The Fifth Journal TLL

Using Technology to Teach Thinking Skills

Nowadays, we can use the technology in any sector, such as for education, entertainment, health, and so on.  Have you ever think that technology can encourage the thinking skills of someone? As we know, technology is very useful for communication and a lot of activities. Besides, technology can be used for teach thinking skill of students or learners.

 Thinking skills is the ability of critical thinking. The technology can support thinking skills if the teachers can design the activity properly and the learning activities itself can encourage the cognitive processes of the students. Besides, the students also have to construct their abilities and they have to learn more deeply.

When the learners study, writing, recording, drawing, etc through the tools of computer, the students can remember, comprehend, analyze, apply, and so on. Using computer, the learners can encourage their thinking skill because computer help the students to find additional information as a problem solving. Computer and networks also make the learners more interactive through the application and software.

So, the technology can be used in teaching thinking skill if the teacher can design the classroom that give information by understanding of cognitive processes, inquiry, problem solving, and language learning. The teachers also have to encourage the critical thinking of students. For the learners, they have to construct and develop their abilities and learn beyond.

4th Reflection of Technology and Language Learning

Technology to Teach Writing

Typing

                Speaking, reading, listening, and writing are capabilities in language learning. Now, we will talk about writing skill deeply. Writing and reading is two skills of language learning which always integrated each other. When we have to master the writing skill, we have to be a good reader because when we read the books or articles we have schemata as a prior knowledge. Then, automatically we can write a good content and good structure.

                By the time, the approaches to teaching writing and the use of computer continues to develop since 1960 until now.  According to Raimes (1991) there is different focuses: Focus on form, focus on the writer, focus on the content, and focus on the reader. I think, in writing skill it is better if we combine all those things, because we have to include all aspect when we write something. We also have to consider the structure, grammar, the content, and the reader when we do writing. If we can consolidate all those aspects, we can create a great writing, meaningful writing.

Nowadays, technology makes us easier to write. For example, through Microsoft Word we can type what we want to write easily. Besides, there is check spelling in Microsoft Word and there is so many features that we can add when we write, such as table, graphic, symbol, picture, etc. As a teacher candidate, I will apply the other software or tools to encourage the students in writing skills. Hopefully, through Technology and Language Learning I could master a variety of technologies in teaching language.

Diversity of Identity

 

Each person has their own identity. There are many different way to define identity itself, from the simple thing likes “Who is me?” until the complex things, such as the philosophy and culture. In my opinion, identity is the entity things which represent me. Identity it is about me and my own perspective toward others.

            I am Upit Sofyani, I am a girl, I am student, I am a Muslim, and I am a Sundanese and Javanese people. So, what is distinguishes between me with someone else? As a girl, physically I have the same characteristic of my body but I have different dispositions with the other girl. I think, all of us have different characteristics and each person has the uniqueness identity. I am a Muslim, even we have the same God and same way to pray. However, we have the differences among the other Muslim, such as we have the different level of our piety. Then, my descent is Javenese because my father comes from Solo but I cannot speak Javanese and I did not know well about the Javanese culture and Javanese custom. Whereas, my mother come from Bogor and I was born and grow up in Bogor. I can speak and understand the Sundanese language and also I know the custom and culture of Sundanese. My name Upit also represent of name of sinden from Sunda.

            In socializing we find many people with different identity. How do we deal with those differences? Some of people think the differences just make confuse and conflict, even they should be equate their perspective. I disagree with that because we can learn how to appreciate the differences, from that we could more respect each other, we can add some knowledge about the other ethnics, languages, religions, cultures, etc.

I think, I can socialize with the others who have different identity with me. From that, I can learned and know more about characteristics from the other identity. We can equate those differences if we open our mind, we can appreciate to the other people, ethnics, languages, religions, etc. It is depends to ourselves, we cannot judge or stereotype to something because we do not know the truth. Aphorism said “The difference is beautiful”. We can make it beautiful if we can unify the diversity of identity. Like a rainbow, they have different colors and characteristics but they combine the color thus create a unified harmony in colors. If we can be mutual respect, we can create the beautiful differences.

http://www.google.co.id/imgres?q=diversity+identity

          For two weeks we have to conduct school experience program. Our mentor teacher, Mr. Shaleh asked us to observe the teaching and learning process in the first week, and we have to conduct teaching assistant in the second week. Based on my observation for four days, I got some information and experience about the learning process with Mr. Shaleh.

            My impression on the observed classroom is challenging, heard the word “observation” it is likes a simple matter, but I disagree with that because I have to analyze the whole things in the classroom even the smallest thing. However, I cannot wait the time for teaching assistant because I want apply and share my knowledge in teaching process.

