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- The Role of
Internet
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What's
the role of the Internet in
schools?
- The
Internet is a tool for information and
communication.
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- In all of the excitement over Internet, people
often forget that it is simply a tool for information
and communication. When considering the role of
Internet, think about what Internet can do that is
difficult or impossible to do with other traditional
forms of information and communication
technology.
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- Why Internet?
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- Let's explore some of the areas where Internet is
particularly useful for students and teachers.
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- Keep Current. When you want to track a
hurricane that's moving up the coast or find out
what's happening in the latest conflict around the
world, use the Internet. It's a great way to keep up
on current events.
It's also a good way to reflect on history. Try a This
Day in History site from an online
newspaper or the Park
Service.
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- Virtual Travel. It would be great to take
your students on an ocean dive or volcano exploration.
However, it's more realistic to take a virtual trip on
the Internet. You can be an armchair traveler, go on
an interactive field trip, or participate in a
simulated exploration. Sometimes you see what has
happened and in other cases you see it as it happens.
Explore some virtual trips below:
- Multiple Perspectives. Textbooks often
provide oversimplified, generalized views of important
local, national, or global issues. The Internet can
focus in on each side of an issue. Students need
skills in looking for bias, opinion, and dealing with
different perspectives. Explore issues such as the
lumber industry, tobacco, exercise, cloning, guns,
endangered animals, and recycling.
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- Information. You need snow to ski. You need
data, resources, and tools to make decisions. The
Internet is a great source for information. For
example, you can find information on the setting of a
book like Anne
of Green Gables. You can also find original
documents such as collections
of letters.
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- Instruction. Tutorials, practice
environments, role playing, and simulations are just a
few of the instructional materials that are available
on the Internet. For example, the Biography
Maker will help you create a biography and
Japanese
Online will help you learn the language of
Japanese.
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- Communication. Interacting online is
another good use of the Internet. You can communicate
with other teachers, other classrooms, other students,
parents, community members, or experts. For example,
you could Ask
the Geologist.
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- Collaboration. Teaming with other students
is a great way to involve students in global issues
and events. For example, your class might participate
in Earth Day activities including the Earth
Day paperbag project.
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- Creation. The Internet is really about
sharing information. Get your students involved with
creating and publishing projects for the Internet.
ThinkQuest,
Global
Schoolnet, and Canada
SchoolNet are three good starting points.
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- Share & Reflect. Drop in on other
schools. Learn from the projects that other students
have made. Share your class projects with others. The
Internet can provide an audience for learning. For
example, students in Washington have developed a
nature
project you might want to explore and replicate in
your area.
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- Teacher Tool. Besides student uses of the
Internet, consider ways that teachers can use
Internet. Search for information that might enhance
your textbooks, television programs, and computer
software. For example at the Timeliner
site, you can find ways to use the software as well as
share projects with others.
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- The Role of
Internet
- What's
the role of the Internet in
schools?
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- Do
It!
How is Internet being used now?
How would you like it to be used?
List specific ideas for making the
transition.
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