Students` perceptions on the use of nicenet.org as teaching learning media in academic essay writing courses of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University - USD Repository

STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS ON THE USE OF NICENET.ORG AS TEACHING LEARNING MEDIA

  IN ACADEMIC ESSAY WRITING COURSES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM OF SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY A THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

  By Theofilus Ardentya Wusanamurti

  Student Number: 051214071

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS ON THE USE OF NICENET.ORG AS TEACHING LEARNING MEDIA

  IN ACADEMIC ESSAY WRITING COURSES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM OF SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY A THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

  By Theofilus Ardentya Wusanamurti

  Student Number: 051214071

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

  

ABSTRACT

  Wusanamurti, Theofilus Ardentya. (2010). Students’ Perception on the Use of

  

Nicenet.org as Teaching Learning Media in Academic Essay Writing Courses of

English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University .

  Yogyakarta: Sanata Dharma University.

  Entering the globalization era, people can not be separated from technology. Technology has begun to penetrate into every human’s aspect. Technology brings about a significant effect on education. Internet is one of information technology used in education as teaching learning media. One of the internet webs is Nicenet.org. It is a web allowing someone to make a virtual class. Nicenet.org starts being used by many lecturers of English Language Education Study Program (ELESP), Sanata Dharma University. Starting from the phenomenon which many lecturers use this education web, the writer tries to investigate the students’ perception on the use of Nicenet.org as teaching learning media. The media used by the lecturer influences the students’ perception, whereas, perception deals with the learning motivation affecting the students’ learning. As the result, perception is one of the key factors of the success of student’s learning.

  To discover their perception, this study formulates two problems to be answered. First, what are the student’s perceptions on the use Nicenet.org as teaching learning media? Second, what are some possible suggestions to improve the implementation of Nicenet.org as teaching media?

  The writer employed a survey research to solve the formulated problems. The writer collected the data by using two research instruments: questionnaire and interview. To gain the questionnaire data used as the main data, the writer distributed fifty seven questionnaires. The respondents came from the students of Academic Essay Writing courses of ELESP, Sanata Dharma University class A and D in the academic year 2008/2009. As the interview data, the writer interviewed four respondents and one lecturer. The interview data was employed to cross check the main data.

  Based on the findings, the writer concludes that the students perceive Nicenet.org in the positive way. However, its implementation in the class is not well-implemented yet. Thus, to better the use of Nicenet.org, the writer provides the suggestions which are summarized from the students’ responses. The suggestions are: the lecturers should apply Nicenet.org effectively; the lecturers and the students should obey the class rule; Nicenet.org should be introduced intensively; and Nicenet.org should be applied not only in Academic Essay Writing class but also in other classes.

  Key words: Perception, Media, Nicenet.org

  

ABSTRAK

  Wusanamurti, Theofilus Ardentya. (2010). Students’ Perception on the Use of

  

Nicenet.org as Teaching Learning Media in Academic Essay Writing Course of

English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University .

  Yogyakarta: Universitas Sanata Dharma.

  Memasuki era globalisasi, orang-orang tidak bisa dipisahkan dari tekhnologi. Tekhnologi telah merasuki tiap-tiap aspek kehidupan manusia. Hal ini sudah jelas bahwa tekhnologi membawa pengaruh terhadap dunia pendidikan. Internet adalah salah satu tekhnologi informasi yang digunakan dalam dunia sebagai media belajar pengajaran. Salah satu situs adalah Nicenet.org. Itu adalah situs yang memperbolehkan seseoarang untuk mencipatakan kelas maya. Nicenet.org mulai banyak digunakan oleh dosen-dosen di Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta. Bermula dari fenomena ini yaitu banyak dosen menggunakan web ini, penulis mencoba menelusuri persepsi siswa dalam menggunakan Nicenet.org. Media pembelejaran yang digunakan oleh dosen secara tidak langsung mempengaruhi persepsi tiap-tiap siswa, padahal, persepsi berhubungan erat dengan motivasi siswa yang mempengaruhi pencapaian siswa. Hasilnya, persepsi adalah salah satu kunci sukses pembelajaran siswa.