            During I was observing in the classroom, the teacher opened class through call all of students one by one. Then, he asked the student to read the module or they usually called it LKS (Lembar Kerja Siswa). After that, the teacher asked “What do you think about the text?” or “What is the text tell about?” he asked it question to two or three of students, he gave a verbal praise likes “very good”, “excellent”, or “thank you”. In my opinion, the reward like that is good for students because it could motivate the student.

My assumption, he exerts Direct Instruction, sometimes Lecture Discussion, and also Teacher Center Learning. The activities in every meeting are he asked the student to read the book, then do the exercises and sometimes discuss about it. The discussion itself it is talk about the exercise, that’s why I think sometimes he use lecture discussion because there is interaction between the students and teacher.

            Talked about the lesson plan, we never see the lesson plan of our mentor teacher. He said “I have made the RPP but I never brought it to school. I just have planned it in my mind.” Unfortunately, we cannot analyze the lesson plan and I cannot compare it with the lesson plan based on our student handbook.

            When I interviewed some of students, they said that the lesson is very bored and it always make sleepy. Besides, they never get clear explanation because they just read and do the exercises, then they discuss it. I think the model of instruction that he applied in classroom could be effective teaching if he cover the lesson more interesting which make the students more active. For example, use music, movie, games, role play, etc. Moreover, if he delivered the material more clearly I suppose the students are easier to understand.

            After I have observed in the real classroom, I think I have to arrange the strategies of teaching methods and technique. The hardest parts of teaching are encourage the students more active and critique because some of students shy when they have to speak up, presenting something, and give opinion. However, I believe my team teaching could do the best in teaching process.

Report Text

Report Text

          Do you know what the report text is? What are the generic structure and the language feature of report text? Can you identify the characteristics of report text?

Before we discussed it together, let’s see the video first!

This is a BBC-Wild Indonesia. Enjoy J

What did you get from the video?

What is the information that you get from that video?

Now, you should to identify the function of report text, the structure, and the language features of report text.

Definition

Report text is a kind of text which presented the general information. The purpose of report text itself is to give you factual information.

You have to remember that report text is different with description text. Description is talks about describing something physically and it is more specific.

So, the keyword is  

 

Generic Structure

·         General Classification

Introducing the general information, it is often the definition. You have to write the information generally, it usually introducing the thing that will be explains.

·         Description

Describing the thing in detail, stating what the facts are. If in the first paragraph you just introducing the thing generally, in this case you have to explain that thing specifically.

·         Conclusion or Additional Information

It could be conclusion; here, you can write what you think or decide as a result of the facts.

You also can add information at the end of text. The additional information could be the advantages or the interestingness of the thing that you explain.

Language Features

§  Simple Present Tense

You should use simple present tense to explain or describe things that are true.

e.g Television brings pictures and sounds from around the world into millions of homes.

§  Action Verb

You can use the action verb to describing behavior.

e.g The birds can fly.

Example

Title	Americans
General Classification	The National Geography Society has released a report giving the results a survey of Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four. These people were tested on their geographical knowledge of the world in 2006.
Description	The results of the test are both surprising and alarming. They show that 6% of Americans cannot even find America on map of the world. America’s nearest neighbours are Canada and Mexico. Yet 8% of Americans do not know where Canada is and 12% cannot find Mexico. Moving further away from America, 65% of Americans cannot find the UK. 75% cannot find Indonesia. Even Australia, an area of the world with a very distinctive shape was lost to 26% of Americans.
Conclusion	The people who took part in this survey are the most recent graduates of the American educational system. Their results suggest that young people in the United States are not prepared for an increasingly global future. The results suggest that many Americans lack even the most basic skills needed for the international economy. People with such limited skills might have difficulty understanding the serious problems that the world faces today.

Resources

James, Peter. (2006). Real English for Senior High School Grade XI. Jakarta: Esis.

BBC-Wild Indonesia video

Technology to Teach Speaking

          English language skills consist of four categories, there are writing, reading, speaking, and listening. In this case we are going to talk about speaking. Speaking is one of language skill to help us in communicated with others. We can produce a language if we get comprehensible input. In other word, the comprehensible input will produce a good output. Besides, when we do speaking we should give clear pronunciation and message that  we will because the interlocutor will

            When we do speaking we have to have ability to understand the messages, negotiate meaning, and comprehensible output. As I have said in the first paragraph, comprehensible output is importance that need the learners more critique in negotiate meaning, analyze of structures and functions, from that the learners can receive feedback from their interlocutor and the learners can produce the language accurately. I think, pronunciation is important to produce the language.

