A note on Users

FrameWorks: German uses information about the logged-on user to present FrameWorks: German and store work. In Microsoft Windows operating systems, whether on a networked workstation or stand-alone machine, the logged-on user may have access to a personal My Documents folder; FrameWorks: German creates its own folder inside this folder and saves work here by default. The location of the My Documents folder will depend on the setup of the computers.

The Administrator can also decide which users have access to which FrameWorks: German (see Configuring FrameWorks: German).

If an individual is logged on with a personal identity, only saved work of that individual is available. If the individual logs on with a group identity – for example, Class 3 – then all the work of the group can be seen and all members of the group can see the same FrameWorks: German. They will also be able to use the same User Profile, depending on the settings made by the Administrator (see Profiles in the Configuring FrameWorks: German section).

Please note that different versions of Windows – and administrative systems used to complement Windows – may use different protocols, and practices may differ from those outlined here. We strongly recommend that you liaise with your ICT Coordinator to get the best use out of FrameWorks: German and your computer systems.

Icons

The icons in FrameWorks: German have been designed to be simple, obvious and similar to those found on the Windows desktop and other Windows applications. Most icons are common to both writing modes.

	Picture Prompt
	Writing Prompt
	Work The User's Work icon on the Menu screen is a short cut to the work folder set in the Profiles setup (see Profiles in the Configuring FrameWorks: German section). By default this is My Documents\FrameWorks: German folder. Double-click to open the folder and double-click on the work you wish to load.
	Speak (if enabled) • In the writing areas, click on the icon to hear the text in the writing area spoken. • In Picture Prompts, a speech icon will appear when the mouse is rolled over an image. Click on these icons to hear the text associated with the image. • In the Writing Prompts section, click on the icon next to a word or prompt.
	Copy Copies work to the clipboard – text does not have to be highlighted.
	Save Click to save your work. It will be saved using the title displayed at the top of the writing area in the default area: My Documents\FrameWorks: German directory as an ASCII (text only) file. If the My Documents\FrameWorks: German folder is used by a group, or an individual saves a second file with the same name, a number is added to the file name so that work saved earlier is not overwritten. The name has a .icp or .icw suffix, but can be opened in any word processor if the file type in the 'Open' dialog box is set to 'All Files (*.*)'. Files may be saved in other areas; see Configuring FrameWorks: German > Profiles.
	Print Prints out work.
	Move through Picture Prompts Previous page/Next page
	Prompt Click to see the next prompt.
	Review Prompts Move through the Prompts list.
	Word list Displays the alphabetically arranged word list. Words relevant to the current framework are shown in bold. The remaining words are those in the list currently selected. This list might be of high frequency words, for example, or a list appropriate to a particular subject area. All lists can be edited – see Configuring FrameWorks: German. Click on the icon again to close the display.

Using Picture Prompts FrameWorks: German

FrameWorks: German is supplied with one Picture Prompt framework. You can also make your own. The following instructions are based on the file called Ich which can be opened from the main menu.

At the bottom of each screen, two buttons control your forward and backward movement through the document. You can also use the ENTER key to go on to the next screen.

Pressing ESCAPE or clicking the Window Close icon will take you straight to the final writing screen (see below).

The first screen which is displayed requires a name to be entered, either by the learner or the teacher. If you wish, any screen can be ignored and the learner can go on to the next one. The next screen offers a choice of 'ein Junge' or 'ein Mädchen', after which each screen offers a choice of up to six alternatives. If none of them appeal, a different word or phrase can be entered using the keyboard. You can also go back at any stage and alter what has already been done.

Eventually, you will come to the final writing screen where the pupil's work is displayed and may be edited. Text manipulation tools (drag and drop, cut, copy and paste) are available using standard keyboard short cuts.

This is a good point at which to review what has been written. It might be useful for the writer to print out a copy of the work so that he or she can take it to the teacher for comments. This review might lead to some further editing by the user. These comments can then be incorporated into the written work.

For more extensive editing of the presentation, the saved work should be opened in a fully featured word processor, see below: Transferring your work to another application.

Users should always be encouraged to save their work before printing.

If you select Save, work will be saved to the My Documents\FrameWorks directory as a simple ASCII (text only) file. The name has a .icw suffix but can be opened in any word processor if the file type is set to 'All Files (*.*)'.