  Untuk mengetahui persepsi mereka, studi ini mengemukakan dua masalah untuk dijawab. Pertama, bagaimana persepsi siswa-siswa terhadap penggunaan Nicenet.org sebagai media belajar mengajar? Kedua, apakah masukan untuk meningkatkan penerapan Nicenet.org sebagai media belajar mengajar?

  Penulis menggunakan sebuah penelitian survey untuk menjawab masalah yang telah dikemukakan. Penulis mengumpulkan data menggunakan dua instrumen yaitu questionnaire dan wawancara. Untuk memperoleh data questionnaire yang digunakan sebagai data utama, penulis menyebarkan lima puluh tujuh questionnaire. Responden berasal dari mahasiswa A dan D mata kuliah Academic Essay Writing di Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma tahun ajaran 2008/2009. Sebagai data wawancara, penulis mewawancarai empat orang siswa dan seorang dosen. Data wawancara digunakan untuk memeriksa silang data utama.

  Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, penulis menganggap bahwa siswa-siswa melihat Nicenet.org sebagai media pembelajaran yang berguna, memotivasi, dan menarik. Namun, penerapannya belum dimaksimalkan. Oleh karena itu, untuk meningkatkan penggunaan Nicenet.org, penulis memberikan beberapa masukan yang penulis rangkum dari jawaban-jawaban siswa, yaitu: dosen seharusnya menerapkan secara efektif, dosen dan siswa seharusnya mematuhi aturan yang sudah disepakati, Nicenet.org harus lebih diperkenalkan, dan Nicenet.org seharusnya digunakan di kelas-kelas lainnya, tidak hanya di kelas Academic Essay

  Writing.

  Kata kunci: persepsi, media, Nicenet.org.

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Having written this part means that the mission in finishing my thesis had been accomplished. In accomplishing the mission, I have got a lot of guidance coming from my family, my colleagues, my friends, and my lecturers. However, the biggest gratitude goes to the most guiding person, Jesus Christ. Even though, sometimes, I forget to praise Him, He always rains me with endless blessings and guidance.

  I would like to thank my sponsor, Dr. Retno Muljani, M.Pd., for her patience in correcting my thesis from a manuscript to a well published scientific literary work, her ideas in enriching my knowledge, and her comments and criticisms in building my thesis. I would like to address my gratitude to

  

Hanandyo Darjito, S.Pd., M.Hum. for his favor to allow me to interrupt his

  teaching activity and his suggestions in developing my thesis. I also thank the students of Academic Essay Writing class A and D for being my respondents and allowing me to disturb their valuable time.

  I also thank Sano, Astri, Hedwig, and Risma for their time to be my ‘victims’ in the interviews section. Their opinions and suggestions contribute much to my thesis and to the development of the teaching learning activity of English Language Education Study Program of Sanata Dharma University.

  I dedicate this scientific literary work to my parents, Bernardus Murhadi

  

and Theresia Sri Sumarwanti. I thank my brother and sisters, Herman Yosef

Aditya Danamurti, Monica Anitya Darumurti, and Reni Rosalina for their supports and inspiring ideas. I also thank her family for asking when I finish my thesis.

  To all my friends of English Language Education Study Program batch 05,

  

Daniel, Adit, Wahyu Widiasih (for lending me a nice black tuxedo), Tunjung,

Datia, Rimas, and Siska, I thank for being my partners in finishing my study. For

  the play performance group of Chickencoops Chinamen, The Sunbright and

The Elite English Course members, I appreciate your helps, laugh, and madness.

  I also owe Afan and de’ Ratri for the SPSS short-course. I also thank the staffs of PBI’s secretariat, Mbak Danik and Mbak Tari, for serving the best.

  Finally, I would like to thank all people who could not be mentioned one by one in completing and accomplishing this thesis.

  Sincerely, Theofilus Ardentya

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE……………………………………………………………………… i

APPROVAL PAGES……………………………………………………………… ii

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY………………………………….. iv

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH

  v UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS…………………………………………... vi ABSTRACT………………………………………………....................................... vii ABSTRAK.................................................................................................................. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………..................................... x TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………. xii LIST OF APPENDICES………………………………………………………….. xiii

  LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………

  xiv LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………..

  1 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………...

