Learning to Read Electronic Text

The purpose of this set of lessons is to provide students with sequenced instruction and practice on reading books in the Intersect Digital Library, and in particular, the Diary of Opal Whiteley.

Using A Web Browser

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: opening a browser, entering a URL, using and creating Favorites or Bookmarks, moving forward and back, using the Find function, and changing the font size.

Navigating an INTERSECT Electronic Book

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: accessing the Table of Contents, opening a chapter, turning pages, (next/previous), following vocabulary links, using resource links, accessing book links, returning to title page, accessing List of Resources page, and accessing Reading Tips page.

Choosing a Pagination

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: accessing the diary by chapters, by days, by scenes, by paragraphs, and shifting among paginations.

Using Pictures

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: exploring the Picture Book, selecting a picture from a category, assessing the Diary from a picture, and accessing pictures from the Diary.

Following Vocabulary Links

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley:

Working with Multiple Windows

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: opening a second window from a link, sizing and positioning a second window, throwing links into a second window, and knowing when a second window is helpful.

Using the Map

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: exploring the Map, accessing the Diary from the Map, accessing the Map from the Diary, and knowing when the Map is helpful.

Searching the Text

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: searching by character name, searching by topic, searching by phrase, and saving a search.

Taking Online Notes

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to correctly and independently perform the following actions when reading the Diary of Opal Whiteley: opening a notetaking application, sizing and positioning the notetaking application, writing notes, coping text into notes, moving pictures into notes, and including citations.

Learning About Diaries as a Literary Genre:

Reasons for keeping a Diary

Instructional Objective: students will know at least 5 reasons why people keep diaries, students will find evidence in the Diary supporting one or more of those reasons.

Types of Diaries

Instructional Objective: students will know at least 4 major types of diaries, students will find evidence supporting how the Diary is one or more of these types.

Literary Elements of Diaries:

Observing Carefully

Creating a Sense of Place

Using Original Language

Sharing Feelings

Sense of Adventure

Search & Sift

Sample & Sort

Bibliography

Visit the Opal Gateway for a list of other sites about Opal on the Internet.