FAQs

Technology FAQs

1. What browser should I use to view this site?
This site is best viewed using Internet Explorer 6.0 or later with a minimum screen resolution of 800x600.

2. Why can't I watch the video?
The videos can be viewed in QuickTime, and you may not have a plugin. If you don't, you can download one (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/). If you have a plugin but the video is still not viewable, your computer may be blocking the window from being shown for security reasons. In that case, you will need to change your security settings to allow for the blocked content.

3. A link is dead. What should I do?
Even with periodic updating, it is easy for web pages to develop "link rot". If a link you need is missing, there is a list of recommended resources on the Useful Links page. Other resources may be available at one of those sites. Alternatively, you may try completing an advanced search to find similar or related materials.

4. I am having trouble opening a handout, what should I do?
All handouts can be found in two different formats throughout the website. The student versions of each lesson link to the .rtf handouts only. However, the teacher versions of each lesson link to both the .rtf and .doc. If you are unable to open the .doc files, you should be able to open the .rtf.

Content FAQs

1. How do I find the page I want?
The fastest way to get to any page on the site is through the site map. You can also click on the name of the module you want to find the student version of any page. The teacher version of all lessons is available by clicking the link 'teacher version of this page' on any of the student pages.

2. Who is the intended audience of this site?
Teachers and students in typical secondary English classrooms are the intended audience.

3. Can I teach this as a course the way it is written?
The lessons and modules are a good starting point for a course in English Language Arts B30. However, they represent too many hours of content for one course. In addition, many of the lessons are built to be used in partial isolation and do not adequately scaffold skills and assessment without modification. These lessons are a resource to support a course, not the course itself.

4. What does each of the symbols used throughout the site stand for?
The star on the student pages represents important key ideas, definitions, or hints for student success.

The arrow on the student pages points to assignment requirements.

The red pen on the teacher pages is used to highlight teaching tips and advice regarding the activities and key concepts within the lessons.

The A+ icon on the teacher pages is used to indicate the best piece of literature or text for this lesson. As all teachers do not have access to the same books, we have tried to give as many suitable options as possible for each lesson.

5. Why is there so much emphasis on the guiding questions?
ELA B30 is an issue-based course. The guiding questions provided ask students to consider several issues that form the basis for student learning and student connections. These guiding questions are the key concepts that direct each lesson and help students work towards the achieving the course objectives.

6. Why are the lessons organized in the Before, During, and After format?
By asking students to make connections and establish a purpose they speak, write, represent, listen, read, or view, having students engaged these activities, and requiring them to apply to their knowledge the fact, teachers will empower students with strategies that will help them to become lifelong learners.

7. Why are students not refered to as gifted or modified in the adaptive dimension section?
Terms such as gifted and modified are constantly changing to avoid imposing student labels that they may be unable to escape. For this reason, we have tried to identify students according to their needs (students who require additional support or students who require additional challenges).

8. Why does this web site refer to the material students are reading as text rather than literature?
The nature of the curriculum is that there are three different types of text from which a teacher can draw to supplement the course: written, oral, and visual. Therefore, wherever possible we have tried to refer to written text, oral text, and visual text.