Teacher Bytes - Student contributions to websites

The Internet has many places for students to leave their mark. Students can contribute to many websites and see their writing immortalized in hypertext. Here are some of the best ways for students to add their ideas.

Movie Reviews: The Internet Movie Database allows users to add their own reviews of films. Students could start with something familiar: Gone with the Wind . Alternatively, try http://www.elfs.com/movies.html, a movie review page for English language learners.

Book Reviews: Sign in at amazon.com and add your review of your favorite book. Having one of the world's largest book databases, Amazon is bound to have something that students are familiar with. They can even review their own textbooks. The first reviewers of a title have a chance to win $50 prizes - so there is an incentive.

Recipes: Students can post their culture's recipes at http://www.hubcom.net/cgi-win/recipe.exe/2$1$1$29 or at Berkeley's archive

Articles: Exchange, an online magazine based at the University of Illinois, "provides an opportunity for non-native English speakers to express themselves through the use of English".

Poetry: Creative students can submit their own poetry at http://www.angelfire.com/al/knb17/poetryindex.html

Two caveats are in order here. Firstly, many sites that allow submission require users to register beforehand. In these cases, encourage students to give only minimal information, make up personal information and indicate that they do not wish to receive junk mailings. Secondly, as many submission sites are unmonitored, treat them with caution as other postings may not be exactly polite.

Issue 5		Student contributions to websites The Internet has many places for students to leave their mark. Students can contribute to many websites and see their writing immortalized in hypertext. Here are some of the best ways for students to add their ideas. Movie Reviews: The Internet Movie Database allows users to add their own reviews of films. Students could start with something familiar: Gone with the Wind . Alternatively, try http://www.elfs.com/movies.html, a movie review page for English language learners. Book Reviews: Sign in at amazon.com and add your review of your favorite book. Having one of the world's largest book databases, Amazon is bound to have something that students are familiar with. They can even review their own textbooks. The first reviewers of a title have a chance to win $50 prizes - so there is an incentive. Recipes: Students can post their culture's recipes at http://www.hubcom.net/cgi-win/recipe.exe/2$1$1$29 or at Berkeley's archive Articles: Exchange, an online magazine based at the University of Illinois, "provides an opportunity for non-native English speakers to express themselves through the use of English". Poetry: Creative students can submit their own poetry at http://www.angelfire.com/al/knb17/poetryindex.html Two caveats are in order here. Firstly, many sites that allow submission require users to register beforehand. In these cases, encourage students to give only minimal information, make up personal information and indicate that they do not wish to receive junk mailings. Secondly, as many submission sites are unmonitored, treat them with caution as other postings may not be exactly polite.
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