  1 A. Background of the Study………………………………………..

  4 B. Problem Formulation……………………………………………

  5 C. Problem Limitation……………………………………………...

  5 D. Objectives of the Study…………………………………………

  6 E. Benefits of the Study……………………………………………

  8 F. Definition of Terms……………………………………………..

  10 CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………….

  10 A. Theoretical Description………………………………………….

  11 1. Perception…………………………………………………….

  17 2. Technology in Education…………………………………….

  18 3. Teaching Learning Media…………………………………….

  22

  4. Internet in Language Teaching ………………………………

  25 5. Writing Proficiency…………………………………………...

CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY………………………………………………

  30 A. Research Method………………………………………………...

  30 B. Research Respondents……………………………………………

  31 C. Research Instruments…………………………………………….

  33 1. Questionnaire……………………………………………..

  33 2. Interview………………………………………………….

  36 D. Data Gathering Techniques………………………………………

  38 E. Data Analysis Techniques………………………………………..

  39 F. Research Procedure………………………………………………

  42 CHAPTER IV. RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION………..………

  43 A. Questionnaire Data……………………………………………….

  43 B. Interview Data……………………………………………………

  50 C. Discussion………………………………………………………..

  53 CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS………………………..

  60 A. Conclusions………………………………………………………

  60 B. Suggestions………………………………………………………

  61 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………….

  63 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………...

  66

LIST OF APPENDICES

  APPENDIX 1 Permission Letter…………………………………………………… APPENDIX 2 Questionnaire………………………………………………………. APPENDIX 3 Interview…………………………………………………………… APPENDIX 4 Questionnaire Data…………………………………………………. APPENDIX 5 Interview Result…………………………………………………….

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  LIST OF TABLES TABLE 3.1 The Questionnaire Blue Print…………………………………………..

TABLE 3.2 The Example of the Question on Past Experience……………………..TABLE 3.3 The Examples of the Question on Perception………………………...TABLE 3.4 The Examples of the Question on Suggestion………………………..TABLE 3.5 The Example of the Interview Guide………………………………… TABLE 3.6 The Summary of the Steps…………………………………………….TABLE 4.1 The Distribution of the Responses…………………………………….TABLE 4.2 The Responses Classification………………………………………….

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  LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 2.1 Perceptual Process…………………………………………………….

FIGURE 3.1 The Percentage Formula………………………………………………FIGURE 3.2 The Mean Formula…………………………………………………… FIGURE 4.1 The Chart of Responses Classification……………………………….

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION In this chapter, the writer presents the background why the writer is

  interested in discovering the student’s perception on the use of Nicenet.org as a teaching learning media. The writer divides this chapter into six parts: background of the study, problem limitation, problem formulation, objectives of the study, benefits of the study, and definition of terms.

A. Background of the Study

  Technology in language teaching is not new. Indeed, technology has been around in language teaching for decades (Dudeney and Hockly, 2007:7). Tape recorders, language laboratories, and video have been used since 1960’s. However, the invention of computer has changed the map of teaching learning media. The use of computer in class leads to the more attractive and mobile activity.

  The computer technology development has grown swiftly. As the result, it penetrates into human living aspects: economic, politic, military, and also education. Goodlad, Toole, and Tyler (1966:5) say that “acceptance of the high- speed digital computer, unlike that of many other great technical achievements, has been remarkably favorable in business, industry, science, and especially in national defense.” Therefore, to fulfill the human needs of computer, supporting effective facilities. One of them is internet. Internet connects people around the world by a click. It offers opportunities for communication to people who are geographically separated.

  Internet brings massive influences into human life. Consequently, the internet development brings people’s behavior shifting. Goodlad et al. (1966: 3) support that the electronic computer, mainstay of an advancing information technology, is significantly altering a wide range of human affairs. In addition, it also brings some significant impacts on the education development. According to Goodlad et al. (1966:4), the computer is the heart of electronic data processing which, in turn, now is viewed by our most insightful educational leaders as a necessary tool in advancing theory, research, and practice in education.

  Unlimited information can be attained in the internet. Thus, it carries great potential for educational use, specifically second and foreign language education.

  Internet provides variety for the teachers to conduct a class. By using internet, teachers have opportunity to develop their pupils’ skills. Wolf (2003) clarifies that with a variety of learning tools, students can understand their experiences through verbal, written, and/or graphical means. As a result, many more students become engaged in the learning process.

