Now
that I have a connection to the Internet, what do I do with it?
This is a great question that is asked hundreds of times on at
conferences and in school faculty meetings. Common statements
range from I don't have time to do one more thing to
where do I go for examples? This page is dedicated to examples
of how the Web can be used in the classroom.
Art
Renaissance
Transform
your classroom into a virtual art studio and museum. Have students
create their masterpieces with free online drawing, painting,
and sculpting tools. Then, invite parents to the school gallery
where they can view their children's artwork. The following
Web sites are fantastic starting points for introducing students
to the world of artistic design.
This interactive
question and answer activity for students will teach them the
basics about copyright. There are also resources and lesson
ideas for teachers on the Copyright with
Cyberbee page.
Learn
about the history of the phonograph and listen to early recordings.
Games
Children Play
From the
Ancient Egyptian game of Senet to the digital games of today,
children have reveled in the strategies, stories, and intrigue
that challenge the mind. Teaching history, math, science, reading/languages
arts, and the unified arts through games or game construction
can reinforce skill, concept, and application level knowledge.
It's
Not Just a Picture
Advertisements
flash on the television screen, each image no longer than 3
seconds. Students look at a photograph, illustration, or painting
for about the same amount of time and nonchalantly comment, "It's
just a picture." But wait, upon further inspection and
some guided inquiry, the pictures soon come alive and tell
a story. Some of the stories are historical, some personal,
some made up. These stories behind the images bring rich context
to the viewer who might be prompted to conduct further investigation.
You never know what you may learn or the mysteries that may
unfold until you dig deeper. Let's examine people as they are
depicted in paintings, posters, and photographs and discover
their stories.
Rain
Forest Music
This is a
study of rain forest ecology. 1) Find out what plants and animals
live in the rain forest. Choose a plant or animal to investigate.
Write a short report on your findings and include a picture.
2) What sights and sounds will you encounter? Take us on a
musical journey through the rain forest.
Web
Site Treasures
Imagine being
shipwrecked on a deserted, barren island with 30 students.
You find an old barracks completely decked out with beds, cooking
paraphernalia, and food. It will be a few days before you are
rescued. The waters are shark-invested, so no swimming is allowed.
With nothing else to do, your students begin searching for
buried treasure. They are convinced a pirate ship must have
landed on this island. After digging in several locations,
a large, water-tight crate is discovered. Aha! The treasure
chest has been found. Inside are 31 laptop computers (batteries
fully charged) with wireless connectivity, five PDAs with probes,
and a digital camera. You dig out a copy of the current issue
of MultiMedia Schools magazine from your knapsack and turn
to the "CyberBee" column. With a smile on your face,
you know how to turn these treasures into golden learning experiences.
Even if you are not on a desert island, you can help your students
discover a treasure-trove of information by visiting these
Web sites.
Building
Prior Knowledge
How many
students sit silently in the classroom with no understanding
of the events behind a story because they do not bring prior
knowledge with them from conversations or experiences at home?
What are some strategies teachers can use to introduce information
crucial to comprehension? What role can technology play in
assisting teachers with presenting prior knowledge in an engaging
way?
A fourth
grade Safety Net teacher, took advantage of several technology
tools to aid her students in understanding the book Teammates
by Peter Golenbock. Teammates is a story about Jackie Robinson
and his friendship with Pee Wee Reese, both Brooklyn Dodgers,
in an era of segregation. Waugaman employed the Big6 framework
to design this powerful lesson that engaged her low-level reading
students in learning about the '30s, '40s, and '50s.
Children
of YesterYear Writing Prompts
Use primary
source photographs with to spark student writing. Each photograph
has a title and a question. A photo analysis guide is included.
Folklore:
A Tapestry of Life
This summer
(2001)I had the opportunity to attend a workshop presented
by Paddy Bowman from the National Network for Folk Arts in
Education. Paddy is a leading authority on folklife and culture.
