Jumat, 14 Desember 2012

Mid-term Test of ICT in Language Education



Name               : SITI RAHMAH NURFADHILAH
NPM/NIRM    : 20117470080
Lecture            : Taufik Nugroho, M.Hum., Drs
1.      Elaborate the following concepts:
     A.  Information and communication technology
ICT is the technology required for information processing,in particular, the use of electronic computer , communicxation devices, and and software application to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and retrieve information from anywhere, anytime.
Information and communication technology (ICT) is a developing of communication and information tool in this area. These technologies include computer, internet, board casting technologies (radio and television) and telephony. The developing of this technology influenced the way of getting information and way of communicating in this era. Previously, in getting information people only getting from newspaper, letter and radio, but today can be gotten from many ways like computer, internet or television. In communication, long time ago, people only can do from sending letters to others, but today it can be done in many ways like telephony, email and etc.
ICT content in English enables students to develop and apply skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in their composing, responding and presenting, and as part of the imaginative and critical thinking they undertake in English. The ICT content has been incorporated into the content of this syllabus to ensure that all students have the opportunity to become competent, discriminating and creative users of ICT and are better able to demonstrate the syllabus outcomes of English through the effective use of ICT.
In their study of English, students are able to apply their existing knowledge of word processing, multimedia, ways of formatting and presenting texts, simulation software, graphics and electronic communication and further develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of these technologies. They learn about the ethics of information communication through technology. 
   B.  The benefit of ICT in language learning
The benefit of ICT in language learning is much easier in getting much information in many sources from instance from internet, computer and television. After getting information the student and teacher can apply the materials using computer (power point). The materials are presented more clear and easy to be understood. In reading skills for instance the materials can be displayed using many difference styles display to take student’s attention and interest. The material also can be presented using native speakers in pronouncing the word correctly.
Teachers use computers to research for teaching materials, participate in online forums and online conferences as well as to aid their teaching. Students use the computers as reference tool. They use computers to browse the internet to look for information. Researches use computers to collect and process data. School administrators use computers for administrative purposes to make sure that the entire operation runs smoothly.

Many educators (Jonassen 1996, Salaberry 1999, Rost 2002 in Lai 2006) indicate that the current computer technology has many advantages for second language learning. The following are the advantages as stated by many experts:
  1. Interest and motivation
Classical language teaching in classroom can be monotonous, boring, and even frustrating, and students can loose interest and motivation in learning. CALL programmers can provide student ways to learn English through computer games, animated graphics, and problem-solving techniques which can make drills more interesting (Ravichandran 2000).
2. Individualization
CALL allows learners to have non-sequential learning habit; they can decide on their own which skills to develop and which course to use, as well as the speed and level by their own needs.
3. A compatible learning style
Students have different style of learning, and an incompatible style for students will cause serious conflicts to them. Computer can provide an exciting “fast” drill for one student and “slow” for another.
4. Optimal use of learning time
The time flexibility of using computer enables students to choose appropriate timing for learning. Winter (1997) in Kiliçkaya (2007) stressed the importance of flexible learning, learning anywhere, anytime, anyhow, and anything you want, which is very true for the web-based instruction and CALL. Learners are given a chance to study and review the materials as many times they want without limited time.
5. Immediate feedback
Students receive maximum benefit from feedback only if it is given immediately. A delayed positive feedback will reduce the encouragement and reinforcement, and a delayed negative feedback affect the crucial knowledge a student must master. Computer can give instant feedback and help the students ward off his misconception at the very first stage. Brown (1997) in Kiliçkaya (2007) listed the advantages of CALL as giving immediate feedback, allowing students at their own pace, and causing less frustration among students.
6.  Error analysis
Computer database can be used by teacher to classify and differentiate the type of general error and error on account of the influence of the first language. A computer can analyze the specific mistakes that students made and can react in different way from the usual teacher, which make students able to make self-correction and understand the principle behind the correct solution. (Ravichandran, 2007)
7. Guided and repetitive practice
Students have freedom of expression within certain bounds that programmers create, such as grammar, vocabulary, etc. They can repeat the course they want to master as many as they wish. According to Ikeda (1999) in Kiliçkaya (2007), drill-type CALL materials are suitable for repetitive practice, which enable students to learn concepts and key elements in a subject area.
8. Pre-determined to process syllabus
Computer enhances the learning process from a pre-determined syllabus to an emerging or process syllabus. For example, a monotonous paper exercise of ‘fill-in-the-blanks’ type can be made more exciting on the screen in the self-access mode, and students can select their own material. Therefore, CALL facilitates the synthesis of the pre-planned syllabus and learner syllabuses “through a decision-making process undertaken by teacher and learners together” (Breen 1986 in Ravichandran 2000).




