1. Implementation 495: The Internet and World Wide Web for K-12 Educators. Research Question: How does Internet Research Impact the Types of Products Students Produce?

2. Research Design: Focus Group – Suburban Middle School in Baltimore County – 7 th Grade Gifted and Talented Students – World Cultures (Western Civilizations History) Topic – Ancient Middle Eastern Civilizations – Ancient African Civilizations

3. Project Requirements 3 days of Research on six different civilizations. Students would choose one civilization to produce a product on. Type of product produced was up to the student.

4. Student Research 66 Gifted and Talented Students in three sections. Control Group (48 students) – Given print Resources, provided by teacher Experimental Group (18 students) – Went to Internet Lab to complete research. – Use of Social Networking Site (Delicious) Research Question: Would the use of the internet lab impact product creativity in the Experimental Group of students?

5. Outcomes Control Group Product Results Experimental Group Product Results

6. Outcomes Con’t How did the students rate the usefulness of their sources?

7. Outcomes Con’t If given the choice of Research mediums…

8. Conclusions Students enjoy using the Internet as a part of daily instruction to complete in class research. – Students like using computers, but misuse becomes a problem Students enjoy using the Internet, but find it difficult to find valid sources and refine searches. – When the teacher provides information to students research time is cut in half. Research medium (books v. technology) has no impact on product choice or creativity. – Skill level, experience, and age play a factor

9. Next Steps Increase the use of the Internet lab for in class research assignments. Teach students how to evaluate sources they use through using Social Networking sites like Delicious. – Increases higher level thinking – Helps students gain understanding about validity, and bias. Use a combination of Library (print) resources as well as online ones. – Helps students to filter and determine validity. Allow students to use creativity in product choice. – Help to address as many learning styles as possible in my classroom.