ESL Levels 4-6:
Information Literacy and English
Language Learning Websites
This instructional PowerPoint was prepared by staff of Lower
Columbia College.
Students really wanted to learn basic
computer research skills. Their classroom
is off campus and they have no computer
access.
Question: Could we negotiate a way for
them to have access to computers, so we
could teach introductory computer
research skills to them?

LCC Librarian adapted a “How to Use a
Computer: Basic Internet Instruction” book from
another ESL agency.

She also wrote a “How to Open, Save, Close, and
Find Documents” book for the ESL students.
ESL Levels 4-6 InfoLit Assessment
Task: be able to use the computer as a tool to
facilitate English language learning.
 Identify: what are the parts of the computer?
 Source: what aspect of internet or computers
did you want to learn?
 Analyze: can you locate the information you
need?
 Evaluate: have you learned enough to get
started?
 Present: explain to the class what you found
and what you thought of it.

Students took a pre-test of computer words.
Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Basic Internet Instruction
Vocabulary Pre-Test
cursor
download
e-mail address
icon
internet
internet address
link
offline
online
web page
web
After a couple of weeks of preparatory work,
students began attending class on campus in the
computer lab once each week.
We worked slowly
through the
computer book.

Week 1: students learned the basic components
of a computer, how to log on, open the browser
and start web searching.

Week 2: students learned how to scroll, and how
to use links in their searching. They found some
ESL websites and explored their web pages.

Assignment– evaluate an ESL site you have
found.

Week 3: students learned to create, save, close,
and reopen documents.

Assignment – write about the ESL website you
found.

Week 4: they needed time to practice.

Assignment – students typed their first draft and
saved it to a USB drive.

Week 5: students learned how to use the
campus email, how to attach their documents to
an email, and how to open what they have sent
or received.

Final Assessment – create an email, and attach a
document evaluating one of the English language
learning web site that you researched. Share
your research with your classmates.
Our Evaluation

Writing the ESL Computer Book was a challenge.

Using the ESL Computer Book helped to reveal
areas for improvement.

Weekly assignments helped to motivate students
to find and use computers outside of class.

Students appreciated being in the position of
sharing their expertise with their classmates and
advising staff how to create better resources for
ESL students.

More computer opportunities would be helpful to
our students.

Standard computer textbooks invariably involve
a higher level of English and computer
terminology than even advanced ESL students
are prepared for.

It is important to keep lessons limited in scope
and allow time for students to practice their skills
in class.

We would like to continue this project.