Unit 3 The world online

第一部分 教學設計

Aims and requirements

◆ Read two debates and an information sheet

◆ Listen to speeches about how people watch and listen to the news

◆ Talk about the Internet and ask questions about facts and figures

◆ Write an e-mail reporting facts and figures

◆ Do research on the Internet and design a poster

Procedures

● Welcome to the unit

Step 1: Brainstorming

With the rapid development of Internet, it has been influencing our daily life tremendously. Internet has transformed our lives and the way we communicate, we learn, we work and spend our free time. In fact, it has more or less changed every aspect of human society.

Boys and girls，please read the instructions and focus on the four pictures. Then try your best to think of information you know about each picture. Anyway, I’ll give you a brief introduction first. (For example, “We are going to talk about how we use the Internet. Try to find how we can use the Internet and how the Internet can affect our lives.”)

Picture 1

What can people do on this website?

What do we call this kind of website that provides searching services? (We call it search engine.)

Do you know how to find information on the internet using a search engine?

What search engines do you know or often use? Which is your favorite search engine?

Picture 2

Have you ever heard of shopping online or bought anything online? What is shopping online like?

What do you think would be the advantages of buying things online? (As online shopkeepers do not have to pay for the rental of a real shop, the products sold on line are usually cheaper than those in real shops. It is easy and convenient to compare a product in several online shops. Paying for things is simple as you just key in the credit card number and confirm the payment online. The delivery is usually quick and the online shops provide delivery to your home. The most important thing is that shopping online saves a lot of time. )

What do you think would be the disadvantages of online shopping? (Because people can only see pictures of the products online, sometimes you could receive something that was not what you really wanted. The safety of the payment is not one hundred percent guaranteed as someone may steal the account numbers or pin numbers of your credit cards registered online. Also, some people falsely advertise products and then steal customers’ money. )

Picture 3

Have you ever tried talking with your parents or friends online? What was it like?

What devices do you need if you want to talk with people online? (A computer connected to the Internet, a web-camera, a web-microphone and web-talking software.)

What are the good points and bad points of online talking? (There are many good things about online talking. People can save a lot of money instead of paying for long-distance calls. People can keep in touch with family members or friends wherever they are in the world. There are negative things too. The quality of the pictures or voice depends on the speed of the network transfer. Many people talk with online friends without realizing that their pictures could be used by others in illegal ways. )

Which way of communication do you prefer, talking face to face, talking over the telephone, talking online or talking online with a web-camera? Why?

Picture 4

Have you tried other online services that are not mentioned here? Which ones?

What other online services do you think we will need or have in the future?

What role do you think the Internet will play in the future?

Do you think it is a good idea to “live” on the Internet completely?

Step 2: Sharing information

1. To work in groups of four or to form your own groups. Let’s read the three questions under the pictures.

2. Exchange your opinions and discuss the three questions among your group members. I want all of you to fully participate in the discussion and express your opinions freely. Then some of you are required to report your answers to the class. Remember it may be more interesting for groups to exchange and compare your answers.

Sample answers

1. Yes, I like it very much. Normally I use it for checking e-mails, reading the most up-to-date news or talking with my friends. Recently, I registered in an online music course, which allows me to study music and listen to music online for free. I bought things online once or twice, but I rarely do it now because I am very concerned about my privacy and the safety of the activities.

2. Fast speed and easy access are the most important aspects of the Internet. Compared to the postal system, e-mail is very fast because people can receive an e-mail instantly after it is sent instead of waiting several days for a letter. Also, with a wire that connects the computer with the Internet, people no longer need to queue to pay for things, to book tickets or to register for something. They only need to sit in front of the computer and key in their information. The Internet has made modern life very convenient. The Internet also has its negative aspects. As the Internet allows free flow of information, people sometimes find that there is too much information online that has not been proven to be true. To some extent, the Internet is becoming a place to spread rumors. In addition, the Internet helps the free spread and downloading of pictures, literature, music or films without acquiring the permission from the copyright holders, which is illegal.

3. The Internet will free people from the offices every day. They can do their business online, including reading documents and have meetings. At that time, people will have more spare time and arrange their personal lives freely. Besides, every part of a home can be connected to the Internet, e.g., the fridge, the microwave oven or the bath, so that you can use the computer to pop online and control the electric devices at home when you are away. At that time, you can get home with food ready in the microwave and hot water ready in the bathroom. What used to be a great nuisance in the daily life will be just simply at one click of the mouse. Finally, the Internet will shorten the distance between people in different parts of the world. Free access to information will enable people to better understand the world they are living in. this will better protect the minority cultures and help people avoid culture shock.

Step 3: Discussion:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet?

Sample answers

With the rapid development of Internet, it has been influencing our daily life tremendously. Internet has transformed our lives and the way we communicate, how we learn, how we work and spend free time. In fact, it has more or less changed every aspect of human society.

We can benefit a lot from Internet. Firstly, it is more convenient than ever before. Internet has greatly shortened the distance among human beings. E-mail is much more efficient. To do some research work, we can search for relevant information on Internet without leaving our home. Secondly, we can reduce our cost greatly. We needn’t spend lots of time and money in printing and posting. What we have to do now is just to send documents through Internet and it almost costs nothing.

Although Internet has brought us many benefits, there can be no denying that it has brought us many inconveniences, even harms as well. First of all, it is not safe on Internet. Maybe thousands of people are staring at you when you log onto Internet. Your private information, such as your account and password, is easy to be let out. On the other hand, with the sharply increasing amount of time spent on Internet, we are starting to lose ourselves, especially for those youngsters. We are getting more and more indifferent to people around us. The more we communicate, the lonelier we feel.

However, Internet itself is neither right nor wrong. We can benefit from it and may also suffer from it. Nobody can hold back the step forward of Internet. If we resisted it, we would certainly lag behind other nations. What we should do is to take full use of its advantages and try to avoid the harms it may bring as well.

Step 4: Homework:

1. Collect more information about the development of the Internet.

2. Prepare the Reading part.