Integrating the Internet into the Classroom-Week 1 Day1-2

Integrating the Internet into the Classroom
Facilitator: Michael Krauss, Lewis & Clark College

Daily Assignments Week 1
Day 1|Day 2|Day 3|Day 4|Day 5

BROWSING TIP: When browsing, you may want new windows to open when links are clicked which take you away from the site. If so, simply close the new browser windows when you are finished with them to return to this Web site.

To open new browser windows when links are clicked:
- Windows-Right click the mouse on the link. Choose "Open link in new window."
- Macintosh-Press Apple key (hold down) and click the link. A new window will automatically open.

WEEK 1	Getting Started
DAY 1	Getting to Know One Another/Accessing the Workshop Home Page
	TASK 1: Read the Welcome message from the Workshop Email list. Reply to it by sending an introduction of yourself to the list. Include in your introduction answers to the following questions: Who are you? Where do you work (or study) and what do you do in your job (or academic program)? If you are currently teaching, who are your students, what do you enjoy most in your teaching, and what is the biggest challenge? Is there any other information you would like to share? Note: Please limit your introduction to a maximum of 300 words (to avoid "information overload" for all of us)! TASK 2: Begin keeping your pencil and paper two column workshop notebook: One column in the role of student in this workshop, the other in the role of teacher/trainer. Begin bookmarking sites (making "favorites"). For more advanced participants, you might start saving your bookmarks (favorites) to a Delicious account so you can share with others. TASK 3: Access the Workshop Home Page (WHP) "Bookmark it." If you don't know how to do this, please click here. Still having problems? You can send a message to ed648@lclark.edu and we'll discuss it. TASK 4: Complete the Questionnaire and submit it. TASK 5: Important for those taking the course for continuing education or graduate credit: Read the Frequently Asked Questions for instructions on how to register for continuing education or graduate credit. You will not receive credit unless you fill out the appropriate forms. Also, be sure to check the costs for continuing education and graduate credit. Thanks! TASK 6: Read the Introduction, Assumptions and Workshop Objectives page. Scan briefly (15 minutes) Glossary of Computer Terms, and Netiquette. If you have any questions/comments, post them to ed648@lclark.edu so they can be answered for the entire class.
	Additional Information/Resources: Need to know more about on-line learning in order to get the most out of this course or to find out about other distance education resources? Have a look at Distance Education FAQ's (Chelea Education and Nelnet) Am I a good candidate for a successful online learning experience? What qualities should a successful online learner have? Here's a quick self-evaluation quiz. Internet Tutorials: Excellent tutorials, very up to date, on Basic Internet, Research Guides, Search Engines and Subject Directories from the University at Albany Library. Resources for Younger Learners Desktop software General resources: an excellent source of free and shareware programs for both Mac's and PC's is at Kids Domain. (Note: This site is now a commercial "for pay" site called "Kaboose." They do have a 30 day free trial if you want to check it out). ESL resources: The CALL-IS software database is the best single source for CALL software. There is also a very practical article to help you get started in choosing the software that is appropriate for your particular teaching situation. Also, the L.A. Unified School District has an excellent ESL/CBET Citizenship Technology Guide (large .pdf file) that includes software reviews and materials on integrating technology into the classroom. Oregon Department of Education Standards and Resources (REAL = Resources for Educational Achievement and Leadership) - Provides a searchable index of standards and materials + a tutorial on how to use the site. Want to keep up to date on educational technology research? Check out CARET (Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology). This site, funded by the Gates Foundation, includes as partners the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), ESS (Educational Support Systems), and SCOE (Sacramento County Office of Education).

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WEEK 1
More Getting Started

DAY 2
The "Workshop Discussion Page": Accessing, Registering, Participating in an Online Discussion.

TASK 1: Read "How to Use the Workshop Discussion Page (WDP)." You should print it and keep it for easy reference. After printing it, follow the steps exactly to create an account in the next TASK.

TASK 2: Go to the "Workshop Discussion Page". Create an account and log in by going to the NiceNet sidebar, labeled "New Users Start Here." Under "Students," click on "Join a class."
Note: You will create an account only one time. After that, you will enter the Discussion Page by entering your "username" and "password" in the NiceNet sidebar labeled "Current Users Log In."

