Info Tech Menu Set a Direction Accessing Information Processing Information Communicating Information Return to Eduscapes Set a Direction   The first step in implementing an information technology curriculum is setting a direction. Your curriculum guide might include elements such as accessing, processing, and communicating information. However, the information is useless without a context. It must be connected to topics within a curriculum area to be meaningful. This means identifying key curriculum concepts and deciding on the role of information technology in the lesson. Will students be accessing, processing, or communicating ideas?   Start with the standards. For example, the elementary curriculum in Ontario Canada contains social studies standards related to the migration of people across North America. Students might use a history site to access basic information. Then, use the pioneer website to learn more about what life was like on the prairie in the mid 1800s. Finally, student could create a web page such as this student project from a school in Alberta to communicate what they've learned about their community's migration history. Locate Useful Resources Begin by locating useful materials including information resources that contain text, graphics, audio, video, and animation. Next, look for lessons, activities, and student projects that might be useful. As you explore, focus on the information technology and content area outcomes. The following theme and professional development resources might be helpful.   Gander Academy Themes EMINTS Themes Teacher Tap 42eXplore 42eXplore Chocolate Marcopolo Science Net Links National Geographic Xpeditions Edsitement Edsitement; Shakespeare Shakespeare Schoolnet ThinkQuest   Put the Pieces Together Once you've located some resources, explore sample projects and example activities. Modify and adapt those ideas that fit your needs. For example, consider a webquest. You can find lots of webquests on the Internet. With a little modification they may fit your needs. For example, if you're teaching an advertising unit, consider a webquest on propaganda. Create your own learning environment thinking about your outcome, the time your have to devote to the outcome, student motivation, your confidence in using technology, and providing a challenge to students. Explore another example.   Work as a Team Don't try to do it alone. Focus on particular areas and share your results with other teachers. For example, the TESAN project was developed by a teacher in Indiana and a teacher in the Netherlands. They each provided expertise in different areas and were able to collaborate. Try an activity and keep a log of what works and what doesn't. Think about how you can replicate effective projects. For example, you might use an online story. Or, use a CD-ROM folk tale such as Imo and the King and the DK My First Dictionary. Ask yourself: how did this activity work? Was the website at the best reading level? Did it work to have students working in pairs. Would it have been better to just print the web page rather than read off the screen? What was the most important outcome? Was this outcome achieved?   Share your experiences with other teachers. What were your successes and your failures? What revisions can you make for next time? Some of the best ideas emerge when sharing your experiences with others. However, always remember that the focus of all activities is on learning, not the information or the technology.   Info Tech Menu Set a Direction Accessing Information Processing Information Communicating Information Return to Eduscapes   Created by Annette Lamb, 02/01.