TASK 1: DIGITAL ESL MATERIAL EVALUATION
Ego4u is an abbreviation for English Grammar Online for You. The website is created by a group of students when they were still giving private tuition back then. They developed their original idea from offering online exercises website to become more than that. Ego4u now provides English learning materials including tenses, writing, vocabulary, game, and so on.
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| ego4u homepage |
Question 1
What does the website or
MOOC or app or tool attempt to “teach”? Are exercises or activities included in
the website? What are the types of exercise or activities included? Are there
immediate feedbacks? Are there different levels of difficulty for different
proficiency levels? (You can add any other comments you think is important to
point out).
The website that I have chosen to evaluate is ego4u.com. As stated on its home page, English Grammar Online... the
fun way to learn English online, the website indeed offers a
lot of fun and stimulating features for learners to learn grammar and increase their English competence in general. The website provides simple yet comprehensive
notes and a pool of exercises for all the grammar topics, for instance, tenses;
adjectives, verbs, nouns and so much more. For example, if there are learners or visitors who want to learn about Simple Past, they could simply click the topic, go through the explanation inclusively then answer the exercises provided.
.Ego4u.com provides two types of exercise on the website, multiple-choice and writing exercise. The different exercises intended to give learners more experience in answering variety of questions related to the topic. There are also different levels of difficulty and English skill for the exercise that learners could choose from level 0 to level 4. The level of exercises provided could motivate and encourage the learners to continuously increase their language ability aligned to the international standard.
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| Example of notes or a brief explanation about the grammar topics |
.Ego4u.com provides two types of exercise on the website, multiple-choice and writing exercise. The different exercises intended to give learners more experience in answering variety of questions related to the topic. There are also different levels of difficulty and English skill for the exercise that learners could choose from level 0 to level 4. The level of exercises provided could motivate and encourage the learners to continuously increase their language ability aligned to the international standard.
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| Multi-choice question |
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| Writing exercise |
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| Level of difficulties and proficiency skill |
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| Option to check answers |
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| The answer's explanation |
Question 2
What are the learners/visitors required to do with regards to learning
the content of the website or MOOC or apps?
Ego4u.com is a free and easy accessed website,
learners or visitors don’t require an account to sign up, log in, or register with an email
address. Learners or visitors just need to browse the website
address https://www.ego4u.com/
and get free access while enjoying all the good features provided.
Question 3
Does the website or MOOC or app or tools present learners with something
that cannot be done in a face-to-face classroom? If yes, how so?
The website did provide interactive exercises with immediate feedback and fun, enhancing games for learners to practice their knowledge and understanding which cannot be done in a face-to-face classroom as it is part of the digital tools of learning that requires online browsing. Unless the classroom has a computer to access the website. Then, it is not possible to do so.
On the other hand, the website presents a lot of teaching and learning materials that can be used and implement in (ESL) classroom. Interestingly, most teachers love using ego4u as it provides quality exercises for the students to practice their knowledge and understanding as well as lesson materials which come in handy when the teachers lack of idea on what to do for the next lesson. I believe the web site's content is more convenient to be done in a face to face classroom because first, teachers can refer to the grammar notes and explanation, print the exercise of any grammar topics and share to the class about the study tips and any intriguing input found in the website's categories.
One of the language learning and teaching theories underlying the website is The Cognitive Theory by Jean Piaget. One of his argument is that before children are able to acquire the target language, they need to understand the concept first. Likewise, it is applicable to second language learner as most of them learn the grammar aspects first to be able to speak English competently. Additionally, the learners or visitors on this website have to read the explanation of the topic first before doing the exercise provided. Jean Piaget also suggested that children learn by going through four different stages. Similarly, the lessons and exercises on this website are categorized according to the appropriate level, from beginner (level 0) until advanced (level 4). The exercises begin with a brief explanation of the grammar topics. Then the questions proceed to easy level with multi-choice questions to moderate level with fill-in-the-blank type of questions and its level up to difficult as the learners have to write the answer comprehensively. This is intended for the learners to be able to grasp and understand the concept through simple practice first before getting exposed to the complex one. Learning the language stage by stage will help the learners to progress, develop and acquire the language easier in comparison to the learners being exposed to the language without a proper guide and explanation.
The website did provide interactive exercises with immediate feedback and fun, enhancing games for learners to practice their knowledge and understanding which cannot be done in a face-to-face classroom as it is part of the digital tools of learning that requires online browsing. Unless the classroom has a computer to access the website. Then, it is not possible to do so.
