Mary Lou Friedline, PIC of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc., Greensburg
USING TECHNOLOGY
FOR RESEARCH AND ESSAY PREPARATION
LEARNING LEVEL ABE/GED
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
Booting up a computer
Using a mouse
Basic keyboard knowledge
Using word processing software including using Shift, Back Space, Enter, Insert, Delete
TIME NEEDED FOR ACTIVITY
Five 2-hour lessons
M ATERIALS NEEDED
Television and VCR
Video on the Internet
Computer with World Wide Web access
Computer with word processing software
Computer printer
Copies of Internet 101
Found at: http://www2.famvid.com/i101/teacher.html
Copies of Internet vocabulary
Found at: http://hills.ccsf.cc.ca.us:9878/~title3/materials/orient_students/sm_vocab.htm
Handout of how to use keywords
World Wide Web Yellow Pages
Daily newspaper
Pencil or pen
Whiteboard/markers or chalkboard/chalk
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing these lessons, students will be able to do the following:
Know something about the history of the Internet
Understand the organization of the Internet
Recognize and use Internet addresses
Connect to the Internet
Understand the organization of the World Wide Web
Move among Web pages and hypertext links
Use search engines
Use URLs
Search efficiently using keywords
Compose and type a GED essay on technology
PROCEDURES
Lesson 1 Provide a brief lecture on the history of the Internet.
Explain the system requirements for Internet connection.
Watch a 45-minute video called Using the Internet.
Provide an Internet vocabulary list.
Lesson 2 Student will boot up the computer and connect to the Internet.
Student will rewatch the video while seated at the computer.
Student will browse the Web using the video exercises.
Student will connect to a site for a drill and tutorial on vocabulary
http://seraphim.csee.usf.edu/majchrzak/personal/web-vocab/WebVocab.html
Student will disconnect from the Internet.
Provide copies of Internet 101 to be read before the next class.
Lesson 3 Student will boot up the computer and connect to the Internet.
Student will connect to a site for used car information http://www.edmunds.com
Student will click the appropriate hypertext to find information on used cars.
Student will choose a newspaper ad for used cars and compare the dealer’s price to the Edmund’s listing.
Student will choose two additional vehicles to compare to the site information.
Student will print the price information for the three searches.
Lesson 4 Student will boot up the computer and connect to the Internet.
Provide a handout explaining Boolean to narrow searches.
List suggestions on the board for related car topics to search.
Student will connect to Yahoo and use Boolean techniques to search for a related topic from the board list.
Student will print information for two selected topics using at least two sources.
Student will provide two site addresses for a classroom directory.
Lesson 5 Student will read and brainstorm a sample GED question.
Instructor will list brainstorming responses on the board.
Student will write a five-paragraph essay in GED format using word processing.
Student will use the grammar and spelling features to proofread the essay.
Student will print the essay.
Sample GED Essay Question
Computer technology is a major force in our lives especially in the areas of education, employment, and medicine. Computers dominate our conversations, force us to educate ourselves for employment opportunities, and link us to millions of accessible resources for information.
In an essay of approximately 200 words, state the positive and negative effects that the computer has on our society. Be specific and give examples to support your views.
EVALUATION
Student will connect to sites given and participate in on-screen activities.
Student will connect to sites given and provide copies of assignments.
Student will compute the difference in price between the newspaper ad and the
Edmund’s listing.
Student will list additional information needed in order to compare and contrast the dealer’s advertised price to the information in the Edmund’s site.
Student will write an essay in GED format.
Student will provide a completed, checked, and printed copy of the essay.