KATE

Using the Internet to Enhance Content Rich Lessons

Instructional Illuminations

The internet can be a useful tool for teachers to enhance content rich units and lessons plans. There are many interesting and exciting avenues for engaging your students. One of the most successful is the use of a Web quest. According to Bernie Dodge, "A Web Quest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used

by learners is drawn from the Web. Web Quests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation

http://www.webquest.org

Another effective tool for teachers is Trackstar. With the use of a track, students can search specific sites chosen by the teacher and answer questions or research without worry for the teacher.TrackStar is your starting point for on line lessons and activities. Simply collect Web sites, enter them into TrackStar, add annotations for your students, and

you have an interactive, on line lesson called a Track. Create your own Track or use one of the hundreds of thousands already made by other educators. Search the database by subject, grade, or theme and standard for a quick and easy activity.

http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/index.jsp

It is important for students to be trained about validity and reliability of internet sites. It is not enough for student to research information, they must have skills to navigate through a complex, often disorganized information landscape and make up their own minds about the important issues. Many sites can help students understand what to look for from an internet site and evaluate its credibility. Before turning your students loose check out these links: http://www.quick.org.uk/menu.htm, http://www.coollessons.org/ValidatingInternetInformation.htm and http://go.gousd.k12.ca.us/goak/five.html

Related Links

• Where in the WWW is it? - Searching is a Cinch with this site!
• Using the Internet to Enhance Language Teaching - The Goals of Language Teaching. In these days of emphasis on communicative, proficiency-based language learning, the "Five C's" are of great importance. Ask an Expert! - A kid friendly expert site.
• Cool Teaching Lessons and Units - It is designed as a resource for teachers K-12 who wish to find quality ready-made units and lessons for all subjects, or who wish to develop their own units.
• Using a Webquest in your Classroom - Helping teachers use the internet effectively.