Fifth Posting : My Personal Experience Taking Online Test

Hello everyone…How are you all today? I hope you are all fine and happy. This is my fifth posting where my Associate Professor Datin Dr. Norizan has give me and my course mates a different task where we all required to attempt two online tests during our tutorial session. We all have taken two tests which are Electronic Malaysian English Competency Test (E-MECT) and Kemahiran Asas ICT tests online. After we all have done both tests, we have to publish our results and give our own response or opinion taking online test.

For your information, the first test that I have taken is Electronic Malaysian English Competency Test (E-MECT) and the score that I get in this test is 60%. While the second test that I have taken is Kemahiran Asas ICT and in this quiz I get my score as 18/30. I am not satisfied with the results or scores that I get by taking these online tests because this is my third experience taking the online tests and not my first experience. I did not get a good score in my E-MECT test because the Internet server get down while I’m taking the test and I have to take the test for the second time where I not able to recognize or memorize back my answers. While, for the Kemahiran Asas ICT test, I can’t able to get a good score because I am not really understand the terms of computers that has been used in this test because all of the terms has been given in Malay and I have faced difficulty where most of the computer terms that we use daily are in English. I can’t able to translate the computer terms that we use in English into Malay.

My first experience taking an online test is when I am taking my driving license four years back. During that time, I feel very nervous taking the test because I haven’t taken an online test before. My second experience taking an online test is when I am in the University doing my second semester where I need to do all my quiz online for my critical appreciation course. My lecturer asks all our course mates to take our quiz online and we need to take it before the due date that has been given. For those who can’t manage to do the quiz that have been posted before the due date that have been given will get 0% as their score for that quiz because they can’t do the quiz again after the due date.

Now, I am taking the E-MECT test and Kemahiran Asas ICT as my third experience taking the online test. The E-MECT exam is about comprehension reading where Taking an online test has give me a new we are given 4 passages and we need to answer all our questions according to the passages that has been given. While, in the Kemahiran Asas ICT test, we have been given 30 questions and all the questions are about ICT which has been asked in Malay language. Although all the tests that I have taken online are objective questions, but all the questions that have been given are really tough and difficult. All the tests need one to think a lot and think carefully before answering all the questions.

I have a new experience while taking all these online tests because all of these tests must have time management, where I have to manage my time for taking the quiz. If I can’t able finish to answer all the questions before the time that have been given end, there are not any extra times that will be given for me to finish answering my questions. This makes me to have a good time management.

There are some advantages and disadvantages of taking an online test.

There is an advantage of taking an online test which is we can know our scores straight away after finish doing the tests and submit the answers. We did not have to wait for a long period of time to get to know our scores as what as we have been waited before this when we are taking manual tests in schools.

Here, I can also find some disadvantages of taking an online test. First of all, the answers that have been given for a particular question sometimes might be confusing because it are bringing the same meaning. After we finish done the test, we can’t know what are the mistakes that we have been done. This makes us difficult to identify our mistakes and can’t argue if we did not satisfied with the answers that have been given. While if it is a manual test, we can know our mistakes and if we did not satisfied with the answers that have been given, we still can argue and have a discussion to confirm the answers.

Another disadvantage of taking an online test is we have to face a big problem if the server down while we are taking an online test. If the server down before you completely answer all the questions in the test, sometime you can’t able to retake the exam again and this can spoilt your scores. Sometimes, the marks will be given although the server down before you completing your test but the score that will be given, based on the questions that you have answered only and will not get any chance to completing your test although the time that has been given for you did not finish yet.

I think these are all the experience and my opinion regarding taking an online test.

Thank You!!!

Forth Posting : Beyond Concordance Lines : Using Concordance To Investigate Language Development

This is my forth posting which is about Beyond Concordance Lines. Before I started to do my blogging about this topic, I have read the article about Beyond Concordance Lines : Using Concordance To Investigate Language Learning from the OTL book by Arshad Abdul Samad. Before this I really can’t what is concordance really means, but after I have read the article I can understand what concordance is really about. In my I understanding, concordance means to bring together which means to concord a passage of text which shows the use of a word. Concordance searches the instances of word or phrase and come up with each cases of it. An index in the back of a book will show words in alphabetical order but the concordance shows each instance of each word together in the context from which it came.

One of the application of concordance is applied in literary work and linguistic studies. Concordance is really useful when studying a piece of literature studies because it uses the term of particular words, phrase or theme. It shows us how often a work occurs in any text most probably will be in a poem. If the word did not occurs, it will be useful for one to build up some ideas of a different theme that can be used in a poem and how to relate it to the other poems. If any questions about the theme or any words in the poem and their place in the poem, it will be easy to understand by looking through the concordance.

In the other hand, in the computer concordances, you only need to click the alphabet letter (A-Z). After you have click the letter, you will see a list of words will come out. For example, you click an alphabet L and all the words that begins with the alphabet L will come. Now, what you need to do is just choose the right words that you are searching for and click on it. Here, you can find all the occurrences of the words in poems in question forms. Some of the examples of websites that one can view to get a better understanding of concordance which has been applied in literary and linguistic studies most probably in a poem are http://www.dundee.ac.uk/english/wics/shelley/framconc.htm, http://www.dundee.ac.uk/english/wics/mariner/framconc.htm, http://www.dundee.ac.uk/english/wics/keats/framconc.htm, and http://www.dundee.ac.uk/english/wics/blake/framconc.htm.

In conclusion, concordance is litter bit like a computer because it can find things for you. The advantage of concordance is the speed and the fact the concordance will find all words, not necessarily possible in textual concordance.

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Third Posting : The impact of using ICT in education

Welcome back to my blog. How are you all today? I hope you are all in the pink of health. For all of your information, this is my third posting. In this posting, my associate professor Datin Dr. Norizan has given me and all my course mates a task which we all need to write about what we all can find and understand by searching it in the e-journal at Tun Sri Lanang Library (PTSL). All the task that have been given are about The Impacts of Using ICT in education, society, business, health, and computer assisted language learning: application and prospects. I have chosen to write about The Impact of using ICT in education. Based on my researches on five references such as SCORPUS, EBSCO host, Computer Database, Pro Quest, and LISA net, I can confirm that it is true that ICT has bring a big impact in education field.

In our technological savvy era world, while computer has been invented to our world, it has bring a lot of benefits to our world. For example, Microsoft Office, and Internet technology are some of the functions that can be used in computers. Computer has been found in the educational field which are used to support one’s education still from the beginning. Computers and applications of technology have become more persuasive in our society which led to a concern need for computing skills in our everyday life. This need for computer literacy has become extremely influential and many schools purchasing computers based on this rationale.

What are the impact of using ICT in education? Based on my research that I have been done in the e-journal website, I can understand it better. Today, computers in schools are both a focus of study in themselves and a support for learning and teaching. Rationales can be presented for both computer literacy and using computers as part of educational technology. The focus of this review will concern the use of computer technology as an aid to learning and teaching in schools.

Moreover, ICT is supporting tools in learning process and particularly collaborative learning scenarios. These technologies offer the possibility of moving away from the stand-alone computer, thus allowing interaction with several devices and making information accessible through a wireless connection to a server. These technologies offer new opportunities for individuals who require information especially in the field of education. Therefore, many researchers as well as academicians are currently exploring the potential of mobile and wireless devices for supporting their learning and teaching processes.

In addition, ICT also has been influenced in curriculum activities. Bases on my research, some areas of the curriculum have been the focus of considerable ICT development. Apart from initiatives to support literacy, evidence of positive impact has been reported in mathematics, modern foreign languages, science, history, geography, physical education and the creative arts. There has been considerable development in the provision of online resources for teaching across subject areas, from a range of sources, commercial and pubic. More specifically, learning of modern foreign languages has benefited greatly from the increased availability of online resources as well as technologies such as digital video and photography, while animations and simulations have enabled pupils to grasp more complex concepts in mathematics and the sciences.

Technology is also developed to solve a person’s problems in productive ways. Therefore, when discussing applications of computer technology to education the question must always be asked, “What educational problem(s) needs to be addressed?”. This question needs to be asked at all levels of decision-making, from the teacher planning a programme, to a school administrator purchasing hardware and software, to an educational system officer developing policy and strategic plans. Providing computer technologies for schools has usually involved increases in investment in education that must be justified to the community, and that is usually done by quoting students.

