Hands Across the Oceans

Introduction

These are the results of a questionnaire I gave to my students at the beginning of April, to get feedback about their knowledge of computing, and their reactions to the international project.  It was given out to 50 students, in 3 classes.

Results of Questionnaire

1  I can send and receive emails in English

Yes  36

No   13

N/R 2

I can send attachments by email

Y28

N21

3  I can make a movie with www.dvolver.com

Y26

N19

4  I have sent my movie to Ms. Dot

Y16

N34

5  I have registered with Blackboard

http://bb.kuniv.edu

Y23

N23

6  I have changed my password and email address in Blackboard

Y14

N36

7  I often check the 141 site in Blackboard to see if there is new information and files

Y22

N28

8  I have subscribed to http://handsacrosstheoceans.edublogs.org

Y16

N31

9  I have posted a comment in http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/

Y11

N39

10  I enjoy the computer lab work

Y46

N3

11  I have learned a lot in the computer lab

Y38

N11

12  I would like to bring my laptop to the computer lab

Y22

N27

13  I have subscribed to http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/

Y16

N33

14  I like working with overseas students

Y35

N15

15  I have used the Internet to learn grammar

Y19

N29

16  I have used the Internet to become a better reader

Y43

N5

17  I have a computer at home

Y45

N3

18  I would like to have a foreign email pal

(please send me an email if you want one. You can also get one at the end of semester, if you are too busy just now)

Y22

N27

19  I hate computers

Y1

N47

20  I hate the Internet

Y1

N45

Notes:

Dot, Kuwait

In the short time that we have been running the project, it has been interesting to notice differences in the students.

1 In Kuwait, most of the classes are segregated. I have two boys in one class that mainly consists of girls.

2 Some of my students are veiled, so that you will never see them in photos or videos.

3 It is also unlikely that any of them will produce a Voicethread using their own voices. If I have male classes again, perhaps they will produce videos.

4 The knowledge of computing is quite low for some of the students. They are not used to sending emails in Arabic, let alone English.

5 They love seeing their own names on the Internet, even if it is only when photos they give me are published.

6 It is very gratifying to see them mastering even a low level skill using a computer.

7 We cannot devote too much time to the project, unless we continue with work that is connected to their syllabus. Towards the end of semester, we will produce more paragraphs that the students in the other countries might find interesting.

8 At the moment, they are working on PowerPoint presentations, but I cannot upload them onto the Internet as they usually just cut and paste someone else’s work. I am trying to tell them about the horrors of plagiarism!