View of EMPOWERING BLOG AS AN INTERESTING MEDIA FOR LEARNING ENGLISH IN SMA WIJAYA PUTRA SURABAYA
SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
EMPOWERING BLOG AS AN INTERESTING MEDIA FOR LEARNING
ENGLISH IN SMA WIJAYA PUTRA SURABAYA
Syaiful Azmi
[email protected]
Yulis Setyowati
Angga Nur Viandi
Adam Mulyana Syahrudin
Universitas WIjaya Putra Surabaya
Abstract: The progress of technology in communication and information is
growing more rapidly, as well as the utilization. This progress has spawned
various types of activities which is based on the Internet network, such as egovernment, e-commerce, e-learning and more. One obvious example of the
development of information and communication technology in education is the
implementation of e-learning. This proves that the utilization of information and
communication technology today has become a necessity in a learning process
in schools, especially for learning English. Social Media is an online media, with
users able to easily participate, share and create contents include blogs, social
networks, wikis, forums and virtual worlds. One social media which is suitable to
be used as a medium of learning English is Blog. Blog is a web based application
that resembles the form of writings (published as a post) on a common
web.With the facilities provided by blog, there are some benefits that can be
obtained, namely: the first benefit, using blog as a learning center. The second
benefit, as the source to search references from internet sites that match to the
material taught in the class, or to find other websites that are useful to expand
the global knowledge of the students. And the third benefit is that blog can be
used as a place to share opinions between student and student or students and
teachers. The step is to make a Blogger community between classes.
Keywords: English Language, education, blog, social media, e-education,
empowerment.
Nowadays the advancement of information and communication
technology has grown more rapidly, as well as its various ways of utilizations.
This progress has spawned various types of activities which is based on the
internet network, such as e-government, e-commerce, e-learning and more.
Technology of communication is defined by Rogers (in Lubis, 2005: 42) as the
hardware equipment, organizational structure, and social values with which
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
individuals collecting, processing and exchanging information with other
individuals. The impact of communication technology is the change in individual
behavior which includes knowledge, attitudes, or actions that occur as a result
of the delivery of the message communication (Rogers, 1986).
These developments widely affect many aspects of life, including in the
field of education (Wardiana, 2002). One obvious example of the development
of information and communication technology in education is there are many
High Schools which has provided internet network trying to implement elearning. E-learning (electronic learning) is one example of the applications of
information and communication technologies in educational institutions. Elearning is defined as the delivery of learning content or learning experiences
electronically using a computer and computer-based media (Smaldino, 2005).
There has been a lot of high school students who are familiar with this
internet-based technology development. Their enthusiasm is also very high,
making the installation of Internet networks facilities in their schools are
warmly welcomed. By installing the Internet facilities, it can facilitate the school
to catch up their lag in this globalization era. In addition, the school can also get
advantage to support teaching and learning in school. As an impact, today there
are many schools trying to use the Internet to be able to enjoy easier access to
get information via internet. This proves that the utilization of information and
communication technology has become a necessity in a learning process in
schools, especially for learning English.
INTERNET USE AMONG SMA WIJAYA PUTRA SURABAYA STUDENTS
SMA Wijaya Putra is one of the few high school in Surabaya, which has
been able to provide internet facilities (wifi) for their students. SMA Wijaya
Putra Surabaya, is one of private high schools in Surabaya, East Java. The school,
formerly known as Karman Amat High School and was renamed SMA Wijaya
Putra in 2004.
As one of the top high schools in west Surabaya region, SMA Wijaya Putra
has been able to provide internet facilities (wifi) for their students. This internet
facilities is intended as a means of supporting the learning process for students
and teachers in the school environment. In addition, SMA Wijaya Putra also has
many good computer laboratories. But unfortunately, these benefits cannot be
utilized appropriately by both the students and the teachers. Moreover, nearly
all of SMA Wijaya Putra students already have smart phones or gadgets such as
tablet or laptop and they often bring it to school. This indicates that there has
been a lot of students of Wijaya Putra already know and understand how to use
the advantage of information and communication technology. The enthusiasm
of these students is very high because it will enable them to get the information,
knowledge, and entertainment. But there are still a bit of the students who are
able to take advantage of such benefits wisely. Most of them are still using the
60
SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
internet connection to play games or just to simply open a social media through
their gadgets.
