Good Point!

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• Good Point!

By Andy MorrallEnglish Language Centre Hong Kong
Polytechnic University 5 June 2009
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Abstract and Biodata
Abstract Participants will be introduced to an
online program that aims to develop students
critical thinking skills, called "Good Point!",
which is available to the public at
http//goodpoint.elc.polyu.edu.hk The program
will be explained and demonstrated, and then
participants will be able to use the program to
post their own discussion topic, comment on other
participants' topics and evaluate them, and
finally use the topics and comments to construct
an academic essay or presentation. Participants
should come to the workshop with a controversial
topic in mind that they can use in the
program. Biodata Andy Morrall is a Senior
Lecturer at the English Language Centre of the
Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is the IT
Coordinator and his interests are in autonomy and
e-learning.
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Overview of the Program

• Problems
• Students need to write academic essays related to
  their studies after only 7 weeks at university
  not enough knowledge
• Students need to give academic presentations
• Solution
• A program that scaffolds students in- finding
  information- sharing information- analysing
  that information- prioritising the information-
  presenting the information in essay or oral form
• The resulting program Good Point!

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Overview of the Program
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Selecting a discussion
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List of Points View
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Pros and Cons View
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Topic Map View
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Slideshow View
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Essay Planner

• About this program
• Aim The aim of this program is to help you plan
  your essay about "Evolution cannot satisfactorily
  explain our world". It will
• help you to plan your essay
• help you to write your essay, including the
  Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
• help you to proof-read your essay
• produce an essay, which you can save and print
  out using your browser's File menu.
• And speak your essay to you. You can choose a 
  male or female voice.

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Presentation Planner

• Aim The aim of this program is to help you plan
  your presentation about "Evolution cannot
  satisfactorily explain our world". It will
• help you to plan your presentation
• help you to write your presentation, including
  the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
• produce the following
• a script, which you can save and print out using
  your browser's File menu.
• Printable note cards, which you can save and
  print out using your browser's File menu.
• A slide show, which you can save to your computer
  using the browser's File gt Save menu.
• And speak your presentation to you. You can
  choose a  male or female voice.

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Time to try
1) Set up an account
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Create a Discussion
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Creating a Discussion
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Adding a Point
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Submitting a Point
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Rating a Point
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Rating a Point

• Users rate points on
• True / False
• Importance
• Fact or Opinion
• Logical or Illogical (with fallacies and
  examples)
• Referencing
• The computer totals the score and revises the
  rating of the point, its parent points, and the
  whole discussion.
• The support should change.

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Teachers Page
For checking your students activity and giving
feedback.
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Thank you Q A