In this workshop, participants will begin to build their own simple class website to enhance ESOL instruction in both remote and blended classes. A class website allows for greater efficiency and creativity for teachers while also developing students' digital literacy and independent learning skills.
Please note: You will access this course via Blackboard. You cannot access the online course from the SABES website. You will receive a separate email from Joanne Harrington at Quinsigamond Community College one to two days before the course begins with instructions on how to access the Blackboard course and the Zoom session.
- ESOL and AE instructors who currently use or have thought about using a course website to facilitate effective and efficient virtual or blended instruction
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
In Part 1 of this three-part workshop, participants will see an example of how a simple, stand-alone website can provide the framework for a virtual classroom either on its own or as a complement to an in-person or Google classroom. They will begin to map out their own site by answering the questions:
- What resources/websites do my students need to be able to access easily and often for this class?
- What types of information do I want to share on my website?
- How do I want to organize the information?
- How can this class website enhance students' digital (media, information, and network) literacy?
Between sessions, participants will have the opportunity to begin building and editing their own sites, with or without a provided template. The presenter will be available to assist as needed, but we encourage participants to tinker and explore on their own as much as possible.
In Part 3, participants will be invited to share and discuss their draft websites during a virtual session. They will consider how to use their sites as a space to engage students with learning materials and connect them to independent study platforms. Finally, participants will explore not only how to use the website technology skills essential for immediate student success, but also how to foster students' use of technology to find, evaluate, create, organize, and share digital information.
Note: This session will focus primarily on why and how a class website can be used and less so on the specifics of web design. Google Sites will be used as the model platform.
Dates and times:
- Part 1 (virtual): Friday, October 1, 2021 10:00 am-11:30 am
- Part 2 (Independent work): Saturday, October 2- Thursday, October 14, 2021
- Part 3 (virtual): Friday, October 15, 2021, 10:00 am -11:30 am
Should Part 3 have a date included?]
- Describe three benefits to using a course website
- Create your own website map
- Build your own basic course website
- Identify the digital literacy and independent learning skills students can develop through using a course website
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
- If you plan to create a Google Site, it is necessary to have or create a Google Account
- Familiarity with Google Apps
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