Saint Michael's College -- Anne's CAN-8 Helper

 Templates for Instructions

 

Tips for Using the Templates

[Exercises and tests often use the same instructions, with small variations.
These templates are meant to save you time -- so that you won't have to
type them over and over, and so that you will not have to use the fairly
cumbersome process of copying them and pasting them from another
CAN-8 test or exercise.]

  1. Once you have selected the template that comes the closest to the instructions you wish to give (see links below), highlight the text (by dragging your cursor from beginning to end, holding down the left mouse button).

  2. Right-click on the highlighted text (anywhere) and select Copy.  The selected text is now on your virtual clipboard.

  3. If you are not already on the instruction page of your planning menu in CAN-8, go to it (keeping this web site open, too, if you need to copy other instructions later), click on Text, then on Edit, and select Paste.

  4. Check the pasted text for errors.  For some reason, for instance, CAN-8 doesn't seem to like commas in pasted text, which is highly frustrating for French instructors.

  5. Highlight the key words, one after another.  After a word is highlighted (dragging the cursor along it with the left mouse button held down), click on Mark, then on Hilite.  The key word will turn green (this is the only way to emphasize in CAN-8, other than changing the type size (click on Type) or using all capital letters).

  6. It is sometimes a good idea to repeat a portion of the instructions on the screen where your first question or exercise begins.

  7. After you have given detailed instructions on one or two exercises or exams, you can use a shorter version on the following ones.

Templates [more to come]

  1. For a test or exercise in which students will be recording answers to prompts or questions (adaptable also for graphics or photos they will be asked to describe).  These are fairly long, and once students are used to finding the correct volume level and microphone placement, etc., shorter instructions can be used.

  2. A shorter version for the same type of exercise or test, but after students have become familiar with using CAN-8.

  3. Simple instructions for a lab-type speaking exercise.  If it is the first time the students are using CAN-8, inserting some of the items from #1 above would be advisable.