22th July 2008

Today we learnt about photo editing and plus, we were assigned with the third assignment, which is the e-Book. We are going to explore and create our own online reading material and display it to other people so that we would be able to produce a creative, colorful and tempting online reading material. Even though it’s a new thing for me, I figured out it is intriguing since it is related to what is current for the learners in order to learn language in an exciting way. So that the use of e-Book will attract the young learners to keep reading for they will be fascinated with the variety colourful illustrations. Furthermore, the use of colourful illustrations will enhance their understanding of the story line.
We discover that there are a lot of website that supply us with beautiful pictures to put in our e-Book, for instance, Flickr, Photo Bucket and Webshots. We also have to find out the software that will assist us to do photo editing, such as how to do red-eye-remover, how to make it smoother and so on. The functions of photo editing give us chances to the ranges of ways to come up with the most beguiling photos to capture pupils’ attention.
Other than that, we have to sit in a group thirteen in order to discuss the children’s capacity for indirect learning. Our group’s focus was the task versus language gain of the students, whereby, it is concerned with the subconscious and conscious learning. After that we have to present our input to our fellow friends of what are included in the particular topic. We are glad that we get positive feedback from Pn Foziah. I like this kind of activity for it helps us to brainstorm and cooperate with each other as well as share the information that we obtained throughout the discussion process.

15th July 2008

The second class of Resources gave me more ideas about the course. We are given our first assignment, which is the blog and the second assignment which is to come up with a material using the prevailing technology sources in order to teach the young learners. We are also provided with lots of downloader software, such as keepvid.com, save2pc, video downloader, real player II, limewire and so on and how to encode those materials using Riva encoder, FLV converter and transcoding tool. Thus, it would be easier for me to find out videos, songs or pictures to be utilized in my assignments and I can enhance my understanding on downloading and encoding material and to consume them in my daily life. Besides, I’m glad to hear that we will be given the opportunity to do a portfolio which is our compilation of edited version of the tasks. This will assist us to revise and improve the tasks done in order to make it more creative and captivating to the learners.
We are also informed about the salient use of curriculum specific and the syllabus to guide us throughout creating and editing the materials. The materials should be aligned with the syllabus and the CS so that we are use of the main skill and the integrated skills to be taught.
The second assignment requires me to work in a group of 6. I’m going to cooperate with Safrina, Kasthuri,Huda, Kamarul and Fazli. I think we are quite lucky for Kamarul have got the ideas on downloading videos and he knows the current use of technology. We have setourselves with particular tasks. Kamarul is the leader, Fazli and me are going to explore the downloading and ecoding process, Safrina, Huda and Kasthuri are going to handle the tutorial process in order to prepare the write up for the process. I really hope that we could do our job together even though this is our first time working together.
Today also Joshua introduces a forum website that includes all the cohort 3 members. It is definitely tempting for we all will be able to share ideas and information as well as comment on things that we are not satisfied with.

first day of resources class=)

Today is the first day of PBEY 3102, Using and Developing Resources for the ESL classroom class. At first, I wondered what kind of resources that we are expected to use in order to teach the young learners. Use the technology?? Yeah!! I’m a techno-dummy. I don’t really know how it works even though I know that it facilitates human’s life. It is a grossly complex thingy to be explored ever. I wish that I know it earlier so that I would not be too worried like this. But, it does not a matter at least I’ve got something to remember of when I finished my study. I was blurred that I had been bombarded with so many software that are new for me and I was impressed at Puan Foziah for her broad knowledge at the wide range of software that we can use in order to find out the resources that are going to be used. It sounds tantalizing that I am ready to embark a journey to go into the technology world. To all my cohort mates, please do help and lets us work together!!