5th POSTING: ONLINE TEST

Electronic Malaysian English Competency Test - Reading Test (Set 1)
Score: 23 out of 35 - 66%

Online Quiz Results :: Kemahiran Asas ICT
Your Score : 24/30

Online Quiz Results Summary

Your #Attempts : 1
Total Class #Attempts : 582
Your Quiz Score : 24/30
Your Highest Score Ever : 24

Note: This may not be your final marks. Due to some of the subjective and semi-objective questions (short essay and fill in the blank).

Describe your experience taking the online test.
Make sure you discuss the ability of the test to provide immediate feedback, randomization, security features as presented in lecture.


Online test has been well known in the cyber space, as today technology promotes the ability to take written test without using paper and pen anymore. As a student, this is my first time taking an online test and everything seems different and new. However, everything seems to be the same in a sense that you answer the question provided but using a computer as a medium. As for me, I do enjoy taking the online test due to several factors.

Firstly, with online test I can certainly throw away my test pad and pens due to I won’t need them anymore. Simple and efficient or should I say improvement in the way that the test is organized somehow attracted me to try this kind of approach again. The first experience was cool even though I have to adjust the way in reading the text. I was trained in schools and collage to read text in papers that I can hold and scribble however, with monitor I just cannot jot down or scribble my thought on the screen thus, the feeling was quite different. At the first few questions, I cannot avoid from touching the screen with my fingers, the same feeling others will have when you want to jot down something in the examination papers. Somehow, after answering for quite a few times, I manage to adjust to the new way of answering question.

Second, I found that online test can give immediate feedback on your result. Just by clicking “end test” students will get the feedback in a second. This seems very efficient where as the database is program to calculate and response to the answer given by the students. This ability of online test should be praised and somewhat lessen the burden of lecturers to marks and give grades to student examinations papers.

Third, I do doubt the security level of the online test. Can my result be read and change by virus and intruders. As we know, virus has become a major problem for computer and its operating system. Some viruses are able to delete data from files or even corrupt the files in the memory base. In addition, spy ware enables intruders to gain information or maybe modify the result for their pleasure purposes. However, there are still safety steps that are provided for the users. With password and code protection, only the real user can access his or hers online test and result information. In addition, with random sets of questions given to the participants, online test is safe from plagiarism.

As a conclusion, online line test revolutionized the way of taking examination and making the life of human’s easier.

4th POSTING: CONCORDANCE

Discussion and the summary of the article:
Beyond Concordance Lines: Using Concordances to Investigate Language Development, by Arshad Abd Samad.

Concordance is a list of alphabetical words that are program or design to assist language learners in today’s worlds. With the creation of concordance software, concordance program has become one of the tools for student’s teachers or any one who are willing to enhance their performance in language. With the ability to analyze sentences and word data, concordance program have made language learning more interesting. Language teaching and learning had evolved in a sense that students nowadays are offered to learn language through language puzzles, quizzes and games. In Malaysia, Universities such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, and Universiti Putra Malaysia had become one of the few early Universiti that are looking serious in the future of using the concordance program for the benefits of language learning in Malaysia.

The “Emas Corpora” that consist of close to half a million words (Arshad et al., 2002) is full of essays that are written by almost 800 students. With this amount of work, language learners are given the benefits to somewhat read trough a huge amount of writing and apply to the usage of concordance to expand their language learning process. Language is not static thus, language evolved through time and there are many ways to determine language development. As for example, the “Emas Corpora” had elected three group from different age to somewhat portrays the development of language trough age and time. Thus, it is true that from age and time, study shows that the usage of vocabulary and sentence productivity is different. With concordance program, one can easily examine the works of others and see the language development.

With concordance program, language productivity, range of vocabulary, and sophistication of vocabulary can easily being studied to a level where researchers are able to actually detect the numbers of sentence and word in an essay. Moreover, range of vocabulary and be detected trough the repeating usage of words in an essay. Concordance ability does not end there. With specialized programs such as RANGE (Nation, 2002), a vocabulary analysis program, enables language learners and researchers to actually indicate the typed of vocabulary used in a sentence structure. According to Nation (2002), the sources of the list in the program are A General Service list of English Words by Michael West (1953) for the first 2,000 words and the American Words List by Coxhead (2000) containing 570 word families.

As a conclusion, the usage of concordance in language teaching and learning, data mining and data clean-up, literary work and linguistic, translation, corpus linguistics, content analysis had been a great way to explore and learn language.

Gist of the discussion:

• The relevance of using concordance in language learning.
• The development language learning process.
• The new mindset of how languages are group in different prospect.
• The “Emas Corpora” data on language relating three groups.
  