The file is automatically named Ich. If the My Documents\FrameWorks folder is used by a group, or an individual saves a second Ich file, then a number is added to the file name so that work saved earlier is not overwritten.

Other Picture Prompt frameworks work in a similar way to the Ich file.

Using Writing Prompts FrameWorks: German

In contrast to Picture Prompts, the Writing Prompt part of FrameWorks: German consists of a single writing screen. However, this single screen allows a much wider range of writing activities. The program provides an environment in which to write a first draft. The writing area offers basic text editing, but is not intended to be a full word processor.

The screen consists of the writing area, a prompt box (or boxes) and a number of buttons.

The writing area can be rescaled, although there will always be a proportion of the prompts and writing areas visible no matter how far up or down the window the separator bar is moved. To do this, click and drag on the bar just above the writing area.

At any point, the writer can click on the Prompt icon to bring up a prompt to assist in the process of the writing, or scroll back to review the prompts already offered. Some prompts take the form of questions, others are beginnings of sentences.

For some frameworks it is important that the writer works through all of the prompts in the order in which they are presented. In others, for example story writing, some prompts may be ignored and others used in a different order.

Remember that the prompts are only a guide. They can be edited by the teacher beforehand (see the Configuration section) or as part of the drafting process, i.e. sentence beginnings can be pasted into the text area and altered. When the pupil starts to do this, it shows an additional level of control over the tools available and over the writing process itself.

Sometimes it may be appropriate to paste all of the prompts (or the prompts which are required) into the writing area before any new text is added.

AccentPad

A facility for adding accented letters is included with FrameWorks: German. AccentPad appears automatically when a framework is selected. Click on an accented character to add it to your writing. The character will be inserted at the cursor position in any writing area of the program, including the Configuration section.

Word lists

Further assistance is available through the word lists, which can be edited to suit the topic and the writer. A number of lists are available (see Configuring FrameWorks: German) and others may be added.

Using the writing area

Text may be entered from the keyboard or by clicking the mouse button on the framework title, prompt or word in a word list.

If you wish a word from the word list to be pasted in with a capital letter, press SHIFT at the same time as clicking on the word. Click on the Prompt button to show the next prompt. When all the prompts have been displayed, the Prompt button is greyed out. To go back through the prompts, click on the up/down arrows to the right of the prompt display box.

Normal editing functions apply in the writing area: hold the left mouse button down and drag the mouse over the text area you want to highlight. This area can then be cut, copied or deleted.

As in Picture Prompts, work can either be saved, printed or copied to a word processor for further drafting, formatting and printing.

Loading saved work

The User's Work icon on the Menu screen is a short cut to the My Documents\FrameWorks folder. Double-click to open the folder and double-click on the work you wish to load.

To delete a file, select the file and press the DELETE key. Alternatively, go to the directory where the user's work is stored and right-click on the file to be deleted.

Transferring work to another application

Click on the Copy button to transfer all of your work to the clipboard – the text does not need to be highlighted. Your work can then be pasted into any other application using Paste from the Edit drop down list, or by pressing CONTROL + V.

If you have saved your work, it can be loaded into another program from the My Documents\FrameWorks directory. Files have a .icp or .icw suffix, but can be opened in any application that can read text files if the file type in the 'Open' dialog box is set to 'All Files (*.*)'.

At this point, a further review of the writing can be carried out and changes made to the presentation of the document including alterations to the presentation of the text (for example, alter font, colour, size, centre the writing) or the insertion of one or more pictures.

The work could then be saved and printed. Of course, the processes carried out at this stage depend entirely on the capabilities of the word processor being used.

You must have Administrator rights to modify settings or create and edit FrameWorks: German. However, individual users may change their own Profiles; Administrators may only change a User's Profile by logging on as that user.

On the Menu page, hold down the SHIFT key and click on the FW System icon at the top left of the window. Select Configure from the menu. For security reasons the Configure option will be greyed out if the SHIFT key is not pressed first. Alternatively, press CONTROL + F2.

The Configure dialog box offers a number of tabbed panel choices:

• FrameWorks: German

• Word lists

• Profile

• Speech

• About

FrameWorks: German options

Click on the FrameWorks: German tab to show existing FrameWorks: German and the accompanying dialog box. The left-hand pane shows the Prompts directory in a tree structure; click on the small + icon to open folders and sub-folders.

A Picture prompt Framework and a selection of Writing frameworks are provided with the program. The Writing frameworks provided with FrameWorks: German are as follows:

As both Picture Prompts and Writing Prompts consist of a number of files, you should use the Import and Export buttons to move FrameWorks: German from one computer to another. The files are bundled together into a single file with a .ipf extension. When a .ipf file is imported into FrameWorks: German, the files are separated, placed in the appropriate Prompts directory and any new folders are created.

Please note that Picture Prompt .ipf files can be very large and are unlikely to fit on floppy disks.

You can decide which FrameWorks: German are available to which students. When a framework has been selected, the Users button next to the Author details will become available. Type in the name the pupil uses to log on to the computer in an appropriate panel. The panel you choose will depend on the length of the list of potential users. Either list can be overridden by checking the Visible to everyone or Invisible to everyone boxes.

You can also decide which frameworks will be visible in the Big Editor, the separate support program that is designed for the development of frameworks as a group activity. Each framework (and Master word list) has an Editable checkbox. When there is a tick in one of these boxes, the item can be seen and changed in the Big Editor.

Making new Picture Prompt FrameWorks: German

A folder of unused graphics for use to develop a new Picture Prompt framework can be found on the FrameWorks: German CD. Right-click anywhere in the area which displays the tree structure of genres and frameworks. Select New, name the framework Courses and choose to create a Picture Prompt framework.

Because some versions of Windows cannot handle accented characters in filenames, you should not use them when you type the name. However, when a framework is created, FrameWorks: German copies the filename for use in the Title box. This is the text that is seen by the students on the menu page and is stored as part of the file. This title can be safely edited and you may enter accented characters here.

Open the newly-created framework and choose the number of pictures you want on your first page: 0, 2, 4 or 6. In this example, choose four.

Use the text entry box on the left for the beginning of the sentence. Type in: 'Ich kaufe'. If you wish, type in a full stop or other punctuation in the box on the right'. This box can be used fro the rest of a sentence or phrase. For example, if the first box contains 'Ich gehe', the box on the right might contain ' in die Stadt' and the picture options could then show the times of day. If you are finishing a sentence, always start this box with a space.

Click in one of the placeholder graphics to bring up the picture selection dialog box. For this example, you will need to have the CD in the drive. Click on Add to framework. This will allow you access to your computer's hard drive, CD drive or network. Navigate your way to the CD and choose the 'ShoppingPix' folder. Select a picture to add to the store of images that you can put into your framework. You can add pictures to this list at any time. If you hold down the CONTROL key, you can select a number of pictures at the same time. Choose 'bread', 'cheese', 'milk' and 'bananas' and click OK. The selected pictures will be copied from their location and added to your list. When a picture has been copied to your list, it may be used as many times as you wish and, as it has been copied, you will not need the CD once the framework has been completed.

When you have enough pictures to use, you can preview your imported images by clicking a title. The graphic that is highlighted when you click the OK button is the one placed in the selected position in the framework.

Picture backgrounds of a single colour can be made transparent so that the image appears not to have a regular border. The software takes the colour of the pixel in the lower left-hand corner to be the colour to be removed, so use this option carefully.

Normally, pictures should not be taller than about 140 pixels or much wider than 160. The final values will depend on the number of graphics you are using on a page and the sizes of the user's window and screen.

Click on OK to place the selected picture in your framework.

Replace the other three placeholder graphics with one of your imported pictures.

Picture captions appear beneath the graphics. Type the word(s) which you wish to be added to the writing when the user selects a picture.

Tick the Force response box if you wish to prevent the user from skipping any screen in the file. If the Read only box is checked, students will be able to use only the words under the graphics, they will not be able to type in their own response.

Click on the Add page icon to add a further page to your framework. Go through the same process to add details to this page. You can use the back and forward buttons to move through your framework when you have created more than one page.

Click on Delete to remove the current page.

Editing Picture Prompt FrameWorks: German

If you wish to modify a framework but keep the original intact, click on the Duplicate button to copy the source framework before you start. You can then give your duplicate file a new name.

You can use the functions described above to alter existing FrameWorks: German or to add to them, for example, adding a page or two to the Ich section which is particularly appropriate to your school or class – or even an individual.

Creating new Writing Prompt FrameWorks: German

Right-click anywhere in the area which displays the tree structure of genres and frameworks. Select New, choose to create a new Writing Prompt framework and give the framework a name, for example, Einkaufen. Select Writing framework and then choose the folder in which the new framework is to be placed.

