Teaching Websites

Today, the students each came to the front of the class, where the computer was, and showed on the data projector their chosen English site. The students learnt how to explain where to go, how this site would help them with their English study and what they thought of it. As a default the students could say that even though they had accessed this site, it was quite difficult. Sometimes the links on the site wouldn't open and/or wouldn't display what the student wanted to show. The task that the students did illustrated that they have the opportunity to manage their own learning as well as share it with others in the class. They also became confident at moving around on the web, which will hopefully, make them more proficient at accessing similar sites and feeds later on in the programme.

The students also set up their PIN for their library account, which now means that they can access their details via the internet. I got a few students to show me their accounts on the data projector, which again provided specific hooks into how to utilise the computer - in English. The students weren't use to doing any of this in English, but I think that it provided them with a slow introduction into getting use to developing their interactive English skills. The vocabulary that emerged from doing this simple task focused on such terminology as: scroll up/down, click here, due date, tab, login/out, etc. A very valuable first lesson, which I intend to build upon.