Choosing and Using Informational Websites with Adult English Language Learners

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1 Choosing and Using Informational Websites with Adult English Language Learners Deborah Kennedy, Center for Applied Linguistics Maryland Association for Adult Community and Continuing Education May 9, 2014 Center for Applied Linguistics

2 Overview Adult learners and the Internet Guidelines for site review Content Language Design and layout Structure Example sites Consumer.gov Choosemyplate.gov Healthfinder.gov 1

3 Audience Input Do you use content sites in your teaching? If so, what sites have you used? How would you describe your experience? What are the challenges in using content sites in teaching? Why is it useful or important to use content sites in teaching? 2

4 Pew Internet and American Life Project Adults who do not use the Internet: 44% of Americans ages 65 and older, compared with 17% of the next-youngest age group (adults ages 50-64) 41% of adults who have not graduated high school 24% of Hispanics 24% of those in households earning less than $30,000 per year 20% of rural residents, significantly more than those living in urban or suburban areas (14%) Pew Research Center,

5 Internet Relevance and Usability Pew Internet and American Life Project 4

6 New Users Need Help Pew Internet and American Life Project 5

7 Internet Users with Limited Reading Skills Read word for word; plow the text Have narrow field of view Have limited ability to scan Navigation options Scrolling Search Have a tendency to satisfice Jakob Nielsen. (2005). Lower-literacy Users: Writing for a Broad Consumer Audience. Retrieved from 6

8 Characteristics of the Internet Hyperlinks Hypertextuality is the most fundamental functional property of the Internet, without which the medium would not exist. It is not possible to have an Internet without hypertext links. Persistence A page on the web often varies: its factual content can change before our eyes. There are many pages which have content that seems to be permanent, yet are found to have altered on subsequent viewing because they have been refreshed by the website owner. David Crystal, Internet Linguistics (Routledge, 2011), pp

9 Reviewing Websites: What to Look For Content Language Design and Layout Structure 8

10 Website Review: Content and Organization Content Relevance Interest Appropriateness Organization Text is short and simple, communicating key messages only. Information is prioritized, with the main point at the top of the page. Headings and subheadings organize information on a page. 9

11 Website Review: Language 1. Simple sentences and short paragraphs 2. Simple, active verb forms 3. Vocabulary Uses the same word consistently for the same thing Avoids unnecessary technical terms Defines technical terms that must be used 4. Second person address 5. Lists, simple tables, and examples 10

12 Website Review: Design and Layout Site navigation is simple, with main choices in a linear navigation bar. Main text is presented in a single column. Content fits screen size, so that readers do not have to scroll. Headings are close to the text they introduce. Text is balanced with white space and illustrations: 30% text, 30% illustrations, and 40% white space. Site does not use animations or other elements in which text moves. Fonts and typefaces are easy to read Text backgrounds provide strong contrast. 11

13 Website Review: Graphics, Visuals, Audio Visuals are meaningful to and appropriate for the intended readers. Site uses adult-oriented images rather than childlike ones. Visuals are simple and free of background clutter. Each visual is located near the material that it illustrates. Cues such as arrows or circles identify key information. Audio is used to reinforce the written message. 12

14 Website Review: Structure Site navigation is simple, with main choices in a linear navigation bar. Drill-down requirements are minimized; desired information is available with few clicks Site pages are linked internally, providing multiple paths to desired information 13

15 Using Content Sites in Teaching Objectives Content objectives Language objectives Site navigation / Internet use objectives 14

16 Example 1. Consumer.gov 15

17 Example 1. Consumer.gov 16

18 Example 1. Consumer.gov 17

19 Example 1. Consumer.gov 18

20 Example 2. Choosemyplate.gov 19

21 Example 2. Choosemyplate.gov 20

22 Example 2. Choosemyplate.gov 21

23 Example 2. Choosemyplate.gov 22

24 Example 3. Healthfinder.gov 23

25 Example 3. Healthfinder.gov 24

26 Example 3. Healthfinder.gov 25

27 Example 3. Healthfinder.gov 26

28 Questions and Comments? 27

29 Contact Thank you! Deborah Kennedy,