LVA-Verizon Technology Project Resource Link #02-5 This issue contains some guidance on training volunteers to create authentic activities that integrate technology and instruction. One approach of interest is project-based learning. A second is WebQuests, extensively covered in previous issues but briefly noted here. We have also found a great opportunity to buy software at a discount. As always, there are Internet sites of interest. *** Authentic Activities *** As affiliates integrate technology and instruction, they confront the challenge of training volunteers. Many tutors feel comfortable guiding students in the use of �skill and drill� software. However, they may require more training and coaching to develop authentic activities using technology. One such approach is project-based learning. A second is a WebQuest. Here are some resources to help you point tutors in the right direction. They can easily serve as the basis for continuing education of volunteers. Project-based Learning Project-based learning involves carefully designed projects that require students to use literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving skills to address issues encountered in the world outside of tutoring. Their work culminates in a student-generated project that is of interest to participants. Research demonstrates that students become engaged and motivated, since they assume increasing responsibility for their own learning. Steps include identifying a project, assigning tasks, implementing the project, and evaluating it. The tutor serves as a guide, and students offer each other feedback. Because the selected project has relevance to students, it is a good way to teach technology. Affiliates have successfully integrated technology into instructional projects with adults at varying literacy levels. One example is students using Print Shop to develop a short book about their families. A second example is developing a recipe book with Word. The type of project and the amount of structure will vary with the interests and skills of students. Captured Wisdom (tm) One of the best resources for staff development is Captured Wisdom (tm) created by North Central Regional Technology Laboratory. The site offers examples of teachers using project-based learning in classrooms. Projects included an electronic field trip to Mars, a published report of a field trip to the Intrepid, and Home Countries, in which students share information about their countries of origin and include pictures from the Internet. Each project description includes a video of the teacher explaining the project. Text transcripts of the video are available. Additionally, there are answers to questions posed to the teacher about the project. Questions address project management, learning activities, assessment, etc. Sample questions for one project include: What are the goals of the project? What support do you provide? How much time do you spend on English literacy before beginning use of the computer? How could you adapt this for beginning students? www.ncrtec.org/pd/cw/adultlit.htm Project Leaders Project Leaders is a site under development. A project leader is someone who �integrates the Internet into the classroom by facilitating and/or leading his or her class through a project-based learning activity.� The site includes articles about project-based learning and examples of work by students who have completed projects. The latter may help tutors generate ideas. http://literacytech.worlded.org/nelrctech/projects/index.htm Welcome to WebQuests Project-based learning does not have to include technology. If it does, it can incorporate software, Web sites, e-mail or other tools. In contrast, WebQuests only use Web sites selected by tutors. Students spend time using information, not looking for it. A WebQuest is an �inquiry-oriented online tool for learning.� Students with more limited literacy skills may seek the answer to a few concrete problems or questions. Those with higher levels of skills may answer more open-ended questions. This site offers a complete review of WebQuests. Start at the Explanations tab, which includes an overview of the topic. Move on to Demonstrations, which offers concrete applications and examples. Proceed to key principles and a planning template. There are master lists of WebQuests on the Resources page, as well as staff development tools appropriate for teachers, tutors, and trainers. Channel 13, the PBS station in New York, sponsors the site. www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/month8/index.html findfirst.info Tutors often experience difficulty finding Web sites that offer information in simple English for students. A good resource is firstfind.info. This is a collection of sites that are easy to navigate and written in plain English. It is for low to intermediate students and is a project of the Westchester (NY) Library System. www.firstfind.info/default.html Virtual Visits Virtual visits are Web pages made from visitors' field trip photos, recordings and writings. They are created by students using computers, cameras, tape recorders and other technology. They represent the visitors' point of view and enable students who view them to acquire important information and experience which might not otherwise be available. Students may enjoy viewing these sites. For more advanced students, there are steps for creating their own visits. www2.wgbh.org/mbcweis/ltc/alri/vv.html *** Software Discounts *** There is a relatively new online software store for nonprofit organizations called DiscounTech. Maintained by TechSoup, the store has a variety of products at a discount. For example, Office XP recently retailed for $60. To purchase software, you must first register at the site. You will need your 501�3 and your EIN numbers. Before buying software, carefully read vendor restrictions, as well as requirements for additional licenses. Those of you interested in enhancing skills of staff may be interested in SkillsSoft. Through the DiscounTech site, this vendor offers approximately 80 hours of online training in Microsoft Office for $90. www.techsoup.org/DiscounTech/default.asp *** Internet Sites of Interest *** ICDL To design what it hopes will become the world's largest online collection of children's books, the University of Maryland at College Park has formed a partnership with the Internet Archive, an organization that promotes the creation of digital collections. The Web site currently has approximately 200 books from 27 different cultures. The goal is to have 10,000 titles from around the world by the time the five-year project reaches completion. The books appear as full-color images that viewers can flip through page by page. Currently, the site includes books in 15 different languages. Most of the books are in English, but selections are available in Spanish, Italian, and even Khmer. To access books, you will have to download a Java virtual machine. A few books are also only available in text format and will require Adobe Acrobat e-reader. Both are available at the site. www.icdlbooks.org Technology Planning with TechAtlas TechAtlas is a Web-based tool that you can use to guide technology planning. You will begin by assessing your current capacity and then receive recommendations on how to better implement technology to achieve your mission. This tool is generic to all nonprofit organizations. Built by NPower and TechRocks, it follows these steps: Envision how technology can work at your organization. Assess the current state of your technology. Prioritize the technology improvements recommended by TechAtlas. Act on your plans. TechAtlas will outline a timeline and action plan that you can edit and refine. In addition to being your action plan, this document may serve as supporting documentation for raising funds. www.techatlas.org/tools/ El Paso Health Literacy Collection This is a series of lesson plans and materials developed by El Paso Community College. Each lesson covers a specific topic such as diabetes or nutrition. Each lesson then follows the same Five Step-Model: discussion, reading, writing, group activity, and individual action. www.worlded.org/us/health/docs/elpaso/index.htm GED 2002 Teaching Strategies Do you want to learn more about the new GED? Steck-Vaughn has created a 16-hour online course to provide educators with key information, resources and teaching strategies. It includes an overview of the tests, the rationale for current changes, and a history and overview of GED 2002. Additionally, the course covers all five tests. Once you pay the fee, you will receive a user name and password. Work through a series of activities, which include samples, video clips, and printable worksheets. At the end of each unit, take a test to assess your understanding. Share questions and ideas with your peers through a chat room and electronic roundtables. The program also provides a list of sites offering more information, materials, and ideas for lesson plans. GED 2002 Teaching Strategies Online Course - Unlimited Access for 90 days $60 GED 2002 Teaching Strategies Online Course - Unlimited Access for 180 days $105 There is a new CD version for $130. www.steck-vaughn.com/c/@hQU4LMVWE6FIA/Pages/product.html?record@8761 Back to Resource Links