  According to Dudeney and Hockly (2007:7), learners are growing up with technology, and it is a natural and integrated part in their lives. Using interesting and creative media to deliver the material will increase student’s motivation to learn and to achieve student’s expectation. According to Vernon (1971:178), implied that he is knowledgeable about them, and also he is eager to perceive and learn more about them.

  The internet facility as teaching learning media is gradually implemented by many education institutions. To answer the global demands on the technology development in education and to compete in the globalization era, Sanata Dharma University has completed the classes with modern facilities – LCD and free internet connection – that support the use of internet as teaching learning media.

  This study is to discover Academic Essay Writing of English Language Education Study Program (ELEPS) students’ perception toward the use of an educational web named Nicenet.org. It is a web that allows the lecturers to make a virtual class. Nicenet.org is free web-based learning environment for classrooms, distance learning programs and collaborative academic projects.

  In Sanata Dharma University, especially ELEPS, this web-education facility is trying to be introduced by some lecturers. The lecturers apply it to collect the assignment, give comment on the students work, or deliver a new material. Several classes start using this web to be a teaching learning media.

  Academic Essay Writing course is one of them.

  As a result, implementing Nicenet.org may bring a new paradigm of teaching learning media used in the class. A new teaching learning media alters students’ perception about media used by the lecturer. Since perception is one of the success factors in students’ pace in learning, their perceptions become they will be motivated in learning. On the contrary, if the students perceive it negatively, they will feel distracted in the class activity. By having positive perception toward the use of Nicenet.org, hopefully, the students are expected to be able to improve their English proficiency, especially writing skill. Furthermore, since perception influences someone’s behavior, it also affects the students’ attitude toward Nicenet.org use.

  Starting from this phenomenon of Nicenet.org development, the writer conducts the research about it. Students’ perception on the use of Nicenet.org will be explored in this study. The aim of this study is to discover how the Academic Essay Writing class A and D students perceive towards a media implemented by the lecturer and to obtain some possible suggestions in order to increase the implementation of Nicenet.org.

  The finding of this study can be a great reflection of using Nicenet.org to conduct the class, particularly in Academic Essay Writing class A and D.

  Moreover, it is intended to develop the implementation of using Nicenet.org to improve the students’ English proficiency, especially writing proficiency.

B. Problem Formulation

  Considering the background previously stated, the writer proposes two problems to address in this study as follows:

  1. What are the student’s perceptions on the use Nicenet.org as teaching learning media?

  2. What are some possible suggestions to improve the implementation of Nicenet.org as teaching media?

  C. Problem Limitation

  This study is limited to discuss the student’s perception about the use of Nicenet.org web in Academic Essay Writing courses in ELESP of Sanata Dharma University. The writer focuses on researching students’ personal perception and experiences in learning writing skills by using Nicenet.org and their possible suggestions to develop the Nicenet.org usage. A survey only uses a group of respondents namely the students of Academic Essay Writing class A and D in the academic year 2008/2009.

  There are several classes which are using Nicenet.org as media. However, the writer prefers to conduct the research in Academic Essay Writing classes. The research is conducted ELESP, Sanata Dharma University, because the study’s result is intended for the sake of teaching learning media development of ELESP.

  The writer will not compare with the other places or universities since every university has different policies toward the use of internet in campus.

  D. Objectives of the Study

  Considering the formulation of the problems, the writer finds that there are two objectives to be obtained. They are stated as follows:

  1. To understand the students’ perception and experiences on the use of internet media to teach, the learners will have their own perceptions. The positive perception will bring a good attitude to the students and vice versa.

  2. To provide suggestions to Sanata Dharma University, especially English Language Education Study Program or ELESP, about the development of the teaching learning media to teach more effectively. By using more appropriate media, the teachers can be able to help the students understand the lesson better.

E. Benefits of the Study

  There are some benefits that can be obtained from this study. The benefits are for students, lecturers, future researchers who are interested in teaching learning media, and Sanata Dharma University, especially ELESP. To clarify the benefits of each element, the writer explains more below.

1. Students

  The finding of this study is showing how Academic Essay Writing students perceive Nicenet.org as teaching media. Moreover, it also reveals how perception on the use of media can bring the impacts on the improvement of writing skills. By being introduced to Nicenet.org, the students will engage to a new teaching learning media so that they can try to apply it. Students who have a good perception on Nicenet.org will have a high motivation to learn. It can help the students to reach a maximum achievement in improving writing skill.

