Today we'll explore and evaluate the usefulness and appropriateness of these tools in your classroom.
There are a number of ways for students to learn how to use online
environments. We wouldn't be talking about them if they weren't used by
colleges and universities, and increasingly by schools. What are the
obvious advantages that online environments can bring to your classroom?
Please post a comment in response to this question so we can quickly share our opinions.
There are certainly some concerns as well - or at least challenges of implementing these. Which one to choose?
Today we will look at Thinkquest, generously provided to schools around the world for free by the Oracle Foundation and ePals.
First we'll look at Thinkquest, http://www.thinkquest.org/en/.
Please follow the demonstration, and complete the project as prompted by the instructor.
My hope is that you might find that this is just what you were looking for to implement projects, share files, provide your students with a safe environment to collaborate online with other students, allow for some individualization of students' pages, all while guiding and supervising to establish positive online work ethics and habits. Even if you don't end up using this particular site, this still may give you an idea of how your class can be organized, how to engage kids, or you might keep it for later when the right time comes for you and your school community.
While completing the project, please keep in mind your perspective as student, development specialist, school board member.
As student, focus on:
- fun and attractiveness
- ease of navigation
- simple directions
- finding friends
- customizing your page (through your experience with the project)
As development specialist, focus on:
- ease of navigation
- language used for kids, support for universal access
- a range of complexity, from simple to more complex tasks
- other benefits for younger students (like collaboration, own writing, etc.)
As school board member, focus on:
- accessibility for all
- supervision
- learning opportunities for students
- safety
Share your findings and your conclusions with the group.
ePals:
Compare to Thinkquest, what are the additional benefits? What age do you deem it appropriate for? What are the features you might use to motivate and reach more students? Which features would make some of your tasks as teacher easier?