The title of the workshop was "Finding the Invisible:
Folklore in Sense of Place." Her inspiration to learn
about one's sense of place in the community through traditions,
music, food, and crafts was the catalyst for this article.
Sometimes everyday life becomes invisible until you begin to
analyze and categorize your experiences. You have to see, hear,
smell, taste, and touch daily life in such a way that you begin
to feel a sense of person in the place where you live. Connecting
students with community can open doorways to the cultural legacies
of many diverse groups of people. It will certainly enlighten
minds.
Henry
Builds a Cabin Activity
When Henry
decides to build a cabin, he is given lots of advice from his
friends. While others think it should be bigger, he has his
own ideas. Follow Henry through the building process and see
how his cabin is just right! Henry Builds a Cabin is another
fantastic book by D.B. Johnson that looks at the life of Henry
David Thoreau in a delightfully engaging way. It is a book
for all ages.
Pop-Up
Books
Here are
activities you could incorporate into your language arts curriculum.
Have your students read How a Book is Made by Aliki at the
HarperCollins Web site. Then, print out the Noodles pop-up
book page at the same location. Have your students color the
picture with magic markers or crayons. Then cut, paste, and
fold to make the book. Take the activity one step further by
having students create their own pop-ups and stories. The following
listing points you to some terrific pages that can help you
get started.
Postcards
and Flowers
Jazz up
your e-mail correspondence by sending virtual postcards or
flowers.
Reach
Out and Touch an Author
Send your
students on an online author scavenger hunt.
Take
a Hike with Henry
Henry
Hikes to Fitchburg by D. B. Johnson is a book for ages
4 to 104. It is based on Walden written by Henry David
Thoreau, a writer, naturalist, and surveyor in the mid 1800s.
In the book, Henry and his friend travel from Concord to
Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Henry hikes the 30 miles while
his friend works odd jobs for the train fare. Who arrives
first? Read this delightful book, then choose your path to
Fitchburg. Be sure to keep a journal of your activities.
Bubble
Geometry
Have you
ever wondered whether you can blow square bubbles? Using bubble
mix and pipe cleaners find out the answer to this question
and others through hands-on experimentation at these Websites.
Let's
Make a Deal Math
"Heads,
you go first; tails, I do." "I need to roll a seven to win." "If
I can spin and land on a green slot the jackpot is mine." How
many times have you played a game and hoped to win? What is
the probability of winning? The purpose of this WebQuest is
to introduce you to some interesting problems and learn about
probable outcomes. At the conclusion of the WebQuest you will
be able to explain why some choices are better than others.
M&Ms:
In the Bag Graphing Activity
Can you
guess how many M&Ms are in a bag? What is the probability of
the same number of colors in each bag? The next time your students
complain that math is boring, toss them a bag of M&Ms.
Mastermind
Test your
skill at playing an interactive version of Mastermind and learn
about the history of the game.
Math
Destinations
Mathematics
is the study of the measurement, properties, and relationships
of quantities and sets using numbers and symbols. It is also
dazzling, magical, perplexing, challenging, cool, awesome,
and fun. Research has shown that the more-abstract concepts
become more concrete when modeled onscreen and guided by teachers.
Math
Enhancers
Try these
elementary level math enhancers at home or in your classroom.
They are based on the NCTM standards. Probability, graphing,
place values, spatial sense are just a few of the topics covered.
A
Million Money Ideas
One of the
first concepts young people learn is the value of money in
everyday life. From their first allowance to the entrepreneurship
of the lemonade stand, students learn how to plan, save, and
spend. CyberBee has been busy locating resources that will
assist in teaching and learning about money.
After your
students have learned the basics about money, set up some simulations
for them to try. How would they plan for a Lemonade Stand,
a pet grooming business, or cookie store. Create teams and
let them think up their own names. You never know who will
be the next Donald Trump.
Time
Teacher
Join Cyberbee
in this interactive clock challenge along with links to sites
on telling time.