In conclusion, I can confirm and say that the influence of ICT has bring a big impact in educational field.

Thank You !!!

Second Posting : Computer Assisted Writing

According to my course, Language and Information Technology, this is my second posting by the title Computer Assisted Writing.

What is the meaning of computer? Computer means an electronic machine, operated under the control of instructions stored in its own memory that can accept data (input), manipulate data according to specified rules (process), produce results (output) and store the results for future use. Now, what is the definition of writing? In the Webster’s New Dictionary and Thesaurus Edition 1995, the word writing can be defined as a formal or legal document that has been set down in words. In my understanding, computer assisted writing means that the writing activities that has been done using computers either in the internet or word processor.

In this technological savvy era, if we know most of the educational studies are by using computers. There mare many computer programs such as Microsoft Word which is suitable for wring activities. In the higher educational system such as colleges and universities, most of the assignment that have been given to the students, need to be done by type them using Microsoft Word and be printed before they give it to their lecturers. This is also can be said as a writing skill by using computer. There are also some games in the internet that one can access, download and play the games that based on writing skills. Some of the games that are based on writing skills is Rosetta Stone. It is a game which is suitable for students to develop their writing skills.

There are also some other websites that all of you can choose and use to improve your writing skill via computers. Here, I have suggested some web sites for you all to view and play and do the writing activities. Below are the websites which are suitable for you to improve your writing skill:

www.manythings.com,

www.wsu.edu, and

www.homeschool.com.

Other than that, educational computing has undergone the focus on how the computer should be used especially in writing. Nowadays instead educators are realizing that the computer is a tool for handling information. A word processor can become the centerpiece for an effective writing curriculum, encouraging early language production and providing students with opportunities to connect reading and writing. When integrating advanced technology into any curriculum, the teacher must always be aware that it cannot "eliminate" problems. But with instruction and support from the teacher and peers, most students can experience success in writing through the use of a word processor. There spelling and grammar checker which has been provided in the word processor such as in Microsoft Words can help the students to check their spelling and grammar mistakes that they have done. By this the students can re-check their works and correct the mistakes that have been done by them and this can help these students to improve their vocabulary, grammar and writing skill.

In addition, we can say that computer-assisted writing courses were victims of one’s own success. That is, after many years of experience, the writing program has been seen as a new practice which consists of evaluation. The writing programs are receiving more attention from faculty because it reflected success. Evaluating the activities that has been done in the computer-assisted classrooms, to evaluate the ways in which faculty were trained and supported in their uses of technology and to evaluate the ways in which students were learning with technology.

In the other hand, one can improve their writing skill by using internet. One of the tasks that has in the internet that can improve one’s writing skill is by using the e-mail. If we see nowadays, most people have lack of communication skill because they prefer to talk or give information to others by using e-mails. A person can write anything and send it to the person they want via e-mail. But remember when e-mail a person please avoid using short forms because you can make many vocabulary, spelling or grammar mistakes when you come and do a test. If you a person who always send and reply your friends or family members, you can improve your writing skill using computer through e-mail.

In conclusion, there are many advantages of computer assisted writing for all of us including students and teachers.

First Posting : Reading For Information

Taj Mahal India:

Taj Mahal, a mausoleum built on the southern bank of the Yamuna river, outside Agra in India. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal whose real name was Arjumand banu beagum. She died in a child birth in Bhuranpur in 1631 A.D. They got married in 1612 A.D the building was planned to be built in 1632 A.D. It was built by a group of men from India, Persia, Central asia,and beyond. About 20,000 workman were employed daily to complete the complex at the expense of 40,000,000 rupees.

The complex consist of a rectangular plot measuring 1,902 feet x 1,002 feet on each side, bounded on north and south by two oblong sections. The southern oblong has a sand stone gateway to the complex while the northern oblong section terminates at the Yamunas edge directly to the mausoleum. The mausoleum is on the west and east by two symmetrically identical buildings, the mosque and the Jawab respectively.

The whole Taj complex was conceived as an entity because Mughal building architecture allowed no amendment in them. The mosque and Jawab of the Red Sikiri sand stone and some pietra duta (hard stone )surface decoration ,contrast in color and texture with the mausoleum of pure white marble. The mausoleum stands on a marble plinth 23 feet high and has four identical faces with a chamfered corner and a massive arch of height 108 feet on each face. Parapets create the skyline rhythm of the mausoleum over each arch and by pinnacle and domed kiosks on each corner.