  2. Lecturers

  Media is one key of the success factors in teaching learning activity. In order to have a good material delivery, a teacher should have an appropriate media for the students. Selecting an appropriate media to the students is essential. This result of study describes the perception on the use of Nicenet.org. From the result, it can be illustrated that if the students perceive positively, the students’ achievement will increase. This study provides suggestions to the lecturer’s media selection to teach. The lecturer can make a trial of using a new media so that the students will not be bored. Hopefully, the learning objective expected by the lecture can be attained by implementing Nicenet.org.

  3. Future Researchers

  For the future researchers who are interested in this topic, this study can be a milestone for the next research. This study is hoped to be helpful for the further discussion about the use of Nicenet.org as teaching learning media. Moreover, this study can be an inspiration for next researchers concerning this area of study. The next research can explore more on the topics such as the implementation of Nicenet.org, its appropriate methods, or its material design.

  4. Sanata Dharma University

  For Sanata Dharma University, especially English Language Education Study Program, this study can provide suggestions to develop a new learning implemented not only in writing course but also in every course with an adjusted way.

F. Definition of Terms

  In order to make a better understanding and to avoid misconception during the study, the following terms will represent some definitions which are used in this study.

  1. Perception

  According to Crow and Crow (1972: 93), perception is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory data according to the results of previous experiences. The processes of perception routinely alter what someone sees. They add that individual’s feeling influences her/his perception. Just one object can rise to multiple percepts.

  Thus, according to their theory, in this study, the writer defines perception as the student’s feelings and experiences in the use of Nicenet.org.

  2. Teaching Learning Media

  Media is substance, surroundings, in which something exists or through which something moves. According to Brown, Lewis, and Harcleroad (1977: 2), media are regarded as central elements in the approach to systematic instruction. A good media should be able to send the lecturers’ instructions to their pupils and facilitate the students to get the given information. As the result of applying an appropriate media to deliver material, the students are expected to achieve better

  3. Internet in Language Teaching

  Computer has been used in education scope since decades. The use of computer in education is called Computer-assisted language learning (CALL).

  Based on Levy (1997: 1), CALL is defined as ‘the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning’. The term CALL is used to describe any kind of language learning activity that makes use of computers. It has been implemented in the education scope, especially language teaching as well. The invention of Internet has changed the teaching learning activity. According to Newby, Lehman, Russell, and Stepich (2000:190), Internet is also referred to as the “Net,” the “Information Superhighway,” and “cyberspace.”

  One of the educational webs is Nicenet.org. It is a sophisticated web, found in 1995, a communication tool that brings World-Wide-Web based conferencing, personal messaging, document sharing. In Academic Essay Writing classes A and D, Nicenet.org is implemented to comment the students’ works, give feedback, and deliver new materials.

  4. Academic Essay Writing (KPE 357)

  Academic Essay Writing course is one of the compulsory courses of English Language Education Study Program, Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta. Based on Panduan Akademik 2007, the objective of Academic Essay writing is, on completing the course, the students are able to analyze and write short essays on language, language education, and literature.

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter presents the discussion about the theories applied in this

  study. The writer divides this chapter into two parts: theoretical description and theoretical framework. In the theoretical description, the writer reviews on perception, technology in education, teaching learning media, internet in language teaching and writing proficiency. The theoretical framework contains the contributions of the specific theories which are employed in this study to address the problems.

A. Theoretical Description

  Since this study is aimed to discover the students’ perception on the use of Nicenet.org as a teaching learning media, firstly, the writer discusses perception.

  The discussion about perception deals with the definition of perception by some experts, the perceptual process, and the influences in perceptual process.

  Secondly, the writer discusses technology in education. The writer drives a point about the use of technology in education. Moreover, the writer explains about its definition and its importance in the education world. Thirdly, the writer provides an explanation of teaching learning media. Fourthly, the writer clarifies internet in language teaching. Writing proficiency is the last. The further explanation will be clarified in the next page.

1. Perception

  Human beings are equipped with several sense organs. Those organs are used to receive information from their surrounding. For instance, ears are to get information by hearing and nose is to get information by smelling. Each organ has specific function to send the received information to the brain. The information will be collected in the brain. By having the information, human can have a perception on the given situation.

