Blog #9

Well, well. Back to another week of blogs. I do have to say that it gives me great joy to know after I write this I will only have one, yes one, blog entry left in my Education Technology career. I might continue to write in this afterwards, we shall see. Writing is supposedly theraputic.

So. Here goes- some information for you future educators on web-based tools.

Web based tools are useful for just about anyone. If teachers use these tools to improve their instruction, they will see practically guaranteed results. Websites and programs with reinforcement on the materials students learn in class are extremely effective. While browsing the internet for interesting sites, I first thought to go to National Geographic to their edcuational department. They have programs for almost any type of history, science, or other miscellaneous subject that are interactive with students. If your class has the resources at home, these programs are great for them to look at with their parents, or to assign homework from these websites.

I chose a particular program on Pearl Harbor. The National Geographic approach to teaching students about the attack is through photos and first hand accounts, as well as footage taken the day of the attack. Students can find a timeline of the day on the website, as well as a program which allows them to pretend they were there and places them in the middle of the conflict. They also have a memory book on the website which gives family members and those present a chance to tell their own story on the website. I thought this would be a wonderful activity to let a class participate in at a day in the computer lab after going over the attack and watching a short video on it. This way they see several perspectives on December 7, 1941.

Link: http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/index.html

There are so many possibilities when it comes to web-based tools and instruction. There are literally, no boundaries. I honestly cannot think of much that I have not seen, only because my high school was technologically advanced, in my opinion. I think it would be fun to have students make videos and post them on the web, on YouTube or a similar website, and have your different classes view the other students' videos and give them feedback. You could relate the videos to a certain lesson, therefore the students get a chance to speak about how they feel about the situation/what they are learning about.