  
  

Articles or publications on the applications of concordance:


1. Concordance (publishing) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concordance_ (publishing)


2. Concordance: software for concordance and text analysis.

http://www.concordancesoftware.co.uk/


3. LexisNexis: Concordance Litigation Document Management & e- Discovery.

http://law.lexisnexis.com/concordance

3rd POSTING: IMPACT OF USING ICT FOR BUSINESS

The impact of using ICT for business.

Information and communication technology is becoming an important asset in the business world. Almost every part of department in a well establishes company requires the usage of “ICT” to maintain certain task. Human and technology development has created a new revolution in the business world. With the capability to process information and communicate with every part of the word, “ICT” has created no boundaries in today’s business environment. Thus, the impact of “ICT” has shown its potential in generating profits for the business industries.

The first impact of using ICT for business is that, ICT enables humans to conduct many of the important process in the company. As for example, from management to services, “ICT” has taken the role in distributing information by enabling humans to send data and business statistics through the power of communication. This positive impact of ICT could be seen in the business environment and many professionals agree that ICT do contribute in the profit making process.

With the ability to provide network access in every part of the continent, marketing and promotion activities has become easier for every company to promote and distribute their products. This somewhat has generated a big impact in the way that company conduct their sales. Hence, the impact of ICT again could be seen in the positive part regarding business. ICT actually help in a sense that, business could be conducted in an environment where as humans could be assist by technology to achieve perfection.

The impact of ICT doesn’t stop there. From finance, insurance, online company database to customer care, ICT enable every business tycoons too actually take control of every situation concerning the profits to their company. As for example, executive manager could conduct an online meeting with the company board member without needing them to be at the same place. Therefore, this will allow business process and agreement to be done at any time and any place.ICT has helps in organizing business task in a company. Technology does assist human to achieve excellences relating to humans needs. Many companies have created a department to maintain the technologies. Thus, this shows that ICT are important in the business field. With globalization influence, the usage of ICT has become an important tool for firms; industries and conglomerate outsmart their competitors.

However, humans should not depend 100% on ICT. ICT must not be seen as a luxury for humans to forget about their duties. ICT alone cannot maintain business profits if humans does not work together with the technology to achieve perfection. ICT is only an element to support humans to improve productivity.

As a conclusion, the impact of ICT could be seen in positive aspects. ICT offers the ability to gain information and at the same time communicate without boundaries. Business fields have received a massive impact since the introduction of the technology. Today, every business sectors will look forward towards the rising technology which can improve the ability of a company.



Reference:

OECD
The Economic Impact of ICT: Measurement, Evidence and Implications
How precisely does ICT affect economic growth and the efficiency of firms? How well can these impacts are measured? And under which conditions do the impacts of ICT emerge?
[www.oecd.org]

EMERALD
Title: Impact of information and communications technology on real estate space: Perspective of office occupiers Author(s): Tien Foo Sing Journal: Journal of Property Investment & Finance ISSN: 1463-578X Year: 2005 Volume: 23 Issue: 6 Page: 494 - 505 DOI: 10.1108/14635780510626538 Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited

LEXIS NEXIS
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
November 26, 2007 MondayAreas of ICT spendingBYLINE: Foo Eu JinSECTION: NOTEBOOK; LOCAL; Pg. 2

LEXIS NEXIS

New Straits Times (Malaysia)August 13, 2007 MondayGetting small businesses to embrace ICT innovationBYLINE: Foo Eu JinSECTION: OUTLOOK; LOCAL; Pg. 10

SCOPUS
The effect of hard and soft information and communication technologies investment on manufacturing business performance in Greece - A preliminary econometric study

2nd POSTING: COMPUTER ASSISTED WRITING.

What is computerized writing and how can one improve their writing using the computer?

Computer assisted writing or computerized writing is a program or software that allows its users to expand their skills on writing and at the same time improve their language. Computerized writing is based on educational program that have been created or used to enhance the way of learning and teaching for teachers and lectures.

Computer assisted writing have interactive programs such as animation, video, sound and much more. This elements make the learning process becomes much more enjoyable especially for students. Computerized writing will improve student’s knowledge in a sense that, student will be assist on every part in writing. Moreover, the structure of sentence wrote by students will be analyzed and corrected for mistakes.

Computerized writing helps students to organized, develop, construct and provides frame work templates so that the process of writing will be comes more efficient. Computerized writing should be applied for everyone moreover, with today’s technology writing will be easier and fun with the correct way of learning.

