Mah Boon Yih's Blog (2.0)

Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI)

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

Dr Mah Boon Yih has completed his doctoral study in e-learning in 2015 at Centre for Instructional Technology and Multimedia, USM, Penang, Malaysia. As the outcome of his doctoral thesis, he has become the founder of Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction or WeCWI (http://wecwi.blogspot.com): an award-winning hybrid e-framework for instructional design and language development. WeCWI was officially launched in The Digital Education Show Asia 2014 on 27 May 2014. It was copyrighted by MyIPO after being approved by RIBU, UiTM, in early 2014.

Later, WeCWI was published by WASET twice in International Journal of Social, Behavioural, Educational, Economic, Business and Industrial Engineering after being addressed in ICELD 2014 and ICLLT 2015 keynotes. In 2014, a workshop entitled WeCWI Training Series: Instructional Design (macro) was conducted at UiTM Penang Branch, Permatang Pauh Campus. Furthermore, it was featured in #DoMoreLah4Malaysia campaign organised by MDeC.

On 4 December 2014, WeCWI received the PIID 2014 Silver Award: an innovative idea recognition in ICT. In the following year, WeCWI was awarded a Silver Award in iidex 2015 as an innovative product in arts and applied arts category on 29 April 2015. Once again, on 6 December 2015, a WeCWI’s consultancy project namely WeCWI Integrated Solutions was honoured a Gold Award in PECIPTA 2015 (open category) in education and human development cluster at KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At present, WeCWI is further extended in research studies and committed towards commercialisation through consultancy, IP licensing, and joint ventures.

Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI) is a hybrid e-framework for the development of a web-based instruction (WBI), which contributes towards instructional design and language development. WeCWI divides its contribution in instructional design into macro and micro perspectives. In macro perspective, being a 21st century educator by disseminating knowledge and sharing ideas with the in-class and global learners is initiated. By leveraging the virtue of technology, WeCWI aims to transform an educator into an aggregator, curator, publisher, social networker and ultimately, a web-based instructor. Since the most notable contribution of integrating technology is being a tool of teaching as well as a stimulus for learning, WeCWI focuses on the use of contemporary web tools based on the multiple roles played by the 21st century educator.

The micro perspective in instructional design draws attention to the pedagogical approaches focussing on three main aspects: reading, discussion, and writing. With the effective use of pedagogical approaches through free reading and enterprises, technology adds new dimensions and expands the boundaries of learning capacity. Lastly, WeCWI also imparts the fundamental theories and models for web-based instructors’ awareness such as interactionist theory, cognitive information processing (CIP) theory, computer-mediated communication (CMC), e-learning interactional-based model, inquiry models, sensory mind model, and leaning styles model.

Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI)’s contribution towards language development can be divided into linguistic and non-linguistic perspectives. In linguistic perspective, WeCWI focuses on the literacy and language discoveries, while the cognitive and psychological discoveries are the hubs in non-linguistic perspective. In linguistic perspective, WeCWI draws attention to free reading and enterprises, which are supported by the language acquisition theories. Besides, the adoption of process genre approach as a hybrid guided writing approach fosters literacy development. Literacy and language developments are interconnected in the communication process; hence, WeCWI encourages meaningful discussion based on the interactionist theory that involves input, negotiation, output, and interactional feedback.

Rooted in the e-learning interaction-based model, WeCWI promotes online discussion via synchronous and asynchronous communications, which allows interactions happened among the learners, instructor, and digital content. In non-linguistic perspective, WeCWI highlights on the contribution of reading, discussion, and writing towards cognitive development. Based on the inquiry models, learners’ critical thinking is fostered during information exploration process through interaction and questioning. Lastly, to lower writing anxiety, WeCWI develops the instructional tool with supportive features to facilitate the writing process. To bring a positive user experience to the learner, WeCWI aims to create the instructional tool with different interface designs based on two different types of perceptual learning style.