911
Homework Help
Picture this
scene. A family is driving home from soccer practice when suddenly
Jane remembers that she has an assignment due the next day
that requires some research. The library is the logical place
to begin, but it will be closing in a few minutes. Suddenly
panic strikes. Then, mom remembers reading an article in a
magazine about homework sites on the Internet. She suggests
trying out the new computer Jane received for Christmas. Up
to this point Jane has used it for playing games and e-mailing
her friends. To everyone’s relief, they find a treasure-trove
of Web sites that will not only help Jane in her research for
the next day’s assignment, but also for future projects.
How many
times have you heard a scenario similar to the one above? In
the past 5 years, publishers of encyclopedias, almanacs, and
other reference materials have rushed to tap into the online
market. It will be interesting to watch how instant access
to information will evolve during the 21st century. In the
meantime, you can help students determine whether the information
they use from the Web is reliable by having them look at the
author and source. Several Web page evaluation guides are available
with checklists for critically reviewing a site.
On
the Road with Cyberbee
Our lives
are filled with destinations, whether it is a jaunt to a fast
food restaurant or a trip to a favorite vacation spot. In each
case, we need to know the directions. Sometimes we simply know
how to go from point A to point B, other times we have to study
maps. Think about how you give directions for navigating to
your house. Do you say turn east, west, north, or south on
such and such a street; or do you say left or right? Do you
provide landmarks like turn east just after McDonalds or if
you pass the fire station you have gone too far? If the landmarks
were not there, would people be able to find the street or
your house? When you have been given directions, have you ever
gotten lost? How many times did you have to stop before someone
could give you more precise instructions? We know that understanding
how to read different kinds of maps, plot routes between two
points, and interpret the data in a concise manner are important
concepts for students to learn. Where on the Web can we find
tools to help us? Let CyberBee show you the way.
Ready Reference
Handy Reference
Tools
Build an
Online reference collection for finding quick facts. Create
your resources so they are geared toward teaching or meeting
information literacy standards.
Some sites offer free access to their databases while others
such as encyclopedia publishers
charge subscription fees. Many schools are forming consortiums
to defray the costs for these pay as you go services. An
excellent example is InfOhio.
This core collection of electronic resources, including titles
such
as Britannica Online, EBSCO Host, Newsbank, Sirs Discoverer,
and more is free to all of Ohio's K-12 students and teachers.
Reference
Scavenger Hunt
Hone those
reference skills in this popular treasure hunt.
Bubble Geometry
Have you
ever wondered whether you can blow square bubbles? Using bubble
mix and pipe cleaners find out the answer to this question
and others through hands-on experimentation.
Butterfly
Bliss
Use the Websites
in this list to learn about butterflies, then create a butterfly
garden in your schoolyard. Don't miss the iMovie of the Red
Admiral.
Cool
Weather Destinations
Predicting
the weather has challenged man from the beginning of time.
Today, sophisticated instrumentation, satellite imagery, and
instantaneous communication allow meteorologists to issue weather
warnings before disaster strikes. Still, on some days it seems
easier just to look outside your window. So, what do we really
know about weather, and how does science help us to understand
it better? Fly with CyberBee to "cool" weather Websites.
Creekin'
Don your
boots. Grab a bucket, kick net, and water testing kit. Then,
head for the nearest creek for a great adventure. Discover
all sorts of creatures and plants that live in this aquatic
habitat. Investigate the health of the creek and its impact
on the overall environment. Observe and chart change over time
by returning to the site more than once. Be sure to follow
safety procedures and to return everything to its original
location. Prepare for your journey by visiting these Websites
for information and lesson ideas. In addition, Cyberbee has prepared
a Stream Study Lesson for you to use on field trips.
Cyberbee
Meets T-Rex
Leapin' Lizards! CyberBee has time warped back over 65 million
years to the age of the dinosaurs. Have fun digging into facts and
exploring these great sites.
