Starting up :
Complete the one of these analogies:
- Searching the Internet is like ...
- Thinking about using Internet resources in my classroom is like ...
- Asking students to do an Internet search is like...
Online Bookmarks:
- Portaportal : http://www.portaportal.com/
- Backflip: http://www.backflip.com/login.ihtml
- Ikeepbookmarks: http://www.ikeepbookmarks.com
Internet Searches:
Count off by 5's and have groups address a response to the questions below. Each group will Search for "Woodstock" and forumlate a response to the following:
- What if a student was not looking for the music festival? Suppose they were looking for the Penuts character, Woodstock? How do we determine what words are best to use in a search? Is there a way to teach Internet "good words" to use in searching?
- Did you encounter any inappropriate material that students could stumble across? If so was there any hint or warning in the link write up that would warn students? How do we teach students to decern appropriate content before clicking on links? What happens if a student does stumble into some inappropriate site; how should the student react and what should he or she do?
- If sites were filtered out for you, what percentage of the sites were blocked? What are the procedures in your school for requesting sites to be open? Filters exist to help students stay safe. Is it more important for students to be safe or to learn how to determine what is safe and is not? Does age matter when teaching students safe navigating? If so at what age do we start?
- How many hits did you get? It is easy to have to many sources of information. How many hits would be just right for you? How many resources should students find for research? Are there some sites you would not accept data from?
- How do we start teaching students in early elementary how to search the Interent and keep on learning more advanced methods as students progress through high school? Are there issues that are differnt with elementary students searching compared to high school students? How about middle school students?
eThems:
Visit eThemes to see the resources available and discuss the ways teachers can request searches.
Debate pros/cons of directing students to sites you choose vs teaching students how to find their own sources on the Internet.
Bookmarking Options:
So you have found some sources for students to use. How do you now get the students there? Check out these great free resources to help your students navigate to the great sites you found.
- Portaportal : http://www.portaportal.com/
- Backflip: http://www.backflip.com/login.ihtml
- Ikeepbookmarks: http://www.ikeepbookmarks.com
Internet Safety:
Videos to help outline some safety issues:
