As this fast-paced technological age directs the future, ways to integrate
it in the classroom becomes a primary focus for educators today.
Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule for integration in any
classroom. Ultimately, it depends upon many factors before a plan for
integration can be made. First and foremost access to computers should be
considered. Depending upon the access, integration can occur on varying
levels. Gradual integration is the best way to start utilizing the
internet in the classroom. A great starting point is to use a single
lesson for the student's first immersion into this new form of teaching.
As familiarity and comfort increases the teacher and student would
progress towards a project involving a thematic unit. Finally, as a
long-term commitment the teacher and student could try a yearlong activity
structured as a project (Karchmer 2000).
Whether integration occurs as
suggested above or in another modified fashion, the following core
components should be incorporated and considered during this integration.
• The agenda for integration should always be curriculum correlated and
driven.
• The lesson or mode of integration should be thoroughly prepared and
researched by the teacher.
• The teacher should be knowledgeable about the components of the
lesson and in using the internet.
The benefits of the Internet for teachers are many. First, teachers can
use the Internet for sharing resources. Teachers can display their own
innovative lessons for others to use, or they can utilize the World Wide
Web as a resource for gathering information such as lesson plans and
activities for use in the classroom. Second, teachers can interact with
others in order to share ideas and determine solutions for the common
classroom. Finally, it is important to remember that the Internet provides
global access to resources (Dyrli & Krona-man, 1995). Such resources can
be found in locations all over the world and are specifically designed for
the benefit of teachers, students, and other individuals. The Internet
fosters the sense of a global teaching community because it allows
individuals to correspond with each other from anywhere on the globe.
As with teachers, the benefits to students are many. Access to the
Internet and the wealth of information it provides allows students to have
greater control over their own learning. The Internet empowers students to
make decisions regarding their research and to become more independent
learners. . It also opens the doors to places and opportunities a student
would not be able to access in a normal classroom. The ability to email
students from different parts of the world and receive first-hand accounts
on current events in that part of the world as well as exposure to the
different culture in that part of the world is an example of two things
that would normally be impossible in today's classroom.
Another benefit to the student is that the Internet is flexible and
provides a forum for creating, publishing, searching, and making
decisions. There are many ways of exploring, and no single correct way
exists. Students must decide on the searching path for themselves. This
type of decision-making skill will prove to be invaluable to the student
as they grow and enter college and the work world.
Before deciding to bring the Internet into the classroom, teachers must
investigate the barriers to implementation as well as the potential
benefits of Internet use. As with most things, along with the positive,
there are often negative aspects. Several barriers to use are related to
initial setup for Internet access; others are related to actual use of the
Internet.
One major barrier to implementing Internet access in classrooms is the
lack of computers and for those schools with computers there is a lack of
teacher training in Internet use (Sanchez, 1995). Many teachers do not
know how to use the Internet or to integrate the resources available on
the Internet into their curriculum. Another barrier to implementation is
the lack of class time that can be devoted to using the Internet (Frazier,
1995). Another problem is that many school districts are fearful of the
cost of implementation and are skeptical in regard to the benefits of
having access to the Internet. Because children are involved--and teachers
are responsible--the problem of Internet pornography is particularly acute
in the school setting. This is probably the main reason many school
districts and parents are hesitant to integrate the Internet.
Now comes the hard part, how do I plan to integrate the internet into
my classroom? First, I plan on using blackboard as a means of
communication with my students. Because many of them will attend ULL, this
can prove to be an invaluable learning experience for future collegiate
endeavors. Since I am talking about eighth grade gifted Algebra I, my
expectations will not be as stringent as a college instructor. I plan on
utilizing the forum discussions, possibly an online quiz, and the
fostering of communication among my students from the three different
schools I teach at. I plan to require that they fill in their homepage as
well as download a digital picture (I will take with a digital camera and
save on disk) so that they can experience some technological aspects of
the internet as well as foster some familiarity between students. I also
plan to try and have an open chat time concerning a chosen mathematical
topic. The primary goal I will have is to have the students become
familiar with blackboard and to have the student's foster communication
and feel a sense of familiarity with students taking the same class across
the parish.
I also plan on having students turn in the problem of the week on
MATHCOUNTS.org for every week. These problems are always NCTM driven and
meet the requirements of the state and nation. These problems are very
similar to ones the student will be expected to solve on the Math Leap.
Since the problems deal with current events on a weekly basis, it will
also serve the dual purpose of incorporating Math and Social Studies by
keeping the student's abreast of some aspect of what is going on in the
world today.
