1. CLIL didactic unit
Subject: Technologies II
Teacher: Álvaro Aballe
Title of the Unit: Communication technology
Course / Level: 3ºESO
1. Learning outcomes
/ Evaluation criteria
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2. Subject Content
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To understand the technical differences between the existing
communication systems by analysing the characteristics of
their means of transmitting.
To know about the features of several means of
communications (telephone, radio, television) by studying the
transformation that signals undergo from the emitter to the
receiver.
To be aware of risks behind a wrong use of communication
technologies by investigating, summarizing and debating
information about it.
Elements in communication, analogue/digital signals,
wired/wireless transmission, radio spectrum and artificial
satellite orbits.
Telephone: part and use of a telephone; signal transformation
in this kind of communication.
Radio: carrier wave, modulation/demodulation.
Television: production (cameras) and reproduction (type of
screens).
3. Language Content / Communication
Vocabulary
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Structures
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Discourse type
Nouns: emitter, receiver, optical fibre, wavelength, amplitude,
period, spectrum, frequency bands, geostationary, digits,
earpieces, tone, receiver, modulation, carrier wave, broadcast,
aerial, inert gas, cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display,
plasma screen, pixel, phosphorus.
Verbs: depend on, rely on, pick up (phone/signal), dial,
amplify, transform … into, emit, transmit, receive, fire (guns).
Adjectives: analogue, digital, continuous, discrete, engaged,
electromagnetic, rear, terrestrial.
Prepositions: over, through, towards.
Idioms: by means of, from … to …., speed of light, according
to, the added possibility of, tune in to the station, situated at
the end.
Passive voice and present simple (scientific style): description
of process and devices.
Pass tenses: description of historical background.
Stating facts, give explanations, description of device, survey on
other people habits, describing advantages and disadvantages,
comparing phenomena.

2. Language skills
Reading, writing, listening and speaking.
4. Contextual (cultural) element
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To appreciate the individual and team work efforts behind the
devices that the students use in their daily live.
To internalize their responsibilities to use communication
technologies sensibly in regards to their own personal
development and with other people of their influence.
5. Cognitive (thinking)
processes
Memorize part of a communication, characteristics of a
electromagnetic wave, types of TV screens.
Understand differences between analogue and digital signals,
frequency spectrum, geostationary orbit, signal processing in
telephone, radio and TV.
Apply equation c = λ · f to know visible spectrum wavelength
from their frequencies and vice versa.
Analyze: 1) Classify existing communication systems into two
Analogue/digital and Wired/Wireless; 2) Order
elements/processes that a signal undergoes during telephone,
radio and TV communication.
Evaluate: justify why many people abuse of some
communication technologies and the reasons to change their
attitude.
Create: a dialog to summarize the contents of the unit.
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6. (a) Task(s)
In groups, to prepare a short performance on a debate about:
- The recognition that the scientific and engineers deserver for
their developments in different kinds of communications
(analog/digital, wired/wireless, telephone, radio, TV, etc.).
- Their habits when using TV, mobile phones and Internet.
6. (b) Activities
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Activity 1: Communication and its elements (discussion in pair
to describe image using just explain vocabulary).
Activity 2: Classification of telecommunications (Wordle
vocabulary , video, schematics, written and oral activity (sum
up, association, organization)).
Activity 3: Characteristics of waves (association between
vocabulary and images, Worldle vocabulary, video, written and
oral questions on the video, cloze test, numeric problem).
Activity 4: Artificial Satellites (Reading and written questions).
Activity 5: Telephone (structures for discussion, discussion in
pair, cloze test, written questions).
Activity 6: Radio (investigation, drawing, structures for
discussion, flow diagram, reading - ordering activity, writing).
Activity 7: TV (reading and questions, investigation, mutual
dictation).
Activity 8: Types of TV screens (reading, vocabulary, videos,
interactive contests).
Activity 9: Responsible use of communications (reading-video,
discussion in pair, debate structures, debate).

3. 7. Methodology
Organization and class 1. Activity 1: 10 min (warm up) Session 1
2. Activity 2: 20 min.
distribution / timing
3. Activity 3: 25 min.
4. Activity 4: 20 min. Session 2
5. Activity 5: 35 min
6. Activity 6: 25 min Session 3
7. Activity 7: 30 min
8. Activity 8: 55 min Session 4
9. Activity 9: 20 min Session 5
10. Final task: 140 min (including presentation and exposition)
Total timing: 7 sessions.
Class distribution is indicated in the activities (in the presentation):
individual, pair or groups (5-6 aprox).
Resources / Materials
Presentation that guide the sequence of activities during the unit
including activities and link to resources like:
- Video on Analog and digital signal:
http://youtu.be/f56raJvxXyQ
- Video on Electromagnetic spectrum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csq8W9bzXDM&feature=yo
utu.be&t=30s
- Text on artificial satellites:
http://www.wonderwhizkids.com/index.php/satellites
- Students worksheet on telecommunication means:
http://www.xtec.cat/monografics/cirel/pla_le/aberdeen/merce_g
oma/
- Video on Cathode ray tube screens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-kxIP3FhCk
- Activity on Cathode ray tube screens:
http://learningapps.org/display?v=pa0eb8pca
- Video on LCD screens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3aITfU_UvE
- Activity on LCD screens:
http://learningapps.org/display?v=p3ap5mn33
- Video on LED
screens:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1G8ItahemI
- Activity on LED screens:
http://learningapps.org/display?v=puk0cthra
- Video on Plasma screens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5HMMDRBpKc
- Activity on Plasma screens:
http://learningapps.org/display?v=p4sykv8m5
- Video on Danger behind cellphones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PWiSQbXJs
- Glossary on dabe estructures: http://silvianulle.com/resources/Debating+-+Useful+Phrases.pdf

4. Key Competences
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8. Evaluation (criteria
and instruments)
Linguistic: communication in a foreign language.
Competence in knowledge of and interaction with the physical
world.
Social and civic competence.
Digital competence.
Cultural and artistic competence.
Autonomy and personal initiative.
Criteria: see Learning outcomes / Evaluation criteria.
Instruments: systematic observation during all session and
evaluation of their performance in the final task.