You have heard the phrase stop and smell the roses, but did you ever stop and take an in-depth analysis of a web site. If you did, you might discover a wonderful resource to teach with.
Recently I did a googled for cactus and found: 5,050,000 for cactus (read about how google works). Since I wanted some information about cacti to teach with, I did what any reasonable person would do, I scanned and clicked here and there and found "kinda" what I was looking for. Now, why did I use this strategy? Time is the answer, I have to manage a full time job, a part time adjunct professor job, two of my own children, be a great husband, organize off-season workouts for my varsity football players and take a class on School Law. With this craziness in mind, I offer this suggestion: Instead of watching TV for 30 minutes a day, take that time to "watch and INTERACT" with an exciting web site and then share what you learned with others.
If I were going on a trip to Arizona to look at saguaro cacti, I would use a map to guide me on my journey. Well, here is a "map" for you on your journey through some of the best educational web sites. The following are indexes of sites, so try:
Blue Web'N - sponsored by Packard Bell
Marco Polo - sponsored by MCI
Technology and Learning - sponsored by Technology and Learning Magazine
The web makes sharing great web resources - you know sharing is good for your soul - easy. All you have to do is bookmark a website using a portable bookmarking application and then share it with your colleagues. I use and recommend two of them: Ikeepbookmarks and Linkagogo.
I envision teachers, grade levels and departments finding and sharing web resources with simple clicking and either of these two web sites. Aside from bookmarking, you can also design hotlists for students to explore - an instructional idea! Check this one out about Technology Infused Learning Experiences (TILEs) organized by grade level and created by former Buffalo State Students.
So, stop using the Favorites/Bookmarks in your web browser and start bookmarking web resources so that you can share them. Grab your favorite beverage, get under a blanket with your wireless laptop and look at a web site like you would watch a great movie - like The Three Amigos . You might discover a new form of entertainment.
If I were going on a trip to Arizona to look at saguaro cacti, I would use a map to guide me on my journey. Well, here is a "map" for you on your journey through some of the best educational web sites. The following are indexes of sites, so try:
Blue Web'N - sponsored by Packard Bell
Marco Polo - sponsored by MCI
Technology and Learning - sponsored by Technology and Learning Magazine
The web makes sharing great web resources - you know sharing is good for your soul - easy. All you have to do is bookmark a website using a portable bookmarking application and then share it with your colleagues. I use and recommend two of them: Ikeepbookmarks and Linkagogo.
I envision teachers, grade levels and departments finding and sharing web resources with simple clicking and either of these two web sites. Aside from bookmarking, you can also design hotlists for students to explore - an instructional idea! Check this one out about Technology Infused Learning Experiences (TILEs) organized by grade level and created by former Buffalo State Students.
So, stop using the Favorites/Bookmarks in your web browser and start bookmarking web resources so that you can share them. Grab your favorite beverage, get under a blanket with your wireless laptop and look at a web site like you would watch a great movie - like The Three Amigos . You might discover a new form of entertainment.
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