Look here! This is a dateline.
| Teachers creating lesson plans linking up newspaper content with online activities |
| Assistant NIE manager Hazlina Abdul Aziz (right) taking teachers through My School Rocks in NiEXUS |
| Nothing like a personal experience of the NiEXUS |
The first of its kind (in the history of NIE teacher workshops in Malaysia), the workshops combined methodologies used — printed copies of the paper with content from NST-NIE’s latest online offering for schools, NiEXUS (http:// niexus.emedia.com.my ).
Launched in January, NiEXUS is a self-access learning site for primary and secondary students, and stands as a forum for creative expression and language learning.
Since the site reflects the English Language syllabus at both levels and supports the National Blueprint for Education, teachers can also use NiEXUS content for writing, speaking, reading and listening activities.
The language activities require minimal teacher input to facilitate learning but teachers have the option of using these either for set induction, instruction development or enrichment.
Whether teacher-assisted or, otherwise, student progress can be tracked online at any time.
“The site,” says NIE Unit manager Mary Chandapillai, “is versatile enough to challenge learning at any level. It seeks to make students independent seekers of information and helps improve information technology (IT) literacy.
“And as a lot of the content is created around the daily news pages of the NST, revised daily or weekly — what students learn is made relevant, current and entertaining.” Academicians acknowledge that reading the newspaper daily stimulates global and social awareness, and enhances general knowledge and language prowess.
NiEXUS furthers these benefits. This was the thrust of the NIE: Crossing Media workshops.
Teachers got to see how it was possible to take students from print to online media in just a single English lesson.
They saw how reading and listening comprehension lessons could be linked to the informative News Flash articles and how vocabulary lessons could be enhanced with the online Word Poppers, Crosswords, Word Search, Scrambled Words and Idioms Invasion.
Writing lessons found a link to the site’s Continuing Tale, My Say and Writing Prompts.
Grammar lessons found reinforcement in the animated grammar games.
Teachers even got an overview of how they could help their students set up their school’s online news bulletin using the creative tools presented in My School Rocks.
NiEXUS was fashioned with the aim of helping even the weaker students feel a sense of achievement when it comes to language learning and creative expression.
As every language activity on NiEXUS provides immediate feedback and reinforcement, even if students go into it with zero proficiency, they will come away with at least a new word learnt and their general knowledge expanded at the end of the session.
“We like to call this site the prêt-a-porter of language lessons — relevant, interesting and tickling the senses,” says Chandapillai.
Teachers who attended the workshops on March 26 (Putrajaya), March 27 (Kota Baru) and April 2 (Petaling Jaya) agree the site has much to offer students.
New to the teaching profession, Maizatudariah Yaacob of SMK (A) Maahad Hamidiah, Kajang, says: “I find NiEXUS resourceful. It will help students develop spelling and grammar.
“Another plus point is the way it incorporates education into its online games. Even students who are weak in the language will be tempted to give it a go.” K. Gunasekaran, English teacher at SK Puchong Batu 14, Selangor, expresses his admiration for NiEXUS, and is now hoping to add it to his lesson plans.
“It will be a big change for students as it brings the language to them beyond lessons in class.” Teacher Lee Pei Pei of SKJ (C) Lai Meng, Kuala Lumpur used to utilise the NST in class but found it tedious.
“Now with NiEXUS, it makes it a lot easier to teach students and I can keep track of everything they do.” This was one aspect that Zuraida Hasyim, the English Language Officer for the State Education Department (Putrajaya), found interesting about the site.
“Nowadays teachers are required to attend a lot of courses, and with this website, even if their teachers are not around, students can still learn and continue with their English lessons.
In Putrajaya every school is provided with computers and Internet access, and now students can make full use of all the computers.”
Mohamad Najib Omar, Kelantan State Education Department’s English Language Officer (SK) says: “NiEXUS is so interesting that even teachers are showing excitement, especially when attempting the language games.
"Not only can one learn English, one also gets updated with news and general knowledge. We support this website and will help spread news of this to APRIL 13, other schools so more can benefit.”
K. Ramanchandran from SMK Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Rawang, finds NiEXUS impressive.
“This is a good alternative to conventional teaching methods being used in schools. Students will find NiEXUS mind stimulating and entertaining, and will not feel bored learning English.” Accessibility was the attraction for Dhiya Amalina Zahari of APIIT Smart School, Shah Alam.
“More students are IT-savvy and they can surf the NiEXUS from their homes too.” Mohd Shamsul Mohd Noor from SMK Sungai Burung in Selangor says that the site is fun, attractive and something new.
“Students who use this site will be able to express themselves well in English and interact better with their peers.” “Learning English through NiEXUS will help students fare better in writing, as well as increase their vocabulary,” says George Lourdes of SMK Stella Maris in Kuala Lumpur.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment