0 Forth Tutorial Activity (Answer a question........)

Question: Reflect and discuss your own preferences and strategies when dealing with printed materials and digital materials.

Before answering this question, I will like to discuss the differences between printed materials and digital materials. Printed materials included book, journal and magazine, meanwhile digital materials included some reading materials that we read online through computer or laptop. So, usually digital materials are more attractive if compared to printed materials because digital materials contains pictures that can move (Slideshow) or even video. Digital materials also contain hyperlink or hypertext that enable readers to read for extra information. Readers can go for further information by clicking on the hyperlink. On the other hand, printed materials are less attractive as printed materials usually consist of books. Books contain only pictures, texts, phrases and words. Some books contain only words. Readers will easily get bored when reading printed materials. When readers encounter with new word or phrase, he or she must look up the meaning of the word through dictionary.

So, in my point of view, although digital materials bring lots of convenience to us, I still prefer printed materials because I am a person who don't like to sit still in one place while reading. While reading, I like to walk around with my book on my hand. Sometimes I like to lie down on the sofa or even bed when I am reading. If I am reading a digital material, I cannot do so as my laptop is heavy and sometimes my laptop can run out of battery. It's a bit troublesome for me. I have the natural habit that I must hold a book in my hand when I'm reading. I can concerntrate with what I read and easily remember what I had read. If I read digital materials, for sure I will do others things first, for example play games or chatting through internet first. This will only distract me when I'm reading. When I come across with a new word or phrase, I usually like to highlight the word or phrase. I will make a sign at that particular page so that I can refer back to that page in future. That is my way of learning new words or phrases. So, in conclusion, if compared to digital materials, I still prefer printed materials.

0 Forth Tutorial Activity (Meaning Of The ICT Terms.......)

Hello....... It's me again, Azlan. Today, I have to find the meaning of the ICT terms and post them in my blog. Here are my result......

1. Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references (hyperlinks) to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the underlying concept defining the structure of the World Wide Web, making it an easy-to-use and flexible format to share information over the Internet.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertext

A special type of database system, invented by Ted Nelson in the 1960s, in which objects (text, pictures, music, programs, and so on) can be creatively linked to each other. When you select an object, you can see all the other objects that are linked to it. You can move from one object to another even though they might have very different forms.
Reference: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/h/hypertext.html

2. Hyperlinks
Hyperlink (or link) is a reference to a document that the reader can directly follow, or that is followed automatically. The reference points to a whole document or to a specific element within a document.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperlink

An element in an electronic document that links to another place in the same document or to an entirely different document. Typically, you click on the hyperlink to follow the link. Hyperlinks are the most essential ingredient of all hypertext systems, including the World Wide Web.
Reference: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/h/hyperlink.html

3. Hypermedia
Hypermedia is an extension of hypertext that allows images, movies, and Flash animations to be linked to other content.The most common type of hypermedia is an image link. Photos or graphics on the Web are often linked to other pages. For example, clicking a small "thumbnail" image may open a larger version of the picture in a new window. Clicking a promotional graphic may direct you to an advertiser's website. Flash animations and videos can also be turned into hyperlinks by embedding one or more links that appear during playback.
Reference: http://www.techterms.com/definition/hypermedia

A computer-based information retrieval system that enables a user to gain or provide access to texts, audio and video recordings, photographs, and computer graphics related to a particular subject.
Reference: http://www.answers.com/topic/hypermedia

4. Online reading
I cannot find the specific meaning for online reading through internet. So, I'm going to explain this term based on my own understanding. Online reading can define as we surf the internet to find the reading material or information that we want and read the material through computer without printing it out.

5. Digital literacy
Digital literacy is the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate, and create information using digital technology. It involves a working knowledge of current high-technology, and an understanding of how it can be used. Digitally literate people can communicate and work more efficiently, especially with those who possess the same knowledge and skills. Certifications are available to determine if a person is digitally literate. Digital literacy encompasses computer hardware, software (particularly those used most frequently by businesses), the Internet, cell phones, PDAs, and other digital devices. A person using these skills to interact with society may be called a digital citizen.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_literacy

Digital literacy involves the confident and critical use of Information Society Technology (IST) for work, leisure and communication. It is underpinned by basic skills in ICT: the use of computers to retrieve, assess, store, produce, present and exchange information, and to communicate and participate in collaborative networks via the Internet.
Reference: http://www.digital-literacy.eu/20663

6. Reading Strategies
Reading strategies can define as methods of reading. Methods that we use in reading to understand a phrase, paragraph and text.