Don't
Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
A
big thanks goes to Amy Cress, a kindergarten teacher at Chernington
Elementary School in Westerville, Ohio, who granted permission
to share the PowerPoint Slide Show and iMovie she created about
the hatching process of baby chicks. View the movie.
Electrifying
Experiences
Charge up
your classroom with cool experiments, awesome demonstrations,
and noteworthy historical information about electricity. Learn
about people who made major scientific contributions that opened
up new frontiers leading to household lighting, the long-distance
transmission of power, and electronic devices that made life
easier. Visit these Web sites for background information, illustrations,
explanations, lessons, and insight into the world of electricity.
FoodQuest
for Health
Before the
next commercial break, describe a food label. "What's
a food label?" you may ask. When was the last time you
read one while grocery shopping? I know, you don't shop for
groceries. Parents shop for groceries. You simply go to the
refrigerator or cupboard and grab whatever looks tasty. That's
okay, but you will need to know about nutrition which leads
to this FoodQuest/WebQuest. The purpose of this WebQuest is
to introduce you to the Food Guide Pyramid and food labels.
At the conclusion of this WebQuest you will be able to explain
the items
that are contained on a food label and their significance. You will
also be able to plan a balanced meal based on the Food Guide Pyramid.
How
Does Your Garden Grow
When
is the perfect time to plan a schoolyard garden or habitat? As
e.e. cummings wrote, "in Just—spring when the world
is mud-luscious." Imagine watching butterflies flitting
from flower to flower or listening to the melodic coo of a morning
dove as ornamental grasses sway in the gentle breeze. Each day
your students keep a journal of the natural world. The classroom
is buzzing with shared experiences. Your schoolyard habitat becomes
the focal point.
Constructing
a garden is a wonderful project that can involve the entire
school and community. Beautifying the school grounds fosters
pride, teaches students about the environment, and creates
a lasting legacy. Many schools already participate in garden
or habitat projects sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation
and the National Gardening Association. State and local wildlife
organizations also provide programs for schools along with
resources. Where do you begin? How does a garden project fit
into your daily classroom instruction? Who will provide funding?
CyberBee has been scouting the Web for ideas that can sow the
seeds for growing, inquiring minds.
Incredible
Insects
Pests, workers,
artists—the intrepid insects of the world fascinate, annoy,
and benefit humankind. From butterflies to bees to the lowly
cockroach, insects are an integral part of the natural environment,
making their mark on culture through rhyme and lore. Who can
resist Jiminy Cricket, a bug transformed into a wise intellectual
who advises Pinocchio and encourages kids to get the en-cy-clo-pe-di-a
to find information? Who hasn't chuckled at unsuspecting bugs
planning an attack only to be foiled by RAID?
What causes
fireflies to blink? Did you ever wonder about the origin of "Sleep
tight, don't let the bed bugs bite?" Sleep tight is a
reference to the tightening of ropes that supported mattresses
on old beds and don't let the bed bugs bite refers to the critters
that sometimes lived in the wooden frame. Regardless of the
reactions by students, insect studies are a favorite in the
classroom. Let's delve into the insect world and see what we
can learn.
Inquiring
Minds: Science Magic
Capture the
gas. Build a roller coaster. Experiment with gooey recipes.
Inquiring minds can learn about science through a variety of
hands-on and minds-on techniques. Structured inquiry relies
on an outline of procedures with activities designed for discovering
relationships and making generalizations about the data. Guided
inquiry allows students to develop procedures and methods for
examining concepts about a specific problem. Open inquiry challenges
students to create and solve science principles, interpret
data, and draw conclusions. Resources on the Web can supplement
the inquiry lessons in your classroom. Explore these sites
for ideas and activities.
A
Metamorphosis in Learning
How does
that caterpillar become a butterfly? And can that little egg
really grow into a frog? Exploring life cycles with students
can be a fascinating adventure. Begin by having students keep
a scientific journal of observations and research based on
the life cycles of butterflies, mealworms, and frogs. Ask them
why journals are important to scientists. What sorts of things
are written in a scientific journal? What can we learn from
a scientific journal? Why is it important for scientists to
keep journals? As students begin asking questions, direct them
to Web sites and books that will help them find the answers
to these essential questions and to gain deeper understanding.