  Perception is the oldest topic discussed by psychologists. Research about perception has been developed since hundreds years ago. Researching perception becomes important since perception is a foundation underlining others disciplines. Many psychologists and scientists have been trying to define what perception is and research about it for hundreds years ago.

  Universally, perception is described as the process of attaining awareness to understanding of sensory information. Based on Gibson, Ivancevich, and Donnely (1985: 60), perception is the cognitive process by which an individual gives meaning to the environment. The meaning given to the surrounding is various. Each individual has different meaning on the same environment. Because each person gives his or her own meaning toward the stimuli, he or she will ‘see’ what the others do not ‘see’. Everyone has different thought to the same thing.

  According to Burner as cited by Shaw and Costanzo (1982: 186), perception is a process of categorization. The organism is stimulated by some appropriate input (external object, event, etc.) and responds to it by relating it a perception and automatic interpretation of stimuli, but rather it is an active process in which the incoming data are selectively related to the cognitive structure.

  Altman, Valenzi, and Hodgetts (1985: 85) state that perception is the way stimuli are selected and grouped by a person so that they can be meaningfully interpreted. In other word, perception is a person’s view of reality.

  Crow and Crow (1972: 93) state that a percept can be regarded as a meaningful sensation. Perception includes not only the sensitization of the sensory nerve but also the immediate associative mental processes that follow. Crow and Crow (1972:95) add that perception is influenced by an individual’s feelings and attitudes at the time of the perception. For example, if someone is hungry, the smell of frying fish will be pleasant, but if someone is full, it becomes an annoying thing. According to Vernon (1962: 32), perception is never instantaneous. It means that the forming of perception takes time. If people see one object for a very short time, people can not identify what it is.

  Huffman, Vernoy, and Vernoy (1996: 97) describe that perception refers to the process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory data into useful mental representation of the world. When people look something new, there will be much information coming up in their mind but only selected information will be processed further.

  According to Huffman et al. (1996:98), perception consists of three basic processes: selection, organization, and interpretation of incoming sensation. It is supported by Gibson et al. (1985:61) say that perception involves receiving the stimuli, organizing the stimuli, and translating or interpreting the organized stimuli so as to influence behavior and form attitudes.

Figure 2.1 Perceptual Process

  The first step in perceptual process is selection. We choose the stimuli to which we will pay attention. Our brain arranges which information is more important and discards the rest of the given information. For example, when someone is joining a noisy class when the teacher is explaining and the others are yelling, she or he has power to select paying attention to the teacher or to the yelling groups. However, she or he has threshold to choose in what situation she or he wants to belong; paying attention to the teacher or being disturbed by the noise. This process is called selective attention.

  Based on Huffman et al. (2000:108), the selection of the stimuli is influenced by three factors; physiological factors, stimulus factors, and psychological factors.

  1. Physiological factors One of the major physiological factors in selection is the presence of the specialized cells in the brain called feature detections (or feature analyzers) that respond only to certain sensory information. Another physiological factor is

  The brain seems ‘prewired’ to pay more attention to changes in the environment than to the stimuli that remain constant.

  2. Stimulus factors When given a wide variety of stimuli to choose from, we automatically select the stimuli that are intense, novel, moving, contrasting, and repetitious. The more intense, novel, moving, contrasting or repetitious the stimuli are, the bigger its chance to be selected. For example, the advertisements agent puts the ads more one time in one time break.

  3. Psychological factors Motivation and personal needs give effects on this factor. What you choose to perceive is determined largely by your current level of satisfaction or deprivation. Every student has different motivation toward a course. It makes them have different perception.

  The second process is organization. After selecting the coming information, human organize it into patterns and principles that will help us to understand the incoming information. It means that the sensory message is arranged so as to become meaningful. Altman et al. (1985:89) state that the central function of organization process is to reduce initially complex information into simpler categories. Huffman et al. say that sensory data is organized according to form, perceptual constancies, depth, and color.

  The form perception is organizing stimuli into patterns or shapes. The form perception is derived from figure and ground, proximity, continuity and

  The perceptual constancy is stabilizing a changing world. It means that the tendency for the environment to be perceived as remaining the same even with changes in sensory input.

