When to Use the Internet in the Classroom

The Internet is a useful tool and extension of your learning resources whenever you or your students need to know something that is:

1. not well-covered or current in your textbooks, learning resource center, or classroom library

• Even the latest textbooks have information that is at least one year old by the time it is written and published.
• Some textbooks do not cover certain topics in depth.
• Some publishers have a bias or a distinct political or religious philosophy that could limit essential learning.
• Publishers can be insensitive to cultural and national perspectives (Christian school education exists beyond the shores of America!)
• Most schools can not afford all the print resources it takes to keep current in all the subject matter covered in K-12 classes

2. based on data collected by governments or public interest groups

The Internet is a rich source for collected data. The many search engines available will locate materials that just are not found elsewhere.

Government Information Sharing Project http://govinfo.kerr.orst.edu/
Cool Data Page http://www.topchoice.com/~psyche/data.html

3. likely to require specialized knowledge
By default, teachers are often the ultimate source of wisdom on any given topic. The extent of an individual teacher’s knowledge may limit the opportunities for students to learn. The Internet permits a teacher or student to contact an expert who has specialized knowledge.

Ask An Expert Page http://njnie.dl.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/aska.html
Ask the Expert http://www.captive.com/Ask_The_Expert.html
Pitsco's Ask an Expert http://www.askanexpert.com/askanexpert/
The MAD Scientist Network http://medinfo.wustl.edu/~ysp/MSN/

4. best understood from eyewitness accounts

5. fast-breaking news (voting results, earthquakes, economic data)

Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/
The Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/
Die Welt (Germany) http://www.seattletimes.com/
MSNBC http://www.msnbc.com/news/default.asp

6. collaborating on projects with students all over the world

The European Schools Project http://www.esp.educ.uva.nl/
Collaboratory http://www.atmos.uiuc.edu/geosciences/collaboratory/collaboratory.html

7. getting real-world experience in researching and evaluating information

8. publishing students’ projects and publications
Just about every school that has a webpage posts their students’ projects. Below are some examples.

Liberty-Eylau Middle School Student Projects http://www.cleaf.com/~jcochran/leproj.html
Northern High School Collaborative Projects http://husky.northern-hs.ga.k12.md.us/
Camden Kids Projects http://homer.louisville.edu/groups/camden-www/projects.html

 

Adapted from NetLearning
Copyright © 2002 Dennis W. Mills, Ph.D.
This publication may be reprinted in any format without expressed written permission, but notification is appreciated. mailto:millsd@citlink.net

This page was last updated on: December 30, 2001