Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Fantastic Voyages

Welcome to Unit 3! Here begins your fantastic voyage to discover the secret behind every invention through process explanation.

We begin this unit with the Fantastic Voyage game. If you haven't played the game yet, you may click on the link provided below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/playspace/games/voyages/launch.html
Featured authors in the game are:
Jules Verne
H.G.Wells
Arthur C Clarke

Edgar Allan Poe
Johannes Kepler

If you'd like to know more about these amazing writers, click on their names to read more about them. And hey, even Patrick Moore really exists!

If you could journey to the moon, what methods would you choose?

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A REMINDER!

Hullo there UHL 2312 reading community!

We have been reading your comments and posts on your reading entries with great interest. It's interesting to see the stuff you guys are interested in reading. In fact, we found out the sad news of Prof Randy Paunsch's passing from your comments. So, great work and keep it up.

However, there are a handful or perhaps several handful of students who are still maybe unclear of what we are supposed to write on when posting a comment on our reading entries. It is important to know that part of the reading entry requirement is for you to RELATE what you've read to YOUR OWN UNIQUE EXPERIENCES, or VIEWPOINT - whether you agree or disagree, et cetera.

Posting a comment in the 'Reading Entries' post is more than just informing others what you've read by providing the link, OR copying the article into your comment entry.

Also, it is preferable that the articles or reading materials you are reading are in English.

Thank you.

Friday, September 12, 2008

FINAL PROJECT: Product Presentation

You have come near to the end of the course. For your final assessment, in your group of 4 or 5, unanimously choose ONE product to present on - preferably it's a product that is related to your field of study. Once you have all decided on your product, decide what each member should present on. Decide also which organization you'd like to have, e.g. spatial or chronological. Remember, it's only a 3-5 minute presentation per group member. So, please do not choose an object so complex that there is not enough time to present it. (Also, there'll be a Q&A session after the presentation.)

Once the product's decided, each member should prepare and write out a written report for submission from 15 - 19 September 2008 (depending on your lecturer). Although it is an individual assignment, the group leader should collect all the written assignments from each group member to be submitted as ONE.

In your group (if you have 4 members)*, let:
(1) student #1 write and present the INTRODUCTION,
(2) student #2 write and present the MAIN PART #1 and ITS MINOR PARTS (if any),
(3) student #3 write and present the MAIN PART #2 and ITS MINOR PARTS (if any), and
(4) student # 4 write and present the CONCLUSION (how product works etc. Please refer to your module).

*if you have 5 members,
(4) student #4 write and present the MAIN PART #3 and ITS MINOR PARTS (if any), and
(5) student #5 write and present the CONCLUSION.

or in extreme cases, 6 members,
(5) student #5 write and present the MAIN PART #4 and ITS MINOR PARTS (if any), and
(6) student #6 write and present the CONCLUSION.

This will be returned to you the week after. Then as a group, compile all the information and produce a pamphlet of the product to be submitted on the presentation day (1 pamphlet per group)

All sections must have graphics that accompany the explanation (in the written report and pamphlet) and slides that go with the oral presentation (product presentation).

PRESENTATION DATES: 13 - 23 OCTOBER 2008
Venue: ASTAKA

If there are any discrepancies with the information given by your lecturers, please feel free to ask your respective lecturers.

Tell Me More about TELL ME MORE

Finally, the time has come for you to have a go at the language software we have in our labs. For students who have yet to give it a try, you will soon; but you will need to get your username and password from your respective lecturers. Your username depends on the course you are taking, the section you are in and the position you are on the attendance list (this last part depends on your GURU). So say for example, you are taking UHL2312, from section G18, and you are the 3rd student on the name list, your username should be UHL2312G18-S3. Your password will be provided by your respective lecturers as well.

Please be careful logging in as the username and password are case sensitive. Do note that the username and password are in ALLCAPS or UPPERCASE.

Once in, please click on the chosen level, in this case, it's either Advanced+ or Business+. You can choose to do any one first. Then click on the green check button, then choose the FREE TO ROAM mode, then validate by clicking on the green check button again.

You have been given a Tell Me More form for information on which activities to do, as well as to fill up once you have completed the activities. Remember you need to hand in this form in your portfolio at the end of the semester. We advise you to finish all activities first before attempting to re-do any of the activities.

If you are having problems with the PC, or the headphone and mic, please inform your lecturer so that your lecturer can report the problem to the lab manager.

Here are some troubleshooting advice:

1) If the PC you are using has a headphone that does not function, please do an activity that does not require the use of the headphone yet, e.g., Grammar Workshop. Grammar Workshop is the third icon after the HOME icon at the bottom left corner of your screen. Choose the relevant Grammar Workshop activity to do. Once done, trade PCs with a friend who has done the speaking and listening part.

2) Should you want to change PCs or go to another PC, please log out by clicking on 'change user account' instead of clicking on 'Quit TELL ME MORE'. If you simply quit the programme, chances are when you use the other PC, the remark that you are logged on on another PC will appear.

3) If at any time, the PC gets stuck, then you will need to turn it off and then on again. Same goes, if you can't get into TELL ME MORE, please restart the PC.

For YOU to COMMENT on:
Please answer all the questions.
1)What do you think of TELL ME MORE?
2)Have you used TELL ME MORE before this?
3)If yes, what did you think of it then? And what do you think of it now?
4)If no, what do you think of TELL ME MORE?
5)Is it easy to to navigate?
6)Do you think the activities help you to improve your English?
7)What have you learnt as a result of using TELL ME MORE?

Click here to find out more on TELL ME MORE

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Ramadan Greetings to all!



It's that time of the Muslim calendar again and it's time to wish all Muslims a fruitful and wonderful Ramadan. It is a month for celebration, we say! We celebrate that with each passing day, we are better Muslims, that we did not fast in vain, that all our deeds and prayers are rewarded and answered. We pray that our 'ibadah' is accepted, and that we become better people and better servants of Allah SWT.

So upsy daisy, don't be lazy it's time to go to the Masjid.



Happy fasting and happy berbuka. Makan berpada2 ye! :)