Class/Level:ABE

Topic: American Culture

Computer Time: One hour

Objectives:

To access a Web site and read its contents

To participate in a chat group

To write a summary

To review the entire contents of a Web site and use prior knowledge of a soap opera to compose a character and plot summary

To give a presentation based on written work

Web Site:

All My Children

http://www.amcpages.com/

Background:

I have written this lesson for a student in an Adult Basic Education setting. She avoids reading and writing because of learning disabilities. However, she enjoys using the Internet and she likes soap operas (especially All My Children).

Steps for Learners (a description of the process)

The student and a tutor will first discuss the Web and the definitions of various computer terms, including: downloading Web sites; URLs; and chat rooms. They will then review start-up procedures at the computer terminal. The student will access the Web site (with the tutor available to answer any questions) and study its contents.

She will choose a chat group and engage in discussion about the show. The tutor will be available to assist her as she logs off and properly shuts down the computer. Finally, she will summarize the show's plot lines and characters, using both prior knowledge and new material. This written work will then be used for a brief (10 min.) class presentation, followed by a question and answer period.

Follow-up

Evaluation

Student will be assessed primarily in terms of completing the entire assignment. The essential piece of this lesson is the written summary. The most important aspect of her presentation will be her comfort level (which will hopefully increase as a result of this experience).