"Hole in the Wall"

To begin with, "Hole in the Wall" is an experiment done by Sugata Mitra which centres on the acquisition of computing literacy on shared public computer where young kids in this project figured out how to use a PC on their own.

"If given appropriate access and connectivity, groups of children can learn to operate and use computers with none or minimal intervention from adults".

That statement is pivotally the premise of this research which also goes to show that computers can play an effective role in ensuring equal learning opportunity for the less advantaged children.

In 1999, Sugata Mitra and his colleagues dug a hole in a wall bordering an urban slum in New Delhi, installed an Internet-connected PC, and left it there (with a hidden camera filming the area). What they saw was kids from the slum playing around with the computer and in the process learning how to use it and how to go online, and then teaching each other.

In the following years they replicated the experiment in other parts of India, urban and rural, with similar results, challenging some of the key assumptions of formal education. The "Hole in the Wall" project demonstrates that, even in the absence of any direct input from a teacher, an environment that stimulates curiosity can cause learning through self-instruction and peer-shared knowledge.

WEEK 3: Roles of Computer (Language Learning and Teaching)

Computer always plays a crucial role in both language teaching and learning.

In language teaching per se, its first primary role is to function as means to communicate through asynchronous or synchronous application such as Email, Online Forums, Live Web Conferences, Online chatting or Instant Messaging. It is also used to present or deliver lessons/lectures to students through application software e.g. Microsoft PowerPointand to calculate and record grades of performance and written assessments through application software e.g. Microsoft Excel and Access. Computer can be used as a tool to draw students’ attention and d other various application software such as word processing (mainly) used to prepare instruction, tutorials and exercises.

In language learning, students are usually given the chance to learn language at their own pace and direction. Just like teaching, there is always a a platform for classroom discussions through asynchronous computer mediated communication such as online forums, instant messaging and online chatting. Users are provided with an abundance of or unlimited access to information from off the web.

WEEK 2: Introduction to CAI and CALL

Based on the Week 2 presentation, Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) refers to drill-and-practice, tutorial, or simulation activities. All these are instruction or remediation presented on a computer available for the users. CAI allows students to progress at their own pace and work individually or problem solve in a group.
It also provides immediate feedback and the instruction moves at the students’ pace and usually does not move ahead until they have mastered the skill.

Meanwhile, Computer Assisted Language Learning is a form of computer-based learning which comprises two important features, namely; bidirectional learning and individualized learning. CALL programs (software applications) are designed specifically to promote language learning. It also focuses on student-centered accelerated learning material, which promotes self-paced accelerated learning. The philosophy of CALL puts a strong emphasis on student-centered lessons that allow the learners to learn on their own using structured and/or unstructured interactive lessons.

Introduction

Salut everyone!
I'm in Madam Begum's TSL641 class at the moment tweaking and tweezing a new blog especially for CALL course. Thus from today onwards, I'll be updating weekly insights and entries on computer-assisted language learning as part of the course syllabus.
Till then.

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