The internet provides students immediate access to world and local news. Students can find out what is happening now, not having to wait for the evening news or reading the morning’s paper. Google news searches numerous world news sources for current stories. Postings for July 4, 2009 included “Biden in Iraq…” from 8 minutes ago (Reuters) and “Calm urged after N Korea launches missiles” (BBC News, 45 minutes ago.) As events occur, the rapidly become available on the internet.
Other sites offer information and opportunities that can bring social studies and science to life. The National Archives web site, www.archives.gov, offers photos of the most important documents of American history for study by students. The NASA web site, www.nasa.gov, provides students with current information about the planets, dwarf planets and other space related subjects.
Some teachers still feel the need for additional student “drill” to practice math facts. Sites such as Funbrain, www.funbrain.com, provide this type of drill, in a game setting, in which students practice facts, but play a game while completing the skill practice. The Math Forum, mathforum.org, offers math support for all grade levels, including high school and college. PBS Kids, pbskids.org, now focuses on activities for children from pre-K to Grade 3. The site provides activities, stories and printable pages based on many of their popular shows, including Arthur and Barney.
Blogs and wikis provide students with the opportunity to collaborate between rooms in a building and between schools. With Wikispaces, wikispaces.com, providing ad free wikis for education, the technology budget can be stretched that much further. Elluminate, elluminate.com, allows a few students to communicate in real time throuogh its white board and audio feeds. Skype, skype.com, lets a limited number of individuals communicate face-to-face at no cost. Many of the above mentioned sources are valuable for students and teachers.
There are also many sites that provide support for teachers. Recipes4Success, recipes4success.com, and Atomic Learning, http://movies.atomiclearning.com/k12/home, provide tutorials for teachers, some free, others at a subscription cost. Diigo, diigo.com, and delicious, delicious.com, provide a web based bookmark site. This lets teachers use their bookmarks in school. These sites and resources have become valuable tools for students and teachers.
The question becomes where do students access these resources? In the U.S. 67% of homes have internet access, but in some states, like North Carolina and Mississippi, this per cent drops to below 55%. School becomes THE place to access these resources.
Internet resources even have monetary value saving school districts money over the costs of encyclopedias, atlases and copies of Bartlett’s Book of Quotes. Yes the initial costs of accessing the internet are high, but over the long run schools may, indeed, save money.
I think for students,teachers, and parents as teachers, the internet is a valuable resource as a learning tool. I agree with you, in that there are so many resources to be used in all subject areas to enchance teaching and learning. At this point anything a teacher/student need in regards to education can be found on the internet. Indeed there are some sites that are better than others, and students tend to visit the old faithful, but internet resources is a great way to supplement an skill taught with an interactive online version in a particular subject area
ReplyDeleteEd I agree with your statement about schools saving money on encyclopedias, atlases and copies of Bartlett’s Book of Quotes. Not only does it save money but it allows students to always have current information available as opposed to outdated printed materials.
ReplyDeleteExcellent description of the growth of Internet resources and what is available for educators and students. While you are correct in saying students no longer need to wait for the evening news or the morning newspaper to acquire information I don't see this happening on a consistent basis within my home school. Many teachers are using the Internet for games,activities, and drills as you pointed out that students can complete independently. There needs to be training for teachers in terms of how to use more web resources for primary source information and inquiry and not just as a babysitter.
ReplyDeleteAs your post explained I agree with you that the Internet has provided incredibly valuable resources for enhancing the science and social studies curriculum. In many schools these subjects take the backburner and are pushed aside in favor of "test friendly" language arts and math. The examples you provided (NASA and the National Archives) are excellent resources. I plan on adding your links to my school website. Great job, Ed!