The Islamic building activity of Shah Jahan period is marked by fresh emergence in India with Persian features that had been seen in the Humayun tomb at Delhi, began in 1564. The Taj Mahal has won a good praise virtually from the time of the erection. The beauty not only lies in its parts but also in the beauty that is seen when viewed from any angle near the complex. The marble surface reflects continuously sunlight during the daytime. All the resources of the emperor was put into the construction of the complex. In addition to the mausoleum the complex includes a wide variety of accessories building parts that gives the building a great appearance. The mausoleum rises on the four sides of the complex and gives it a great appearance.

The mausoleum of the Taj Mahal is a large impressive sceptural monument. The word is derived from the word mausols, which is a word of the ruler of caria, in memory of his dead wife. the most impressive mausoleum present now is the taj complex only .The emperor wanted to build a black mausoleum opposite to the marble complex but unfortunately before he could finish it. Lord Curzon said the complex as triumphal on his return from India as the viceroy. He took a personal interest in renovation of the Indian art and architectural monuments. Diamonds and precious stones were depicted on the walls and all were lost during the course of time.


Hello everybody!!! This is also my first posting. This time, my Associate Lecturer Professor Datin Dr. Norizan also given me and all my course mates a different task which is we all have to choose one type of reading, analyze it and post what we can understand from it. This is also included as my first posting. There are four types of reading, which are reading for purpose, reading for information, reading for pleasure, and reading for entertainment. I have chosen reading for information as my topic. This is the article that I have choose from the Internet as the reading for information article. I have taken this article from http://www.sevenwondersworld.com/wonders_of_world_tajmahal_india.html. In this web site, there are information about seven wonders of the world also. But I have choose, Taj Mahal which is also include as one of the Seven Wonders of the World as the topic which will also be suitable with reading for information. There are also some other web sites that contains information about Taj Mahal which is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj%20Mahal and many more. If any of you want to know some more extra information about Taj Mahal, can view this web site to read and gain information about it.

Before I explain further why I choose Reading for Information as my topic to be analyze, let me explain first what Reading for Information really means. In the ‘Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English’, the word reading has been defined as the act or practice of reading. After we know the meaning or definition of the word reading, we also must understand the meaning of information so that when I explain about the topic that I have choose, there will be no any problem in understanding it. What is the meaning of information? In the ‘Webster’s New Dictionary and Thesaurus Edition 1995’, the word information has been defined as knowledge, while in the ‘Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English’, the word information has been defined as knowledge in the form of facts and news. Now, I hope that all of you can understand what is actually Reading for Information. In my own words or understanding, Reading for Information means an act of reading to gain knowledge in the form of facts.

I have choose the article about Taj Mahal because almost all of us will not really knows about this place because it is far away from our country and there are also some people who even does not bother about it. So, now what I want to say is that by reading this kind of articles we can gain information about this kind of place and gain knowledge about Taj Mahal which is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I am sure that most probably all of people read for entertainment. They prefer to read gossips, jokes and horoscopes from any magazines, or newspapers. If they buy a magazine or newspaper, it is most probably because they want to read this kind of entertainment articles. They does not even read any other information that has been provided in the magazines or newspapers. This is really the worst thing about Malaysian who have really the minimum standard of reading skill.

Now, let me explain why I have choose this article will suitable for the Reading for Information. Most of us will only know that Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and it has been built by Shahjahan for his wife as a memory of their love. Is there anyone of you who knows deeply about this place? Do you know where exactly this Taj Mahal has been built in India? What is the marvelous or lovely things that make one to visit this place? Why was it so famous? What are the architectures that has been used to build this Taj Mahal? I’m sure if anyone ask you this kind of questions, sure you will be out of idea and does not able to answer these questions. This happens because of your attitude which does not like to read articles either than your studies. All of us must remember one thing in our mind that all of us should read more articles either than our studies to improve our knowledge.

