ICT FOR LIFE

Computer assisted writing:

Computer-Assisted Writing Instruction
Computer programs for writing help students with developing ideas, organizing, outlining, and brainstorming.

Templates

- provide a framework and reduce the physical effort spent on writing so that students can pay attention to organization and content.

Computer Programs for Writing

Word prediction
• Student-specific programs that identify words that student uses repeatedly; when the student types the first few letters, the program lists frequently used words that start with those letters
• speeds up the typing process

Speech-to-text
• student speaks into a microphone and the program types the words
• program must be “trained” to the student’s word pronunciation and speech style
• student must be taught how to use the program
• increased speed from thought to text

Text-to-speech
• student can hear what she has typed to check if it says what she wants it to say
• good for editing

Spell-checker
• helps student identify misspelled words
• automatically corrects words if the teacher set the program that way

Thesaurus
• offers student other words that mean the same as the word he or she is using
• adds variety to student’s writing and increases student vocabulary


There are various examples that software can be used nowadays. First of that is microsof word processor. Word processors are excellent tools for students who find handwriting tedious. Often, students with disabilities have difficulty with all the requirements for the writing process. They have trouble organizing their thoughts and then retaining those thoughts long enough to put them on paper. Their handwriting must be neat enough and their spelling and grammar correct enough to convey their message, tasks that they may find difficult.The other problem of microsof word is a prosesor that we use nand the software that we use on our laptop such as word 2000 and word 2003,there are some difficult when we use it in different software like vista or xp.

The second software is microsoff excel. This software suitable for the mathematical calculation and accaounting information. It is because this software was using the tables and columns. Many templates that provided there. For example to make the balance sheet and profit and lost for the corporate company.

The third is power point software. It is most acctractive software. Because using clip art and colorful background. It’s more suitable for information presentation.

The last is microsof adobe reader. It is used to display the profile of corporate company such as PROTON and FAMA.

Here the examples of the url that has computerized writing activities:

http://esl.about.com/od/writinginenglish/English_Writing_Skills_Letters_Resumes_and_Writing_Style.htm

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=950

http://esl.about.com/library/howto/htessay.htm (how to writing)

http://mars.vnet.wnec.edu/~warp/spring2003/reading.htm (tools of computerized reading)

http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/computeraided_writing.asp

http://chiron.valdosta.edu/are/vol1no2/litrev/KarenKelly.pdf

http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/computeraided_writing.asp

the large number of student, lack of teaching stuff and problem in scheduling class hour has made the language centre to conduct the class in two different mode. Which is online and offline.
Basically the performance both mode are standardize based on their course work and assessment. There ere three different between online and offline. The first differences of offline is three hours of lectures and three hours of tutorial. But for the online four hours and side session and two flexible hours. Second differences is for offline lecture session provides dtudents with the technique, teory and mechanic of writing as required on the modul. But for the online student gathered information on the technique, teory and mechanic of writing as required in the modul during the four hours on side session from the online modul provided. The last different is offline tutorial session provide students with group and individual attention. Individual and group activities are also organize for them. Meanwhile, online chat room facilities are provide for student and instructure to disscuss the area cover by modul.

As the conclusion, although many studies have shown that online teaching has it’s own advantages but the online students did not perform well as the offline student. It’s maybe because of the extra week that of the offline students have before exam. It is because one week coaching that offline student received before exam can make a different as teacher could elaborate on certain point compare to the online student.