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Sample Lesson Plan
Day 1
Main Task:
Watch the Opening Scenario and become acquainted with the virtual environment.
Class Discussion:
You may be tempted to provide "warm up" activities for students, such as telling them about the problem presented in Alien Rescue or discussing relevant vocabulary. Resist. Problem-based learning begins with the problem presentation. Students must sort the problem situation out for themselves and will acquire vocabulary naturally as they attempt to communicate about the problem.
Alien Rescue begins with students viewing the opening scenario. This can be accomplished in three ways:
Method 1:
If you have access to a computer attached to an overhead or a television, show the opening scenario to the entire class simultaneously. After they have seen the opening scenario, students should return to their computers and log on.
Method 2:
Select four to six students scattered around the class and have them login to their computers. Other students watch as they do so. When prompted "Do you want to see the Opening Scenario?" they click "Yes." Students can watch the opening scenario on any of the computers playing it.
Method 3:
If you have enough headphones for everyone, you can ask students to watch the opening scenario on their own computers. Note: this is not a good option if you cannot provide headphones. Since students will start at different times, the resulting noise will make it difficult to focus on the problem situation.
At Their Computers:
Students should spend the remainder of the day exploring the virtual environment. Allow students to discover as much as they can on their own, and encourage them to share their discoveries with their neighbors. In this way, knowledge about the program will circulate around the class without any direct instruction on your part.
Teaching TIPs:
Passwords Students must select a password when they first log on. They do this by clicking on the arrows next to the worlds shown on the login screen to create a combination. Suggest that students write their passwords down or take a moment to memorize them. If they forget their passwords, they will have to create a whole new login. You may want to record the passwords students create, or you may ask students to quit the program then log back in so that they can be certain they remember their passwords.
