emTech Consulting Basic Computer Tools Modules 

Course Readers

Examples of Course Readers       How to Make a Course Reader & Practice Activity     Suggested Grading

BACKGROUND on this topic
Course Readers are really sets of links; instead of handing someone a list of written web site addresses, you can set up a course reader. This is an excellent way to 'give' students the web sites you want them to visit. It saves on typing and reduces the possibility of errors.  Here's a PowerPoint that you can use to introduce Course Readers. Feel free to download and use it or just 'view' it online.  POWER POINT INTRODUCING COURSE READERS

Course Readers are used in university classes, inservice programs, clubs, K-12 classes, parent information programs, and any other place where a list of web sites needs to be shared.  The course readers (.html files) can be loaded on a web site and then 'downloaded' ("save as") to a disk or to a hard drive. That way, for example, students will have the sites that are 'active' and ready to use, either on their home computer or on a disk they can take with them. Also, since these course readers are loaded on the Internet, users can find them and use them from anywhere the users have Internet access.

Examples of Course Readers

Here are some examples of course readers that are annotated:

Natural Disasters
Using MLA Style for Papers
Anti-Virus Programs
Ancient History and Mythology
Medieval_Studies
Drug Education
 

Here are some samples that do not have the annotations shown in the examples above, but they, too, serve as course readers:

Spanish
Classroom Visits Online
What's New

THE PRACTICE ACTIVITY (How to Make a Course Reader)
For this topic, you are going make a course reader. Click here if you are using NETSCAPE as your browser and click here if you are using INTERNET EXPLORER. There are tutorials for both browsers. Click on the one you use on your computer (Netscape or Internet Explorer).

You are going to follow the tutorials and prepare a course reader related to some topic you teach, some topic you wish to share with colleagues or other such application.  You can make expanded course readers like those shown in the first table above or just links, like those shown in the 2nd table just above this section.  It depends on your purposes (and, to be honest, time!).

Suggested GRADING CRITERIA, if you are using this for professional development or a course.  This is just a suggestion if this is being used as part of a course or professional growth activity. It is also suggested that there be 'an assignment' mailbox for such activities (for example, profdev@smithelementary.edu).
Course Reader       (2 pts each)                                                                     10 pts