According to Ally (2009), wireless, mobile, portable, handheld device is
slowly developing and diversifying education in various sectors, both in the
developed and the developing countries. This fact proves that SMA Wijaya Putra
are required to be able to follow the development of information technology.
The development of information technology is so fast and it automatically will
also demand the capabilities of the teachers. Teachers at SMA Wijaya Putra, as
facilitators, are expected to have such kind of new, creative and more exciting
models of learning English. One media that can be used by teachers in order to
attract student interest in learning English is to use social media. It also will be a
solution of the aforementioned problems, which is to direct appropriately the
use of school facilities among Wijaya Putra Surabaya students. One media that
can be made by teachers in order to attract their student interest in learning
English is to use social media.
Learning media are all tools or objects used in the teaching and learning
activities, with a view to convey the message (update) learning from the source
(the teacher and other sources) to recipients (students or learners). Message
(information) that is delivered through the media, in the form of content or
teaching materials must be received by the recipient of the message (protégé),
by using one or a combination of several of their sensory organs. Even better,
when all of the sensing devices owned is able to be able to receive the content of
the message (Latuheru, 1988).
Heinin, Molenda, Russell, and Smaldino (2002) define media as a channel
(channel) communications. Meanwhile, the channels of communication are tools
that carry messages from one individual to another (Rogers: 2003).
Furthermore, the media is also seen as forms of mass communication that
involves a system of symbols and equipment production and distribution
(Palazon, 2000). While instructional media, instructional media, is the physical
equipment that can be used to deliver learning materials to learners (Reiser &
Dempsey, 2002). Comprehensive and thorough conversation about learning
media cannot be separated from the initial development of learning technology.
Departing from the theory, it can be concluded that social media that is
becoming a trend now will be able to become an interesting learning media
among high school students.
SOCIAL MEDIA BLOG AS A TREND AMONG TEENAGER
Social Media is an online media, with users able to easily participate,
share and create contents, this media includes blogs, social networks, wikis,
forums and virtual worlds. Blogs, social networking and wiki is a form of social
media that is most commonly used by people around the world. By using social
media, we can chat online, share files, exchange photos etc.
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Picture 1. Various Social Media logos
One example of social media that is very popular and suitable to be used
as a medium of learning English is Weblog. Weblog or more commonly known as
Blog is a personal writing on the Internet that contains information in
chronological order and can be updated. Blog is currently popular among young
generation, especially for students as a medium to express themselves.
According to Wikipedia, the term blog (short for weblog or web log) is a web
based application that resembles the form of writings (published as a post) on a
common web. These writings are often published in the reverse sequence (the
latest content comes first and then followed by the older content). Creating a
blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to the blog has been known as
"blogging". Each of these articles on a blog are called "blog posts," "posts" or
"entries". People who write or insert and maintain a blog post called "blogger".
A blog consists of text, hypertext, images, and links (to a web page and video,
audio and other files). Blog uses documentation with a conversational style.
Some blog platforms that have been frequently used such as blogger, wordpress,
blogdetik, kompasiana etc. can be used for free.
Picture 2. Blogger logo
SOME BENEFITS THAT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE EMPOWERMENT OF
BLOG AS LEARNING MEDIA
One of the characteristics of a blog is its main content is usually in the
form of information that is chronological, there are archives for news or old
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
informations, there is a place for visitors who have seen the contents of Blog in
order to leave a message or comment, usually there is a link to a web blog
favorite or frequently visited, or more commonly known as the Blogroll. With
the facilities provided, there are some benefits that can be gained by teachers
and students.
The first benefit is using Blog as a learning center. Teachers can write
lesson materials, assignments, and discussions on the blog, and then the
students can discuss and learn together in the Blog. In addition, teachers can
give feedback on the material that are already taught in the class or answer
specific questions posted by the students.
The second benefit, the teacher can give references from internet
websites that match to the material in the class or other websites that are useful
to expand the global knowledge of the students. In addition, the media is also
very suitable to give a homework, so that students do not just use their
smartphone or laptop for less useful activities.
The third benefit is using blog as a place to exchange opinions between
students and students, and students with teachers. The step is to make a
Blogger community between classes. Furthermore, Bloggers from several
classes in the school will make a blog that is used as an information center.
Teachers and students from various classes who are joined into one Blogger
community can exchange information, share experiences, discussions and make
connections. Teachers also can provide a problem related to lesson in school to
the discussion.
The benefits of using Blog as learning media are:
1. As a web-based learning media, Blog has a high degree of flexibility, meaning
the media is accessible to students anytime and anywhere.
2. Blog is a web that can be built easily, it does not require special programming
language. So that even if the users are high school students, they can easily
operate it.
3. Blog is a web that can be built with no cost. Surely it would be very
inconvenient if the media that will be created becomes burdensome for students
financially. Because Blog is free, the students will not hesitate to use it.
EMPOWERMENT SOCIAL MEDIA BLOG AS A MEDIA FOR LEARNING
ENGLISH
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Based on the big opportunity of using social media is blog; a learning
media, encouraging the idea of creating a new learning method that is more
interesting to students in SMA Wijaya Putra Surabaya. The realization of this
idea, namely: creating new learning method using Blog as the media should be
able to encourage students to be more active in learning, especially in English
subject. Furthermore, it is expected that this idea could be useful in making the
use of information technology in SMA Wijaya Putra become more appropriate.
Things to consider in this method are the ability of the teachers of the
schools where the learning method is applied. For example, the ability to use
devices, such as: the use of application programs in a computer, the use of
internet technology, as well as the way of maintenance and taking care Blog
regularly. This will be the main focus in this article. The author realized that the
problem is a problem in implementing learning method based on information
technology. Therefore, this article is expected to be a guide and information
provider related to learning method, and to be the trigger of a variety of similar
studies related to the empowerment of social media, particularly Blog, as a
medium of learning for teachers in other schools. Diagram of notion framework
of empowerment Blog as a medium to learn English is depicted as follows:
Picture 3. The framework of empowerment Blog is media to learn English.
THE CONCEPT OF APPLYING BLOG INTO ENGLISH BASIC SKILLS
As a first step, the teacher will ask each student to register in one of web
blog service providers by using their personal email accounts respectively.
Teachers can also provide other options, by making new email accounts for the
students to be used exclusively for the purposes of teaching and learning
process using Blog. Today, the most widely used web blog provider is Blogger.
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Students can access the site through https://www.blogger.com. Blogger is a
blog publishing service created by Pyra Labs and acquired by Google in 2003.
Generally, Blog which is hosted by Google is under subdomain blogspot.com.
Picture 4. Blogger homepage display
Next, the teachers will design the concept of learning method that are
appropriate to the medium, in this case the Blog, to trigger the students’
interest. The series of completely new and exciting activities and tasks will be
designed. For that, if necessary, the teacher can also make an early version of
this learning method (prototype) in order to evaluate the extent of students’
interest that can be produced by the activities that have been put in his blog.
Teachers will present a series of activities such as reading problems as well as
the initial sample which is then followed by a variety of advanced instruction.
Students will be asked to work on the problems that have been created and
uploaded to the blog.
1. LISTENING SKILL
For listening skill (Listening), teachers can provide examples of spoken
text or short dialogue in English. Files to be uploaded can be either audio or
video that contain interesting topics that attracts students. Of course, the videos
shown are full in English, and are pronounced by native speakers. These
materials will include questions related to the spoken text or dialogue that
students have listened. Another advantage of this method is that students can
hear directly how the native speakers speak english when the dialogue or
conversation is being played. This will greatly help in improving students
pronunciation skills, which has become one of the major obstacles in learning
English. The visual features would further help students' understanding,
because they not only hear, but at the same time they see the expression, and
movement of the native speakers when speaking.
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Picture 5. Examples of listening skill activity
2. SPEAKING SKILL
As for the speaking skills, the most suitable method to be applied is using
video recording. Teachers can ask their students to engage in conversation in
English or demonstrate (role play) dialogue conversations that have been
previously provided, and next these activities will be recorded by several other
students. The recording of the conversation will then be uploaded to the blog so
it's easier to make an assessment. Teachers can also use it to follow up activities
such as using the video for listening activities. This video features can also be
used as a place to store the documentation of drama (or role play) which has
been done by the students while in the class.