Other than that, not only you must read articles about the world, but you also must read and knows about your own place or country. Just imagine in your mind that if there is a tourist from our neighbour country who comes to visit our country and she ask a question about your own country’s place such as Langkawi Island and she ask any extra information about that place. I’m sure that you might not be able to answer their question because you does not have any other extra information about the place either than you only know the best places to be visited in Langkawi Island. To avoid this kind of things from happen, all of us must read more to gain knowledge. We also must read this kind of articles so that it will be easier for us when we are going for a trip to visit these places. You not only can access in the internet about the information regarding the places that you are going to visit but you also can read it from the maps or magazines.

In the other hand, it does not only means that we can only read articles about Taj Mahal or any interesting places to visit as Reading for Information but reading news in the newspapers and magazines also can be included as Reading for Information. Why am I saying this? It is because by reading the news of our country and the world, we can know what is happening every day all around the world. This is also can be included in Reading for Information because we are reading and by this we are gaining knowledge about the incidents that happen all around the world while improving our reading skill.

In conclusion, I would like to advise all of you to read as much as you can to improve your reading skill and to gain a lot of knowledge. Remember one thing in your mind that as much as you read it will be helpful and useful to you in the future.

THANK YOU !!!

First Posting : Reading Comprehension

Hello everyone!!! How are you all feeling today? Hope you all are fine. I'm happy to meet you again in my first posting.

In this Language and Information Technology course, all the students who are taking this course have been asked by my Associate Professor Datin Dr.Norizan to do many activities. One of the activity that we all have been asked to do is to choose one task and explain what we can understand in this task. There are four tasks have been given which are reading comprehension, restructuring of texts, matching or jigsaw reading and problem solving. The task that I have choose is about reading comprehension. I choose this task to explain about it because I can understand it better than the other tasks that have been given.

In this technological savvy era, we must know that reading is becoming more and more important in the new knowledge economy and remains the most effective human activity for transforming information into knowledge. First of all, let me explain what I the meaning of the word reading. In the Webster’s New Dictionary and Thesaurus Edition 1995, the word reading has been defined as look at and understand written or printed matter. What is the meaning of comprehension? When I refer the meaning of the word comprehension in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary, comprehension has been defined as the act of understanding or ability to understand.

When it becomes to reading comprehension, it is the level of understanding of a passage or text. Here, I give some website addresses which are sample of reading comprehension questions : http://www.rhlschool.com/read9n2.htm, http://www.edhelper.com/language/reading_comprehension_skills303.html, and http://www.edhelper.com/language/reading_comprehension_skills406.html. By this website, students can do a sample of questions about reading comprehension.

What are the benefits of reading comprehension?Reading comprehension is the ability to understand a written passage of text. Reading comprehension allows the reader to interact with the text in a meaningful way. Learning reading comprehension requires a strategy where lesson plans progressively and being develop well. Reading comprehension skills increase the pleasure and effectiveness of reading. Here, I am suggesting three ways one can follow to improve ones reading comprehension skill. First of all, you must try to know the structure of paragraphs. A good writer most probably will construct paragraphs that have a beginning, middle and end. Often, the first sentence will give an overview that helps provide a framework for adding details. Don't forget to look for transitional words, phrases or paragraphs which can change the topic of a text.

I also suggest that you must pay attention to supporting cues. Study pictures, graphs and headings which has been given in the text that you are reading. This is because the pictures or graphs that has been given in the text also may give information about the text and make you easier to understand the text. Read the first and last paragraph in a chapter, or the first sentence in each section because most probably it will be the topic sentence of the paragraps in the text.

Lastly, I'm also suggesting that you can highlight, summarize and review the main points or important point. Just reading a book once is not enough. To develop a deeper understanding of the text that you are reading, you have to highlight, summarize and review important ideas. By following this step you can understand the text better and it will help you to answer the questions that has been asked in the end of the text better.

Finally, I want to said that this reading comprehension exercises, helps students to learn how to answer question based on the texts that they have read.

Introduction to blog

Hi everyone one over there,

How are you all today? I hope all of u are in the pink of health... First of all, I want to thank my Associate Professor Datin Dr. Norizan for helping me a lot according to this subject... I'm glad and happy to meet all of you today as this is my first posting... I am really happy because this is an opportunity to me where I can share many information with all of you... I hope all of you will give your comments after view my blog...

Thank you.