G.+Session+7

=**Using the Internet in Your Classroom** = = =

Is the Internet a technology that can transform teaching and learning or is it one that distracts and pulls students away from the central learning in a classroom? On the surface the Internet in itself cannot be considered a great teaching tool, but paired up with instructional knowledge and careful evaluation by educators it can be very powerful. There are many strategies that can help students and teachers use the Internet more effectively. The hope is that all teachers will see the benefit and take the time to learn how to better integrate it into their teaching program. If a teacher does not feel comfortable using the Internet there are always students and teachers who do feel comfortable and can help setup activities using the Internet.

The school library is not the only place where students can go for quality research resources. The Internet also offers many credible and expansive resources for students to use to do research. There must be structure for the students however when sending them online to do research. Elementary students especially should be given a small list or a [|Filamentality] hotlist in which to use as the springboard for their research. Older students should still be given structure, but should also be taught how to effectively search the web on their own for resources. The Internet is also an ideal mechanism for encouraging students to assume responsibility for their own learning. As students find different learning resources on the Internet, they become active participants in their quest for knowledge. Incorporating the Internet into your classroom provides students with more opportunities to structure their own learning. Students are able to define their learning needs, find information, assess its value, build their own knowledge base, and communicate their discoveries.

Yet before you can begin to use the Internet in your classroom, students need to have the foundation of two main sets of skills to help them navigate the Internet and then manage the large amounts of information they find. 1) Internet Navigational Skills, and 2) Information Literacy Skills.

[|//http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/internet/internet-in-the%20classroom.htm//] [|//http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4409//]

The Internet provides a wealth of resources and information that make teaching exciting and new. Some of the nuggets you can find on the Internet include:
 * lesson plans
 * virtual field trips
 * simulations
 * facts, figures, and formulas
 * exhibits
 * experiments
 * maps
 * seminars for professional development
 * songs and stories
 * tutorials
 * puzzles
 * book reviews
 * historical archives
 * authors
 * science fair projects
 * collaborative projects

One of the greatest benefits of using the Internet in the classroom is to provide educational opportunities for students based on their abilities and interests. For example, I can teach a basic lesson on a writing strategy and allow a student who is interested in and motivated by baseball to find examples of the writing strategy on a baseball-focused Web site. This lesson suddenly becomes more motivating, exciting, and memorable to this student.

Brain research shows that individuals remember events and facts in more detail for a longer period of time if there are emotions involved in the initial learning experience. This concept of emotional memory is highly useful as we use the Internet in our classrooms. Due to the timeliness and currency of the Internet and the fact that students can find information that naturally interests them, the Internet can increase the emotional impact of lessons, and making learning interesting, fun, and meaningful to students .

There is no one right way to use projects in your class. Some teachers prefer to schedule time in the weekly schedule for students to work on projects. Some teachers have students do the majority of project work as homework or as extra credit work. Still others like to use a mixture of classroom time and homework time. What the experts do agree on is that students need good navigational skills, information literacy skills, students need to know how to work independently and collaboratively.


 * Assignment**: Your team is going to give us some guidelines with regard to your topic area shown below. You may need to break down your area in grades K-3; 4-7; and 8-12 or something similar so we know what students should know...and when. Choose one Leader, one Recorder, and one Presenter. The //leader// will keep the team on task; the //recorder// will create notes of information to be presented to the class (one additional copy for Mrs. Dowd); and one person to //present// the information to the class. You will have 15-20 minutes to compile your research. On Thursday you will need to print two copies, and practice your presentation. Your research will come from the Internet, prior knowledge, and possibly common sense. Due to time issues we will present first thing on Thursday.

Team #1 - Dan, Mary, Heather W. ( Navigation Skills ) Team #2 - Kay, Jennifer, Steve ( Information Literacy Skills ) Team #3 - Melissa, Heather H, Holly ( Independent Work Skills ) Team #4 - Shawn Z., Nina, Shawn M., Joelle ( Collaborative Project Rules )