As quoted from Prensky's words, "...the very best thing we can do is more sharing", WeCWI encourages more knowledge sharing through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, and Instagram as follows:

WeCWI Blog: wecwi.blogspot.com
WeCWI Page: www.facebook.com/WebbasedCognitiveWritingInstruction
WeCWI SIG: www.linkedin.com/groups/WeCWI-SIG-5129286 & https://www.facebook.com/groups/169644103419718
WeCWI Tweet: twitter.com/mahboonyih
WeCWI Board: www.pinterest.com/mahboonyih/web-based-cognitive-writing-instruction-wecwi
WeCWI Gallery: instagram.com/mahboonyih
WeCWI Plus: plus.google.com/u/0/+BoonYihMah

Mobile Curriculum Vitae (m-CV)

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

Mobile Curriculum Vitae or m-CV (http://m-curriculumvitae.blogspot.com) is a Web-based CV offering people a more effective way of CV writing, editing, storing, and presentation. It is developed on weblog that can be displayed in both web and mobile versions. By publishing the CV online, the users can print or view the CV via Internet using various mobile devices such as smart phone, tablet PC, net book and laptop.

Although the traditional CV is still being practiced until today, the self-marketing strategy is now shifting gears. This is due to the revolution of information and technology that has encouraged the value of ICT applications in our everyday lives (Mohammad et al, 2007). Besides, personal computers or laptops which now replace type-writers are mostly available at home to make CV editing and CV preparation more flexible. Since a well-prepared CV enhances the chances of graduates in getting an interview (Hesse, 2006; Middleton, 2007), this highlights the significant touch of IT towards generations.

A study was conducted in a form of survey to investigate the acceptance of m-CV on a group of 200 diploma students in one of the Malaysian universities-Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Penang Campus using questionnaires based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). After conducting a two-hour seminar on the m-CV, a total of 191 questionnaires were collected. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS based on 4 point Likert scale.

The study found that m-CV was perceived to be more useful rather than ease of use. It reports on how far the diploma students are in favor of using the online method instead of the traditional way to create their CVs. The study attests the process involved in user acceptance of using information and communication technology (ICT) in the making of CV that can be modeled and predicted.

m-CV is presented in Invention, Innovation, & Design (IID) Penang on 10-11 September 2011 at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Penang Campus, Malaysia. An individual who wishes to create his or her own m-CV can sign up a consultation package. This includes the set up of personal m-CV hosted by Blogger.com (the m-CV owner’s copyright will be protected by Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License), content delivery, Web design, Web marketing, and other technical issues. Click HERE to access m-CV.

*To find out how to create your m-CV, please click HERE to fill up the feedback form.

Mah Boon Yih's Blog (2.0)

2010-01-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

Mah Boon Yih’s Blog was created on 1st March 2009 based on Boon Yih's initiative and interest in blogging. Mah Boon Yih's Blog had won a Gold Medal in the 7th IID 2010 (Invention, Innovation & Design) in UiTM, Malaysia during 12th-14th Jan 2010. During 14th-16th May 2010, Mah Boon Yih's Blog represented UiTM in the 21st ITEX 2010 (International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and garnered an ITEX Silver Medal. In addition, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Penang-Mah Boon Yih's Blog had been shortlisted as the finalist in the MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards 2010-Best of e-Learning by the MSC Malaysia APICTA Awards 2010 Secretariat and become one of the nominees for the final judging in the 10th International APICTA Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mah Boon Yih's Blog (2.0) is a one-stop centre unveiling Mah Boon Yih's educational innovations hosted by Blogger including Mah Boon Yih's Blog, Mobile Curriculum Vitae (m-CV), and Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI). More educational blogs are going to be developed from time to time with different attributes and purposes. ESL instructors can take these blogs as references to create their own blogs tailored to their teaching needs and learners' characteristics; while for ESL learners, they are free to visit these blogs as self-accessed ESL learning platforms. For example, Mobile Curriculum Vitae was introduced and empirically investigated on its acceptance among university students. eCollegeFinder and Language Magazine organised a Top ESL Blogs Award competition to celebrate insightful ESL blogs, written especially for those teaching or learning English as a second language, and those earning a TESOL degree. Mah Boon Yih's Blog (2.0) is honoured as an ESL Blog Award Finalist and listed as a reference for the students and teachers who aim to broaden their learning and teaching experiences.