TASK 3: Open the topic, "How I Use Computers".

Using the "Reply" feature: Discuss how you use computers in your teaching/training. If you use on-line sources, discuss that in your answer. What on-line content materials would be most useful in your teaching? (computers/technology, history, environment, culture, science, etc.). What barriers do you see that prevent you from making more use of on-line materials?

If other participants have posted comments, choose at least one and answer it using the "Reply" button.

If you have a related topic you want to discuss, write about it using the "Post New Message" link, entering a subject and posting the message.

TASK 4: Form "Buddy Groups!"

To encourage interaction among participants, each of you will belong to a "Buddy Group" of teachers. At least twice per week, you should email your buddies. You are to decide on a topic that interests you in your teaching (can be technology related or not). During the three week period, continue to email one another about this topic. Do a little bit of Web research as you go and try to add to your knowledge of this topic. In Week 3, you will share with the class what you have been discussing in your "Buddy Group." Click here to see a class list divided into "Buddy Groups." Everyone on the Buddy Group list should send an email today to get the conversation started!

TASK 5: During this course, we will have the opportunity to join one another in real time for an online chat or two. Does this have application to the real-life classroom? Read Teresa Almeida d'Eca's excellent article, "The Use of Chat in EFL/ESL" which appeared in the June, 2003 edition of the TESL-EJ.

Also check out this Sampling of Educational Chat and Discussion Board Sites.

Additional Information/Resources:

The One Computer Classroom Dilemma: "But I don't have regular access to a computer lab!" is a frequent lament of teachers. Here are resources to give you ideas for the one-computer classroom.

Eduscapes (Annette Lamb) has compiled an excellent page with ideas, articles, and strategies for making the best use of the one computer classroom.

Want more? Go to Google and do a search for
suggestions "one computer classroom" (use quotes around "one computer classroom" to force a search for that exact phrase).

"But I haven't used computers very much in my teaching. I just can't imagine ways to use computers in my subject area!" Have a look at these very innovative, yet practical ways that teachers are using computers to enrich teaching of language arts, science, math, social studies, physical education and more! (some use the Internet and others use desktop software).

"What if I create assignments or tests for my students to comlete online--isn't cheating a problem? There are certainly security concerns, but there is much a teacher can do to minimize the risks of cheating.

Discussion Lists help educators keep their finger on the pulse of developments in the profession. ESL/EFL teachers may want to subscribe to popular discussion lists such as TESL-L, TESLCA-L (sub list dealing with computer-assisted teaching/learning), Neteach-L, etc. Of interest to ESL/EFL and content area teachers is K-12 Education Discussion Lists from Andy Carvin's EdWeb-Home Room (itself an excellent resource). General instructions for subscribing to mailing lists are provided. Some of these lists generate over 50 messages per day so signing up in "Digest" mode is a great idea. You'll receive only one daily message containing all the postings for the day.

Blogs - What are these "blogs" I've heard about? How are they different than our Discussion Page? Blog, short for "Web Log," refers to a list of journal entries posted on a Web page, and can take several forms: a personal blog, a tutor's blog, a learner's blog, or a class blog. Here's a tutorial for building a blog using Blogger at Blog.com. Here's a journal article describing the educational use of blogs and pointing out some differences between Web-based bulletin boards and blogs. Here's my brief Blog (Michael's Musings).

Videoconferencing - I've also heard that videoconferencing is now possible and has practical uses in English language learning. This is true--with a decent Internet connection, a Web camera, and free videoconferencing software such as Skype, the possibilities are many. Here is a good resource page discussing videoconferencing options in general and English teaching online with Skype in particular.

Go to Daily Assignments - Week 1 Day 3-5

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Return to Workshop Home Page.

Return to Workshop Discussion Page.

Return to Syllabus-at-a-Glance.

Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 8/5/08

WEEK 1	More Getting Started
DAY 2	The "Workshop Discussion Page": Accessing, Registering, Participating in an Online Discussion.
	TASK 1: Read "How to Use the Workshop Discussion Page (WDP)." You should print it and keep it for easy reference. After printing it, follow the steps exactly to create an account in the next TASK. TASK 2: Go to the "Workshop Discussion Page". Create an account and log in by going to the NiceNet sidebar, labeled "New Users Start Here." Under "Students," click on "Join a class." Note: You will create an account only one time. After that, you will enter the Discussion Page by entering your "username" and "password" in the NiceNet sidebar labeled "Current Users Log In." TASK 3: Open the topic, "How I Use Computers". Using the "Reply" feature: Discuss how you use computers in your teaching/training. If you use on-line sources, discuss that in your answer. What on-line content materials would be most useful in your teaching? (computers/technology, history, environment, culture, science, etc.). What barriers do you see that prevent you from making more use of on-line materials? If other participants have posted comments, choose at least one and answer it using the "Reply" button. If you have a related topic you want to discuss, write about it using the "Post New Message" link, entering a subject and posting the message. TASK 4: Form "Buddy Groups!" To encourage interaction among participants, each of you will belong to a "Buddy Group" of teachers. At least twice per week, you should email your buddies. You are to decide on a topic that interests you in your teaching (can be technology related or not). During the three week period, continue to email one another about this topic. Do a little bit of Web research as you go and try to add to your knowledge of this topic. In Week 3, you will share with the class what you have been discussing in your "Buddy Group." Click here to see a class list divided into "Buddy Groups." Everyone on the Buddy Group list should send an email today to get the conversation started! TASK 5: During this course, we will have the opportunity to join one another in real time for an online chat or two. Does this have application to the real-life classroom? Read Teresa Almeida d'Eca's excellent article, "The Use of Chat in EFL/ESL" which appeared in the June, 2003 edition of the TESL-EJ. Also check out this Sampling of Educational Chat and Discussion Board Sites.
	Additional Information/Resources: The One Computer Classroom Dilemma: "But I don't have regular access to a computer lab!" is a frequent lament of teachers. Here are resources to give you ideas for the one-computer classroom. Eduscapes (Annette Lamb) has compiled an excellent page with ideas, articles, and strategies for making the best use of the one computer classroom. Want more? Go to Google and do a search for suggestions "one computer classroom" (use quotes around "one computer classroom" to force a search for that exact phrase). "But I haven't used computers very much in my teaching. I just can't imagine ways to use computers in my subject area!" Have a look at these very innovative, yet practical ways that teachers are using computers to enrich teaching of language arts, science, math, social studies, physical education and more! (some use the Internet and others use desktop software). "What if I create assignments or tests for my students to comlete online--isn't cheating a problem? There are certainly security concerns, but there is much a teacher can do to minimize the risks of cheating. Discussion Lists help educators keep their finger on the pulse of developments in the profession. ESL/EFL teachers may want to subscribe to popular discussion lists such as TESL-L, TESLCA-L (sub list dealing with computer-assisted teaching/learning), Neteach-L, etc. Of interest to ESL/EFL and content area teachers is K-12 Education Discussion Lists from Andy Carvin's EdWeb-Home Room (itself an excellent resource). General instructions for subscribing to mailing lists are provided. Some of these lists generate over 50 messages per day so signing up in "Digest" mode is a great idea. You'll receive only one daily message containing all the postings for the day. Blogs - What are these "blogs" I've heard about? How are they different than our Discussion Page? Blog, short for "Web Log," refers to a list of journal entries posted on a Web page, and can take several forms: a personal blog, a tutor's blog, a learner's blog, or a class blog. Here's a tutorial for building a blog using Blogger at Blog.com. Here's a journal article describing the educational use of blogs and pointing out some differences between Web-based bulletin boards and blogs. Here's my brief Blog (Michael's Musings). Videoconferencing - I've also heard that videoconferencing is now possible and has practical uses in English language learning. This is true--with a decent Internet connection, a Web camera, and free videoconferencing software such as Skype, the possibilities are many. Here is a good resource page discussing videoconferencing options in general and English teaching online with Skype in particular.