The Summary and Reflection of Basics of Video, Audio and Web Based Conferencing(The Summary / Reflection 3)

The Summary and Reflection of Basics of Video, Audio and Web Based Conferencing

In order to mention about we should examine three web sites on basics of video, audio and web based conferencing. These web sites are as following: www.alado.net , www.learningtimes.com, and www.wiziq.com.

Firstly, I will mention about Alado. On homepage of this web site it is introduced about DWES (the Digital Workforce Education Society) and its chairman and executive director, Andrew Pincon. DWES is a society that does not get profit from what it does. It aims at helping the development of international technology. In the section of Network on this website we see the title “Illinois Century/Illinois Video Education Network” and it is written there about Illinois Video Education Network’s features and importance on its own field. Then, in the last section on website, Computers, it is mentioned about how they have been serving about computer and its developing.

On the second website, we meet what learningtimes is and what it is for. Learningtimes is one of the main “producers of online communities and online conferences for education and training”. It is beneficial for “training, platforms, applications and unmatched expertise” to achieve your success. Then, we see some useful featured conferences and communities, later it is mentioned about LearningTimes production services in 3-D, and it is suitable for online conferences, one-time events, and avatar creation for education. You can benefit from it in terms of virtual world and building meaning.

On our last website to examine is WiziQ. Personally, it is the best and the most useful for education world. It is an environment in which you can talk and discuss the topic of the day with your teacher and your students on a whiteboard which is provided by the website. These all are at the same time. While doing web-conferencing, you can download or upload the files (*.doc,*.ppt and etc.) in related to the topic of the day. It is online teaching and learning stage. You can share your knowledge and PDF files with the ones that you want to show your files. It is really and exactly virtual classroom.

The Summary/ Reflection 2

The Summary of Two Research Papers- “Internet Audio Communication for Second Language Learning: A Comparative Review of Six Programs” and “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum: Electronic Discussion and Foreign Language Learning” about Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) (Synchronous and Asynchronous)

In the first research paper which has been prepared by Gary A. Cziko and Sujung Park, it is mentioned about the relationship between audio communications via internet and second language learning. In the paper, six different communication programs for Windows and Macintosh computers that allow synchronous audio communication have been reviewed in terms of their contribution to the second language learning through the interaction with the native speakers. According to this research, the audio and video qualities of these programs are variable, but the importance of it is that the second language learners can communicate with the native speakers in a not expensive way. In this paper, we can also some recommendations about what programs are for which purposes. The programs mentioned in the text are AOL instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger for Windows, Msn Messenger and Windows Messenger, Paltalk, and iVisit.

In the second paper which has been prepared by Barbara E. Hanna and Juliana de Nooy, it is adverted the relationship between cross-cultural contact and electronic discussion list for second language learners. In this paper it is mentioned about how electronic discussion lists have become a way for cross-cultural contact. A case study is reported in the text and it says that four Anglophone students of French started to this incident when they sent a message to a forum named Le Monde. During the process, the messages were examined and the result shows that electronic discussions have been affected by the cultural and generic expectations. The authors are also recommending that a well-done participation on the internet requires the consciousness of generic and cultural aspects. By this way, the teachers can encourage their students for electronic discussion by saying to them that it is not just for linguistic training, but also a cultural interaction.

The Summary/ Reflection 1

The Summary of “An Invitation to CALL: Unit1: Introduction to Computer-Assisted Language Learning”

In this writing, firstly, it is mentioned about the meaning of the CALL and it says that CALL is the short version of computer-assisted language learning. Then, it is adverted the ways of conceptualizing field of CALL, and it says that one of the useful ways is dividing computers use in respect of the functional roles of “tutor” and “tool” (Levy, 1997). According to that discrimination, a vocabulary flashcard program could be regarded as tutor use and email program or web search engine like Google could be regarded as tool use. However, at present CALL is being used as an evolving tool use, unlike most early. Then, in the following parts of the writing, it mentioned about the acronyms and attitudes. Later, we see the history of CALL, and it says that CALL started in the 1960s by the help of mainframe-based drill and practice materials belonging to the University of Illinois’ PLATO. Until the early 1980s when the microcomputer into educational settings started to spread, CALL was unimportant thing for language learning outside of a few universities. In the late 1980s and early 90s, the Apple Macintosh became the Apple II and it became favorite among teacher developers and then other developments in the field of computers were experienced. In the course of that period, the importance of the use of computer as a tool went up, and computers started to be used for preparing projects by teachers and their students. Later, two main changes were gone through. The dramatic rise in commercial multimedia for language learning in home computers and the development of the world wide web. Then, the scope of CALL is mentioned and it ends with the table of a framework for CALL education.

The Summary of “Communities of Practice”

At the beginning of this writing, the term of “communities of practice” is explained and mentioned about how they are formed, and it is defined as groups of people sharing a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Then, three important characteristics of them are mentioned: (1) The Domain, (2) The Community and (3) The Practice. In the following part, it is adverted about what communities practice are like and the activities by the help of that communities develop their practice are mentioned on the text. The concept has been used primarily in learning theory. This concept is used in a lot of fields: business, organizational design, government, education, professional associations, development projects, and civic life.