Computer-based Lesson - What's Cookin?  by Sherri Roberts

Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom Final Activity

Title:                  What’s Cookin’?

Learner Level:  Intermediate

Pre-Instruction: American units of measurement; food vocabulary; presentation, listening and questioning skills

Duration:            Approximately 7 hours over several class periods     

Materials:

computers equipped with Microsoft Word and internet access, overhead projector, paper, binding materials, ingredients for recipes, copier

Objectives:

1-     The students will produce a class cookbook of favorite recipes to share with      each other and the rest of the adult education program.

2-     The students will research the origins of their favorite recipes using the internet. 

3-     The students will present their recipes to the class. 

4-     The students will post their recipes on the internet for others to try. 

Procedure:        

1-     Anticipatory set- talk about favorite foods with students in open discussion encouraging them to share with the class what they like to eat and what they like to make.  Tell students we will make a book of our favorite recipes from our home countries.

2-     Have students write down their favorite recipes as much as they can remember.  They can always get missing information from home between classes, since this will take a few days to complete.  Encourage students to submit more than one recipe if they wish. 

3-     Take students to computer lab to find information about their recipes.  They should find the origin of the dish and maybe even nutritional information.  Using the projector, model how to use a search engine to find this information and take notes in Word.

4-     Have students type recipes into a Microsoft Word document.  Each recipe should have all of the ingredients listed, the steps to complete it, a sentence or two about the origin of the dish, and nutritional information if available.  Then students can peer edit for mistakes and make suggestions as to layout.  The teacher can even help those who wish to add graphics. 

5-     Model how to print recipes and have students do so.

6-     Model how to go to the web community for the adult education program, upload recipes, and post them for others to try and have students do so. 

7-     Have a binding session, making sure there are enough copies of the book for everyone.

8-     Periodically, throughout the semester, have students demonstrate their recipe for the class to share.  The class should share in bringing ingredients.  Use these times to practice good presentation and audience skills. 

9-     Throughout procedure, use a posted progress grid with each student step to track how the class is doing. 

Evaluation:       

     The teacher and students will evaluate learning by observing the cook book (examining rough and final drafts), the web postings, and presentations.   Criterion for presentations should include basic speech and questioning skills.   We will also invite feedback on the web postings.

Students and teachers will be invited to fill in a survey about the cookbook on www.surveymonkey.com.  These results will be posted and discussed in the classroom.