okey, I will check on wikipedia.
The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victoria's husband and consort, Prince Albert. It is situated in the South Kensington area of LondonOKAY?
YES, I got it!
Roger Daltrey, of the rock band The Who, set up these gigs for the Teenage Cancer Trust seven years ago where bands donate their time, and fans donate money to this worthy cause. and also a video we’ll still skip.

So these examples all explain how we can mix the consumption into conscience to make this world better!
Ya! Class dismissed! WOO~~WOW!

Lab 3: Broadcasting and Hot Potato

This time in the lab is not as easy as the first time, but also not as hard as the second time. Firstly, we have to form a group of only two people and find a news article from CNN or U.S.A today website. The news article is for us to discuss and record it. We have to discuss it like a radio DJ on the air, talking like hosts in “Studio Classroom.” It’s really fun because we can play like a host behind the scene and talk as if there are many listeners sitting besides the radio.

Abby and I pick an article about the connection between luxury and conscience. This article reminds us that there are several ways to be responsible for our living environment while we are consuming. We can buy a car with little damage of pollution, or we can support the rock band, donating the money and enjoy the concert at the same time in a name of charity. We can also use something used to create a new recycled one. Therefore, the conscience takes the responsibility of consumption. I really like this issue, which is educational and also useful.

Then, we spent some time to create some talks in an atmosphere of radio show. We added some humor or experience element in the talking, and also explain the unfamiliar words.

In the end, we record it several times. It’s really hard to be a radio host, because you have to speak like you never design it beforehand and also fluid enough. Abby and I didn’t do it very well; however, I think it’s an interesting lab experience.

Due to the time limitation, we didn’t have much time to do the “Hot Potato work,” we just try it several times. It’s a kind of software for teachers to set up some word plays. The test can be designed in a fun way. But the limitation is not easy to handle because we have to buy it and log in, or we can’t execute some extra services. It’s really a pity!

Lab 2: schmooze

To be honest, this time I really got nothing but frustration. In this time in the lab, we spent almost three hours to figure out how “schmooze” works. Since it is set up as a small online college, of course, we should learn to run it ourselves. However, it’s not that easy to understand. I think the most important factor is the format, which is kind of old and makes me dizzy.

At first, I can’t even understand how to move in the campus till I got the information of each function. Then, I knew that we have to learn to enjoy the process of learning by following the instruction or orders. In this class, we had three objectives to do. And I didn’t accomplish anyone of them. I could almost get it but there are still some complicated factors bothering me.

However, what I enjoyed from it is that I like the role playing. In schmooze, we suppose to be a role that we can set for ourselves. Then, we can meet some unexpected people from other countries and have some great interaction with them. I believe it’s probably one of the characteristics of schmooze. The areas in schmooze, like cafeteria, library, and student union, are something we are quite familiar with as a college student. Therefore, I think the experience is authentic and real for us to go around the campus and do some talking and actions with other people.

Though I didn’t reach the goals, but I indeed experienced something from it. I met people, no matter they are real or set in schmooze, and had great interaction. I think the idea of schmooze is great, because the learning process is just like a game, but I suggest the format can be better if it uses colorful picture and 3D environment. That will make the participants more comfortable there and also more like the reality.

News broadcasting discussion

News link: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/27/aol.april.show/


10-15 interesting or key words and their English definitions using an online dictionary (cite sources):

Consumption: the act of consuming something
Conscience: motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person's thoughts and actions
Charity: an activity or gift that benefits the public at large
Shantytown: a city district inhabited by people living in huts and shanties
Shanty: small crude shelter used as a dwelling
Catwalk: narrow platform extending out into an auditorium; "models displayed clothes on a catwalk at the fashion show")
Benefit: something that aids or promotes well-being; "for the benefit of all"
Luxury: wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
Discard: throw or cast away; "Put away your worries")
Scrap: worthless material that is to be disposed of
Recycle: use again after processing; "We must recycle the cardboard boxes"
Donate: give to a charity or good cause


5-7 comprehension questions and answers:

1. Oh, so does the topic talk about the responsibility of consumption?
Yeah it is obvious to understand.

2. Wait, wait, wait, what is art of life?
A program belonging to CNN talks about lifestyle.

3. What do you mean by shantytowns?
Let’s check this word on the online dictionary…s h a n t y t o w n…here’s the result. a city district inhabited by people living in huts and shanties.
But what exactly is shanty?
Okay I’m so sorry. Shanty means small crude shelter used as a dwelling, okay?
Okay!

4. From..uh….uh…what’s the pronunciation?
Let me see, oh, Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo
5. Find out what?
Well, I don’t know either.

6. Wait! I’m wondering about the meaning of scrapyards.
Ok I’ll check it. S c r a p y a r d
Well, scrap is just the trash or junk. So scrapyard is a yard to put trash there.

7. What is the Royal Albert Hall?
Okay, I will check on Wikipedia. The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victoria's husband and consort, Prince Albert. It is situated in the South Kensington area of London, okay?
Okay, I got it!


