Creating a bigger ZPD by extending learning process via online forum

Formal learning usually takes place in a four wall classroom. An extension of learning process may continue to occur in a conventional setting where learners get together physically after class hours. In other words, learning may take place within particular zones. Vygotsky’s idea of zone of proximal development (ZPD) suggests that learning may not only take place within a prescribed zone but also outside the prescribed zone. The prescribed zone usually has a set of objectives to be achieved by the learners. However, during the learning process, some learners may learn and/or acquire more knowledge or skills beyond targeted objectives if there is room for them to do so. The non-prescribed zone is determined by the learners’ own initiatives and efforts. With the advancement of internet technology, learners are now able to extend their learning/acquisition process via online forum. This paper will describe how learners viewed online forum activity that was used in two separate classes for two consecutive semesters at a local university. It will also discuss some pedagogical principles in implementing online forum in courses and a few implications that need to be considered by policy makers, teachers/instructors, and ICT coordinators

Creating A Bigger Z.P.D. For ESL Learners Via Online Forum In Malaysia

Formal learning usually takes place in a physical classroom. An extension of learning process may continue to occur in a conventional setting where learners get together physically after class hours. In other words, learning may take place within particular zones. Vygotsky’s idea of zone of proximal development (ZPD) suggests that learning may not only take place within a prescribed zone but also outside the prescribed zone. The prescribed zone usually has a set of objectives to be achieved by the learners. However, during the learning process, some learners may learn and/or acquire more knowledge or skills beyond targeted objectives if there is room for students to do so. The non-prescribed zone is determined by the learners’ own initiatives and efforts. With the advancement of internet technology, second language learners are now able to extend their learning/acquisition process via online forum. This paper will describe how second language learners viewed online forum activity that was used in two separate classes for two consecutive semesters at a Malaysian university. It will also discuss some pedagogical principles in implementing online forum in courses and a few implications that need to be considered by policy makers, teachers/instructors, and ICT coordinators

Islam dan Pendokumentasian Digital: Pengalaman dari ATMA UKM Kuala Lumpur

Islam adalah ad-din yang menjadi pelengkap kepada agama samawi dan Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. adalah Nabi penutup akhir zaman. Allah Yang Maha Mengetahui mengizinkan penciptaan teknologi dari yang paling dhaif kepada paling canggih bagi menyebarkan risalah Islam kepada seluruh manusia selepas kewafatan Nabi Muhammad s.aw. Maklumat dan ilmu adalah dua perkara terus menular secara global melalui teknologi cetak, elektronik, analog dan kini digital. ATMA UKM tidak ketinggalan dalam memanfaatkan semua teknologi ini di Alam Melayu, yang terletak dalam kawasan maritim Asia Tenggara, kaya dengan maklumat dan ilmu kearifan tempatan, tetapi masih belum didokumentasikan seluasnya. Dalam era Revolusi Industri Keempat  (4iR), data raya (big data)  dan internet of things (IOT)  adalah dua daripada sembilan komponen utama yang perlu ada dalam mana-mana masyarakat maju. ATMA UKM telah membina dan mengemaskini data raya warisan Alam Melayu di portal malaycivilization.com.my. Data raya ini mempunyai himpunan data yang memenuhi 4 Vs: Volume (jumlah kepadatan dan skala data), velocity (akses dan kelajuan), variety (kepelbagaian format data dan struktur), veracity (kesahihah data), dan 4Vs ini menjadi teras kepada pembangunan data raya. Portal ini menawarkan 13 pangkalan data khusus mengenai beberapa aspek utama di Alam Melayu yang dapat diakses oleh para penyelidik, sarjana, dan orang awam sebagai pengguna. Bersifat sebagai perpustakaan digital yang menyediakan bahan dalam bentuk teks, video, dan audio, data raya warisan ini semakin mendapat perhatian dari pelbagai pihak untuk tujuan ilmiah dan bukan ilmiah. Kertas ini membicarakan pengalaman ATMA UKM dalam projek pendokumentasian digital sebagai satu tuntutan fardhu kifayah