On the other hand, the website presents a lot of teaching and learning materials that can be used and implement in (ESL) classroom. Interestingly, most teachers love using ego4u as it provides quality exercises for the students to practice their knowledge and understanding as well as lesson materials which come in handy when the teachers lack of idea on what to do for the next lesson. I believe the web site's content is more convenient to be done in a face to face classroom because first, teachers can refer to the grammar notes and explanation, print the exercise of any grammar topics and share to the class about the study tips and any intriguing input found in the website's categories.
Question 4
Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
One of the language learning and teaching theories underlying the website is The Cognitive Theory by Jean Piaget. One of his argument is that before children are able to acquire the target language, they need to understand the concept first. Likewise, it is applicable to second language learner as most of them learn the grammar aspects first to be able to speak English competently. Additionally, the learners or visitors on this website have to read the explanation of the topic first before doing the exercise provided. Jean Piaget also suggested that children learn by going through four different stages. Similarly, the lessons and exercises on this website are categorized according to the appropriate level, from beginner (level 0) until advanced (level 4). The exercises begin with a brief explanation of the grammar topics. Then the questions proceed to easy level with multi-choice questions to moderate level with fill-in-the-blank type of questions and its level up to difficult as the learners have to write the answer comprehensively. This is intended for the learners to be able to grasp and understand the concept through simple practice first before getting exposed to the complex one. Learning the language stage by stage will help the learners to progress, develop and acquire the language easier in comparison to the learners being exposed to the language without a proper guide and explanation.
Question 5
An important criterion for evaluating a CALL program, task or activity
is the potential for language learning (i.e. will student learn something?)
Does the website or MOOC or app fulfill this criterion? If yes, how so? If no,
why?
ego4u.com definitely fulfill the important criteria of a CALL program as all the task, activities, exercises and tips offered in the website brings a full potential language learning. For instance, in the Grammar and Vocabulary areas, students can do exercises, perceive explanations and practice English word lists. While in the Writing area, students can learn how to write English text and how to work with stylistic devices. Additionally, the website also shares study tips that can help students to learn English with more fun and effective. Not to mention, if the students want more extensive grammar practice, they can try out the Daily English lessons and do one exercise every day. It is clear that the students are able to improve their English skill and competence level by using this website since they are able to learn and perceive the rules, usage and how to apply the language input inside and outside the classroom.
ego4u.com definitely fulfill the important criteria of a CALL program as all the task, activities, exercises and tips offered in the website brings a full potential language learning. For instance, in the Grammar and Vocabulary areas, students can do exercises, perceive explanations and practice English word lists. While in the Writing area, students can learn how to write English text and how to work with stylistic devices. Additionally, the website also shares study tips that can help students to learn English with more fun and effective. Not to mention, if the students want more extensive grammar practice, they can try out the Daily English lessons and do one exercise every day. It is clear that the students are able to improve their English skill and competence level by using this website since they are able to learn and perceive the rules, usage and how to apply the language input inside and outside the classroom.
Question 6
Would you like to use the application yourself
in your future work?
Yes, I would like to use this website in the future because the materials and contents provided are straightforward, comprehensible and appropriate to implement especially for ESL classroom. Not to mention how the website prepares a lot of teaching materials and ideas for the teachers to adapt it to their own lesson. ego4u could be a teacher's best friend at this point. Besides that, the website appears to be user-friendly - with a simple layout, the menu is neat and organized. It helps learners and visitors to use the feature and find the topic they want with a peace of mind. Most importantly, the website is a TOTAL FREE ACCESS. In short, I believe that ego4u.com is very beneficial in helping learners to learn and improve their English in a fun and effective way.
Yes? Provide reason(s), No? Provide reason(s)
Yes, I would like to use this website in the future because the materials and contents provided are straightforward, comprehensible and appropriate to implement especially for ESL classroom. Not to mention how the website prepares a lot of teaching materials and ideas for the teachers to adapt it to their own lesson. ego4u could be a teacher's best friend at this point. Besides that, the website appears to be user-friendly - with a simple layout, the menu is neat and organized. It helps learners and visitors to use the feature and find the topic they want with a peace of mind. Most importantly, the website is a TOTAL FREE ACCESS. In short, I believe that ego4u.com is very beneficial in helping learners to learn and improve their English in a fun and effective way.
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Good choice of website. 17/20
ReplyDeleteThank you sir :)
DeleteGood choice of website. 17/20
ReplyDelete