There are programs which you can obtain from various
sources, including CLC, which can be very useful in your lessons. If you wish to use a computer during your
lesson, the computers at CLC are available, and you can use computers at the
Main branch of the library. The rules
for their use are:
1) Microsoft
Word is installed on their computers. In
order to use MS Word there you need to make an appointment. The tutor and student can work on the same
computer at the same time, but the library won’t provide any instructions. Lessons can be as simple as writing basic
information, or complicated as writing the President. Tutors and/or tutor-student pairs may receive
lessons from the CLC Media Center Coordinator at CLC.
Call the Main branch of the library at 645-2794 to make an
appointment for their use.
If you and your learner have access to computers at home
that have the same software, you can set up exercises for them to do as
homework. Programs such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Works frequently come
bundled with a computer, and don’t forget that Notepad and Wordpad
are relatively ubiquitous.
A book called “Keystrokes
to Literacy” is available from CLC.
It has exercises that can be performed using a simple text editor. To enable the student to bring in his/her
homework, one of the first homework exercises may be learning how to use the
printer.
Microsoft’s Excel, or another spreadsheet program such as
the one in Microsoft Works, can be used to teach math. While it may be a little daunting at first,
and you may not use more than 1% of the program’s capability, if your student
can handle it you will be teaching them a skill which may be helpful on the
job. Another program that is on all computers
running Windows is Calculator, which is another great tool for assisting in
learning math.
Another possibility is software on the Internet, or
elsewhere, that can be downloaded and used for free, or a nominal fee that is
acceptable to you and your student.
Because of the hazards from viruses, we do not suggest having your
student perform such downloads, nor you if you are not completely comfortable
doing so. Often such software is only
worth what you paid to obtain it (little, or nothing), so you must exercise
good judgement when introducing such materials in
your lessons.
CLC has a number of programs available for use on their
computers. These programs require a CD
or are loaded onto the computers. You
must use them here (or buy them). The
Media Coordinator welcomes your making appointments for you and/or your student
to use or learn how to use the CLC computers and software.
CLC
Annotated Software List
The Alphabet International
(Basic Literacy/ESOL)
The Alphabet
provides some good basic training in the areas of naming letters, matching
capital and lower case letters, and phonics.
The spelling drills combine pictures, text, and sound. The spelling programs have:
a)
text
which students can read while they type
b)
text
that they read and that disappears before the learner types
c)
some
letters missing
d)
no text- they can
hear the word and see the picture.
Citizenship Preparation (ESOL/Immigrants)
Citizenship is a
written and oral review of all 100 questions asked on the INS test for American
Citizenship. Citizenship may be used
exclusively as a practice program for people studying to become citizens.
Students practice speaking and compare their speech to the model voice. The
listening and oral response approach used by this program is very good practice
for the INS oral exam.
The program has two
parts, Practice Lessons and Quizzes. In the Practice section,
students see and hear written questions and answers. They may also record and
playback their own responses. In the Quiz section, the questions are identical
to those in the Practice section but no text appears. Students are only able to
hear the questions and answers. Students may also record and playback their own
responses.
Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia is a computer-based encyclopedia. It includes a great deal of information on a
number of topics. It presents sounds as
well as pictures and text to fully explain a topic.
Dollars & Cents (BL/ESOL)
This program is
simple, but allows for learning the names of coins, counting, and comparing
amounts. Learners “shop” and “pay” for
their goods—all in the program. Novice
math students can practice simple math.
Dollars & Cents
has three parts: First Money teaches
identification and value of coins and bills.
Spending Money is a shopping
trip in the “Money Mall” which has eight different stores. In Making
Change, you become a cashier, responsible for the cash transactions of a
store.
English Discoveries (ESOL/Basic
Literacy)
This is a thrilling, truly interactive, multimedia software for
long-term language learning. In 11 modules, from beginner to advanced levels,
students watch on-line video clips and read stories, articles, and
advertisements--all real life situations. They can record their own voices and
compare them to native English speakers', listen to and take part in
interactive conversations, and "visit" English-speaking cities
through exciting tours and games. Its user-controlled interactive environment
suits all learning styles, with choice of an open-ended approach, structured
lessons, or a challenging, experiential game.