Flyimg
High into the Sky with Math and Science
Let your
budding pilots test paper airplane designs and record data
using the Paper Airplane Science lesson. Then, graph the results.
You will be amazed.
Peregrine Falcons: From Egg to Flight
These speedy
birds of prey have adapted to city environments and many nest
in tall buildings. Technology has made it possible to watch
their nesting habits each spring via FalconCams. There are
many resources and activities that fit into every aspect of
the curriculum. Hone student research skills, learn about life
cycles, graph animal speeds, draw falcons, and write stories.
Cyberbee has gathered and organized a variety of lessons and
resources for you to use with your students, including From Egg
to Flight Observation Guide, fact sheet, scavenger hunt, vocabulary
list, and rubric.
Probing
Questions
A field trip
to Spruce Run was no ordinary outing. A group of young urban
scientists were going to collect data with science probes that
would help them find the answers to questions posed about the
differences in the ecosystems of a stream, forest, and meadow.
Which type of soil supports more plant life? Why do you think
the habitats have different pH levels in the soil? Are there
different temperature readings among the ecosystems? After
being divided into groups, students were given worksheets and
rotated through stations where they learned about the characteristics
of ecosystems, soil pH, difference between air and ground temperatures,
and how to use probes. Laptop computers were set up in the
shelter house to manipulate the information. Prior to this
scientific expedition, students were prepped with background
information on habitats, pH, making predictions, and soil composition.
Web sites provided valuable background information and contributed
to the prior knowledge necessary for scientific inquiry.
Rain
Forest Music
This is
a study of rain forest ecology. 1) Find out what plants and
animals live in the rain forest. Choose a plant or animal to
investigate. Write a short report on your findings and include
a picture. 2) What sights and sounds will you encounter? Take
us on a musical journey through the rain forest.
Science Lesson: Yuckiest Site on the Internet
In this activity
students will work in groups to investigate two different organisms,
a worm from the annelid phylum, and a cockroach from one of
the insect orders. Each group will conduct their investigations
using the Web as a resource, and a real example of the organism
for comparison. This lesson promotes critical
thinking and research.
Who
Dunnit?
Who took
a bite out of the candy? Sticky fingers have been found on
the broken aquarium glass. Wet footprints lead to the open
window. What is that powdery substance next to the broken piggy
bank? Answering these questions is what forensic science is
all about. Learn how to be a crime solver by exploring the
world of the forensic scientist. Then, solve The Case of the
Barefoot Burglar.
Science
Fair Fundamentals
Science
Fair programs are awesome and can generate all sorts of amazing
results from inspiring and engaging projects. Finding good
resources that outline the process and suggest age-appropriate
topics is a key component for getting students started. Another
important factor is to involve parents so that they can assist
their children throughout the process. Be sure to visit these
CyberBee-selected Web sites for resources, tips, and experiments
that will help jump-start your science fair program.
Science
Fair Preparation
Discover the
wonderful world of science with these tips and materials from
the professionals.
Wonders
of Science Scavenger Hunt
Have fun trying
to find the solutions to these fascinating science questions.
African
American Experiences: Window to the Past
In this lesson,
students learn about the experiences of African-Americans under
the institution of slavery using primary and secondary sources.
Students search, examine, and analyze primary and secondary
sources from a variety of digitized materials on the Internet.
Students apply this knowledge by creating a digital scrapbook
depicting a Day in the Life of an African-American during this
time period.
American
Memory Quick Lessons
These lesson
ideas were created in a workshop with Columbus Public Schools
Library Media Specialists.
Buffalo
Slide Show
Primary source
visuals and text tell the story of the buffalo in relationship
to Manifest Destiny.
