1. Stage 1: Access and Motivation

 

Stage 1 Overview:

In this stage you will receive the in-structions needed to complete the first steps of the YES project: getting started by getting familiar with the tools and resources to be used to complete the project, re-ceiving information about the project, taking a place-ment test to determine your initial level and breaking the ice by posting questions on the Google+ Community to be answered by your foreign counterparts. You will also choose the NGO or volunteer group you would be work-ing with in order to complete one of the project’s main tasks.

 

STAGE 1: ACCESS AND MOTIVATION
YES 1 Access and Motivation English B1/B2 120 mins
STAGE 1: Access and Motivation: Becoming familiar with the Virtual Exchange project and with the technologies to be used
Dates: Week 1, from __________ to __________
Deadline: End of Week 1.
Theme & Goals: Becoming familiar with the Youth Entrepreneurship for Society Virtual Exchange project and with the technologies to be used.
Step 1. Participant Information Leaflet and Consent form (Annex III): You will be informed about the Virtual Exchange project by your teacher and through the participants’ information leaflet and will be given participants’ consent forms to sign and return to the teacher.
Step 2. Completing the Pre-intervention questionnaire (Annex IV): Complete a Pre-intervention questionnaire about Virtual Exchange[1].
Step 3. Taking the English Placement/Diagnostic test: Take the English placement/diagnostic test to identify your CEFR level. Use your institution’s Moodle platform to complete the online version of the test and receive automatic feedback.
Step 4. Creating a Gmail account and getting to know Google+: Create a Gmail account and practice composing and sending an email.
Step 5. Creating a digital profile on Google+[2]: Create your Digital Profile on Google +: a) Basic Information, b) Education, c) Communities, d) Links, e) Story, f) Work, g) Places, h) Contact Information. Then, upload a photo/avatar/image.
Step 6. Joining the Google+ Community:

 

Join the Google+ community by clicking on the link to the dedicated community created by your teacher.
Step 7. Thinking of ice-breaking questions: Think of ice-breaking questions addressing your foreign partners to be posted on the Google+ Community.
Step 8. Selecting the NGO Go through the list of NGOs and volunteer groups, browse their websites and social media platforms and select the one you would like to work with.

[1] Sample pre-intervention questionnaire available at: http://roderic.uv.es/handle/10550/57427 

[2] Video tutorial about Google+ available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FSOhJCio-M

 

Summary of tasks:
1) Complete pre-intervention questionnaire
2) Take diagnostic test
3) Complete digital profile and join the Google+ Community
4) Think of ice-breaking questions
5) Select the NGO

 

Suggested assessment criteria Task Completion

Participation in the Google+ Community, including number of posts, length and quality of the interactions

Language/Communication skills

Teamwork

Recommended tools Gmail or any other email provider.

Google+ or any other platform which facilitates group interaction.

Google Forms or any other tool for survey creation.

Moodle Tests functionality or any other Learning Management System which allows for generating and administering online tests.

Resources Participant Information Leaflet and Consent Form (Annex III).

Pre-intervention questionnaire (Annex IV).

 

Teacher’s notes (1- Access and Motivation: Becoming familiar with the Virtual Exchange project and with the technologies to be used)
Step 1 T introduces the topic, concept and tasks, describes the goals of the project and tries to raise the participants’ interest.

Gets students to read the participants’ information leaflet, to sign the consent form.

Step 2 Gets students to complete the pre-intervention questionnaire.
Step 3 Asks students to take the English placement/diagnostic test to identify their CEFR level.
Step 4 Helps students create a Gmail account and practice composing and sending an email.
Step 5 Provides students with assistance when creating their Digital Profile on Google +: a) Basic Information, b) Education, c) Communities, d) Links, e) Story, f) Work, g) Places, h) Contact Information. Reminds them to upload a photo/avatar/image.
Step 6 Invites students to join the Google+ community by clicking on the link provided.
Step 7 Gives students examples of ice-breaking questions they can post on the Google+ Community.
Step

8

Helps student select the NGO by providing them with information about the organizations related to their missions and operations.
Possible challenges Possible challenges that T might have to face include reluctance to communicate, difficulties in using the technology, and privacy issues related to sharing personal details online.