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Picture 6. Examples of speaking skill activity
3. READING SKILL
For reading skill, the teacher can provide examples of short readings in
English. Topics of readings may be free or in accordance with the curriculum
that is being taught in class. Is advisable to choose the topic that are being hot
issues at the moment. This is necessary so that students are able to think
critically and are concerned about the problem that is happening in the
environment. At the end of the reading session will be given a number of
questions related to the contents of the reading, it is to evaluate the students'
level of comprehension (Reading Comprehension).
Picture 7. Example of reading skill activity
4. WRITING & GRAMMAR SKILL
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
There are many forms of activities using Blog as the media to improve
students’ writing skill. One simple example is to have the students write essay.
The first step is to provide feedback to the students. For example, by selecting
the topic of "movie", and then the teacher will instruct students to write their
essay related to a given topic. Students can freely put their ideas about their
favorite films, and give their opinions on a movie by reviewing. Obviously it is
not difficult to implement since the fact that basically Blog is a place where
people expressing ideas, as well as their thoughts through writing. Besides, the
teacher can use this media as a place for student to express their artistic soul in
the form of poetry, prose, or even create drama text which would then be posted
to the blog. For the assessment, can be done by seeing how the number of
visitors who like the posts (giving like). It can grow students’ confidence in
exploring their artistic soul. For writing, deepening of grammar (grammar
focus) can also be included. Examples of grammar questions can be as follows:
1. Gap Filling (fill in the blank).
2. Scrambled words / jumbled letters (reassembling a word or phrase into the
right pattern).
3. Change the verb of the present tense (tense) into the form of other
appropriate tenses.
4. Changing the form of affirmative sentence (statement) to the negative and
interrogative sentences (questions).
5. Writing Question Tags, etc.
Picture 8. Example of writing skill activity
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Picture 9. Example of grammar skill activity
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
Based on the big opportunity of using social media blog as a learning
media, encouraging the idea of creating a new learning method that is more
interesting to students in SMA Wijaya Putra Surabaya. The idea is to empower
social media Blog as a medium of learning English. Blog is a web-based
application which contains writings (published as a post) on a public web page.
By using blog, teachers can post material that they consider useful for students.
While the students are able to participate actively in order to develop their
thinking critically. Various references, journals, as well as the subject materails
can be easily downloaded from Blog. In addition to saving energy and money,
this new learning method is also more flexible because it can be accessed
anywhere and anytime. The Blog that are made must be qualified and attractive,
as well as the materials and any tasks assigned according to students’ interest in
order to encourage them to learn English better.
There are several benefits that can be gained by empowering Blog as
learning media, namely: the first benefit, using blog as a learning center. The
second benefit, as the source to search references from internet sites that match
to the material taught in the class, or to find other websites that are useful to
expand the global knowledge of the students. And the third benefit is that blog
can be used as a place to share opinions between student and student or
students and teachers. While the advantages of this learning media are: Blog has
a high degree of flexibility, meaning the media is accessible to students anytime
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
and anywhere, Blog is a web that can be built easily and it does not require any
special programming language, and a blog is a web that can be built at no cost at
all (free).
REFERENCES
Ally, Mohamed. (2007). Mobile Learning. Canada: International Review of
Research in Open and Distance Learning. Athabasca University.
Anggerwina, Lyla. (2013). “WhatsApp in The Class? Why Not”; Preceedings
Paper. Surabaya: Unesa.
Arsyad, A. (2008). Media Pembelajaran. PT. Rajawali Press, Jakarta.
Backer, Elisa. (2010). Using Smartphone and Facebook in A Major Assessment:
The Student Experience. E-Journal. Australia: University of Ballarat.
Chapelle, C.A. (2003). English language learning and technology. Amsterdam:
John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Darmansyah. (2010). Pembelajaran Berbasis Web. Padang: UNP Press.
Dohn, N.B. (2009). Web 2.0-mediated competence: Implicit educational demands
on learners. Electronic Journal of e-Learning 7(2), 111-118.
Latuheru, JD. (1988). Media Pembelajaran dalam Proses Belajar Masa Kini.
Jakarta: Depdikbud.
Noegroho, Agoeng, (2010). Teknologi Komunikasi. Yogyakarta: Graha Ilmu.
Palazon, M. (2000). The media and transformative learning. (ERIC Document
Reproduction Services No. ED 443 971).
