Internet Resources

In today's technologically sufficient world, students as young as elementary school are challenged to use the internet as a resource for their research and learning process. My works cited has given a long list of different means that can be used to help teachers teach students about the importance of numbers in the classroom. Blinkx.com was a helpful video site that allowed me to find serveral videos on how to teach my students the importance of numbers in subjects other than math. My favorite site that I think would be extemely effective in the classroom was google.com/coop. This site allows teachers to create their own customized search engine for their students. It not only gives freedom to younger students who are not quite as qualified to find reputable sources on their own, but it also saves much time that a child might waste searching through thousands of articles on a topic. Through this customized search engine, students can search key words and come across sites that the teacher has designated for their students.

In my classroom, I could use this method while we are doing a history study and making timelines to teach the children the importance of numbers even in social studies. I could add importat sites that give the dates of crucial occurances in history that I want the kids to learn. From this information, students can take notes and then create their own chronological timeline from the dates that they gathered. Even when students are not right next to each other, they can use instant messaging to communicate and collaborate across the classroom without disturbing anyone else on sites such as Yahoo Messenger and Google Chat. VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol would also be a great way for students to work collaboratively even from home. It is just like being on the phone with the person, except through your computer and without those pesky long distance charges. This way, students can do their work from home and still get constructive feedback.

Overall, the internet is a great tool for students to find resources, no matter what their age. Even younger second-graders who I would like to teach can learn how to use a customized search engine to glean information. The web is now a place for people of all ages.