*To clarify once again, I do not own all these information. All these information are taken from the internet. There are reference links under the definitions. To learn more, you can click on the links that will bring you to the specific website. Thanks......

0 Third Tutorial Activity (Locate Resources For Learning English......)

Now, in this tutorial activity, I'm going to locate some resources for learning English through the internet. First, I'm going to use either Google search engine, Bing search engine or Yahoo search engine to locate these resources.

Here are the links that will bring you to the three search engines: (Do click on these links if you want to use these three search engine to locate resources)
Google search engine
Reference/Link: http://www.google.com.my/
Bing search engine
Reference/Link: http://www.bing.com/
Yahoo search engine
Reference/Link: http://malaysia.yahoo.com/

By using these search engines, I'm going to locate the first site that caters for all English language skills (including writting, listening and so on).
Here is my result:
After searching for sometimes, I found few websites and I selected the most suitable. Although this website is the same as what my coursemates found and post, I still prefer to post this website's link in my blog as this website contains all the English language skill such as listening, speaking, grammar and writting. This website is very complete as it contains all the English language skills. To improve English, we can just refer to this website and do all the exercises in this website.
Reference: http://www.free-english-study.com/

Next, I'm going to locate the second website that caters for only one English language skill and I have chosen to focus on pronunciation. In our last semester, our Oral Communcation lecturer, Mr. Salleh introduced a pronunciation website for us. I think that this website is good. After using the search engine to search for it, finally I found the website. So, I'm going to post this website link.
Reference: http://www.howjsay.com/

Finally, I'm going to locate the third website that contains English Grammar Practice.
Here is my result:
This website contains lots of grammar practices such as exercise on preposition, verbs and so on. These exercises are in MCQ form as well as "Fill in the blank"form. Do click on the link below to answer all the exercises.
Reference: http://www.nonstopenglish.com/

1 Second Tutorial Activity (Reproduce a printed advertisement)......

This is my second tutorial activity (Reproduce a printed advertisement). This week, I learn to reproduce an advertisement. Firstly, I searched for a printed advertisement from the newspaper. After searching for a period of time, I selected a printed advertisement that contains the most pictures, colours and texts. Then, by using PowerPoint, I started to retype all the information and texts. I used Wordart to design the important words such as "Sunday", "Super Special" and "Valid on 10 Jan 2010 only" in the advertisement. After that, I searched for some pictures from the internet. I used Google search engine to look for the pictures. I saved all the pictures and upload them into the PowerPoint. I continued again by changing the background colour of the PowerPoint. Then, I arranged everythings in the PowerPoint in order. Before saving it, I had a final touch up. I saved my PowerPoint as JPEG file format. Finally, I upload the advertisement into my blog for evaluation. Below is what I got. A printed advertisement that reproduced by me. So, now I'm going to answer some questions from the task. These are my answers: I get most of the pictures from the internet by using Google search engine. I used PowerPoint only when I reproduced this advertisement. I don't actually type very fast. I think that I am a moderate typist. I never use the help tools such as spell check and grammar check. Usually, I check all the spelling and grammar by myself. I will refer to the grammar books when I have some grammatical problems and I will also refer to the dictionary when I have words that I'm not confirm with their spelling. When I reproduce this advertisement, I used the graphic features in the PowerPoint to help me. The graphic features such as shadow, reflection, shape and so on really help me a lot. After I finished everythings, I asked my friends for their personal opinion. My friends really teach me a lot especially when I have problem to upload the advertisement into my blog. They taught me to save the PowerPoint as JPEG file format so that I can upload it. In my personal opinion, I think that I'm a moderate typist and designer. I really need to learn more and practice more in order to become a better typist and designer in future. So, I give myself 6 marks only. Thanks.....

0 Third Tutorial Activity (Translation Tool)......

Hello everyone....It's me, Azlan again. Today, me and my group partner, Hooi Theng have to translate a short document or text from Malay to English. So, we are going to use google translation tool to translate our short document or text. First, we will browse online to look for a short Malay text.

Malay version:
Gerhana matahari berlaku apabila kedudukan bulan terletak di antara bumi dan matahari oleh itu menutup cahaya matahari samada separa atau sepenuhnya. Walaupun bulan lebih kecil, bayangan bulan mampu melindungi cahaya matahari sepenuhnya kerana bulan dengan purata jarak 384,400 kilometer adalah lebih dekat kepada bumi berbanding matahari yang mempunyai jarak purata 149,680,000 kilometer.

Reference: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerhana_matahari

(The above paragraph does not belongs to us. It is taken from Wikipedia. Click the above link to learn more about "Gerhana Matahari").

