Objectives:
- develop the Ss attitude to the role of computers in people's life; think critically about traditional values and the values of the progress;
- learn to express their opinions in the form of a contrastive essay;
- think critically about the problem of computer addiction.
Stages Рurpose
I. Warm-up – to introduce the issue of the lesson
II. Language work – to raise Ss' awareness of the ways of expressing degrees of certain (whole class)
III. Vocabulary – to give a chance to those Ss who are bright in computing to display knowledge
IV. Vocabulary – to develop the Ss' attitude to the role of computers in (filling the chart) people‘s lives
V.
1) Reading – to practise reading for opinions, to provide complete understanding
2) Collect facts for the essay – to practise giving an opinion essay
VI. Writing – to practise giving contrastive statements
VII. Welcome ideas – to introduce the issue of the next stage
VIII. Game (speaking) – to practise describing the situation, giving opinions and advice; to practise summarising and reporting
IX. Conclusion – to sum up ideas about the topic of the lesson
I. Warm-up
Teacher: Answer the questions: What will follow books? Can it replace books in the way books replaced other means of storing information?
Ss: (Computers will follow books. Computers may completely substitute books in future)
II. What do you think about the future of books and computers?
Ss'possible ideas:
1) Computers will replace books.
2) Paper books will always exist.
Class is devided into two groups. These groups prove their ideas.
1 1. Computers allow us to access the latest information really q uickly 2. It's much easier to edit and print documents using a PC 3. Interaction with the world is a great advantage of a computer. 4. Large amounts of information become available through computers. 5. Computers are better as storing information. 6. There is no doubt about the advantage of books on-line. Printed books will remain only in scientific libraries and only specialists will have an access to them. 7. Some people use it to reduce the time. |
2 1. Books are enjoyable things. 2.One of the good things about a book is that you can take it to bed. 3.A printed page is better for human eyes than a computer screen. 4. Printed books are cheaper and easier to use. 5. Printed books don’t need electricity. 6. We love the feel of a paper – book in our hands. We enjoy turning the pages. The story comes to us page by page. 7. The book will never die. The printed book will be around for a long time. 8. Books on-line can never compete with humans’ personal relationship with printed books. |
Ss come to a conclusion: Books have always been a part of human culture, so they will be used as computers. Some people like to create printed material as well as reading it. The PC is becoming an integral part of our private and professional life. So computers and books will coexist.
III. Computer quiz
1. What computer system makes it possible to send letters very quickly? (E-mail)
2. What system allows computer users around the world to send and to obtain information? (The Internet)
3. What programs provide colourful pictures and sound? (Multimedia)
4. What is the name of a computer-created “world”, which seems almost completely real? (Virtual reality)
5. What is a special term, which means “to obtain stored information from a computer's memory”? (Access)
6. What do we call a disk on which a large quantity of information can be stored? (Hard disk)
7. What do you call a sudden, unexpected computer failure? (Crash)
8. What is the term for the electrical or electronic components of a computer? (Hardware)
9. What do we call a large collection of data that is stored in a computer system? (Database)
10. What is the term for a set on instructions secretly put into a computer that destroys the information stored in it and stops it from working normally? (Virus)
11.Where on the Internet can you look for about products and services offered by a company or organisation? (Website)
12.What is WWW? (World Wide Web)
13.What store of information can you easily put into your pocket? (Floppy disk, diskette)
14.What do we call a set of computer programs to control the operation of a computer ? (Software)
15. What kind of computer can you use on the plane? (Laptop)
IV. Fill in the mind map
Ss’ possible answers: writing purposes, searching for information,playing games, chatting, counting, checking mistakes, sending letters, word processing, keeping track of life, for fun, for education,etc.
V. One of the uses of computers from the mind-map is for education.
1) Read this essay about computerised education.