Computerized writing activities:

There are many computerized writing activities for students to try. These activities consist of English Vocabulary Games with Pictures; Click the Letters in the Correct Order, Sentence Machine, and fun with Randomly-Generated Sentences. Actually there are many more fun activities for students for students to learn from. Computerized writing activities does not limits students only to writing sentences but students can also expand their activities on jokes, song, poems and many more. Computerized writing relates on any program or software that guide its users to produce better understanding on language at the same time improve enhance the way of learning. Students must not limit their learning environment in classes and based on papers and pen only. To achieve more, students must be able to use the latest technology so that learning becomes a process of understanding computers technology and language.


Examples of software that you can use:

Writing in APA style 1.1:
This e-book will show you how to format your essay to conform to the style as set out in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th Ed.). It contains examples of referencing of the most common sources, the way to layout your task.

Writing Suite 2.0:
Writing Suite comes with spell check, thesaurus, and dictionary! Also includes the most powerful text editor on the market. You get Tray Suite, Presto Edit, and all available spell checking dictionaries (currently 25).

Research Paper Writing:
Research Paper Writing Help is an e-book made to guide you in writing a research paper.

Xtream reading and writing 1.3:
Xtreme Reading and Writing presents the proven process used to teach reading and writing so successfully that even slower children can read and write any word they can speak in three months or less, and finish first grade reading two grade levels.

Examples of URL that host computerized writing activities:

These URL connect students to an interesting webpage where students could learn and enhance their English language.

http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/blgrammarquiz.htm
http://www.manythings.org/caw/intro.html
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/parallel.html
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar
http://owl.english.purdue.edu
www.myenglishteacher.net

1nd POSTING: PROBLEM SOLVING

What is problem solving?

We have chosen to discuss about problem thinking due to problem thinking will able to help us to solve many obstacle in our everyday lives. Problem solving could be defined in any form, thus English Grammar has been chosen for the example in our blog. Problem solving is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping. With the correct solution, we are able to confront our problem with the most effective ways by using intellectual approach.

The web page given is an education web page which allows the user to solve their problem regarding English grammar. Many problems solving exercises regarding grammar are given to user to solve. This web page is very suitable for those who want to improve their English knowledge and at the same time develop more understanding on grammar.

Problem solving generates thinking abilities, thus at the same time construct better approach towards tasks solving. People that are able to understand how to approach their problem will create a better living environment due to the understanding of the problem itself.

As for students of language in English, the best way to develop their skill on English, should visit this website. Many information on English language is combined in this website and it will help students to improve their language by trying the practices regarding grammar problem solving.

As a conclusion, problem solving will help students to develop better mind for tomorrow. For all students please visit this website due to this website consist many fun exercise regarding problem solving for you to try out.



Example of English Grammar problem solving:

English Grammar Exercises Adjectives
Adjective or adverb - Exercise 1
Adjective or adverb - Exercise 2
Adjectives - comparison - Exercise 1
Adjectives - comparison - Exercise 2
Adjectives - comparison - Exercise 3
Comparison of adjectives in sentences - Exercise 1
Comparison of adjectives in sentences - Exercise 2
Comparison of adjectives with as ... as
Adjectives - randomly selected
Adjectives - Test 1
Adjectives - Test 2
Adjectives - Test 3
Adverbs
Adverbs - comparison Form of adverbs
Position of adverbs
Position of adverbs of frequency - Exercise 1
Position of adverbs of frequency - Exercise 2
Articles
The definite article - the - Exercise 1
The definite article - the - Exercise 2
The definite article - the - Exercise 3
The indefinite article - a/an - Exercise 1
The indefinite article - a/an - Exercise 2
The indefinite article - a/an
Date
How to write the date
How to spell the date


http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises_list/alle_grammar.htm

1nd POSTING: READING FOR INFORMATION

Example of reading for information:

Personal:

Mahathir was born on December 20, 1925, in Alor Star, the capital of the northern state of Kedah. His father was a schoolteacher of Indian origin, having migrated from the state of Kerala, while his mother was a Malay; Mahathir generally associates himself with a Malay ethnic identity.[7] During World War II, he sold pisang goreng (banana fritters) and other snacks to supplement his family income in the Japanese occupation of Malaya.

