Webinar
www.usalearns.org
Presenter: Sherry Lehane
sherryfiaux@yahoo.com
Funded by RI Adult Education Professional
Development Center
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Today’s Objectives
• Give you an overview of the site in terms of
content, site objectives, resources, and
navigation.
• Show you how to create accounts and classes,
and assign and monitor work.
• Take a tour of the site and preview some of
the special features of each of the 3 courses.
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www.usalearns.org
• Free website designed to build English
language skills
• Funded by Dept. of Education
• Interactive Web-based video system
• 3 courses: designed for beginning to high
intermediate levels
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Technical Requirements
• Fast broadband Internet connection
• Web browser i.e. Internet Explorer or Mozilla
Firefox with flash plug in i.e. Adobe Flash
• Speaker or headphones
• Microphone: optional, but helpful
• Mouse/touchpad
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Computer Skills Needed
• Able to use mouse or touchpad to click and
scroll
• Basic keyboard knowledge
• Able to use web browser to locate and open a
website
• Navigate a website: open and close links and
web pages
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3 urls
1. www.usalearns.org
For independent learners not enrolled in a class or working with
a tutor or teacher
2. www.usalearns.org/class
For learners who are enrolled in a class on this website and who
are working with a teacher or tutor
3. www.usalearns.org/teacher
For teachers to set up classes, assign and monitor student work;
links for resources
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www.usalearns.org
homepage
Independent Learner
site
• Intended for
students who
are learning
independently of
a teacher or
tutor and not
enrolled in a
class.
Pros and Cons
Advantages:
• Easy and quick to get started
• Assessment for self-placement
• Minimal computer skills required;
otherwise no guidance needed
Disadvantages:
• Not possible to get feedback
on writing b/c not enrolled in
a class
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www.usalearns.org
homepage
Independent Learners
• Two ways to use:
1. Sign in and create
an account
__________________
2. Don’t create an
account; click on start
now
Pros and Cons
Advantage: learner continues where he
left off.
Disadvantage: learner is not enrolled in
class; teacher cannot monitor work.
__________________________________
Advantage: quick and easy to get started
and experiment
• Otherwise, not recommended
Disadvantage: learner cannot save work
and must restart from first activity each
time; thus, no continuity!!
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Steps to Start
1. Create a teacher account
2. Create class/classes
3. Create a student account for yourself so you
can preview content, experiment with the
website, and look at activities before assigning
them.
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www.usalearns.org/teacher
Teacher Management Site
Access
Click teacher registration
from www.usalearns.org
or
go directly to teacher log
on page by typing in
www.usalearns.org/teacher
Create and manage classes:
• Create classes
• Assign courses
• Monitor student work and run
reports
• Manage classes
• Access resources
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www.usalearns.org/teacher
www.usalearns.org/teacher
landing page
• Create a class
You will need:
1. Class name
2. class password
3. Some basic info
• Suggestion: give students an
instruction sheet with :
1. web address
2. class password
3. teacher’s last name
4. They will need: an email address,
and their own password
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Structure
• Units – thematically organized
• Lessons- skills topics (reading, listening,
writing, etc.)
• Activities – should follow order; they build on
one another
• (directions are in blue box at top of each pag)
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Content Components
• First English Course
• Features
• Survival English language
• Appropriate for low
beginners
• 20 video based units
• Further divided into
lessons, then activities
• Is sequential; best to do
in sequence
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Content Components (cont’d)
2nd English Course
• Not necessary to do
in sequence
Features
• Based on English for All video
series
• Focus on job and life skills
• Video series with 20 units each
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Content Components
3rd English Course
• Appropriate for
Intermediate to
high intermediate
learners
Features
• No video
• 42 stories
• Practice English and reading with
a focus on vocabulary
development and reading
comprehension
• Topics stretch out of life skills
into science, technology,
government, nature, health and
safety, etc.
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Preview Activities
Details
Activity – Let’s Watch
• 1. video on which
the lessons are
based
•
Video puts targeted language in
context
• Can see text, but recommended to
read script after viewing video once
to work on listening comprehension
• Students should watch video many
times
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Preview Activities
Activity: Say It!
• Students listens and record
his own voice
Details
• Need a microphone
• Can do without it, just
speak aloud
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Preview Activities
Activity: Spell it!
• Students listen and
write
Details
•
•
•
•
Listening dictation
Capitals count
Spaces count
Punctuation counts and there is a
space for periods, etc.
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Preview Activities
Activity: Write it
• Open ended
writing found in
2nd English Course
and Practice
English and
Reading Course
(3rd course)
Details
• Students write a response
• Teacher can see and respond by
going into class mgt. link and click
onto student’s name
• Look for “check writing” in column
of activities and click to open
• Write response to student
• Student sees the word “comments”
next to that activity and can open,
read, and print if desired
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Suggestions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Look at scope and sequence for vocabulary, grammar, language
function, and skills.
Give an orientation and a ‘tour’ of the site to students.
Help students create an account and practice some activities in 13 sesssions with a teacher.
Ask students to work on the site for 30 minutes a day.
Assist students in preparing a learning journal of key language
they want to remember.
Create a day and time for checking in.
Remind them to listen to video many times.
Responding to writing, monitoring work, and checking in will help
keep students motivated.
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Questions and Feedback?
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