Language Tune-Up Kit (Basic
Literacy/ESOL)
This is a reading
program. The students speak into the
microphone and record their voice. The
students compare their voice to the computer voice to determine if they sound
alike. There is also a phonetic discrimination test using minimal pairs.
Learning Styles Inventory
(Basic Literacy/ESOL)
Using the Learning Styles Inventory, you can
quickly assess how your students learn best--visually, auditorially,
kinesthetically, etc. -- and know how to teach your students effectively!
Learners answer 45 easy-to-read statements (based on Dunn and Dunn) related to
nine learning style sub-areas. Item Example: "I learn better by reading
than listening." The responses are tabulated automatically. A graph is
then created, illustrating the student's learning
style preferences. The program also generates instructional strategies that are
most effective with each learner. Additionally, the program provides a
composite graph of the entire class' learning styles, and a teaching styles
inventory.
Math for Everyday Living (Basic
Literacy/ESOL)
This tutorial and practice
program focuses on math skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division in a real life context of money and pricing. The automatic management
system tracks student progress and scores. The program provides an on-line
calculator.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
(Basic Literacy/ESOL)
Do you need to
acquire basic typing skills to use the personal computer (PC)? Do you need to
improve your keyboarding speed and accuracy? If so, Mavis Beacon Teaches
Typing! may be just the answer. Whether you are a
beginner, intermediate, or advanced typist, this interactive tutorial will help
you to build your typing skills through self-paced practice, using key lessons,
drills, tests, and games. Very little
literacy skill is needed.
Money Smart (BL/ESOL)
This program teaches
the basics of personal finance. Topics
covered include the following: an introduction to bank services, an
introduction to credit, how to choose and keep a checking account, how to keep
track of your money, why you should save, your rights as a consumer, how your
credit history will affect your credit future, how to make a credit card work
for you, and what home ownership is all about.
A tutor could use this program to teach personal finance, and the program
can provide topics of conversation. This
program assumes an ability to understand spoken English, so ESOL learners might
need help.
New
The New Oxford Picture Dictionary Interactive
has over 2,400 written and spoken vocabulary entries divided into 82 topics and
grouped around 13 basic themes. Themes include topics such as community, food,
plants, and animals. NOPD is interactive, encouraging students to match
pictures with vocabulary words, play audio clips, and record their own
pronunciation. There are many activities like "Memory Game,"
"Crossword Puzzle," and "Read, Listen, & Speak."
The Oxford Picture
Dictionary (OPD) is similar to the NOPD, in that both display pictures of
objects or situations and teach the learner the new vocabulary words. OPD has an “activity” selection that allows
the learners to practice using these new words.
PC 100 Basic Skills, PC 110
Files and Folders, PC 125 The Internet, PC 140 Basic
Word Processing, and PC 141 Intermediate Word Processing (BL/Intermediate ESOL)
This series of
programs provide instruction on the basics of computers. PC100 can teach you how to use the
mouse. Lessons also teach you the skills
required for working with the common elements of computer programs. Interactive exercises let you practice, hands
on, the skills that you are taught. The other programs cover more aspects of
computers. This series relies on spoken
English.
Phonics Alive! (Basic
Literacy/ESOL)
Phonics Alive! consists of 20
separate modules, each introducing a cluster of sounds presented as beginning,
medial and ending sounds. The program introduces all single sounds of the
alphabet, and sound blends. All instructions are presented orally with no
reading ability required. The program contains over 1200 pictures introduced to
extend the student's vocabulary. Each module then takes the student through a
number of interactive levels requiring responses via the keyboard, as well as
"clicking" and "dragging" pictures using the mouse. The
program is self-paced in that students can work through each level within a
module at their own speed.
