ENGLISH FOR FREE - More on Unit 1

I've uploaded more material for UNIT 1 in my course ENGLISH FOR FREE for 1st BAT in Spain. You can download the zip file. Just unzip it and double click on the file "index.html".

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26222390/my%20digital%20textbooks%20(White%20Space%20Conflict)/1st%20BAT/V1.0.zip

As always, all comments are welcome: jgarciateacher@hotmail.com

ENGLISH FOR FREE 1 - Advance of unit 1

My textbook ENGLISH FOR FREE 1 (for 1st BAT in Spain) is in progress. If You want to have a look at the structure of the book and the first lessons in Unit 1, click on the link below. You just have to unzip it. Then you'll see a folder called V1.0 (which stands for version 1.0). Open that folder and double clik on the file called index.html.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26222390/my%20digital%20textbooks%20(White%20Space%20Conflict)/1st%20BAT/V1.0.zip


You'll see that only Unit 1 is there, and only the first 4 lessons in Unit 1. I hope that in a few days I can put the whole Unit 1 at everyone's disposal.


As always, comments are really welcome. Please send them to jgarciateacher@hotmail.com.

ENGLISH FOR FREE! WORKBOOK, UNIT 1

I am working in free digital textbooks for 1st BAT in SPAIN (secondary education, 16-17-year-olds). The idea is that students have a digital textbook, which is used in class and they can study with at home. That textbook is accompanied by a "virtual" workbook. That "virtual" workbook consists of consolidation exercises set in a VLE (Virtual Learning Environment), in this case MOODLE. You can have a look at the first unit at http://iesenricvalor.edu.gva.es/aulavirtual/moodle/course/view.php?id=36. You can enter the course as visitors. If you want to have a closer look, I can send you a backup file of the MOODLE course, so that you can install it in your own MOODLE. If you want to have an outline of the course, I can also send you the document. For that, and for any questions or comments, please send me an email: jgarciateacher@hotmail.com.

English for free

I keep on working on a digital textbook for Bachillerato in Spain. The name will be "English for free". I hope it can be used in other countries as well. The idea is to have digital materials under a Creative Commons licence. Students would have a digital copy of the book and teachers could use the book in the classroom with a multimedia projector or a digital whiteboard. I hope the first unit will be finished by the end of the month and the next two by the end of September, and the whole book by Christmas. If anyone is interested, please let me know at jgarciateacher@hotmail.com.

Creative Commons books

Hi, everybody.

I continue trying to get rid of textbooks. For that reason I'm creating my own materials. The idea is to give students a digital book, crated with EXE LEARNING. All the texts and videos in the digital textbook will be under a Creative Commons license, so that teachers will be able to change and adapt the materials. The texts are from Wikipedia and sounds and pictures from Wikimedia Commons. I'm taking the listenings from www.elllo.org. Along the digital book, students will have access to exercises in Moodle, which will act as a workbook. Please, I'd like to receive ideas and feedback. As soon as I've got Unit 1 ready, I'll post  it in my blog.

Get rid of textbooks!!!

Hi, everybody. I'm starting to work on my textbook for 1st BAT for next year. After having a look at MALTED and seeing that it crashes quite often, I think the best option is EXE LEARNING. I've already got a plan for nine lessons and I'm in the process of looking for materials. Any comments and/or help will be welcome.

Let's get rid of textbooks!!!

We all have to contribute to overcome the crisis. I think it is really a shame that we are still using paper-made workbooks when we have Internet and most of our schools have computers and multimedia projectors. Let's make the most of those resources and get rid of textbooks. That would imply a huge saving for our students' families and, furthermore, that's an investment that could pay huge benefits for the future. I mean, we can create materials that we can adapt in the future, thus not obliging our students to buy new books every year. I'm starting to make my materials for next year and I wouldn't mind sharing them with anyone. If you are interested, please let me know.

Creating a digital coursebook for Bachillerato

Hi, I'm seriously thinking of creating my own digital coursebook for English bachillerato, according to Spanish curriculum. Obviously, all should be done with a Creative Commons license. The idea is to create materials (most likely with Malted) so that students don't have to buy a coursebook. Students would be given a CD (or USB pen) with the book contents and there would also be interactive exercises in our school's website. So far the big problem I've found is how to find audio and video that can be shared freely. I'm thinking of using TED talks, but I'd be grateful if someone could give some hints. Needless to say, materials would be shared with any school interested in this project.