22 1986: 86, besides addressing the learning objectives, there are four factors to be
considered.
Pertama adalah ketersediaan sumber setempat. Kedua adalah dana, tenaga, dan fasilitasnya untuk membeli atau memproduksi. Ketiga adalah faktor yang
menyangkut keluwesan, kepraktisan, dan ketahanan media. Faktor yang terahkir adalah efektivitas biaya dalam waktu yang lama.
The first is availability of local source. The second is fund, power, and facility to buy or produce the media. The third is the factors dealing with flexibility,
practicality, and endurance of the media. The last factor is cost-effectiveness in a long period.
Grounded on those factors as Dick and Carey stated, Nicenet.org has fulfilled those requirements to be selected as media. Because of the availability of
internet connection, accessing Nicenet.org is not difficult. Sanata Dharma University has facilitated students with the free internet connection. Moreover,
internet is not an exclusive facility recently. Everyone can be in internet line for free.
4. Internet in Language Teaching
Teaching using internet is well known widely called CALL Computer Assisted Language Learning. Based on Levy 1997: 1, CALL is defined as ‘the
search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning’. He adds that CALL materials share many of the characteristics of non-
CALL materials. Like all language learning materials, CALL materials can be authentic or pedagogic. It was developed and implemented in the 70’s. A teacher
is able to conduct a class using internet by collecting the tasks or receiving some
23 information.
Becoming communication
media, internet
provides much
information for the teachers and also the students themselves. Internet can be used for various types of teaching activities, including collaborative assignments,
student research and student managed publishing of their work. Because of the development of the teaching learning system that involve internet on it, a teacher
is demanded to be able to use this facility Warschuer, 1996. The writer discusses internet, especially a web named Nicenet.org,
because this study is dealing with the use of Nicenet.org. Since Internet consists of thousand of connected computer networks around the world, it gives people much
information by one click. Internet allows the users to communicate among people around the world. Based on Newby et al. 2000:190, the internet is also referred
to as the “Net,” the “Information Superhighway,” and “cyberspace.” Robyler and Edwards 2000: 208 add that the internet is called the ultimate network or the
“mother of all networks.” Robyler and Edwards 2000: 209 a major benefit of internet is the
comprehensive nature of its information and services. Once connected, teachers and students can use Internet to exchange the messages and files among
themselves and with other people around the world. They add that the other characteristics of internet are widely available, easy to use, and highly visual and
graphic. Recently, learning can not be separated by time, distance, and cost.
Considering that demand, the experts in instructional technology invented an education web named Nicenet.org. Kleiner 1998 explains that Nicenet.org,
24 founded in 1995, is an organization of internet professionals who donate their time
to provide services for the Internet community. One of Nicenet.orgs primary goals is bringing communication tools and resources which are previously
available only to those with large sums of money to the education community. It is free web-based learning environment for classrooms, distance learning
programs and collaborative academic projects. The Web-based learning atmosphere allows more effective interaction
between the students and instructor. Nicenet.org also gives us features that make the learning teaching more efficient and flexible.
In the language teaching, the use of internet brings the impacts on the students’ language skills. The skills are reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
The last skills will be explored in this study since this study is aimed to know the students’ perception on the use of Nicenet.org in Academic Essay Writing classes.
According to Roblyer and Edwards 2000: 243, the capability of communicating via computer with other students has provided unexpectedly powerful support for
language arts and English activities. Students frequently are motivated to write well. For example, they communicate more clearly and use better spelling and
grammar when they write for audiences at other sites. Moreover, according to Johnson as cited by Levy 1997: 208, she
concluded that from her survey, the use of a computer tool as a tool to accomplish functional tasks has far greater potential for second language learning than
traditional or even communicative CALL. From her survey, it indicates that the
25 use of computers in the class affects positively toward the teaching learning
activity.
5. Writing Proficiency
Writing is one of human’s basic language skills. Moreover, according to Zimmerman and Rodrigues 1992: 3-4, writing is a system of communication. It
means that writing is means to deliver the message and information to others. Writing is much more than letters put in meaningful sentences. By writing,
someone can convey their feeling, emotion, and thought in form of letters. Writing is way of thinking, way of learning, and way of sharing ideas with others.
Weisman 1980: 3 adds that writing gave us the ability to record and communicate our experiences and knowledge.
Everybody can write. Otherwise, only small part of people is able to write well. According to Zimmerman and Rodrigues 1992: 8, good writing is writing
that is appropriate to the specific writing situation for which it was produced. Furthermore, they define good writing as writing that is appropriate for the
audience and purpose of a specific writing situation. Resting on their definition, Academic Essay Writing can be defined as writing academically. Forms of
writing are various. Therefore, it uses formal style. The content, organization, sentence structure, and word choice must be appropriate used in academic writing.
In writing a good academic paper, there are several steps to be followed. According to Roth 1986: 7, there are five steps explained on the next page.
26 1. Choosing the topic
Choosing the right topic has resulted in more good papers than any probably any other single element in preparing a research paper.
2. Collecting information Going to library is the best place to find relevant materials, read, and take
notes. 3. Evaluating materials
A good research paper reflects a critical attitude toward the information you collect. You should also be sure what you have collected is accurate. You
should also have had time to develop an attitude toward your material. 4. Organizing ideas
A collection of facts, quotations, and ideas can be either meaningless or purposeful.
5. Writing the paper Writing research paper is easier if you have carefully and thoughtfully
completed all the preparatory work. Academic Essay Writing course KPE 357 is a compulsory course for
fifth semester students of ELESP. Based on Panduan Akademik 2007, its competence standards are, on completing the course, the students are able to
analyze and write short essays on language, language education, and literature and to understand academic writing conventions. The topic discussed in the course are
topic and thesis statement, essay outline, paragraph writing, argumentation, comparison and contrast, problem and solution, cause and effect, and book or
