Developing Computer-based Learning Activities for Literacy Students

Mary Mingle - mingles@sunlink.net

Develop a Lesson Plan for an adult literacy student that integrates the Internet into the lesson.

Lesson Theme: Using the Internet to Explore Your Area

Basic Life Skills: Local Community Services That Can Help You

Level: Adult Literacy Student / Life Skills Emphasis

Valuable for Students New to an Area

Pre-Instruction: Introduction to the Internet/Basic Internet Use/ How to Use Search Engines

(This lesson plan could be useful in reinforcing instruction on Internet use.)

Objectives: The student will . . .

· familiarize herself with the use of the Internet to search for information relevant to her needs.

· locate community services in her area that will benefit her and her family.

· reinforce advances in reading and writing skills by using the information on the Internet to

learn more about her area.

Procedures:

The instructor and student will explore in general the kinds of services available in many communities (i.e., schools, hospitals and clinics, public transportation, libraries, shopping centers, courthouse, etc.).

The student will prepare a list of community services she wishes to explore further. Not all services may be available in her area, but she will use the Internet to determine this.

Using an Internet search engine, the student will locate the Web site for a local chamber of commerce, hospital, library, visitor’s bureau, etc.

For each community organization the student will collect the following information – name of organization, address, telephone, E-Mail address if applicable; type of services offered. The student could prepare this list using a Word Processing application.

For service in the area not located in the student’s city, the student will use MapQuest on the Internet (http://www.mapquest.com) to determine how many miles she would need to travel to get to the service.

The student will list any service not available in the area and choose one and write a two paragraph essay on why the service is important and why it should be available in her area.

For Additional Study:

The student could develop a brochure listing community services, addresses, hours and a description of the services available.

Evaluation:

The instructor will review the following:

· The student’s list of community services she plans to explore.

· The student’s list of community service information.

· The student’s mileage to out of town services compared to MapQuest information.

· The student’s list of community services not available in the area.

· The student’s essay explaining the importance of the unavailable service and an argument as to why it should be available in her area.

· Additional Study: Brochure.