ideas for using computers in our study centre

[tigerlily]

hi everyone, I have just joined this site, & had a trawl through but could not easily identify ideas for lessons using the computer. I have done a general search on Google but either the sites do not exist, will not connect or are dated 1995!! it is very frustrating.
The school I work in, in England, has a study centre with 4 computers which teachers can book for a lesson. I have already set up a chat room for my class using nicenet,(they are an exam class from widely differing cultures, so I will do a journal, interactive writing practice & discussions with them) and got a few ideas together, but the best site I found with solid suggestions was iteslj.org, which will not connect. Next week I have to do a presentation of ideas of how to incorporate use of the computers into the classroom. Of course, the ideas should fit the aim of the particular course or lesson, not just be for amusement, the one on iteslj.org used a food website and a travel website, very common topics in our textbooks!! I'd like to try grammar dictation & finding information for a project, any other ideas out there, or useful sites you know of?
Many thanks, and sorry if I am asking very obvious questions........

[James Trotta]

In a few weeks I'll be giving a presentation with a slightly different focus: Developing FI through web based homework. I've found some good sites, starting with mine: http://www.eslgo.com/

Check out the classes and the forums to see if there's anything you can use with your students.

If you look at my teachers' links page, I ahve a few sites that may help but the one that comes to mind is www.englishpage.com

I specifically like their vocabulary section. First you read words and definitions, then you practice inserting the words into conversations.

[sita]

Hi!

Why don't you do a Webquest?

It is an excellent activity and can be adapted to any topic.

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/

http://ozline.com/webquests/intro.html

http://school.discovery.com/schrockguid ... quest.html

I did a few and they were very successful-
The head of departments liked them so did the students.

Best wishes
Siân

[James Trotta]

Why didn't I think of that? For work in the classroom, WebQuests are great. For nearly all of these, students work in groups and they can be highly communicative. By the way Sita, do you know of any WebQuests designed to be completed on one's own?

There's an activity I designed in which students plan a vacation together. I've found that it works well if you give it about 2 hours of class time: www.eslgo.com/resources/sa/fswvacation.html

[tigerlily]

Since I wrote my message I found the place in eslcafe where there are ideas for using computers (doh!) but your suggestions have been very helpful, I hadn't heard of webquests before but I can see their value.
Also since I wrote the message I have been able to log on to ITESLJ again, and highly recommend the activities by Bruce Vorland, they are all laid out for you, you don't even have to be there!

Tigerlily

[angie]

Hi,
I've also been doing research on ESL activities which can be done through the Web.
So far, I've found different kinds of games and webquests.
Any other significant activities that I have missed?

really appreciate your feedback!
angie