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Session Two: How Are Existing Sites Useful?
Goal for Session Two: to become familiar with existing uses of the Internet. We will look at sites grouped together for many specific uses, as an effective reference tool for teachers seeking to Use the Internet.
-Give yourself a Guided Tour of this site by means of the following Workshop that uses the Putnam site. Presenter: Celian B. Putnam
e-mail: putnam@ea.pvt.k12.pa.us
Web site: http://www.ea.pvt.k12.pa.us/htm/programs/departments/modlang/putnam/putnam.htm
TITLE: Internet Units, Activities, Projects: A Cyber Tour of My Web Site for French, Spanish, German and Italian Classes K-12.
This Workshop is designed for a group. I ask participants to sit by specific FL groups, ideally one (two people) at each computer screen with modem. In one of our computer rooms with 18 computers, I divide the room into 4 sections, one area for each FL group (French, Spanish, German, Italian) so they might share and compare each segment of the Workshop. Teachers of other languages sit where comfortable.
BACKROUND
The vast technological resources of the Internet appeal to FL teachers and students throughout the world. FL teachers wishing to gain mastery of the Internet for use in their classrooms will benefit from a functional guide to the content of the Net. To help FL colleagues in French, Spanish, German and Italian, I have created a Web Page for each language, with clusters of language specific Web sites, general resources and teaching activities arranged around key themes. The purpose of this three hour Workshop is to offer new Internet users a hands-on guided tour of my Web Site. Participants will be grouped by language (French, Spanish, German, and Italian), with each language group arranged around one or more live Internet accessible stations. I will guide participants through the basic mechanics of Internet use as they log on, then will lead them in English on a guided tour of my Web page. Using either the French, Spanish, German or Italian Studies site which together compose the Putnam Web page, participants will simultaneously scroll their way, as directed, through the following:
1. overview of the major types of resources available on the Net (email, discussion groups, language-specific databases and interactive services);
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2. clusters of Web resources (the content of the Web) arranged thematically by language ( French, Spanish, German and Italian);
3. lists of Web-related units, activities and projects, to enhance Internet use at all levels in the FL classroom, from beginning to advanced levels.
Throughout the Tour, I will offer comments, insights and explanations, as appropriate. There will be scheduled "rest stops" for reactions and discussions along the Cybertour.
The Tour will respond to the following questions:
1. What types of resources for FL learning are available on the Internet? What has worked in today’s K-12 classrooms?
2. What are the basic mechanics and key terms I need to know and use on the Net?
3. What information is there on the Internet for specific classroom units and projects?
4. Which are useful for K-12 classes, Beginning to Advanced?
5.Which can be used without classroom access to the Internet?
6. What are examples of specific and open-ended activities and projects that you assign students who do electronic research in each topic?
Which units work better for students new to Internet research?7.What kinds of additional Internet databases do we need for our FL classes?
8. Which Internet sites focus on professional development and FL Teaching?
SESSION OUTLINE
A.Introduction:
B. Mechanics and key terms, while participants:
Log on to Putnam’s Web Page at http://www.ea.pvt.k12.pa.us/htm/programs/departments/modlang/putnam/putnam.htmpractice scrolling; making sense of URLs and browser symbols; see lists of search engines; learn to bookmark and save to a disk /hard drive.
REACTIONS AND DISCUSSION (20 minutes for this section)
click on then read Introduction to learn rationale for clustered sites.
REACTIONS AND DISCUSSION (10 minutes for this section)
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on Teaching Activities Using Newspapers and Headlines. Read quickly.
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on (language) Newspapers and Headlines. Scroll down to Headlines. If multiple computers available, have each person click on a different headline site.
REACTIONS AND DISCUSSION 15 minutes.
now return to Newspaper page and scroll the newspaper offerings for your FL. Pull up a different site than your neighbor to share observations. Find a site with Archives and investigate. Bookmark your favorites.
REACTIONS AND DISCUSSION (30 minutes for this section).
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on (language) Simulated Trips.
Scroll down slowly for an overview of the types of general and specific resources clustered here.
Click on one specific site, choosing one different from your neighbor, in case of multiple computers. Read entries. If unavailable, try another site.
Scroll up to General Maps, click on one or more sites.
Scroll to Backround Information: take time to check out the many important sites there, to make your trip exciting and realistic.
Click on Specific Lesson Plans for Trips: adapt for a different place, following suggestions.
REACTIONS AND DISCUSSION (30 minutes for this section).
Break (15 minutes) Leave your computer on.
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on Magazines.
Scroll down slowly for an overview of resources for your FL audience then click on a site. Find a resource with Archives and note the themes of articles. Bookmark your favorites.
Scroll down to locate cyberpress sources by young people in your FL. Find a Resource and list ways your classes could do similar activities. Discuss with your group.
REACTIONS AND DISCUSSION (15 minutes for this section)
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on (language) Language learning lessons.
Scroll down slowly for an overview of the types of general and specific sites;
Click on one specific site, choosing one different from your neighbor, in case of multiple computers. Read entries. If unavailable, try another site.
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on (language)Tests.
Scroll down slowly for an overview of the types of general and specific sites;
Click on one specific site, choosing one different from your neighbor, in case of multiple computers. Read entries for AP and SAT sites for FL then compare findings with your neighbor.
return to menu page of Putnam (your language) Page and click on (language)Food, Literature, Art and Visual Arts Projects
Scroll down slowly for an overview of the types of projects and Units suggested for each site.
Click on one specific site, choosing one different from your neighbor, in case of multiple computers. Learn about the site, think how it might fit with your classes and sugggest ways to adapt to each of your groups. Note the most interesting sites and compare your favorites and adaptations with your neighbor.
click back icon or return to Putnam (your language) and click on General Resources or resources for your Language.
Select a database or a site to investigate.
Now, go to A Language Professional's Guide to the WWW: and read articles on Searching the Net and sites of interest.
French teachers should read Utiliser Le World Wide Web dans la classe de français: all sections.
Bookmark what you find helpful in each article and share with your partners.
To help you identify and make thoughtful, effective use of technology, please go on to Session Three of this Online Course for a more in-depth look at email, Bulletin boards and Projects Using the Internet.
Go to Session Three
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Celi Putnam can be contacted at Celi Putnam