ClicknLearn is an interactive learning site that offers students with numerous activities and exercises to help in language learning. Even though this educational website is originally developed for Spanish language teaching, it then offers other languages, including English, French and Valencia.
"Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire"
-William Butler Yeats
ClicknLearn upholds the educational principle that language teaching and learning process should be carried out in a fun and enjoyable way. Fun is the big word for language acquisition! It is the source of motivation, the driving force and the stimulation. The sense of joy develops students' interest and commitment in language learning. Without which, language acquisition may face the risk of stagnation.
ClicknLearn is a helpful site for both teacher and students in English Language Teaching (ELT) classroom. Some of the features of ClicknLearn that make it a useful tool for ELT:
• It has hundreds of graded units. Each focuses on a different topics, teaching about vocabulary, grammar and cultural issues.
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| Online English learning units |
• It offers wide variety of Flash-based activities and exercises with sound
• It also provides printable handouts for teachers to use in classrooms |
| The flash-based activity (related to the topic - family) with audio aids |
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| The printable documents related to the learning units |
• Scoring is obtained after the completion of the language task.
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| The test scoring |
How can teacher use ClicknLearn in the classroom teaching?
1. As a form of 'blended' learning
- A "blended' learning classroom situation means the incorporation of technology as a mean to support language teaching. In this case, teacher integrates ClicknLearn as a helping tool or a supplementary activity for English language teaching. For example, teacher may select a related activity from ClicknLearn and let students to do after a lesson. The topics ranges from shops, clothing, weather, etc.
2. To teach vocabulary
- The activities and exercises in the site are arranged accordingly to the topics; therefore, teacher may use them to introduce topic-related vocabulary. Learning is made more effective as these vocabulary comes with images and illustrations. Pictures allow students to visualise the words, enhancing their vocabulary learning.
3. As an online test
- After a topic or a grammar point is introduced, teacher choose a related activity for the class to attempt as an informal test. The score reading, which comes after the activity, gives teacher a general overview of students' current understanding towards the lesson learnt. This activity can be carried out constantly as a formative assessment on students' English language progression and proficiency.
4. As a dynamic homework
- The activities and exercises in ClicknLearn can also be applied as a form of homework assignment. Unlike the conventional form of homework, students can attempt an electronic exercise as their homework. By doing so, students can be seen more committed in completing their homework. For instance, teacher may pick a relevant activity and ask students to attempt the questions repeatedly until they score perfectly in the exercise.
What do I like about ClicknLearn?
1. Language activities and exercises cater learners of various levels.
- Students from lower-intermediate, intermediate, or upper-intermediate can attempt any English learning units in accordance to their language proficiency. In other words, ClicknLearn gives students of all language competency the equal opportunity to use the tool.
2. The English language units can act as a curriculum syllabus
- English learning units are compelled together systematically to form a self-contained syllabus for students of different levels. Language teacher can always refer to the site while constructing lesson plan. Teacher can also print out some worksheets and give to students as classroom exercises.
3. It is an integrated approach to language learning.
- The online English language units have reading, listening, grammar, vocabulary and cultural points covered simultaneously.
4. Language learning becomes fun and enjoyable.
- Language activities and exercises are presented in a dynamic contexts, with animated characters, interesting backgrounds, visual aids, and comprehensible audio elements. These elements may attract students, especially younger learners, to tackle the exercises and activities. Language learning affective filtered becomes lowered when students are doing tasks that is of their interest. Students, thus, become more engaged and motivated in learning.
5. The flow of the activities and exercises is fast and quick.
- Students can instantly progress to the next exercises or questions after the completion of the previous one. It is dynamic.
6. The activities and exercises are interactive.
- ClicknLearn is an interactive tool. It can tell whether the students acquire the right answer or not. If students choose the right one, he/she can progress to the next one; otherwise, they have to try it again. Hints and explanations are given as a support when they fail to acquire the right answer.
7. Autonomous learning is encouraged.
- Teacher may introduce this website to the students so that they can try out the exercises on their own. With the tool, students can self-direct their learning and progress at their own pace, promoting independent learning.
What are the limitations of this tool?
1. The activities and exercises in the topic is non-reversible. There is no 'back' button for us to press and look back at the previous questions or exercises that we have done. All we can do is to finish the activity and start all over again.
2. Certain activities and exercise require students of the cultural knowledge of the western countries.
3. Students need to have internet access if they ever want to try the activities and exercises out at home.