Reiser, R.A., & Dempsey, J.A. (Eds.) (2002). Trends and issues in instructional
design and technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Merrill/Prentice
Hall.
Rogers, Everett M, (1986). Communication Technology: The New Media in
Society. Free Press Macmillan Inc. London.
Setyowati, Yulis. (2014). Model Pembelajaran Interaktif Bahasa Inggris dengan
menggunakan WhatsApp yang berbasis Mobile Learning; Unpublished
Article. Surabaya: Universitas Wijaya Putra.
Slavin, R.E. (2000). Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice. Sixth Edition.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Smaldino, S.E., Russell, J.D., Heinich, R., & Molenda, M. (2005). Instructional
technology and media for learning (8th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Snelbecker E. Glen. (1974). Learning Theory Instructional Theory. USA: McGrawHill, inc.
Traxler, John. (2007). Defining, Discussing, and Evaluating Mobile Learning: The
moving finger writes and having Writ. UK: International Review of
Research in Open and Distance Learning University of Wolverhampton.
Wardiana, Wawan. (2002). Perkembangan Teknologi Informasi di Indonesia.
Pusat Penelitian LIPI [Online]. Tersedia:
http://www.informatika.lipi.go.id/perkembangan-teknologi-informasidi-indonesia [diakses 9 Maret 2016].
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SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
71
EMPOWERING BLOG AS AN INTERESTING MEDIA FOR LEARNING
ENGLISH IN SMA WIJAYA PUTRA SURABAYA
Syaiful Azmi
[email protected]
Yulis Setyowati
Angga Nur Viandi
Adam Mulyana Syahrudin
Universitas WIjaya Putra Surabaya
Abstract: The progress of technology in communication and information is
growing more rapidly, as well as the utilization. This progress has spawned
various types of activities which is based on the Internet network, such as egovernment, e-commerce, e-learning and more. One obvious example of the
development of information and communication technology in education is the
implementation of e-learning. This proves that the utilization of information and
communication technology today has become a necessity in a learning process
in schools, especially for learning English. Social Media is an online media, with
users able to easily participate, share and create contents include blogs, social
networks, wikis, forums and virtual worlds. One social media which is suitable to
be used as a medium of learning English is Blog. Blog is a web based application
that resembles the form of writings (published as a post) on a common
web.With the facilities provided by blog, there are some benefits that can be
obtained, namely: the first benefit, using blog as a learning center. The second
benefit, as the source to search references from internet sites that match to the
material taught in the class, or to find other websites that are useful to expand
the global knowledge of the students. And the third benefit is that blog can be
used as a place to share opinions between student and student or students and
teachers. The step is to make a Blogger community between classes.
Keywords: English Language, education, blog, social media, e-education,
empowerment.
Nowadays the advancement of information and communication
technology has grown more rapidly, as well as its various ways of utilizations.
This progress has spawned various types of activities which is based on the
internet network, such as e-government, e-commerce, e-learning and more.
Technology of communication is defined by Rogers (in Lubis, 2005: 42) as the
hardware equipment, organizational structure, and social values with which
59
SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
individuals collecting, processing and exchanging information with other
individuals. The impact of communication technology is the change in individual
behavior which includes knowledge, attitudes, or actions that occur as a result
of the delivery of the message communication (Rogers, 1986).
These developments widely affect many aspects of life, including in the
field of education (Wardiana, 2002). One obvious example of the development
of information and communication technology in education is there are many
High Schools which has provided internet network trying to implement elearning. E-learning (electronic learning) is one example of the applications of
information and communication technologies in educational institutions. Elearning is defined as the delivery of learning content or learning experiences
electronically using a computer and computer-based media (Smaldino, 2005).
There has been a lot of high school students who are familiar with this
internet-based technology development. Their enthusiasm is also very high,
making the installation of Internet networks facilities in their schools are
warmly welcomed. By installing the Internet facilities, it can facilitate the school
to catch up their lag in this globalization era. In addition, the school can also get
advantage to support teaching and learning in school. As an impact, today there
are many schools trying to use the Internet to be able to enjoy easier access to
get information via internet. This proves that the utilization of information and
communication technology has become a necessity in a learning process in
schools, especially for learning English.