Language learning and language acquisition in online forums

Innovations in computer technology have made possible new platforms for supporting and building shared knowledge in meaningful and creative ways to enhance language learning and acquisition. Platforms like web forums, webinars, and bulletin boards in most Learner Management Systems (LMS) provide the additional platform for learning but are seldom utilized effectively to promote student interaction in language learning and acquisition. This paper reports on English Language Studies (ELS) students’ voices of how they participated and benefitted in online forums (OLFs) during their language courses. Findings from the focus group interviews with undergraduate students showed that they are more than ready to adopt OLFs as a learning platform in addition to classroom interactions. However, better effort on the part of the instructors is needed for OLFs to be beneficial. The issues that emerged in the utilization of these forums will propose future directions in the implementation of OLFs to enhance learning and acquisition among ESL students

Impact of learning management blog on students’ language learning and acquisition

In the modern language learning scenario, language learning and language acquisition experience can be enriched outside the classroom where students can engage in interactive activities. This is enabled by Web 2.0 tools such as blog, twitter, and computer mediated communication tools like email and chat. Web 2.0 tools can unlimited space and time for students. Blog as one type of Web 2.0 tools can be designed to manage the learning and acquisition environment which provides learning materials, relevant learning resources, and online discussion. This paper reports on the impact of a “Learning Management Blog” (LMB) environment on students’ experience of language learning and language acquisition. The LMB was designed to function as a language learning platform for a particular group of tertiary students. Supplementary course materials that matched the objectives of the course were uploaded to the LMB. This qualitative study involved 30 Malaysian undergraduate ESL students at local university. A semi-structured interview was carried out to elicit responses from the students; then the recorded data were transcribed and analyzed qualitatively. The findings of the study revealed that the LMB has proven to be a useful tool to facilitate the language learning and language acquisition processes among the participants. The students had opportunities to use the language learning materials in the LMB as well as interacting with each other in the discussion forum. The learners developed their independent learning interest and motivation to use the English language learning materials and participate in the LMB environment

Modernisasi Pendidikan Pintar dalam Islam Bagi Generasi Z Memacu ke Arah Revolusi Industri 4.0

Pendidikan menurut Islam mempunyai kedudukan yang tinggi. Terse-barnya wahyu Ilahi yang dibawa oleh Rasullullah s.a.w. secara langsung Islam membawa satu kuasa besar terhadap ketamadunan manusia sejagat, meliputi seluruh aspek hidup dan kehidupan manusia. Perkembangan teknologi membolehkan perkembangan pembelajaran lebih efisien, efektif, fleksibel dan selesa. Modernisasi pendidikan pintar adalah pembelajaran berasaskan konteks boleh berlaku di mana-mana sahaja, yang merangkumi interaksi antara pelajar dan persekitaran. Salah satu masalah adalah teknik atau pendekatan yang diamalkan dalam persekitaran bilik kuliah umumnya telah membuatkan pelajar Gen Z berasa bosan semasa belajar. Oleh itu, adalah penting untuk memulakan kajian dengan lebih mendalam mengenai pendidikan pintar untuk menampung dan memenuhi keperluan komuniti digital. Makalah ini bertujuan membincangkan rangka kerja konseptual pendidikan pintar yang didorong oleh pelajar Gen Z yang melibatkan gaya pembelajaran yang dicadangkan dan aplikasi mudah alih sebagai projek inovasi dalam mempromosikan mengenai pengalaman pendidikan mereka. Dalam kajian ini, metodologi kuantitatif dan kualitatif akan digunakan untuk menilai balas dapatan melalui data sekunder, temubual dan soal selidik dengan pihak yang berkaitan. Tinjauan awal ini akan menjadi titik permulaan untuk institusi pengajian tinggi mula memahami idea Gen Z sambil bersiap sedia untuk perjalanan akademik mereka

Rhetorical Strategies in L2 Writing: An Exploration of Hedging and Boosting in Applied Linguistics Research Articles

It has been generally attested that academic writing does not only involve propositional content but has also been established as interactional and persuasive (Ho & Li, 2018; Hyland, 2005; Lee & Deakin, 2016; Swales, 1990). Hedges and boosters are interactional metadiscourse (MD) strategies which are considered to play a significant interactional role in academic genre. While hedges are used to reduce epistemic authorial commitment, the use of boosters indicate the writer’s full commitment about the propositional content put forth. Nevertheless, hedges and boosters are not simply used to comment on the truth value of propositions but they are also deployed to reflect the writer’s relationship with members of discourse community (Hyland, 2005; Vassileva, 2001). They are conceived as epistemic expressions that help writers modulate claims by anticipating readers’ responses to the writer’s statements and so their manipulation is considered essential in academic writing (Hyland, 2017). Hedges are linguistically realized by expressions such as might, perhaps, possible, generally, to a certain extent, etc. whereas boosters include such expressions as definitely, demonstrate, in fact, it is clear that, etc