            Nowadays, technology provides various kinds of software and tools to help the learners learned language. A learning process not only happen in classroom, but when the learners plays a games, using social network or internet that use English as media for communication. The students learned English indirectly. Besides, the technology also has any kind of software to help the learners in communication skill, such as MOOs, Chat Rooms that will help the students in conversation. The computer has three functions, the first is computer used as Tutor (human to computer). Second is computer as an instructional tool (human to human via computer in classroom). The last is computer used as a communication medium (human to human via computer outside the classroom). Through technology the students can learned in wherever they are.

2nd Essay Humanistic Studies

The Unique Name

‘Name’ is the little things in our life but has a lot of functions. The purpose of name itself as our identity, we use name to differentiate ourselves with the others. Indeed some of people have the same name, but each name of person has different characteristic and everyone has a unique things that describe the person itself. Besides that, every single name has a different meaning and expectation from the author. I cannot imagine if we do not have a name, how we should call everyone in this world? That’s why I think name is a simple things but very important for identity of person.

Upit Sofyani, What do you think when you heard that name? Some of people make sure by asked to me “Is it your original name or just a nickname?” Sometimes some of people wonder when heard my name and probably some of them thought, what is the meaning of Upit? Moreover some of them just laughing and said “Her name is unique and peculiar, I ever heard it before and it is like an old name.” It is a really happened to me, when I was a child I thought my name is very bad and different with my friends who has a beautiful name. At that time, I felt not confident with my name because some of my friends always asked to me about my name and they gave a bad comment. At the moment, I wanted to change my name and I wanted have a beautiful name.

Upit Sarimanah

Afterwards, I told it to my father and he told me that every name has a good meaning. Upit is name of a popular sinden from Purwakarta. Her full name is Upit Sarimanah, her face is dark skin and cute (in Bahasa hitam manis). She has popularity in 1950 until 1960. She has a melodious voice to sing Sundanese songs. In that year, she has a lot of fans, she could made most of people to listen and love traditional songs. Usually Upit  Sarimanah was sang in puppet show. My grandfather really loves puppet show, especially wooden puppet show. He also likes Upit Sarimanah voices, that the reason why he put the name Upit in my first name because he want me to be a sinden or at least he want bequeath his interest about traditional art to his grandson. Sofyani was given by my father, it is mean a girl who polite, kind, and be the best. He hoped me to be someone who beneficial for the others. It is a wonderful meaning from Upit Sofyani.

When I was in Senior High School, I realized that every name is meaningful even some of people think that is meaningless, just ignore it because we will find our characteristic from own identity. I am proud have a unique name, Upit. Some of my friends and teachers easier to remember my name, because I have a unique name and Upit is a rare name.

Resources: http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upit_Sarimanah

http://mellowtone.multiply.com/journal/item/658/Upit_Sarimanah
http://ethnic-unique.blogspot.com/2011/07/upit-sarimanah.html

2nd Journal of Technology and Language Learning

Nowadays, technology not only for communication but the technology is beneficial for learning process. By the time, development of technology itself is very fast, create something new and different. Based on the article General Characteristic of Digital Design by Davies G and Hewer S, computer is more useful for text produce than we type text on paper because if we use a computer we can review and revise our text. Moreover, we can check the spelling of words automatically, such as in Microsoft Word. We also can add a video, audio, movie, or music in Microsoft Power Point. I think it very helpful when we are teaching because we can cover the material with the technology and we can make the students more enthusiastic.

            Beside it, electronic communication, World Wide Web, and software give some advantages for learning process especially in language learning. Now, the students, even elementary students know about internet gadget, social network, and any kind of games. See, technology is very close with the students and they are very interesting with technology because they have a huge curiosity of that. As a teacher candidate, I think we should apply a technology in learning process to grasp pupil’s attention and to facilitate teaching process easier.

            I agree with that, some of software or application on the internet is interactive for learning process, such as web 2.0 in this case we can give a comment, sharing, and give a feedback. I think we can socialize with other people in the internet. A lot of software can provides language learning, for instance electronic dictionary, with that software we can find the meaning of words, listen the pronunciation, we can do the exercise and we can check the correct answer,  it is save the time. I think technology is very helpful but we have to use it properly. As a teacher candidate, I hope apply this knowledge when teaching later.

Humanistic Studies

         Humanistic Studies, mata kuliah ini sedikit membuat saya penasaran dan menerka-nerka. Berasal dari kata Humanistic dan Studies, menurut pemahaman saya Humanistic berbicara tentang kepercayaan seseorang terhadap suatu agama atau membahas tentang kehidupan sosial manusia. Sedangkan Studies ialah proses pembelajaran terhadap suatu subjek untuk menambah pengetahuan kita.