    C.  The weakness of ICT in language learning
    Although there are many advantages of computer, the application of current computer technology still has its limitations and disadvantages. Some disadvantages of CALL are as follows:
According to Ansel et al (1992) in Hartoyo (2006, 31), the CAL program is different from traditional books that can be carried around and studied wherever and whenever they wish: on a train, at home, in the middle of the night, and so on. School computers or language laboratory can only be accessed in restricted hours, so CALL program only benefits people who have computers at home or personal notebook.
Increased educational costs. Gips, DiMattia, and Gips (2004) in Lai (2006) indicated that CALL will increase educational cost, since computers become a basic requirement for students to purchase, and low-budget school and low income students cannot afford a computer
            1. Lack of trained teachers
It is necessary for teachers and students to have basic technology knowledge before applying computer technology in second language teaching and learning. Therefore, computers will only benefit those who are familiar with computer technology (Roblyer 2003 in Lai 2006).
2. Imperfect current CALL programs
At present, the software of CALL mainly deals with reading, listening, and writing skills. There are some speaking programs have been developed recently, but their functions are still limited. Warschauer (2004) in Lai (2006) stated that a program should ideally be able to understand a user’s spoken input and evaluate it not just for correctness but also for ‘appropriatness’. Speaking program should be able to diagnose a learner’s problem with pronunciation, syntax, or usage and then intelligently decide among a range of options.
3. Inability to handle unexpected situations
The learning situation that a second-language learner faces are various and ever changing. Computers merely have artificial intelligence, and it cannot deal with learner’s unexpected learning problem or response to learner’s questions immediately as teachers do. Blin (1994) in Lai (2006) stated that computer technology with that degree do not exist, and are not expected to exist quite a long time. In other words, today’s computer technology and its language learning programs are not yet intelligent enough to be truly interactive.
·           High infrastructure and start up costs:  It costs money to build ICT systems and to maintain them.
·           Tend toward centralized uniform content in economies of scale:  The larger the numbers, the lower the cost.  This means that sometimes we try to reach large numbers so we make content common, not taking into account individual differences.
·           Are not ideally location and problem sensitive: Address problems in a general way, but cannot, without special effort, solve local and culturally sensitive problem.
·           Problems of reach, access, remain: Not everyone has equal access; so not everyone benefits equally from the use of ICTs.
·           Tend to create new class of knowledge rich/knowledge poor: Those who have access and knowledge through the media become richer and those who do not become poorer, widening the “knowledge or digital gap” between rich and poor.
·           Essentially delivery systems: A medium is different from the content; and often we forget that we can deliver any content, because ICTs are essentially meant only to deliver content, not to change attitudes or bring about behavior change.
·           Hard to assess impact:  Learning from ICT delivered content is difficult to assess since such learning is of a multidimensional and long term kind.

2.      Tell the appropriate ICT media and the reason for:
A.  Teaching listening and speaking
The appropriate ICT media for listening and speaking is availability of language laboratory which is equipped with audio-visual like CD, Video player, Earphone, computer and so on. The students can listen to the native speaker model which is displayed with video player. The students are asked to simulate the conversation which is displayed in video-cd. The teachers guide the student to practice among them. In teaching listening and speaking we can use ICT media such as audio visual like television and DVD player. The students can see and listen to the sound and the picture. The teacher can give the questions from the theme for memorizing and re-speak based on their own word. 
B.  Teaching Reading
For teaching reading, the appropriate ICT media can be used is computer or internet and magazine. The student can be shown the reading materials that are taken from internet or magazine. The teacher can guide the students to read the reading materials based on native speaker’s reading in internet or computer by correct pronunciation.
C.  Teaching writing
The appropriate ICT media for teaching writing is computer, magazine and books. The students are asked to write some topics through computer and displayed it using power point to be presented. The topic of writing can be taken from some sources like internet and books.

3.      Why is internet important in language learning
Today the internet, consisting of millions of computers, has an important role and great potential in educational life. It is also used specifically and widely in second language learning all over the world. The internet motivates learners to use English in their daily lives and provides functional communicative experiences. Additionally, the Internet promotes higher thinking skills. It helps students to improve their computer skills, such as keyboarding skills, opening and storing files, Internet searching, and technical and conceptual experiences. It increases the participation when it is used in classroom environment. For instance, it was found that the ESL learners produce more sentences when it compared to the situation in classroom environment. It also useful not only for the quantity but also the quality of language: Learners have a great variety of speech discourse and use more complex language. According to the research activities, the internet changes the interaction between learners and teachers: There is less teacher and more learner talk in computer classes. Furthermore, it changes teacher and students' roles and makes learning more student-centered. The internet is a source of supplemental resources and authentic materials. Finally, the studies indicate that the internet has positive effects on motivation, provides means for creative works and gives opportunities for collaboration and socialization in learning process.

4.      What are the critical issues of utilizing internet in Indonesia
Internet spread widely around of the world, in Indonesia especially, the internet does not only develop in big cities but also begin to spread widely in villages. The developing of internet in Indonesia is not supported enough with complete infrastructure, like connection still use under standard cable which make loading access become low, weak and long minutes. In the other hands, the high cost in accessing internet is more expensive contrast to others countries like Singapore, Malaysia and China. Most people in Indonesia are under poverty and they cannot consume the internet, while they have to face the globalization era. Therefore, the government must make priority about these problems. Besides, the critical issues of utilizing internet in Indonesia are no availability of competence controlled system to check out the negative contents in internet like phonography. Phonography makes our generation become weak and be bad character. The controller system to the negative contents must be controlled tightly to avoid of negative use of internet

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