The "English Online Lesson" deals with a problem that confronts every transnational project in the area of furtherance for the disadvantaged : The lack of ability of many youths to make themselves understood in a language other than their own native language .
One must take into account that the target group being disadvantaged youths have a negative approach to learning through their generally broken scholastic carrers . Learning is taken as a performance of duty , an unfortunately continued practice in government schools , rather than that of a lively , cultural enrichment . Thus resulted in the three main aims that we associate with the "English Online Lesson" :
1. The conveyance of basic skills in and around the english language
2. The breakdown of socially produced learning barriers
3. The development of effective learning methods for the transnational co-operative
The transnational partners aquire apart from the respective native language , a mutually chosen basic vocabulary as well as the corresponding idiomatic expression . This material is worked through in small groups both orally and in writing . The european partners meet weekly online during which the youths may demonstrate their newly gained knowledge . To prevent this application becoming simply a dry aquisition of speech , it is connected to a youth orientated project in which the european partners can mutually experience and swap their cultural identities (Radio Salite, World Tune, Loop-magazine, media and environmental projects )
The technical realisation of the online-meeting requires that each european partner classroom is equipped with a computer that is connected to the internet through a modem . The online communication takes place in the form of a "Chat" over an IRC-server which offers comfortable , easy to survey possibilities to communicate in a transnational situation by keyboard . This server can also be used to send small graphic or sound data directly to any connected partner . Results of "Chats" are to be stored on interactive "black boards" on the World Wide Web and can be viewed by all transnational partners . The control of the interactive online elements is made easier through intuitive user guidance so that computer novices are also able to use the "English Online Lesson" system .
Learning-Arrangements
The realisation of the "English Online Lesson" (EOL) normally extends over a period of six to eight weeks . The size of the classes in one land must be in principal the same size as in the partner land so that every student has a partner . The basic setting of the EOL is six students and a teacher with access to a computer (including a peripheral device) . When the EOL takes place in a class of thirty students then this class would be split into five groups of six students (and five computers with internet access would be required ) . Within the course curiculum include weekly two ninety minute learning sessions . In the first session (the preparation meeting) the online communication between transnational partners is prepared . In the second session (the online meeting) the transnational teams meet online and discuss their individual themes in english by keyboard ie "Chat" . Each student is exactly ten minutes on the computer during a session . The most time is spent preparing before and after communication work within the local group .At the end of the respective local group work begins a mutually defined product in which each transnational team work on through weeks six to eight of the course eg.a newspaper article about Techno drugs , a collage to the theme of tattoos , a radio jingle etc . To make the students of the transnational production process responsible for their part each receive a collection of worksheets which are to be completed with results and plans of action to keep the projects clearly defined . There will be a worksheet for the definition of the mutual product as well as a worksheet for notes on the "ìnteractive blackboard" and a worksheet to help plan out the "Chat" sessions .
Online-Module
For the online communication each group of students are given a VCT-channel (Virtual Communication Terminal) that can be reached under the following internet-address :
These modules are now available :
1. The "interactive blackboards" that can be written on , erased and have pictures hung on them by both partners online .
2. The "student`s page" on which details and fotos form stundents can be seen .
3. The "dictionary" which is created by student input during the course and has the function of pronouncing english words .
4.The "chat"module which makes the realtime communication over a IRC-channel possible .
Introduction-Seminares
For interested teachers all over Europe the Gessellschaft für Informationstechnologie und Pädagogik offers three day introduction seminares at various intervals in which
the local "learning-organisation " and other implications reguarding installation and cofiguration of the online computer are covered
details: Examples/World Tune
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