Dr. David A. Manzo, Adult Literacy Department, Northampton Community College
FIVE HOURS OF COMPUTER BASED INSTRUCTION
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: A SOCIAL STUDIES LESSON FOR THE GED STUDENT.
The lesson has two goals. The first goal, is to help the student prepare for the written essay of the GED test. The second goal is to familiarize the student with the computer by teaching skills such as keyboarding and word processing skills, and Internet skills. The subject matter that will be used to achieve these goals is the American Civil War.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Using at least 3 references, from the bibliography provided, the student will describe in a three paragraph essay some aspect of everyday life of the civil war-era citizen. The student will write this essay using a word processing program.
2. Using a computer with Internet access, the student will create a list of 5 URLs that are relevant to the topic selected for his/her 3 paragraph essay.
3. Working in small teams, the students will search the Internet for answers to a list of questions that was provided to them and write the answers on a sheet of paper.
PROCEDURES:
1. Introduce the topic to be covered, and the means by which the students will be expected to complete the assignments. This will be presented in lecture format.
2. Provide the students with handouts of: a. computer and Internet terminology relevant to the lesson, b. bibliographical information.
3. Have the students sit at the computers. The instructor will walk around the class to answer questions.
4. The instructor’s monitor should be elevated and facing the students. This will permit the students to see examples of the actual screen that is intended to be reached.
5. Using some kind of visual presentation (e.g.; overhead transparencies, Power Point,) the instructor will show the students examples of the questions about the civil war that they will be expected to answer, and how those answers can be located using the computer.
6. The instructor will provide the students with a set of questions, related to the civil war, that can be answered using the bibliographic information provided to them.
7. Have students work in small teams, while searching for the answers to the set of questions. Friendly competition can even be set up to encourage participation.
8. Review the answers in class. Expand on the answers to enlarge the scope of learning.
9. Explain how to use the word processing program of the computer. Use some kind of visual presentation to illustrate the use of the word processing program features.
10. Explain to the students how you would like the essay completed, and when it will be due.
EVALUATION:
Evaluation is based on achievement of the learning objectives:
1. A three paragraph essay prepared using a word processing program
2. A list of 5 URLs sites
3. A list of answers to the questions
BIBLIOGRAPHY/MATERIALS
The Civil War Empire Interactive, Empire Software, New York, NY, 1995.
This CD allows the student to explore the military, economic, political, and geographic history of the civil war. The student can also correspond with other students about this software via a modem.
Canandiagua. http://www.canandiagua.k12.ny.us/academy/library/us_hist/civil_war.htm
This web-site is a 4-star Magellan site that includes: letter, diaries, documents, re-enactments, and state projects related to the civil war.
Masur, Louis P. The Real Civil War Will Never Get In The Books. Oxford University Press. New York, NY, 1993.
This book is a compilation of civil war-era writers such as: Frederick Douglas, Louisa May Alcott, Herman Melville, Charlotte Forten, and Walt Whitman. It includes letters, essays, and excerpts from diaries.
McDonald, John. Great Battles of the Civil War. MacMillan Publishing Company. New York, NY. 1988.
The book presents 3-dimensional computer-generated contour maps of battle topography. It includes anecdotes and eyewitness accounts about the terrain and weather.
National Civil War Association. http://ncwa.org
This site has links to other civil war sites.
Ohio Volunteer 6th Infantry. http://zippy.intcom.net/~tomt/6ovihome.htm
This site discussses topics relevant to this regiment’s involvement in the civil war
Valley of the Shadow Project. http://russell.gresham.k12.or.us/civilwar.html
This site discusses the everyday life of Staunton VA. and Chambersburg PA, during the civil war. National Endowment for the Humanities project, directed by the University of Virginia.
Ward, G.C; Burns, K.; Burns, R. The Civil War. Alfred A. Knopf . New York, NY. 1993.
The book presents a view of the civil war that is more than just about the war. It presents the story of American people: rich and poor, northerner and southerner, urban and rural, individuals and families.
Http://www.erols.com/kfraser/
This site is concerned with music of the civil war, both southern and northern.