Tips for Classroom Teachers

"The question is no longer IF the Internet can be used to transform learning in new and powerful ways...Nor is the question SHOULD we invest the time, the energy, and the money necessary to fulfill its promise in defining and shaping new learning opportunity...It is time we collectively move the power of the Internet for learning from promise to practice."
"The Power of the Internet for Learning," Report of the Web-Based Education Commission to the President and the Congress of the United States, December 2000.

Making the Most of Your Time Online

Web sites change like the wind! Don't expect everything to work every time. If a site is unavailable or the school network is down, have an alternate activity planned. A few examples: Split the class in half and use Computer Skills terminology for a fun quiz game; let students sketch a storyboard for an upcoming multimedia project. Get your hands on a list of computer skills vocabulary!
Text portions of sites will load more quickly than the graphics. Train students to move down the page and read text while waiting for graphics to load.
Wondering how to do something with your browser? Go to the HELP section. It's easily overlooked, but full of easy-to-understand information.
Be patient when waiting for sites to download. If it's taking far too long, sometimes it helps to click on the STOP button (usually at the top of the screen), then click on RELOAD or REFRESH.
If you're typing in a long URL (web site address), make sure you have the exact address. Include all numbers, punctuation, letters or symbols. If your address is incorrect, go to a search engine, like www.google.com, and do a search on the specific topic you have in mind.
Did you know that the time of day can affect download times and access? As you know, access is becoming more of a problem as Internet use increases.
It is very easy to get lost burrowing through page after page of links! Train students to bookmark the site's home page before taking any new online journey.
Only one computer with Internet access? Connect it to a TV, overhead projector (with projection device), or data projector and conduct a whole class lesson. You can also consider saving the site to your hard drive for later use. Once the site is saved, you can load it--without Internet access--but it looks like you're really online! Go to the HELP section of your browser to learn how to do this.
Build in time for students to explore. If you're in a lab, use exploration time to move around the room, asking questions, redirecting, encouraging, interacting, and learning from the children. Let the students' comments, questions, and interests serve as ingredients for a wonderful future learning recipe! Allow time at the end of an Internet session for whole group discussion, sharing, and debate.
Don't let reading comprehension skills fly out the window when students go online. Apply those same successful reading strategies to electronic text, as you would with print resources.
Let students work in partners or small groups for locating information to solve problems or rise to a challenge.
Why not print this page and stick it on the computer?