c.
Selecting ICT Resources
The
teacher in the case study is completely at home with the skills
behind most of the options we have looked at above. She has used
videos, she already has some word processed materials, and she
has seen some good French sites on the World Wide Web.
You
may not be in the same positions as she is, so we shall look at
the options in the context of your school and your experience.
Think about the following points as they apply to you:
Using
the text only, and not using any ICT (or other technology) at
all.
Using a textbook only, (such as 'Encore Tricolore' for example)
is the most usual way of dealing with the topic. It is clearly
laid out and presents some challenging and authentic material.
However, the World Wide Web also contains a wealth of material
that can equally be challenging.
Using
a word processor package to create worksheets on the topic, placing
some images into the worksheets.
Here the question is one of how much the pupils will learn, retain
and organise if the teacher spends her time on creating learning
and testing resources using a word processor, and how much they
would have done so anyway. She could for example use a work sheet
including pictures to explain the modal verb and therefore would
encourage the exclusive use of the target language. This presents
the extra advantage that she will be able to re-use and adapt
those resources.
Using
some video.
This isn't strictly an ICT option, but it would be if it were
done in conjunction with the word processed worksheets or some
work on the World Wide Web. The best thing about it is that looking
at video provides a range of stimuli to the learner - especially
our younger learners with high levels of 'teleliteracy'.
Using
the World Wide Web to gather resources.
The following web addresses provide interesting resources to the
topic we are interested in.
www.timeplan.com/vtc/langfren.htm
It is also known as the Virtual Teacher's Centre and contains
a number of links to be used by Modern Languages Teachers.
www.eduweb.co.uk/harberg/index.htm
This site will provide you with grammar exercises on the present
tense, vocabulary building exercises (flashcards, crosswords)
and questions with suggested answers.
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/weavers/subjectareas/
languages/french/exers.htm
This site provides a range of exercises targeted at different
year group. Some of the exercises are based on grammar and some
on topic areas.
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~thecroft
This site provides you with a list of exercises and worksheets
related to some of the GCSE topics.
www.puzzlemaker.com
This site allows you to create your own word puzzles. You can
for example create a word search on 'Daily Routine'.
Using
E-mail and Video Conferencing.
The obvious problem here is to find an institution, which has
the necessary facilities. The French Consulate can help you with
this:
www.francealacarte.org.uk
Now
that you've looked at my ideas about the options available, you
need to make your own choices. The teacher in the case study has
decided to use all options, and to combine two or more in particular
sessions over a five-lesson period. You need to plan to do something
of this sort. On the next page, make a copy and fill out the summary
to help you get focus on what you will do. Think of some uses
of your own, and make a short note on what you will have to do
to make it work, what you expect the benefit to be to your pupils,
and what difficulties you expect to encounter when you do it in
the classroom.
Resources
Selected for Work on the Topic of Daily Routine
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