WHAT IS NETIZEN?

1.

A citizen who uses the Internet as a way of participating in political society (for example, exchanging views, providing information, and voting).

 
2.

An Internet user who is trying to contribute to the Internet's use and growth. As a powerful communication medium, the Internet seems to offer great possibilities for social change. It also creates a new culture with its own special issues, such as who shall have access to the Internet. The implication is that the Internet's users, who use and know most about it, have a responsibility to ensure that the Internet is used constructively while also fostering free speech and open access.

source:whatis.com

 

 

What is ICCP?

This project is part of the ICCP, the Interactive Classroom Computer Project. The main aim of this project is to improve the language skills of the students who are following the English course of the Communications Department at the University of Leuven. There is a big difference with the regular courses. The student-teacher interaction is very important as it gives us the opportunity to test and improve our active and passive knowledge. During course, we use First Class, that is a software program through which we can chat and talk with students and teacher.

 

Language learning + site building

The students (alone or in group) have to make a website about their project and have to discuss the evaluation of it in class. The students make use of the Dreamweaver-software to make their website. So they improve, besides the language skills, also their computer skills. In the beginning, we experienced some problems while wuilding the website. We weren't very familiar with the software, and although David Geerts of the media centrum explained us the working of the software, we had to find out most of the functions on ourselves. But doing that, we learnt how to speak and write English and how to work with the site-building software. And after all, that's the motivation for each student, isn't it?

 

Evaluation

First Class

The program is considered to be useful and user friendly. Although at first sight it might seem a bit overwhelming, after a short while you learn to work easily with the program. Creating folders, sending emails, chatting and communicating with the teacher is a piece of cake. First Class is useful in our eyes because at all times you can log in and continue your work at the project, even at home. Of course, indirectly you are obliged to have access to the Internet in order to use the program. Also, the possibility of taking a look at the other projects, helps you to improve your own project. When students have a problem, they can find a solution through the use of the chatbox and the question section.

The way of teaching

It's a new form of teaching for us and we like the way of working, but we think the tasks could be more specific. At times we don't know what is expected of us. On the other hand, it gives us the opportunity to get personal feedback from the teacher during the lessons. It's also satisfying to be able to work independently and give a personal touch to the project.

Language learning

We use more English in chats and mails about our project, but we don't have the feeling that our language skills are really improving. We rarely get feedback on chats and mails so we probably write a lot of mistakes without realising it. Also, we have learned few new words so far.