Project URL: http://teachersnetwork.org/everywhere/Fang/index.html

How it works:
In this unit, students conduct extensive research (including online research and cooperative learning with students in Taiwan) that integrates reading, writing, oral language development and web authoring into a lesson that they study, and construct a web site to reflect different aspects of their learning experience.

Standards addressed:  
This unit has been tailored to meet the technology integration requirements that are within the San Francisco Unified School District's Chinese Language Arts Content and Performance Standards. Also, the unit has been trying to focus on the "Four 'C'" requirements recommended by the national foreign language standards.

Assessment:
Students work in cooperative learning groups to construct their web sites to reflect their learning. A rubric is used to assess their learning, and a culminating test is also developed to assess their learning.

Overall value:
Much has been presented regarding the Internet integration of different curricular areas, especially in Social Studies, Science and Mathematics, on the World Wide Web. However, there is very little information on how to involve students actively in an Internet-based world language arts instruction, especially when the target language is one of the less commonly taught languages in the United States. This project presents another successful model on how to integrate computer technology and the Internet into a world language curriculum.
 
Tips: 
Students are given the opportunity to communicate with each other and with students in Taiwan in Chinese on the Internet. Therefore, students get the authentic use of the target language. This project promotes mutual understanding across nations within our global village.

Teacher: Fan Fang

About the teacher:
Fan Fang is a teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco, California.

Subject Areas:
Foreign Language
Chinese Language Arts        

Grade Levels: 
9th - 12th grades