Caching
in with GPS
Map trails,
find treasure caches, and solve problems by using a Global
Positing System (GPS) with your students.
Cavalcade
of American History
While rummaging
in grandma's attic, have you ever discovered a box of old photographs
and marveled at the images, never to know who is pictured.
Or found old newspapers, magazines, or sheet music and wondered
how they survived the ravages of time? Imagine seeing the handwritten
journal entry of Walt Whitman's observation at the Battle of
Antietam or viewing the only known picture of Lincoln at Gettysburg.
Now you can reconnect with our nation’s history through
the National Digital Library's American Memory online collections
presented by the Library of Congress. With new processes for
preservation and imaging, the Library of Congress has undertaken
a massive effort to make diverse collections of primary source
material available electronically.
Let's journey
through history from the hand written documents of the founding
fathers to the social and cultural landscape of a growing nation.
In words, pictures, and sounds the American Memory collections
offer us the unique opportunity to dig through original source
material and bring living history into our classrooms. CyberBee
brings you highlights from a few of the current collections
and ways to use them with your students.
Country
Journey
In this
activity, you will be creating a travel brochure. You may use
any word processing or publishing program. In fact, you could
design a Web page with the country information. Be sure to
include the flag, map, common phrases, currency and its equivalent
in dollars, how to travel to this destination, a description
of the country, things to do, and any other interesting tidbits
you might learn. Use these Web sites to help you.
CyberBee's
Political Memorabilia Exhibit
This online
exhibit of campaign buttons, ribbons, pins, watch fobs, medalets,
postcards, and sheet music was made possible by the Ohio Historical
Society and Macy Hallock who generously allowed me to photograph
their collections.
Discovering
American Memory
Discover
the American Memory collections from the Library of Congress.
Learn about primary sources, search strategies, and the wealth
of rich material at the click of a mouse. Lots of ideas and
ready made activities to use with all grade levels of students.
I created this material during a special assignment with the
Library of Congress.
The
Drinking Gourd
Enslave a
people and they will find a way to escape. As the Underground
Railroad developed, a metaphor unfolded that grew into a culture
and myth of its own. People were passengers, although they
never set foot on a train car; homes were stations, but there
were no tracks; conductors led a group of people but never
collected tickets. It was a road to freedom that followed the
drinking gourd, a code name for the Big Dipper.
When did
the Underground Railroad begin? How many people escaped between
the American Revolution and the Civil War? What were the code
words used on the Underground Railroad, and who were the people
who risked their safety for a cause that they believed was
just? Let's travel back in time and learn about the Underground
Railroad.
Egan's
Basket Grocery
Visit a 1921
grocery store. Egan's Basket Grocery was one of the first self-serve
groceries in Colorado.
Everyday
Artifacts
Critical
thinking skills will be used to introduce students to primary
sources. You will also meet some of the curators from the Library
of Congress as they describe artifacts from the American Memory
collections. Join us in a magical Adventure Through History.
Legacy
of the Dust Bowl
As the billowing
black clouds of dust rolled and swirled across the plains in
the 1930s, the American landscape was drastically changed.
With their crops destroyed, a steady stream of humanity trekked
westward to the promised land of California. John Steinbeck
wrote vividly about the migrant camps in The Grapes of Wrath,
Dorothea Lange documented the harsh conditions with compelling
photographs, and Woody Guthrie, a refugee himself, sang Dust
Bowl ballads. The stark reality of the Depression era contrasts
sharply with the decades before and after it. Let's travel
down the highway of time and view firsthand eyewitness accounts,
pictures, and music archived on a variety of Web sites.
Manifest
Destiny
What is manifest
destiny? What were some of the reasons that led to manifest
destiny. What effect did it have on the people, the land, and
the wildlife? Your history book is one source for information,
but there are many documents, photographs, and other artifacts
that were created at the time of an event. These primary resources
also help to tell the story about history. Using the primary
resources from the Library of Congress, your history book,
and other sources, answer these questions and those on the
next set of pages.