Mahathir attended a Malay vernacular school before continuing his education at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Star. Mahathir then attended the King Edward VII Medical College in Singapore, where he edited a medical student magazine called The Cauldron; he also contributed to the The Straits Times newspaper anonymously under the nickname "Che Det". Mahathir was also President of the Muslim Society in the college.[8] Upon graduation in 1953, Mahathir joined the then Malayan government service as a medical officer. He married Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali—a fellow doctor and former classmate in college—on 5 August 1956, and left government service in 1957 to set up his own private practice in Alor Star. Mahathir thrived in private practice, and allowed him to own by 1959 a Pontiac Catalina and employ an ethnic Chinese chauffeur (at the time, almost all chauffeurs in Malaysia were Malays, owing to the economic dominance of the ethnic Chinese).[9] Some critics have suggested this foreshadowed a later hallmark of Mahathir's politics, which focused on the "cultivation of such emblems of power".[10]

He has five children through marriage with Siti Hasmah.[11] Both Mukhriz and Mokhzani Mahathir[12] are involved in business as well in politics while their eldest daughter Marina Mahathir is a prominent local writer and AIDS activist.[13]

For further information about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahathir_bin_Mohamad


Introduction of reading for information:

Our group has chosen reading for information as the first blog post. The reasons that we have chosen reading for information is due to, we find that most of the knowledge comes from reading. Thus it is best to say that reading for information has become one or the reason for human to keeps on reading due to the source of information comes from reading.

Reading is a process of acquiring knowledge which consist of readers and any material that could be in a form of books, magazines, journal or online text. In real life, many people read in order to gain information and knowledge thus reading has become a way of life for people all around the world.

In today’s world, technologies are changing rapidly and most of the people use new ways of reading. Moreover, with the creation of the internet, reading could be done while you are on the virtual communication. Online text, story books, journal or any kind of reading material can easily be downloaded or extract from the web page in order to gain information from reading.


Reading for information, explanation:

This article is suitable for who wish to gain information on our former prime minister. Reading for information is important due to we can improve our language from intellectual, reading material. As for article chosen that is about Tun Dr Mahathir, the writer of the text uses information that consist of facts which relates to the correct usage of grammar and English words. This piece of text is written to the reader in order to enhance the knowledge on our former prime minister.

The writer of the text has chosen English language as a medium for the readers to gain information, thus this will allow readers to sharpen their skills on English as well as at the same time learn the history of the greatest leader of Malaysia.

As we go on further reading the text, we could find that the writer uses variety of words vocabulary to explain the writing. From the grammatical aspects, the writer portrays different grammar time frame in order to show the past, the present and the future of Tun Dr Mahathir. Moreover, the writer knows how to form the structure of the sentences and paragraph, so that the text written has unity and coherence.

In conclusion, reading for information should be practice for all people because reading for information not just only gives the reader knowledge, but at the same time, improve language due to the text is more intellectual and generates facts.

LANGUAGE GAMES...

Hangaroo Guess the hidden phrase to complete a level.

Play this free game now!!

Topic: Hangaroo 2

The game that I have chosen to play and write about is Hangaroo 2. Hangaroo 2 is actually a new developed game from the hangman version however, to see a kangaroo as the main character that is being hang is just interesting and funny. The game interface is simple and nice however, the word challenge needs general knowledge and a lot of word vocabulary to complete. Thousands of phrases and terms that are offers in hangaroo 2 makes this game suitable for students who wants to have fun and at the same time expand their general knowledge and word vocabulary. Moving on to the game play, Hangaroo 2 is really funny due to the kangaroo will give good comments to players who guess words correctly however, for those who give an incorrect guess have to be prepared to hear funny and naughty comments from the kangaroo. The game is mainly about completing sentence structure, guessing and completing word phrases. There are ten levels in kangaroo 2, the game will become difficult according to the level of the game. Players are given 4 lives to start with and with each incorrect guess lives will be deducted. If all the lives have been used and players still fails to guess the word or sentences, the kangaroo will be hang and sent to haven. To make the game easier for those who find the words are to difficult, players can always click help so that the kangaroo will give hints. To sum up, Hangaroo 2 is a new version of hangman that gives a whole new excitement for those who enjoys words games.

www.miniclips.com

PLANS FOR FUTURE ENHANCEMENT...

Welcome....

Hi, thank you for visiting my first blog. I know that my blog is quite new so I am really looking forward for your comment on how to improve my blog for the benefits of learning. There will be improvement from time to time as I will update the blog in order to generate new source of information. Originally, I wanted my blog to be an education blog as well as an entertainment blog. It is hope that students will be able to access and exchange information regarding the subject “Language and Information Technology”, and at the same time enjoys the excitement in learning. Moreover, assignments, pictures, and videos will be uploaded in my first baby blog…Thank you for those who have help me in making this blog happened and your support will be much appreciated.