otanwebbasedactivites2010

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 * Web-based Activities on OTAN Web site **

As the new school year begins, you may be looking for some new strategies and content to add to your teaching toolkit. OTAN’s Web-based Class Activities is where you can find links to fun and informative Web sites offering activities and online tools to help you supplement and enhance your classroom instruction. Every month our resident expert, Kristi Reyes from MiraCosta Community College, explores, reviews, and describes Web sites and services that are highly interactive and adaptable for creating meaningful projects for adult learners.

In the September 2010 issue of Web-based Class Activities, Krist argues for effective use of online video to engage students, provide timely connection to local and global events, increase student interest in course content, increase motivation and give learners a break from the norm.

Looking for ideas for writing or discussion topics? On the Web-based activities page you will find classroom activities based on the NPR radio series, This I Believe. These are short, 5-minute essays that are read by the author on a variety of topics related to what they believe about life. They are thought-provoking, and appropriate for ABE, ASE and higher levels of ESL. For example, in The Choice To Do It Over Again Daniel Flanagan talks about how the birth of his son inspired him to learn to read. He started with his son’s books, and is now a full-time college student, studying for a degree in sociology. The class activities contain links to several essays along with samples of classroom discussion and writing activities.

Other topics covered in this section of OTAN’s Web site include making video presentations with VoiceThread, creating photo projects like calendars, collages and posters with Big Huge Labs; and creating timelines online with Dippity.

The Web-based Class Activities page features the theme of the month, but at the bottom of the page, in the archives, you will find links to a wealth of ideas for other online activities appropriate for Health Literacy, ESL and Citizenship, Adult Basic Education and more

October 2010 topic is at http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=browse&catid=10722

Timeline
1:45 -1:50 – intro 1:50 - 2:15 – virtual guest - register for Kristi's Webinars 2:15 - 3:15 – explore and create 3:15 -3:15 – share
 * Builiding community and collaboration online - http://www.otan.us/training/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&catid=10830&cid=128&type=1
 * Simple Free Web tools to Use with Basic Literacy Students- http://www.otan.us/training/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&catid=10830&cid=125&type=1

Instructions
The cohort will be divided into 4 groups. Each group will explore a topic, pick one tool (if there are more available) and create a short project. Also, the group will develop a lesson plan appropriate for the project they create. In the last 30 minutes each group will have 5 minutes to showcase the project to the rest of the cohort.Each group will post the lesson plan and link to their project on the TIMAC wiki page.

Lesson Plan Sample

 * Example of a Lesson Plan using Dipity [[file:LessonPlanDipity.pdf]] created with [|Lesson Plan Builder]
 * Use this Sample Lesson Plan [[file:Lesson Plan for Web.doc]] to create yours. Fill out the highlighted areas first, and expand on it if you have time.

Groups
Michael Lewis Jesus Gonzales Susan Briggs || --group 2-- Sean Abajian Sharon Ram Ian Batstone || --group 3-- Frances Frazier Teresa Reen Michael Aaron || --group 4-- Leif Williams Michelle Dullea Laura Cifuentes || --group 5-- ||
 * --group 1--

Topics
http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=31650&recno=4499
 * Online Quizzes **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=31192&recno=4434
 * National Public Radio’s “This I Believe” **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=31331&recno=4454
 * Using VoiceThread for Instruction **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=32703&recno=4767&type=2
 * Piclits - Get Students Writing with Visuals **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=31509&recno=4485
 * Using Glogster With Your Students **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=32592&recno=4748
 * Career Exploration and Information Web sites **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=32434&recno=4725&type=2
 * Students and Learners Express Themselves With Cartoons **

http://www.otan.us/browse/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_ft&catid=32379&recno=4712&type=2
 * Sites for Creating Interactive and Printable Vocabulary Exercises**