A blank framework will be created in the chosen folder. Open the folder and click on your title.

All you now have to do is to type in your word list and prompts and save them. If you already have a word list or list of prompts prepared in your word processor, you can copy and paste it into the working area. The first prompt automatically becomes the title. Your word list will be sorted alphabetically if you click on Sort.

You can arrange for the insertion point to automatically position itself within a prompt, for example, 'ich fahre . . . in die Stadt' where you want the user to enter 'mit dem Bus/Zug/Taxi' etc. When entering the prompt, type a | (upright bar) where you would like the insertion point to appear.

As you will see from a framework such as Ein Schultag, sub-prompts can be used, for example:

   Mein Wecker klinglet um
       sieben Uhr
       halb acht
       viertel vor acht

Sub-prompts appear underneath the main prompt in the writing area and are created by starting the line after the main prompt by pressing the TAB key. Sub-prompts can be used as a form of multiple choice activity or where suggestions for saying the same thing in different ways are needed.

To see this file in action, click on the Users button and make it visible to all.

Note that you can also create new genre types.

Editing Writing Prompt FrameWorks: German

If you wish to modify a framework and keep the original intact, click on the Duplicate button to copy the source framework before you start. You will be able to give your duplicate file a separate name and, if you wish, save it in a different folder.

Click on the icon of the framework you wish to edit.

The title, its author (if applicable) and the associated framework word list will be displayed.

To see the list of prompts, click on the Prompt icon. There is also an icon for Notes, which allows you to record any additional information, for example, 'Useful for Y10 revision . . .'

The word list and prompt list can be edited by typing directly in the dialogue box. Right-click to access functions such as Copy and Paste.

The Sort button will arrange the word list into alphabetical order.

Note: The class can work together to create new frameworks. The Big Editor has been devised specifically to enable this to happen (see page 22; further details from Resource Education and on www.resourcekt.co.uk).

Word lists

This tab brings up the Master word list dialog box and enables you to select the list of words available to the user regardless of the framework chosen. You can select the default list german.txt or any other list which you wish to use.

You can add as many additional word lists as you wish. Click on New, give the list a title and type in (or paste in) your new list. Files in .TXT format may also be dragged from the desktop and dropped in the word list area. Click on Sort to order your list alphabetically. Edit any word list by typing directly into the it.

The word list visible to pupils on the writing pages merges the framework word list (created when you make a new framework) and the Master word list. The words belonging to the currently selected framework are shown in bold.

You may wish to make a copy of existing word lists and save them elsewhere as a word processor file – just in case alterations are made within the program and you subsequently wish to revert to the original list.

The Master word list selection may be overridden at user level if a specific word list is chosen for a particular user. See Profiles, below.

Speech

If you have purchased a foreign language speech module, it may be accessible in FrameWorks: German. You can also change the voice which reads the text. Try out the different voices by entering text into the writable area and clicking on the forward arrow.

The global voice selection may be overridden at user level if a specific voice is chosen for a particular user. See Profiles, below. You may also turn Speech off, if you prefer, by selecting 'None'.

Profiles

This allows you to set the appearance of FrameWorks: German to suit individuals. Choose the User Profile from the drop down menu and then set the font face, size and colour, and the colours for Background (the prompts, writing area and word lists) and Border.

For some pupils a change of foreground, background and font colour can make a difference to legibility. Double-click in the Border, Background or Text colour boxes to show the palette.

Occasionally, the Master word list will not be appropriate for an individual. Selecting a word list on the Profiles tab will replace a selection made on the Word list tab. Choose None to default to the global selection.

Similarly, some voices may be more appropriate for some users and a selection may be made for an individual. Choose None to default to the global selection.

There are a number of preset profiles which cannot be altered except by a person with Administrator rights. If the Allow user to select profile at menu box is ticked, users can choose from the various display profiles from the Menu screen.

By default, work is saved to the My Documents\FrameWorks: German folder. If your operating system protocols provide a different location, this can be specified here. Alternatively, any folder can be chosen.

About

You will only need to access this tab when you update the licence for your software or if you wish to find version and licence details. Instructions on installing the software and updating licences can be found on a separate sheet. The About screen can also be displayed by pressing CONTROL + F1.

