How can you begin developing a basic computer skills class for your ESL learners?

What are your learners educational goals and what is the curricular focus of your program?  Are your students trying to find jobs?  If so, you can base your word processing activities and Internet activities around job descriptions, resumes, and interview skills.  Does your program typically offer a general ESL curriculum?  If so, you can use a range of educational software programs to promote vocabulary development, typing skills, reading and pronunciation.  Tailor your computer skills class to meet your ESL learners' needs.

Remember to check the MLC tech training calendar to see if there are any related workshops coming up that could help you get started.

What materials are already available that can help you get started?

Kansas Adult Education Technology Competencies and Curriculum:   ABE competencies, and lessons for basic word processing, Internet, email and PowerPoint.

CASAS computer skills competencies: use this list as a starting point to develop your own list of competencies for your ABE program.

Mousarobics: this is an online activity that helps your learners practice basic mouse skills

Mouse skills: very basic click, drop and drag

Forms practice: online practice filling out very easy to complex forms. teaching guidelines pdf

SPCLC Basic Computer Skills Curriculum: and click on computer_training.zip. This is downloadable curriculum, with Word, Excel and Powerpoint activities for beginning, intermediate and advanced level ESL learners. Activities start from very basic (turning on the computer) to higher-level office software activities.

Computers in Action: lesson plans and activities for using computers with students.

MLC Learning Center-Lake Street ESL Computer Skills Class: this is a Teacher Web class site with many different ESL, employment and computer skills activities.

ACES class: this is a higher level ABE class for native English speakers and ESL students.

eFolio: an online portfolio creation website available to MN residents.

Claire Siskin Bradin's Word Processing Activities : this is a range of fun word processing activities for ESL learners.

Susan Gaer's Computer Class Activities: this is an excellent class website which can be used as a resource to use for online reading/writing activities or to get ideas for lessons to use with your learners. 

First Find: Westchester Library (NY) useful information on many topics. Click on “Computers and Technology” then click on “Learn about computers and software online”.

Cat Online: Computer Awareness Training tutorials. Basics, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.