Advice from Master Teachers
Our Master Teachers have compiled a list of ideas and tips that
should help you troubleshoot and plan ahead as you prepare your
own Internet-based lessons.
General Suggestions
1. Don't get caught up in the hype. Only use the Web when it fits
with your curricular goals. Be sure students have a problem to solve
or a goal to achieve. No surfing!
2. Expect problems! You're bound to run into technical difficulties,
like a server going down at just the wrong moment. Always have a
back-up plan for those times when technology fails you.
3. Start small! Don't try to incorporate the Internet into all
of your lessons. Begin by familiarizing yourself with the technology
and terminology (such as "browser" or "search engine"). Start with
one or two Internet-based lessons your first year, and build from
there.
4. Always plan your time. The Internet lets you access huge amounts
of information. A topic can be covered in great detail, but this
takes time. Be sure to decide in advance which core topics are most
important to get to, then see which of these lend themselves to
online components.
5. Always monitor students, especially young children. Don't have
lower level students conduct searches on their own--they don't have
the judgment skills to sort through all the information.
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