INTERNET USE AMONG SMA WIJAYA PUTRA SURABAYA STUDENTS
SMA Wijaya Putra is one of the few high school in Surabaya, which has
been able to provide internet facilities (wifi) for their students. SMA Wijaya
Putra Surabaya, is one of private high schools in Surabaya, East Java. The school,
formerly known as Karman Amat High School and was renamed SMA Wijaya
Putra in 2004.
As one of the top high schools in west Surabaya region, SMA Wijaya Putra
has been able to provide internet facilities (wifi) for their students. This internet
facilities is intended as a means of supporting the learning process for students
and teachers in the school environment. In addition, SMA Wijaya Putra also has
many good computer laboratories. But unfortunately, these benefits cannot be
utilized appropriately by both the students and the teachers. Moreover, nearly
all of SMA Wijaya Putra students already have smart phones or gadgets such as
tablet or laptop and they often bring it to school. This indicates that there has
been a lot of students of Wijaya Putra already know and understand how to use
the advantage of information and communication technology. The enthusiasm
of these students is very high because it will enable them to get the information,
knowledge, and entertainment. But there are still a bit of the students who are
able to take advantage of such benefits wisely. Most of them are still using the
60
SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
internet connection to play games or just to simply open a social media through
their gadgets.
According to Ally (2009), wireless, mobile, portable, handheld device is
slowly developing and diversifying education in various sectors, both in the
developed and the developing countries. This fact proves that SMA Wijaya Putra
are required to be able to follow the development of information technology.
The development of information technology is so fast and it automatically will
also demand the capabilities of the teachers. Teachers at SMA Wijaya Putra, as
facilitators, are expected to have such kind of new, creative and more exciting
models of learning English. One media that can be used by teachers in order to
attract student interest in learning English is to use social media. It also will be a
solution of the aforementioned problems, which is to direct appropriately the
use of school facilities among Wijaya Putra Surabaya students. One media that
can be made by teachers in order to attract their student interest in learning
English is to use social media.
Learning media are all tools or objects used in the teaching and learning
activities, with a view to convey the message (update) learning from the source
(the teacher and other sources) to recipients (students or learners). Message
(information) that is delivered through the media, in the form of content or
teaching materials must be received by the recipient of the message (protégé),
by using one or a combination of several of their sensory organs. Even better,
when all of the sensing devices owned is able to be able to receive the content of
the message (Latuheru, 1988).
Heinin, Molenda, Russell, and Smaldino (2002) define media as a channel
(channel) communications. Meanwhile, the channels of communication are tools
that carry messages from one individual to another (Rogers: 2003).
Furthermore, the media is also seen as forms of mass communication that
involves a system of symbols and equipment production and distribution
(Palazon, 2000). While instructional media, instructional media, is the physical
equipment that can be used to deliver learning materials to learners (Reiser &
Dempsey, 2002). Comprehensive and thorough conversation about learning
media cannot be separated from the initial development of learning technology.
Departing from the theory, it can be concluded that social media that is
becoming a trend now will be able to become an interesting learning media
among high school students.
SOCIAL MEDIA BLOG AS A TREND AMONG TEENAGER
Social Media is an online media, with users able to easily participate,
share and create contents, this media includes blogs, social networks, wikis,
forums and virtual worlds. Blogs, social networking and wiki is a form of social
media that is most commonly used by people around the world. By using social
media, we can chat online, share files, exchange photos etc.
61
SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
Picture 1. Various Social Media logos
One example of social media that is very popular and suitable to be used
as a medium of learning English is Weblog. Weblog or more commonly known as
Blog is a personal writing on the Internet that contains information in
chronological order and can be updated. Blog is currently popular among young
generation, especially for students as a medium to express themselves.
According to Wikipedia, the term blog (short for weblog or web log) is a web
based application that resembles the form of writings (published as a post) on a
common web. These writings are often published in the reverse sequence (the
latest content comes first and then followed by the older content). Creating a
blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to the blog has been known as
"blogging". Each of these articles on a blog are called "blog posts," "posts" or
"entries". People who write or insert and maintain a blog post called "blogger".
A blog consists of text, hypertext, images, and links (to a web page and video,
audio and other files). Blog uses documentation with a conversational style.
Some blog platforms that have been frequently used such as blogger, wordpress,
blogdetik, kompasiana etc. can be used for free.