So, now I'm going to use google translation tool to translate this paragraph.

Here is the English version:

Solar eclipse occurs when the moon lies between the earth and the sun is close by sunlight either partially or fully. Although in smaller, hypothetical month to protect sunlight as full month with an average distance of 384.400 kilometers are closer to earth than the sun has an average distance of 149,680,000 kilometers.

After translating this paragraph, we continue to translate some popular Malay phrases by using Google translation tool again.

Malay words (Before translation):

Selamat Pagi

Selamat Malam

Berhati-hati

Jemput makan

Dilarang membuang sampah merata-rata

Jangan bising

Apa khabar?

English version: (After translation)

Good Morning

Selamat Malam

Behati-liver

Invite eat

Littering prohibited everywhere

Do not noisy

Apa khabar?

After transating this short Malay text and Malay phrases, we think that this translation tool really helps us a lot when we want to do any translation works. We can save lots of time by using this translation tool. Although this translation tool brings lots of comfort and convenient to us, somtimes this translation tool just tends to translate the words directly without considering the grammatical rules. As a result, the phrases, sentences as well as the paragraph become weird and the meaning or content is totally different from the original version. Anyway, we should just thank those translation tools for helping us up........

Here are some links that will bring you to some translation tool:

http://translate.google.com.my/?hl=en&tab=wT#msen

(The most commonly used translation tool is Google translation tool, it has 56 languages available for translation.)

http://www.stars21.com/translator/malay_to_english.html

(The second translation tool is Star 21.com which introduced by my coursemate, most of them think that Star21.com can translate better.)

0 First Tutorial Activity (Meaning Of The ICT Terms......)

1. Information Technology
In actuality, information technology is the use of computers and software to manage information. In some companies, this is referred to as Management Information Services (or MIS) or simply as Information Services (or IS). The information technology department of a large company would be responsible for storing information, protecting information, processing the information, transmitting the information as necessary, and later retrieving information as necessary.
Reference:http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/careersintechnology/p/ITDefinition.htm

Information technology (IT), as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware."[1] IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and securely retrieve information.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology
2. Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Information and Communications Technology - or technologies (ICT) is an umbrella term that includes all technologies for the manipulation and communication of information. The term is sometimes used in preference to Information Technology (IT), particularly in two communities: education and government. In the common usage it is often assumed that ICT is synonymous with IT; ICT in fact encompasses any medium to record information (magnetic disk/tape, optical disks (CD/DVD), flash memory etc. and arguably also paper records); technology for broadcasting information - radio, television; and technology for communicating through voice and sound or images - microphone, camera, loudspeaker, telephone to cellular phones.
Reference: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_ICT

3. Internet
The Internet, sometimes called simply "the Net," is a worldwide system of computer networks - a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users at other computers). Reference:http://searchwindevelopment.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid8_gci212370,00.html
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private and public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope that are linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies.
Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

4. Computer Mediated Communication (CMC)
Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) is defined as any communicative transaction that occurs through the use of two or more networked computers. While the term has traditionally referred to those communications that occur via computer-mediated formats (e.g., instant messages, e-mails, chat rooms), it has also been applied to other forms of text-based interaction such as text messaging.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer-mediated_communication

5. Netiquette
Refers to the rules of correct or polite behaviour among people using the Internet. (Definition taken from page 983, A S Hornby, Oxford Advanced Learner 's Dictionary of Current English Seventh Edition, Oxford University Press)

More definition at the links below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netiquette

6. Web Browser A Web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content.[1] Hyperlinks present in resources enable users to easily navigate their browsers to related resources.
Although browsers are primarily intended to access the World Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by Web servers in private networks or files in file systems. Some browsers can be also used to save information resources to file systems.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Browser

7. Navigating The Web

Use search tools to get information around the internet of from some specific websites. Search tool such as Google and so on.

*To clarify, I do not own all these information. All these information are taken from the internet. There are reference links under the definitions. To learn more, you can click on the links to the specific website. Thanks......

2 Welcome to My Blog.......

Welcome to my personal blog. Let's me introduce myself first. Hello everyone, my name is Mohd. Azlan. You can just call me Azlan. I am 20 years old this year. I am currently an English Language Studies student in National University of Malaysia or also known as UKM. This is my first year, second semester in this university. My hobbies are listening music and surfing internet. I like slow and sentimental songs. I like to travel a lot too. I like to travel to places that I never been to before. Frankly speaking, this is my first personal blog. If there is any mistakes, please correct me. I will really appreciate it. Thanks......