Pada pertemuan pertama dijelaskan bahwa mata kuliah ini membahas tentang kehidupan beragama, suku dan budaya di Indonesia. Bapak Hatim Gazali selaku dosen mata kuliah Humanistic Studies menambahkan bahwa materi pada subjek ini berbeda dengan tahun lalu, kali ini akan membahas lebih dalam tentang agama. Ketika mendengar hal itu saya sempat berpikir agama adalah suatu hal yang sensitif dan itu menyangkut kepercayaan seseorang. Akankah materi mata kuliah ini disajikan dengan sebuah penyampaian yang netral dan tetap menghargai sesama tanpa menyinggung satu sama lain? Pertanyaan itu masih menjadi teka-teki yang belum terjawab karena kita baru melakukan satu kali pertemuan. Ekspektasi saya adalah pembahasan tentang agama ini akan dikemas dengan pembawaan yang netral, tidak berat sebelah. Selain itu saya juga berharap dengan mata kuliah ini dapat mengenal lebih dalam tentang agama di Indonesia,  lebih menghargai perbedaan kepercayaan, serta dosen dapat mengarahkan kita bagaimana cara memandang perbedaan agama secara netral.

Disamping itu, Humanistic Studies ini mengupas tentang multikultur suku dan budaya yang ada di negri ini. Membahas tentang budaya tidak jauh dari kesenian tradisional dan tradisi-tradisi unik. Saya sangat tertarik dalam dunia seni, khususnya kesenian tradisional. Saya berharap mata kuliah ini akan menyajikan keberagaman kesenian tradisional dengan sebuah video, film, atau mungkin kita dapat mempraktekan langsung salah satu kesenian tersebut. Sejarah suatu suku atau kebudayaan juga sangat menarik perhatian saya dan saya berharap hal tersebut dapat disinggung dalam materi Humanistic Studies.

Dalam sebuah budaya terselip sebuah kesenian tradisional. Ekspektasi lain saya sebagai kandidat guru Indonesia adalah saya dapat mengaplikasikan kesenian tradisional dalam bidang pendidikan, lalu mengkombinasikan kesenian tradisional tersebut dengan sentuhan sebuah teknologi untuk menyampaikan sebuah informasi atau pengajaran.

            Sebuah tempat saya bernaung untuk menimba ilmu ini menghadirkan berbagai kalangan pelajar yang berasal dari berbagai tempat yang tersebar di Indonesia yang memiliki latar belakang yang beragam. Perbedaan agama, budaya, dan tradisi tersebut mewarnai kehidupan sosial kita. Seperti warna, ia memiliki keindahan dan karakternya masing-masing, ia juga memiliki makna yang berbeda. Ibarat pelangi yang terdiri dari berbagai warna, mereka bergandengan tangan dengan damai memancarkan karakternya masing masing dengan satuan keindahan. Sama seperti perbedaan, jika kita mampu menghormati dan menghargai suatu perbedaan maka keindahan pun akan lahir dari sebuah perbedaan. Begitu juga dengan Tuhan yang menciptakan perbedaan itu sendiri, Tuhan memiliki makna dan tujuan tersendiri, tentunya hal itu baik untuk kehidupan manusia di dunia.

            Sekarang tergantung kita sebagai manusia yang menyikapinya, jika kita tidak dapat menerima sebuah perbedaan maka akan timbul suatu masalah dan konflik dalam kehidupan ini. Namun jika kita dapat hidup dalam suatu perbedaan, maka perbedaan itu akan memancarkan pesona kedamian yang alami.

Technology and Language Learning

Technology is very helpful for teachers and students in learning process. I think, a cognitive approaches makes a pupils comprehend in meaningful context and help the students to build their knowledge, in this case the student should have a critical thinking to develop their ability or knowledge from the input that they get. A sociocognitive approaches, emphasize in interaction with other people, the students have to practice in communicative learning, not only give a comprehensible input. So, they can share the information or knowledge with others. In my opinion, that approaches above is beneficial in learning process because a learners should be work individual (cognitive approaches) and work with other or involve interaction with others (sociocognitive approaches) .

Computer and a kind of technology that support a learning process have advantages and disadvantages. Actually, the advantages is very useful to make a learning process easier because with the technology the teacher can gives the material more interesting and creative, it makes a pupils not bored. Beside it, advancing a learners get information, a student be able to share the information with anyone, and pupils can studied although they in the outside of classroom. I think, with technology teachers can differ the material in various way based on their creativity and ability. But the teachers should be gives a filter for their students, as a purpose don’t misapply the technology.

In my opinion, as a teacher candidate we need to apply the technology in learning process based on the material, students’ interests, and grade of students. We have to creative to cover the materials with technology.

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