I find it humorous that in order to send you my opinion about the use of computers in my education, I used the Internet. This does not mean that my opinion of the extensive use of computers in today’s society is completely optimistic.Yet, it’s true that when I finish this letter, clicking the mouse will be much more convenient than buying a stamp and an envelope and finding time to make a trip to the post office.
At the start of a new millennium, technological and educational advances are reaching extremes.As everything becomes more complex, the way we work out problems and find the solutions is becoming easier. For example, in my math class this year everything has been done on the calculator.
When I am assigned a paper, the first place I look for is the Internet. Then I look in a computer encyclopaedia. Then I may stop by the library if I have not already gathered enough information.
These methods of research and communication are very convenient. But I often feel it is taken too far. Recently, I visited a school where computers are a main part of everyday education. In the seventh grade literature class, the students were reading Romeo and Juliet off the Internet. That is where I would draw the line.
I am sure that fundamentals like reading and math rank higher. The United States has more Internet users than any other country. If the Internet’s information is so easily accessed, then why aren’t Americans scoring higher on tests than people of other countries?
I don’t believe computers are the only reason why America’s educational standards are so low today. Many factors contribute to it. However students who rely on computers to do all their work are being cheated out of mind – expanding experience.When I use the computer, I don’t feel like I am challenging myself or jogging my brain. I’m simply taking the easy way out.
There is no doubt that there are few if any businesses that don’t use computers. Today’s youth must become comfortable on computers for college and future careers. But along with computers, students must be taught not totally rely on them. Students still need to be forced to use their own brains for some things.
In all, computers balance themselves out fairly well as far as negative and positive aspects go. Besides, in future, who knows if computers will be outdated and a new form of technology will take us to heights never reached before.
2) Copy the chart and fill in using the facts from the text (think of at least one more argument for and one more again)
Arguments for computerised education |
Arguments against computerised education |
Possible answers |
|
For |
Against |
| Very convenieent Can maintain the contact with any part of the world Easy to find solutions for complex problems, etc |
Ss do not challenge their brains enough Computer don't really expand mind Ss must be taught not to totally rely on computers Ss still need to be forced to jog their brains |
VI. Compose as many contrastive statements as you can
Example: I find it humorous that any Internet user has access to the best libraries of the world. Yet it's true that not every computer user can read well
Тhe main idea: сomputer skills are important but they can not replace general learning skills.
VII. What unites all the words in the web below?
Ss' possible answers:
1) Some people can't live without these things
2) These are the things people depend on
3) These all are kinds of addiction
4) These are the things people can be used to
Addiction It's the word denoting the state when people
1) can't live without sth
2) depend on sth
3) are used to sth
Some people become so addicted to computers that they neglect their everyday responsibilities
VIII. Role play “Kicking computer addiction”
Devide into two groups: computer addicts and psychologists. Computer addicts work together or in smaller groups and discuss the symptoms each of them might have (Lists of symptoms: using the computer for pleasure, or relief from stress; feeling out of control or depressed when not using it; spending increasing amounts of time and money on hardware, software, magazines, and computer – related activities; neglecting work, school, or family obligations; failing to control computer use; having irregular meals, repetitive strain injuries, backache, dry eyes, headaches, and loss of sleep).
Psychologists work separately and think of the best advice they would give to the computer addicts
The aim of each computer addict is to visit as many psychologists possible, to ask them for advice and to choose the best advice. Each computer addict joins a psychologist. Computer addicts describe their symptoms. Psychologists give advice. Computer addicts take notes and then “visit” other psychologists. Computer addicts report to the class the best advice they have got and the class makes a list of advice to computer addicts.
IX. Ss give ther ideas about possibilities which vertual reality, computer offer as compared with real life.
1. Forget the troubles of everyday routine
2. To express oneself
3. To be in a wonderful world of imagination, to have a fantasy
4. To pretent to be whoever you want to be
5. To escape from reality
But some Ss think it's dangerous as it's escaping from reality. Virtual world... virtual friends.Real world.. real friends.