CLASSROOM BLOG as ONE-STOP SHOP
Computer lab day has the potential to be the most stressful day for a settlement English teacher. We have continuous enrollment as well as students with widely diverse educational backgrounds. In a single class we may have students of all ages--from digital natives to octogenarians. But I believe I have developed a system that allows students to get up and running quickly. Before long each is able to work autonomously at his/her own pace.
Here are some things I do to make computer lab day stress free for me and for the learners:
If you would like to create a classroom blog in the user-friendly Blogger platform, you can either go to blogger.com and use their tutorial materials or you can use the handout I created when I gave a workshop on this topic for my local TESL Ontario affiliate chapter. You can download the PDF of the step-by-step manual and listen to the webcast via links that are now on the Tricks, Tips and Tutorials page of this site.
Here are some things I do to make computer lab day stress free for me and for the learners:
- Create a blog in the free Blogger platform where I can park the links students will use in the lab.
- Create a cheat sheet that I project at the front of the room so that anyone entering the lab will know how to wake up the computer, log into Windows, open the Internet and get to my classroom blog.
- Guide new computer users to a site for practicing using a mouse. There are others, too.
- Offer various links so that students have a smorgasbord of choices, some focusing on listening, others on grammar, others on vocabulary, etc.
If you would like to create a classroom blog in the user-friendly Blogger platform, you can either go to blogger.com and use their tutorial materials or you can use the handout I created when I gave a workshop on this topic for my local TESL Ontario affiliate chapter. You can download the PDF of the step-by-step manual and listen to the webcast via links that are now on the Tricks, Tips and Tutorials page of this site.
DIGITAL LITERACY ACTIVITIES and WORKSHEETS
Google Maps - introductory brief web quest
iPAD Language Activities - Intermediate
iPAD Language Activities - LITERACY and Beginner NB: You have to install KG Primary Penmanship Lined font for all of the LITERACY worksheets to work.
iPAD Word Shapes Worksheet for LITERACY learners is part of the activity pack above.
Decoda Literacy Solutions has a fantastic series of lesson plans and student workbooks on Computers and Technology.
iPAD Language Activities - Intermediate
iPAD Language Activities - LITERACY and Beginner NB: You have to install KG Primary Penmanship Lined font for all of the LITERACY worksheets to work.
iPAD Word Shapes Worksheet for LITERACY learners is part of the activity pack above.
Decoda Literacy Solutions has a fantastic series of lesson plans and student workbooks on Computers and Technology.
GA:
