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The English B site continues to evolve. The latest project in development is that of providing much more emphasis on Student Access. This means creating pages specifically designed for students to read and use, according to how the teacher directs the programme of study. This is a logical extension of the possibilities of this website, but it has received an added impulse due to the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic – suddenly, for schools that have to close down, the concept of ‘distance learning’ changes from being an option to a necessity.

This new development of Student Access does not significantly change the basic nature of the English B site. My approach has from the start been to design a site aimed at teachers – to provide important information about how to teach IB English B; to suggest and explore a wide range of teaching techniques; and to provide practical materials for teachers to use in class. The most effective way to teach a language, in my view, is through stimulating communication in class, with the teacher adapting all materials and activities to the needs of each individual group. That said, it has become clear to me that Student Access materials and activities, provided online and out of class, have a valuable role in supporting the primary process of using the language inside the classroom.

This supporting role is principally concerned with preparation – with setting tasks which direct the students’ attention to materials and ideas necessary for following classes. The new Student Access pages (usually entitled ‘TASKS…’ for easy identification in the Sitemap) include a range of different activities, such as:

• Read & reflect – the student is asked to read a text and consider reactions and/or critical thinking questions… thus preparing for discussion in class
• Detailed reading … exercises are set to (i) check comprehension; and (ii) direct attention to key language points, such as grammar or structural analysis
• Research … tasks include looking at various internet links provided – then summarizing content, comparing and contrasting attitudes, applying critical thinking, etc
• Making notes … following on from the activities above, students may be required to prepare talks, or roles in a planned discussion
• Writing … written work based on the stimulus material is provided, practising the kinds of questions set in Paper 1 Writing

These are just some representative examples of the kind of tasks set on Student Access pages. Tasks are devised according to what is possible and useful with each piece of stimulus material – and in setting Student Access work, the teacher can select from the range of tasks available, as suitable for the students concerned.

The Student Access procedure is simply enough to use, although it does require a little preparatory work in order to set up the system. Consult the page  On student access , and of course, on the Home page, look at the whole section on Student Acess (top left, under your name).

Completing this evolution of the site will take some time, since organizing the Student Access materials can involve quite a lot of work – currently, I am managing about a page a day. However, a substantial number of pages are already available. Enjoy!... and do add Comments with suggestions.