A 5-sentence summary:

This article talks about we consumers should be responsible for this world when consuming something. There are four examples of how those people use their conscience to make their products or activities. “Two worlds apart” describes a designer gives something back to his country with his creative social work. “Green with style” describes the example of Lexus to be made with concern of environment. “Seeing beauty in the unwanted” talks about recreation that uses unwanted materials. “Rock in the name of charity” says that a band can hold a concert to raise money with charity.

The Virtual Insectary (ch 6)

The Virtual Insectary

Goal:
The website is made for people who are interested in insects. Like an insect zoo, this is a unique place to study and observe a few insects with pictures and the information of them.

Presentation:
This website provides images of some common insects, and also includes information on the foods which they eat as well as the habitats where they can be found. There are many pictures of insects which can be chosen by the learners. And the individual page offers the information and the knowledge of the insects with hyper links of the key words.

Appropriateness:
Here the learners can get the information they want to know more about the insects they are interested with. However, the quantity of information seems not enough because it just offers the brief introduction. The usage of words is also simple. Therefore, I think it just can facilitate the problem-based learning as an information provider instead of an independent website for learners to learn.

Outcomes:
I think this website, as I mentioned before, is a place to facilitate the learning; therefore, if it works individually, the effect won’t be great. So, I think this website should be viewed with an intention and other documents to be at hand to enlarge the knowing.

Evaluation:
There’s no place for the learners to interact or to do some activities. It’s what I think of the pitiful part about it. It’s too simple and easy with little content in it. Learners can only use it when there’s a problem-solving project to do. Of course, there’s no feedback if there’s no activity for viewer to click and play with.

Notes:
It’s a website mentioned in the example of chapter 6. Thus, it’s not a really good website to browse through initially. It is just a kind of dictionary of insects. People can just view it with eyes instead of involving in this website with games and activities.

Understand the Weblog

What is the weblog?
I think weblog (or blog) is a kind of informal or personal website with chronological order.

What are some popular English learning weblogs?
Like “English Learning @ HWSH” and “The English Blog”

What can the weblog do compared to the traditional English learning website?
If the English learning website is in the form of “blog,” I think, the information can be updated soon according to the date with the content of multimedia and hyper links in the articles. Besides, a blog can leave the space for learners do some interaction together according to one particular issue or article. The most important one is that blogs have the function of RSS, allowing learners to get the immediate learning information in their personal blog.

What is RSS/ permalinks/ traceback?
1. RSS is a function for blog users to update the information they want form lots of blogs. RSS provides a way to frequently update the digital content if people want. It’s a kind of convenient sharing.
2. Permalinks is “Permanent Link.” It’s like a permanent tag for a blogging entry even to the individual comment, remaining unchanged.
3. Traceback is a function that bloggers can see when anyone links to the blog.

How can team blog functions (e.g., comments, moderation, traceback, and pingback) support English reading and writing?
These functions can help learners to create a platform with space for interaction of opinions so that they can get response and feedback from each other in learning and with links that can easily be used in responding. Through these functions, the English learners can exchange the ideas by reading and writing.

How can multimedia presentation (e.g., pictures, and videos, and audio) support English listening and speaking?
The multimedia contents provide the visual and auditory effects on the learners. These contents can enhance the listening ability in a more interesting way. As to speaking, I think it just enhance the accent if learners.

Time for kids(ch 5)

Time for kids

Goal: The website is for a weekly classroom news magazine that motivates kids to read. The issues cover a wide range of real-world topics kids love to learn about. The website also provides the materials.

Presentation: There are sections for k 1-6 learners, including Worksheets, Mini-lessons, Graphic Organizers, the news part, and the small games.

“Worksheets” is a kind of teaching resources for parents or teachers to have some materials to teach.
“Mini-lessons” includes lots of activity instructions. Each lesson provides the questions as the pretext, then the activity and the part for kids to think. The last is the advices for extensive learning.
“Graphic organizers” is also the teaching resources, providing some graphic papers for kids to fill up the graphic papers with thinking.
The news part provides articles with the related activity sheets and materials for download.
The games are related to the reading and questions and information behind are provided at the same time.

Appropriateness: I think it’s more like to provide scaffolds for teachers or parents to use in their teaching. The focus of this website is still the magazine, but there are still materials for reading and activities. Learners can use those materials in learning which fits their degrees. Especially the mini-lessons part, I think it can provide a complete learning process.

Outcomes: I think the website can be used independently, and it can also be used with the magazine to enlarge the range of learning so that the learning can be more complete and integrated.

Evaluation: The games part for learning includes the questions and the answers with more information below. After the learners answer the question, the correct answer and feedback words will show up with more information about the topic, then, the learner can go on to the next question.


Notes: Though the website is made for the magazine, I believe there’s still the scaffold for people to help themselves in learning. Like the readings, is made for kids with the topics they may have interest in, and the Worksheets, Mini-lessons, and Graphic Organizers, are all the useful and interesting resources in language learning. Although it is not organized as a whole, the materials are still great and convenient to help kids in learning.