Internet Resources :)

How can I use a variety of Internet resources in your unit plan?
How could I use some other communication tools in the classroom?

Internet is a huge resource today in schools and in everyones life in general. There are many ways to use the internet and now being wireless, students can access information more easily and quickly. Having this advantage in going into the education system, I can have students research their information. Students will ask themselves questions and will be able to look things up quickly and on the point. One way with blogging I can have students write about what they have researched or even found and I can connect with the students in another way besides in the actual classroom and hands on. Students can now take control of their education and research on their own.

Kid-friendly search engines:
There are many kid-friendly search engines that you can provide for your students. These search engines have are safe and realiable. This tool can help your students find many different things that they are looking for. I would use these search engines to show my students how to rearch for information for their for a project. Some serach engines that are Kid-Friendly are: Ask for Kids!, Kids Konnect, Squirrel Net, and Dinosearch.

Chat and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol):
One big thing going around in high school and colleges are different chatting devices. Many students will go through Yahoo! or even MSN Messenger. One way to better communicate with peers is through chat because they are talking one-on-one or even in a group chat. Students can give feedback to each other instantly and even talk through microphones. Chatting is a big way to network and connect with others through a different form of talking. I can set up a classroom chat on a safe site and the students can talk to each other after school hours about school work or even what is going on. Student's will be able to connect with the teacher through the chatting too because I am the creator of it. Also, VoIP's are internet resources that can turn a standard internet connection into a way to place phone calls, send instant messages or text messages, or can be shared files.

Images:
The ineternet is very resourceful with pictures. Students may question what something looks like and they can automatically look it up and have the results in seconds. For example, and child would like to know what different computers look like so they can go to Google and type in computers. Instantly they have the results they want an have a bigger meaning of different types of computers. One way that students can use images is through projects. Students can send each other pictures of research that they have found, or even pictures they have taken themselves of their surroundings.

Tehcnology is growing everyday and it is a useful source. Everyone uses it and being able to bring it more into the classroom is great. Students love learning more through technology because they do get bored with paper and pencil. Tehcnology and using different resources like chat and the forward of pictures will help students connect in their class as well as with their peers.