The Internet is a powerful tool. It can open new worlds, build new relationships, and inspire creativity in students. However, the Internet can also be intimidating. When teaching Kindergarten students how to research on the internet, it is very important that we lay the foundation now and peak their interest in the world wide web. The success of even our youngest students has become dependent on their ability to successfully search, navigate, and employ the Internet to fulfill a purpose.
In this course I explored a new, expanded definition of literacy for the 21st century. I evaluated my own 21st century literacy skills and determined how I can infuse the teaching of these skills into my content area curriculum.
Through the implementation of small lessons, the students can practice the necessary skills through the curriculum objectives. Although my students already have the opportunity to use multimedia in the classroom, I have not tried to research anything on the internet with them. I am enthusiastic about the modeling the use of the tools that I have discovered through this program. I will be making our classroom my newsletter into a wiki as well as publishing a book for our room that we can enhance by creating a voice thread with.
It is my hope that by laying the necessary foundation to these new literacy skills that my students as well as their parents will develop and interest in the internet and the great potential it has for enhancing the education of us all.
Internet in the Classroom
The internet is such a rich tool for teaching. Webquests, I-Searches, Class Newsletter, Blogs etc.. all enhance learning. The reason why teachers tend to shy away from the internet as a teaching tool is because of their insecurity and confidence about how to use it effectively. I speak from experience. :) After I tool several classes about how to use the internet in the classroom I was excited and energized to carry out what I had learned. I've used it in my classrooms as well as with my tutoring students. Tutoring one-on-one as well as the classroom are both great arenas for utilizing the internet as a tool for teaching specific skills and making learning fun. It's our future and our responsibility as educators to implement it.
Have fun with it!