  Depth perception is seeing the world as three dimensional. It is the ability to accurately estimate the distance of perceived objects and thereby perceive the world in three dimensions. It is possible to judge the distance of object with nearly all senses. Such color perception seems to be inborn. So, practically from the moment of birth, people are able to see a world of greens and oranges, blues and reds, yellow and purples.

  The final process is interpretation. After selecting and organizing the information, the brain will use the patterns and the principles to make judgments about the world. Someone’s interpretation is influenced by many factors. They are life experiences, perceptual expectations, cultural factors, personal motivations, and frame of reference.

  Perception can be influenced by many factors. Those factors make someone’s perception different among others.

  The factors influencing someone’s perception (Altman et al., 1985:86):

  1. Selection of stimuli Of all stimuli with which we are surrounded, we focus on only small number. It is the reason why people perceive thing differently- each person selects specific cues and filters, or screens, out the others. It means that a person has an awareness to choose the coming stimuli. If the students are in a classroom, they disturbed by the noisy. However, everybody has different threshold. There is a student which can be disturbed easily or vice versa. Someone’s threshold affects the perception getting by him/her.

  2. Organization of stimuli The perceptual organization, then, helps us categorize the input. As stated before, the central function of the categorization process is to reduce initially complex information into simpler categories.

  3. The situation A person’s familiarity with, or expectations about, a situation, as well as his or her past experience, affects what that person perceives. Perceiving a situation accurately is also related to how well a person adjusts his behavior to the situations. When the students are joining a class using Nicenet.org, they adapt the situation in present situation. If they feel that the class is interesting, they will have positive perception toward the situation.

  4. Self-concept It is the way we feel about and perceive ourselves is known as our self- concept. This self concept is important because your mental picture of yourself determines much of what you perceive and do. Based on Combs, Aspy, Brown, Clute, and Hicks (1979:77), self concept is meant all those aspects of the perceptual field to which we refer when we say “I” or “me”. Moreover, it is the organization of perceptions about self which seems to the individual to be who he is. People tend to perceive what is congruent with their already existing concept of

2. Technology in Education

  Now, learning process can not be limited. The competition of working world makes someone keep enriching and digging out the knowledge. Moreover, the demand of high human resources quality adds the need of tools that can fulfill their expectation. To answer that demand, technology has to be involved in learning process development. In teaching learning, technology used in education is not new. Yet, the use of technology in education is getting interesting, sophisticated and mobile. Therefore, technology in education keeps improving to get the most beneficial and effective in answering the world’s demand.

  Based on Galbraith as cited by Newby et al. (2000: 9), technology is defined as the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks. It means that technology becomes a bridge between the theoretical knowledge and the real world. Technology allows theory to solve the practical problem faced by people.

  Connecting to the technology’s meaning, instructional technology can be considered as applying scientific knowledge about human learning to the practical tasks and those who are teaching and learning. On other word, instructional technology is means of connecting the teacher, the instructional experience, and learners in ways that enhance learning. Instructional technology is used to increase learning effectiveness. Roblyer and Edwards (2000: 6) define educational technology as a combination of the processes and tools involved in addressing educational needs and problems.

  Recently, the education needs tend to be more global. It means that there is no limitation hindering someone to learn. Furthermore, the limit of time and distance can not be an obstacle to gain knowledge.

  Based on Roblyer and Edwards (2000: 12), technology has an important role to play in achieving this goal. They propose some reasons why education scope needs technology. However, the writer underlines their reason toward students’ motivation.

  First reason is gaining learners’ attention. The visual and interactive features of many technology resources seem to help focus students’ attention and encourage them to spend more time on learning tasks.

  Second reason is engaging the learner through production work. Students seem to like the activities because they promote creativity, self-expression, and feelings of self-efficacy and result in professional-looking products they can view with pride.

  Third reason is increasing perceptions of control. When students perceive themselves as in control of their learning, the result has been called intrinsic motivation, or being motivated by the awareness that they are learning.

3. Teaching Learning Media

  People communicate everyday and everywhere. When people send and receive information by any means, they communicate. Therefore, communication is often defined as the sending and receiving of message. To communicate well, happens when the sender’s message is received by the receiver. Thus, sending information needs a transmitter named medium.