Primary
Source Investigation: Children of YesterYear
Primary
Source Investigation: Children of YesterYear Portraits
Learn how
to use primary sources such as photographs, sound recordings,
motion pictures, and documents through engaging activities
around the topic of children.
Revolutionary
Viewpoints
April Morning
by Howard Fast is on many core reading lists and addresses
several of the standards in reading/language arts as well as
social studies. This lesson draws upon primary sources as a
means to interpret the events of April 19, 1775.
There were
no cameras present to record the clashes between the Colonists
and British during the struggle for independence. Our historical
record relies on the stories told through paintings, drawings,
broadsides, newspapers, government documents, and eyewitness
accounts. The details of a skirmish or battle depend on whose
account you read and the person's interpretation. These quotes
illustrate two opposing viewpoints at a time when most Colonists
considered themselves to be British.
We
the People: Behind the Scenes with Benjamin Franklin
The U.S. Constitution is a living, flexible document that is
the foundation of American government. Benjamin Franklin played
a key role as elder statesman at the Constitutional Convention
in 1787. Join Dr. Franklin as he shares his views about the framing
of the U.S. Constitution in the town where history was made -
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Westward
Expansion: Trails West
By covered
wagon and handcart the emigrants came west across the plains
and mountains of America. What was it like to walk 2,000 miles
for the promise of fertile ground, a chance for fortune, and
the dream of a new life? Who were these individuals who risked
the arduous trip? What were the living conditions along the
trails from Missouri to California and Oregon? Insight into
this six-month journey can be derived from newspaper accounts,
contemporary books of the era, and personal diaries of the
people who forged an expanding nation. Many organizations,
commercial companies, and individuals are publishing these
materials on the Web for easy electronic access.
What
Do You See?
Analyze
a primary source photograph using this guide.
eLearning
in the Digital Age
With the
advent of technological advances, distance education is experiencing
a renaissance in delivering curriculum via two-way audio and
video and the Web. Virtual classrooms are popping up at educational
institutions across the U.S. and around the world. The concept
of a virtual learning space allows the individual the flexibility
to take a course anytime, anywhere; to interact with professors
and other students in small learning communities; and to choose
from a wide range of course offerings. This trend is now filtering
down to K-12 schools. This idea is particularly attractive
to students in remote areas who would not otherwise be able
to take certain courses because there are not enough students
or a qualified teacher is unavailable. It is also an innovative
way to provide professional development or continuing education
to K-12 teachers.
Teacher
Timesavers, Tools, and Tips
Summer is
rapidly approaching. It is time to rest, relax, and leisurely
explore new Web sites that offer timesaving tools, practical
tips, appealing clipart, and free or inexpensive software programs
that work like magic. Begin your next school year with a digital
folder full of new ideas, worksheets, puzzles, and software
tools that will liven up your lessons.
Tools
of the Trade
Create a
home page using Web-based tools that offer fill-in-the-blank
authoring. No HTML coding is necessary; the wizards do the
job for you. If you already have a home page, jazz it up with
cut-and-paste ease. If you are not a graphic artist, there
are sites that provide a variety of templates, buttons, banners,
icons, and animations to use as long as you link back to the
site. Students will love experimenting with JavaScripts. Clocks,
scrolling messages, time, and date can be placed on pages without
knowing anything about writing JavaScript. Try out a message
board. It's a snap for sharing information with parents, students,
or colleagues. In order to build a house, the construction
workers use specific materials and tools to make the job easier.
It is the same when working with Web pages. If you have the
proper tools, the construction will be much smoother. Here
are some of CyberBee's favorite tools.
Tutorials
Step-by-step
instructions are provided for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Sound
Recorder, and Palm. These were designed to use as introductions
for students.
Web Authoring
Create a
simple Web page with Dreamweaver using a step-by-step tutorial.
Read the Ten Tips for Webmasters. Find links to all sorts of
design tools from javascript to RSS feeds.
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