Computers in Action
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Printing

Deadline

Language Objectives:
Writing, discussion
  
Computer Objectives:

 Printing
Language Level:

 Beginner to intermediate
Time:

 One-half hour
Computer Prerequisite:

 Keyboarding

Preparation:

Prepare a short story that students can read and see the aspects of language that you wish to stress. You might decide to include some errors in order to go over the points on which you want your students to concentrate. An example might be that they will need to incorporate in each of the stories information about who, when, where, what, and how.
Put the document on each student's computer so they can work on it. You may want to develop a form that students can use to guide them as they correct the story.

Place the document on each students' computer. For instructions how to do this, click here.

If students don't know how to open a document, you may want to do that for them in advance on their computers.


Activity
  • Show students ways to print what you wrote by using either the: File menu or the toolbar button.
  • Ask students to check the story for the aspects you want them to concentrate on, such as who, when, where, etc., and make corrections. Tell them that quality is important and they need to make sure that they include the above; nevertheless, speed and efficiency will count more. With this activity, they should concentrate on communicating the message and not on the grammar or spelling.
  • Have students work in pairs to improve the story.
  • As the products come out of the printer, tape them in order on the wall.
  • Then deliver a different story to each pair so that the students can be "editors" of other students' work. In this case, students should not edit for spelling or grammar, only for content and clarity.
  • Each pair then gives a report on questions that they have about the story and how to write the story with more clarity.
  • Writers then make changes to their stories.

Variations:
  • Students produce a flyer for an event or topic of interest.
  • After teacher reads a story, students guess to whom it belongs.
  • Students create a story in pieces, each pair printing one part. For example, one prints the who, another prints the where, another prints what happened, another prints when, etc. Then put the pieces together.

YOUR ideas!
Click here for a variation for more advanced students.
From Michael Paine in Bahrain.(mjpaine@hotmail.com)
E-mail us YOUR ideas or submit a form and we will add them as a Variation.

 

CESOL || NELRC

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