The conveniences provided by the Hot Potatoes software never cease to amaze me since the first time I started to learn to use it. I have always heard about some software that provide assistance to the teachers in constructing meaningful lesson plan towards the teaching and learning process but this is the first time that I got my own hand to this particular software. I have never thought that this software will be a greater assistance for the teachers to devise any exercise that are congruence with the general outcome as well as specific objective accordingly to the intended devised lesson plan. According to an article by Martin Laplante, Ph.D., the Hot Potatoes suite is a set of Computer- Assisted Language Learning tools that lets teachers easily create interactive web-based exercises. The Hot Potatoes software includes five major features in teaching English language which are the JCloze, JMatch, JQuiz, JCross and JMix. All of the features are very useful to formulate the objective of the English language learning for the students. Apart from that, there is one prominent feature in this software which known as The Masher. I have tried the features several times although it seems that I still need to learn more about this software before I start to fully utilize the effectiveness of this software.
In my personal opinion, I believed that this software provides a broad range of advantages for those who are seeking to teach English language using the Internet as the medium of instruction. The application’s features are distinct with each other where it can be used for many learning objectives. This application provides different segment for the optional reading text and the other exercises such as quizzes in the other. In addition to that, the learning materials that the users want to use for the exercises can be directly included into the software from different sources which are from the HTML files or within the local disk. Quite convenience I would say to that.
In relation to this point, I would like to point out that the features in this application can be used widely by the English teacher to encourage the students to develop a learning tendency in learning English language online. The reason why I mentioned this point of view is due to the fact that this application can provide exercises that are very interesting and simultaneously stimulating the students’ urges to learn English language. All of the features can be used as creative as possible which depends on the creativity level of the users. The application provides the users with the accessibility to incorporate the usage of pictures or video with the purpose of attracting the students’ interest in learning English language via Internet. Apart from that, the application also includes the scaffolding approach where the learners can click on the button Hint whenever they have some difficulties in answering the exercises.
According to one of the articles that I have read about this software, the developers of this software have intentionally avoided the ‘one-click right or wrong’ feedback system which has been widely used by most other systems. In my opinion, this intention has strongly opposed the ideas inculcate by the other systems, where the developers of this application emphasis on the progressives feedback given to the students either as hints or allowing the learners to check the answers in the answering phase. According to the article, this will enables the students to be involved in the students-centered approach where the learners have the opportunities to be in involved in a more cognitive process where they figuring out the correct answer in a constructive manner. I would like to say that I am totally agreeing with this point of view.
Last but not least, I would like to categorize this application as the friendly-user application. This application offers liberty to the user to control the appearance of the HTML files that have been created. I think that this application provides opportunities towards the users to expand their creativity horizon instead of making exercises using the old-school form which is the paper and pencil. Based on my own experience in using this software, I have been exposed with the different angle of using the creativity in teaching English language. The liberty of choosing your own graphic interface can help the teachers to come out with an interactive and attractive appearance of ESL website that can stimulate the students’ interest in learning the target language. Despite all of that, I still have more to learn in utilizing the advantages of using this application. So far, I have gained lots of experiences and insights that are relating towards the technique of teaching English language.
I would like to recommend all of my friends who are involving in the Education department to incorporate this application into their teaching method and as for me this particular software will surely be my favorite software in the future. The advantages of using the software can’t be described by words instead it should be experienced individually. I believe that is all from me.
The advantages of using the software can’t be described by words instead it should be experienced individual...well said.
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