Picture 2. Blogger logo
SOME BENEFITS THAT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE EMPOWERMENT OF
BLOG AS LEARNING MEDIA
One of the characteristics of a blog is its main content is usually in the
form of information that is chronological, there are archives for news or old
62
SELL Journal Vol. 1(1) August 2016
informations, there is a place for visitors who have seen the contents of Blog in
order to leave a message or comment, usually there is a link to a web blog
favorite or frequently visited, or more commonly known as the Blogroll. With
the facilities provided, there are some benefits that can be gained by teachers
and students.
The first benefit is using Blog as a learning center. Teachers can write
lesson materials, assignments, and discussions on the blog, and then the
students can discuss and learn together in the Blog. In addition, teachers can
give feedback on the material that are already taught in the class or answer
specific questions posted by the students.
The second benefit, the teacher can give references from internet
websites that match to the material in the class or other websites that are useful
to expand the global knowledge of the students. In addition, the media is also
very suitable to give a homework, so that students do not just use their
smartphone or laptop for less useful activities.
The third benefit is using blog as a place to exchange opinions between
students and students, and students with teachers. The step is to make a
Blogger community between classes. Furthermore, Bloggers from several
classes in the school will make a blog that is used as an information center.
Teachers and students from various classes who are joined into one Blogger
community can exchange information, share experiences, discussions and make
connections. Teachers also can provide a problem related to lesson in school to
the discussion.
The benefits of using Blog as learning media are:
1. As a web-based learning media, Blog has a high degree of flexibility, meaning
the media is accessible to students anytime and anywhere.
2. Blog is a web that can be built easily, it does not require special programming
language. So that even if the users are high school students, they can easily
operate it.
3. Blog is a web that can be built with no cost. Surely it would be very
inconvenient if the media that will be created becomes burdensome for students
financially. Because Blog is free, the students will not hesitate to use it.
EMPOWERMENT SOCIAL MEDIA BLOG AS A MEDIA FOR LEARNING
ENGLISH
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Based on the big opportunity of using social media is blog; a learning
media, encouraging the idea of creating a new learning method that is more
interesting to students in SMA Wijaya Putra Surabaya. The realization of this
idea, namely: creating new learning method using Blog as the media should be
able to encourage students to be more active in learning, especially in English
subject. Furthermore, it is expected that this idea could be useful in making the
use of information technology in SMA Wijaya Putra become more appropriate.
Things to consider in this method are the ability of the teachers of the
schools where the learning method is applied. For example, the ability to use
devices, such as: the use of application programs in a computer, the use of
internet technology, as well as the way of maintenance and taking care Blog
regularly. This will be the main focus in this article. The author realized that the
problem is a problem in implementing learning method based on information
technology. Therefore, this article is expected to be a guide and information
provider related to learning method, and to be the trigger of a variety of similar
studies related to the empowerment of social media, particularly Blog, as a
medium of learning for teachers in other schools. Diagram of notion framework
of empowerment Blog as a medium to learn English is depicted as follows:
Picture 3. The framework of empowerment Blog is media to learn English.
THE CONCEPT OF APPLYING BLOG INTO ENGLISH BASIC SKILLS
As a first step, the teacher will ask each student to register in one of web
blog service providers by using their personal email accounts respectively.
Teachers can also provide other options, by making new email accounts for the
students to be used exclusively for the purposes of teaching and learning
process using Blog. Today, the most widely used web blog provider is Blogger.
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Students can access the site through https://www.blogger.com. Blogger is a
blog publishing service created by Pyra Labs and acquired by Google in 2003.
Generally, Blog which is hosted by Google is under subdomain blogspot.com.
Picture 4. Blogger homepage display
Next, the teachers will design the concept of learning method that are
appropriate to the medium, in this case the Blog, to trigger the students’
interest. The series of completely new and exciting activities and tasks will be
designed. For that, if necessary, the teacher can also make an early version of
this learning method (prototype) in order to evaluate the extent of students’
interest that can be produced by the activities that have been put in his blog.
Teachers will present a series of activities such as reading problems as well as
the initial sample which is then followed by a variety of advanced instruction.
Students will be asked to work on the problems that have been created and
uploaded to the blog.