Phonics Alive! 2 - The Sound
Blender (Basic Literacy/ESOL)
The Sound Blender is a new and innovative literacy program teaching
students the essential skills and phonologic knowledge of blending sounds. All
forms of digraphs, diphthongs, silent letters and suffixes are explored and
explained, e.g. ch, sh, een, kn,
ar, aw, au, ith, wr, et and many more. The Sound Blender introduces and
consolidates advanced decoding skills to assist students to recognize and
decode previously unknown words.
The Sound Blender is
a sequenced package that allows the student to work at his/her own pace. It
consists of 12 modules. Each module will take an average student approximately
15 minutes to complete. It is self paced and highly interactive. Each module
contains Introduction, Rhyming Exercises, Blending Exercises and a Keyboard
Exercise to enable students to develop a fast paced blending process. In
Phonics Alive! 1, students were introduced to the sounds of letters in the
alphabet. These sounds were taught as beginning, medial and ending sounds. Now
the Sound Blender takes the next step!
Phonics Alive! 3 - The Speller
(Basic Literacy/ESOL)
Phonics Alive! 3, The Speller teaches students to plan how to
spell new and unfamiliar words. Traditional Spelling Rules are explained and
actively taught, followed by practice activities. Sight Words are taught and
practice games ensure that learning is fun. To best suit individual needs,
students are able to choose from a variety of sight words (general lists,
community signs, science words, mathematics words, or compound words). Students
will advance their understanding of the grapho-phonic
nature of our language and of the complicated alphabetic mapping system of
English. The program consists of 15 modules. It is self-paced and sequential.
Print Master
This program is a
common clip art program with templates (patterns) for all kinds of greeting
cards and business cards. Many learners
enjoy creating their own greeting and business cards. This program could be
used to inspire a learner to use a computer since it is easy to use. Print Master is not a language instruction
program.
Reading S.O.S –Strategies for
Older Students
Reading SOS is an interactive learning system appropriate
for learners of all levels. Upon logging
in for the first time, a learner can select from five levels of the program,
depending on how difficult or easy the material needs to be.
The Rosetta Stone
Language Library (ESOL/Basic Literacy)
The Rosetta Stone Language Library is a multimedia
software that reinforces the student's natural language learning ability by
directly associating new or difficult words with familiar objects and ideas.
Thousands of carefully selected pictures convey the meaning; native speakers
say the words with or without text. The student responds and the computer gives
instantaneous feedback, confirming the comprehension that has taken place. It
has a carefully sequenced structure in which words build to phrases, sentences
and dialogs.
Side By Side Interactive (ESOL)
Side by Side Interactive is a new multimedia CD-ROM program featuring
dynamic interactive video skills practice, lifeskills/civics
activities, games, cartoons, and check-up tests. Students control their own
learning through the program's easy-to-use navigation tools, powerful
listening/speaking/recording functions, and wide range of activities.
Triple Play Plus! (ESOL)
This program
introduces new vocabulary and works with listening comprehension. Students can
record and playback their own responses.
Ultimate Phonics (Basic
Literacy/ESOL)
Ultimate Phonics is an interactive, easy to use and
self-teaching reading program that consists of 262 lessons, covering the major
phonics sounds and rules. The lessons introduce and "sound out" over
4400 of the most common words in the English language. In addition, the lessons
contain over 2000 sentences made up entirely of words from this core
vocabulary. Each lesson builds upon the material introduced in preceding
lessons. There are six types of lesson pages: Idea, Pattern, Sight Word, Word
List, Word and Sentence.
An Idea page tells you about a phonics idea or concept. For example,
the idea of a syllable would be explained. A Pattern page tells you about a
letter pattern that represents a sound such as th, ee, and tion. The Sight Word page introduces a common word
that does not follow the standard phonics rules.
Write: OutLoud
(Basic Literacy/ESOL)
"Write: OutLoud" is an easy-to-use yet powerful talking word
processor with a talking spell checker. It speaks while students write,
highlighting word by word or sentence by sentence to provide a direct
correlation between spoken and written words. It imports graphics to support
students' writing. Talking Franklin® Spell Checker, Dictionary and Homonym
Checker are included for selecting and using the right words.