USING THE INTERNET TO CREATE WEB-BASED LESSONS IASL CONFERENCE MALMO, SWEDEN August, 2000 Dr. Sheila Offman Gersh City College of New York

Schools are using the Net to... Post information for the world to see, including artwork, essays, sounds, etc. Take virtual tours of museums, cities, and foreign countries

Schools are using the Net to... Give students access to the latest information around the planet Allow students to participate in global projects of all kinds

Schools are using the Net to... Bring experts from numerous fields right into the classroom (Ask A Scientist) Interact with people from around the world, via live video and audio -- for free!

That all sounds great, but... How do you use the Internet:...in existing curriculum?...to excite students?...for professional development?

What students do with the Web 85 % of K-12 schools in US have Web access The Web allows for an interactive learning experiences (GlobaLearn)GlobaLearn Easy to navigate via the World Wide Web’s CD ROM-like interface Quickly search for appropriate materials for school assignments of all kinds

Why use the Web at school? Easy for students at all levels (Kindergarten and up) to use the Net The Web makes learning fun! Online information is moving to the Web, making it simple to track things down

Why use the Web at school? Thousands of school Web sites are tieing the online world to the classroom schools.html Netscape: Olmed School

What Are the Benefits to Using the Internet? Better understanding of your student’s world Access to instructional tools/ resources Access to curricular/research resources Promotes anytime, anywhere learning Improves communication Provides exposure to places, simulations, etc. normally unattainable Provides real world experiences and skills Provides FUN !

What Are Some of These Offerings? Tutorials/Online Lessons Tutorials/Online Lessons Teacher resources Teacher resources Online activities Online activities Online projects Online projects WebQuests WebQuests

What’s an Internet lesson plan? Most Internet plans require students to do: Do research via online sites Communicate with others globally (SMEs) Partner with classes Exchange information Synthesize and publish collected material back onto the Internet

Value of Internet lessons Student benefits: Do collaborative problem solving Learn and work in teams Work in student “learning circles” Exercise high-level thinking skills Increases information literacy

Net lesson raw materials Use your current lessons Locate and collect traditional lesson plans via the Internet (ex. ERIC) Adapt Internet lesson plans posted online by other educators for your personal use List your favorite sites

“Internet Way” Use these ideas to get into the “Internet mindset” before creating your own plan Use the Internet to reach your learning goals, not just as an excuse to use the Net Much more than just “online” encyclopedias and dictionaries

“Internet Way” Objectives Access information unavailable through traditional sources Up-to-the minute news Collaborate with people around the world Exchange information with another class (or expert) in another country

“Internet Way” Procedures Give students meaningful reasons to use the Internet Demonstrate the power of technology by requiring students to search for, retrieve, synthesize, share information

“Internet Way” Extensions Stretch the limits of available technology Customize, localize, specialize your Internet lesson plan Build Web sites with student work Have students audio/videoconference Create Tele-field trips that go beyond your basic lesson objectives

“Internet Way” Assessment Were your students able to find information and people on the Internet they couldn’t access in any other way? Did they stretch their technology skills? Did the Internet increase their ability to sort out good information from the bad? Constructivism?--Are students creating knowledge?

Building your own Internet Lesson What do you want your students to accomplish? Infuse traditional resources into your plan, as well as Internet materials Use printed materials and on-line search tools to locate relevant online sites Let’s look at some lesson examples!

Internet projects What is an Internet project? A structured learning activity that requires students to use the Internet Types of Internet projects: Interpersonal exchanges Information gathering and sharing Collaborative problem solving

Internet projects Interpersonal exchanges Keypals (online pen pals) Electronic appearances by experts Electronic mentoring

Internet projects Information gathering and sharing Sharing data between participants Electronic publishing Database creation Tele-field trips Pooled data analysis Surveys

Internet projects Collaborative problem solving Information searches - “Scavenger Hunts” Writing projects in tandem Contests and student Internet challenges Pooled data analysis to reach shared conclusions

Existing Internet projects Global Grocery List Global data collection and sharing Galapagos Electronic appearances, keypals Newsday Project Writing project in tandem

When seeking projects... Keep in mind: When does it start? Length? Deadlines? Is there enough lead time to properly integrate it into your instructional timetable? Will you have the right tools to participate? Are your students Net-literate enough to participate?

Sources of projects Project Proposals Project Center - Project Center Listservs IECC - Companies IECC Globalearn - Fees, include professional instructional materials, access to special databases, direct student contact with project team

Creating your own project Seven steps: 1. Think about your curriculum goals and what you want your students to learn 2. Choose which kind of project you’d like to create... Interpersonal exchanges Information gathering and sharing Collaborative problem solving

Creating your own project 3. Choose the topic and content for the project 4. Design your project with specific goals, tasks, and outcomes in mind 5. Set specific beginning and ending dates for the project, and specific deadlines for participants

Creating your own project 6. Use the upcoming template for designing your call for participation, then post your call at least five weeks in advance of the starting time. 7. Let your project run its course! When the project is over, share the results/student work with all participants

Where to post your call IECC-Projects and HILITES mailing lists as mentioned earlier... Electronic Schoolhouse Projects America Online keyword: ESH

What is a WebQuest? A WebQuest is defined, by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University, as "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet."

Why Use A WebQuest? Increases Student Motivation Provides Real World Experiences real resources real tools Develops Higher Level Thinking Skills Promotes Cooperative Learning For more information html html

What are the components of a WebQuest? Inquiry-oriented Based on doable, engaging tasks Uses pre-defined resources from the Web Can be short or long term Most likely to be group activities Should include role playing for learners

What are the components of a WebQuest? There are six building blocks to a WebQuest. Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion Web page: /buildingblocks.html

INTRODUCTION Should orient the learner to what is coming Should raise interest in the learner through a variety of means

TASK A description of what the learner will have done at the end of the exercise Could be a product or a verbal presentation

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS Clearly describes steps strategies for dividing the task into subtasks descriptions of roles to be played perspectives to be taken by each learner Lets the learners know the process to go through to accomplish the task Can also provide learning advice

SET OF INFORMATION SOURCES (RESOURCES) A list of Web pages located and pre-selected by the teacher helps the learner accomplish the task Allows the learners to focus their attention on the topic rather than surfing May include resources not on the Web All resources may not be used by all students

EVALUATION Needs to be able to measure results An evaluation rubric is recommended designed by teachers vary depending on the kind of task given to the student Sample rubric: trubric.html trubric.html

ADVANTAGES OF USING RUBRICS Allows assessment to be more objective and consistent  Shows the student how their work will be evaluated and what is expected  Promotes student awareness of about the criteria to used in assessing peer performance  Provides useful feedback regarding the effectiveness of the instruction

CONCLUSION To summarize the experience To encourage reflection about the process To extend the experience into other domains To bring closure to the WebQuest

Let’s Look at a Sample Lesson Sample lesson: C596/WebQuest_Template1.html C596/WebQuest_Template1.html Become familiar with resources online in your content area Organize the resources into categories Identify topics that fit in with the curriculum!

What are some examples of WebQuests? Great Immigration WebQuest WebQuest: The 1960’s Museum t.html t.html Submarines: Where Are They Now? html html Gold Rush Players

Thank You! Thank You! Any Questions??