WEBSITE EVALUATION

1. Who are the users of the website / websites is / are targeting?

This website is very useful for people especially students who want to learn English. Basically, there are a lot of fun activities in this website such as quizzes, games, riddles and jokes which are appropriate for English learners. All the activities are in an average level, so the new learners can easily adapt themselves with these kinds of activities.


2. What sort of things are the application users expected to do with regards to learning and using (or even manipulating!) the content?

As this is an English language website, so the users are expected to learn the language through such activities. Therefore their language ability can be developed. This website will aid the students with grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking and reading. Basically, all these areas are games. Students can learn grammar and vocabulary through words puzzles and riddles. Students also can improve their reading skills as there are a lot of short stories provided by the website.


3. What sorts of computer skills are the application users expected to have in order to operate / access / use the application?

The skills needed to operate this website are very basic. The users, which are the students, can use it easily as it is friendly user. Everything is already on the screen. Meaning that this website has provided directions for every section so that the users will not face any difficulties in operating this website.


4. While are you “playing” / “accessing” / “assessing” the website(s), does it remind you of anything you do (or you have done) in a classroom, or with a teacher, or with a fellow classmate, or in self study?

Actually, the activities or games from this website remind me of what I have done with my fellow classmate and also during my free time. Playing games such as crossword puzzles, riddles and hangman are really interactive as they can improve our language as well as our general knowledge. It is really fun and enjoyable if we play it in group.


5. What setting will the website(s) best use in: independent study lab with no teacher available, lab associated with a class, a teacher-led class with one or a few computers?

In my opinion, this website is best used in study lab with a teacher leading the class. It is important because the teacher can supervise the students while they are accessing the web. Even though it is friendly user and the activities are simple for every student, the students still need the guidance from the teacher as some of them may face any difficulties with words or the website itself. At the same time, with a teacher in the class, it indirectly can create a peaceful atmosphere for students in learning language.


6. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and / or teaching underlying the application?

There are a few theories that we can apply base on this website. One of the theories is cognitive development (Akinson-Shiffrin memory model and Baddeley’s working memory). Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning. Cognitivists consider how human memory works to promote learning. For example the psychological processes of sorting and encoding information and events into short term memory and long term memory.


7. How well are the Vygotsky’s constructivist theory of learning and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory applied to the chosen website(s)?

For Vygotsky’s constructivist theory, students can be better learners if they can learn by themselves with teacher as a guidance and facilitator. According to Vygotsky, there is no more one way teaching-learning process (teacher centered). The classroom must be student centered; therefore the students can have the freedom in learning and the teacher can support, encourage and facilitates the students in any areas. This theory is related with the way the students can learn through this website as the teacher can facilitate and support the students in using this website in order to improve their language.
For Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory, he said that every individual has different kind of intelligence as they can apply it during the learning session. For this website, the activities provided are different in term of skills and intelligence. So that he users with different skills and intelligence can play the activities from the website.


8. In early 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major debate on ‘whether the computer was a ‘master’ of or a ‘slave’ to the learning process (Higgins and Johns 1984). In relation to your evaluation, is the computer is a replacement for teachers or merely an obedient servant for students?

In my opinion, if people said that computer is a replacement for teachers or a servant for students, it is wrong. Computer is just a learning tool for students as well as for teachers. It can assist for both teachers and students in order to aid them during teaching and learning session and at the same time can make the both session interesting and interactive.


9. Would you like to use this website yourself in the future work?
Yes. Give reason
No. Give reason

Yes. I would like to use this website in my future work. This is because this website covers many areas in English language so that my future students can learn the language well. Besides, this website is really interactive and interesting in term of the activities, games and features and it can attract other users to use this website. For me, even though I am an adult learner, but there are still some topics and areas that make me confuse. So, I can learn from this website.


10. Suggestions / Recommendations

There are some activities which I think are not appropriate with this website. For instance soccer quizzes. I think this kind of quizzes is not suitable because in this website, users are learning English. Even though the quizzes are in English, but the theme of the quizzes is not suitable. The creator of this website perhaps can replace it with other activities.


Reference : http://www.ego4u.com/en/chill-out/games/adjective-quiz