1. LISTENING SKILL
For listening skill (Listening), teachers can provide examples of spoken
text or short dialogue in English. Files to be uploaded can be either audio or
video that contain interesting topics that attracts students. Of course, the videos
shown are full in English, and are pronounced by native speakers. These
materials will include questions related to the spoken text or dialogue that
students have listened. Another advantage of this method is that students can
hear directly how the native speakers speak english when the dialogue or
conversation is being played. This will greatly help in improving students
pronunciation skills, which has become one of the major obstacles in learning
English. The visual features would further help students' understanding,
because they not only hear, but at the same time they see the expression, and
movement of the native speakers when speaking.
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Picture 5. Examples of listening skill activity
2. SPEAKING SKILL
As for the speaking skills, the most suitable method to be applied is using
video recording. Teachers can ask their students to engage in conversation in
English or demonstrate (role play) dialogue conversations that have been
previously provided, and next these activities will be recorded by several other
students. The recording of the conversation will then be uploaded to the blog so
it's easier to make an assessment. Teachers can also use it to follow up activities
such as using the video for listening activities. This video features can also be
used as a place to store the documentation of drama (or role play) which has
been done by the students while in the class.
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Picture 6. Examples of speaking skill activity
3. READING SKILL
For reading skill, the teacher can provide examples of short readings in
English. Topics of readings may be free or in accordance with the curriculum
that is being taught in class. Is advisable to choose the topic that are being hot
issues at the moment. This is necessary so that students are able to think
critically and are concerned about the problem that is happening in the
environment. At the end of the reading session will be given a number of
questions related to the contents of the reading, it is to evaluate the students'
level of comprehension (Reading Comprehension).
Picture 7. Example of reading skill activity
4. WRITING & GRAMMAR SKILL
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There are many forms of activities using Blog as the media to improve
students’ writing skill. One simple example is to have the students write essay.
The first step is to provide feedback to the students. For example, by selecting
the topic of "movie", and then the teacher will instruct students to write their
essay related to a given topic. Students can freely put their ideas about their
favorite films, and give their opinions on a movie by reviewing. Obviously it is
not difficult to implement since the fact that basically Blog is a place where
people expressing ideas, as well as their thoughts through writing. Besides, the
teacher can use this media as a place for student to express their artistic soul in
the form of poetry, prose, or even create drama text which would then be posted
to the blog. For the assessment, can be done by seeing how the number of
visitors who like the posts (giving like). It can grow students’ confidence in
exploring their artistic soul. For writing, deepening of grammar (grammar
focus) can also be included. Examples of grammar questions can be as follows:
1. Gap Filling (fill in the blank).
2. Scrambled words / jumbled letters (reassembling a word or phrase into the
right pattern).
3. Change the verb of the present tense (tense) into the form of other
appropriate tenses.
4. Changing the form of affirmative sentence (statement) to the negative and
interrogative sentences (questions).
5. Writing Question Tags, etc.
Picture 8. Example of writing skill activity
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Picture 9. Example of grammar skill activity
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
Based on the big opportunity of using social media blog as a learning
media, encouraging the idea of creating a new learning method that is more
interesting to students in SMA Wijaya Putra Surabaya. The idea is to empower
social media Blog as a medium of learning English. Blog is a web-based
application which contains writings (published as a post) on a public web page.
By using blog, teachers can post material that they consider useful for students.
While the students are able to participate actively in order to develop their
thinking critically. Various references, journals, as well as the subject materails
can be easily downloaded from Blog. In addition to saving energy and money,
this new learning method is also more flexible because it can be accessed
anywhere and anytime. The Blog that are made must be qualified and attractive,
as well as the materials and any tasks assigned according to students’ interest in
order to encourage them to learn English better.
There are several benefits that can be gained by empowering Blog as
learning media, namely: the first benefit, using blog as a learning center. The
second benefit, as the source to search references from internet sites that match
to the material taught in the class, or to find other websites that are useful to
expand the global knowledge of the students. And the third benefit is that blog
can be used as a place to share opinions between student and student or
students and teachers. While the advantages of this learning media are: Blog has
a high degree of flexibility, meaning the media is accessible to students anytime
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and anywhere, Blog is a web that can be built easily and it does not require any
special programming language, and a blog is a web that can be built at no cost at
all (free).
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