English for specific technical and engineering academic purposes: An analysis on ESL practitioners’ challenges

The facilitation of English for Specific Engineering Academic Purposes approach at Malaysian technical and engineering tertiary institutions is an effort to revitalise the pedagogical methods of ESL learning and communication skills at the institutions. A close examination on the ESL practitioners’ context has indicated a critical gap between the diversified requirements of skills and sound pedagogical models to determine the practitioners’ quality. In understanding the necessity of the approach, this study aims to explore and investigate the challenges faced by the practitioners in facilitating the approach. The study comprised data gathered from semi structured interviews of 14 ESL experts and an online survey on 42 ESL practitioners in technical and engineering fields. Interview questions for the experts were developed to find out about the challenges and competencies to overcome the hurdles. A self-assessed instrument with a five-Likert scale of importance on the competencies was used to gauge the practitioners’ view onn the approach. Frequencies and percentages, and Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-stage method of thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. Findings from the both inquiries revealed several challenges which led to the necessity of wider knowledge and understanding of the approach and the prevalent of specific competencies for the practitioners in overcoming the challenges. The practitioners’ competency was substantially indispensable because it could affect their learners’ interest in learning the skills as well as in understanding the content subject.quality agencies to review and specify the requirement and guideline for ESL practitioners specifically those at technical and engineering tertiary institutions

Interaction in academic L2 writing: an analysis of interactional metadiscourse strategies in applied linguistics research articles

It has been acknowledged that academic writing is not only content-oriented but also involves various rhetorical strategies that help writers project themselves on text so that the content as well as the writer’s stance can be understood. Interactional metadiscourse (MD) strategies are established to play a rhetorical role that contribute to the persuasiveness of argument. Due to the variation of rhetorical strategies across cultures, L2 writers tend to find some problems employing appropriate interactional MD strategies to express a clear stance and engage readers in the content presented. This paper examines the extent to which interactional MD strategies are employed in advanced L2 writing. To this end, 34 research articles written by Yemeni/Arab applied linguistics L2 writers were analysed. Based on Hyland (2005a), interactional MD strategies were identified via AntConc, a concordance analytical software tool. Moreover, a qualitative analysis was conducted to examine the way how advanced L2 writers use interactional MD strategies to pursue persuasive goals. The findings indicate that L2 writers tend to employ impersonal and less dialogic style in academic writing. A closer in-depth analysis indicates that the most salient interactional strategies in Yemeni L2 writing include making bare assertion as well as marking certainty of claims. They mostly tend to make assertion as they indicate research gaps and express conviction when they state findings and summarize their research. The implications of such findings could be useful for genre analysis, academic writing and L2 writing instruction

Tingkah laku pengundian etnik Melayu pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14

Buat pertama kali dalam sejarah negara, UMNO/BN tumbang dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-14 (PRU14). Banyak kerusi yang gagal dipertahankan termasuklah kawasan yang memiliki jumlah pengundi Melayu yang ramai. Perkara ini menimbulkan persoalan, adakah pengundi Melayu sudah tidak memilih parti berteraskan Melayu seperti UMNO? Kajian ini bertujuan melihat faktor yang mendorong pengundi Melayu melakukan perubahan dalam PRU-14. Kajian dilakukan secara kualitatif melalui temubual melibatkan responden yang menjadi pemegang taruh politik dan juga pakar politik negara. Secara umumnya, responden berpandangan rata-rata pengundi Melayu masih mengundi parti berteraskan Melayu atas faktor identifikasi parti dan sosiologi. Walau bagaimanapun, isu-isu yang berbangkit pada PRU-14 menepati teori pilihan rasional apabila ia turut mempengaruhi sebilangan pengundi Melayu. Kesimpulannya, pendekatan politik keetnikan kepada kaum melayu Melayu masih relevan sebagai kaedah meraih undi etnik Melayu. Namun faktor-faktor lain juga perlu diambil kira agar mendapat sokongan yang optimum. Kajian lanjut juga perlu dilakukan terutama terhadap pengundi di lapangan