Introduction

As with most open ended programs, the software must be used intelligently. Real advances in pupils' confidence in writing French are only likely to take place where the software, the learner and the teacher are all engaged in the process. This does not mean that the teacher has to be there while the program is being used. It does mean that careful thought needs to be given to when the program is used, with whom and for what purpose. It also means that care must be taken in setting it up appropriately. None of this needs to take a long time. Indeed, with software as straightforward as FrameWorks, the time taken to set it up and ensure the learner is happily on task will soon become minimal.

Making the most of FrameWorks: German

You will see that some activities are short and simple and others offer more scope for elaboration. All of the activities are intended to follow classroom introduction and practice and you may see them as revision, consolidation, and a language scaffold to be developed further.

With FrameWorks you have the opportunity to include a stepping-stone from your class teaching towards independent language production by your students. FrameWorks allows you to create structured language practice with the facility to develop this either within the program window, or in a word processor. This means that you can plan for differentiated progression.

Some of the activities such as the letters are intended to develop writing skills and students will be able to produce a continuous accurate piece quite quickly. By clicking on 'copy' and pasting this work into a word processor they will be able to extend their writing or add new paragraphs to existing work.

Other activities are intended to support and develop oral work such as role-play. Here, structured exercises can be practised and varied. The screen can be used as a prompt in pair work and language can be varied within a familiar context.

Students should save their versions of the activities so that they will be able to re-visit them for revision or extension at a later date. With this in mind, teachers will be able to create a resource of scenarios or activities to form a foundation reference for practice and development. The exemplar frames show how you can offer work at a variety of levels, and teachers may wish to work together to create a fund of these activities which support and demonstrate progress.

Development and extension are possible by setting tasks which require students to change vocabulary items, and there is support for this within the program, or by editing the frameworks (see Configure, above) so that they include different options or prompts.

You can develop activities with the whole class using The Big Editor or simply using the Configure screen displayed large. In either case the program provides good scope for work with a digital projector and, possibly, an interactive whiteboard.

Activities for language learning with FrameWorks can be short and simple, or they can be demanding and extensive. It's up to you!

Picture Prompts

It should be possible for a whole class to use a Picture Prompt framework like Ich in a few sessions.

There are many teaching points which will arise from the use of Ich, whether with individuals or groups. The point at which the text is reviewed, either on screen or as a printed draft, is an excellent moment to consider greater specificity and to investigate language.

Writing prompts

In many cases, it will be useful to have both paper and software versions of the prompts available, i.e. to create help-sheets on paper, based on the prompts which will appear on screen. To do this, select each prompt with so that they are pasted into the writing area. Leave space between each prompt. Save the document and print it out. Alternatively, you could copy the work to the clipboard to transfer it to another application for editing and printing. Duplicate as many as you need. You might also enlarge one to A3 or A2 size so that it can be pinned up for all to see. (Alternatively, you can write the prompts on the board but there are some advantages to using something which looks almost the same as the version in front of the each pupil.)

Word lists can be accessed and printed out in the same manner.

Whether one begins with paper or software, the outcome should be the pupils using both software and paper-based support independently.

Projectors and interactive whiteboards

FrameWorks: German is an ideal program to use with a whole class, whether using a projected image or a large monitor – or simply a normal monitor with a large font size. Bear in mind that it is not necessary to have an interactive whiteboard in order to use a projector. A projected image is quite adequate without having 'touch interactivity'. Indeed, as much of the input will be via the keyboard, the interactive whiteboard is often superfluous when a cheaper OHP screen or white wall will do!

The advantages of using a framework program such as FrameWorks: German for shared writing will be obvious. Do not overlook the teaching and learning possibilities inherent in the setting up of a framework. Take suggestions from the class on the words likely to be useful in a new framework. Include as many of their prompts as possible, too. This kind of ownership is more than lip-service to pupil involvement and it will bring dividends when they come to use their framework.

The Big Editor is available from Resource Education to enable this kind of work to be undertaken easily. It lets groups create frameworks independently and word lists without entering the Configuration section. It also displays the editing functions of FrameWorks: German in a large, clear format which is easily shared by the teacher and the class.

Finally . . .

If, in the course of using FrameWorks: German, you come up with FrameWorks: German which might be of interest to others, please contact us. The .ipf export/import format was designed to make the copying of FrameWorks: German from one machine to another a simple matter, even by internet.

You may also discover ways of using the program to tackle particular problems which have not been discussed in these notes. Again, we would be pleased to hear from you.