Preparing to Use Technology

Browser Options

Browsers are software programs that allow users to see the information on the web. While there are many browsers, we list the top ones here. All are free downloads and some are specific to certain operating systems.

FireFox
Great open source/free browser developed by Mozilla. Latest version has many features and can be used by Mac OS X and Linux users.

Internet Explorer
Developed by Microsoft, IE has been the most commonly used browser software for Windows users on XP and Vista.

Browser Plugins

Plugins are software programs that enhance the capabilities of a browser to give them the ability to read-only files when the user's computer does not have the full version of software. Common plugins needed for the viewing of Internet documents are Adobe Reader, Shockwave and Flash players, QuickTime, and RealPlayer, each of which are explained below.

Adobe Reader
PDF pages are becoming more and more a part of Internet communication because of the program’s ability to preserve the formatting in a secure environment for document exchange. Download Adobe Reader to access and read Adobe Acrobat files if the Adobe Acrobat software is not available on the computer.

RealPlayer
Free downloads for Mac OS X users at this site. RealPlayer is used to view video files and will read QuickTime files.

Shockwave and Flash Readers
Used to access and read Shockwave and Flash files if the computer is not loaded with the full programs. Download free Shockwave and Flash players at the Adobe homepage.

QuickTime
Used to view video files on Macs or Windows. Available for Mac OS X Tiger or later or Windows XP or Vista.

Windows Media Player
Download the player plug-in for Firefox that serves XP or Vista.

Evaluation of Web sites

Kathy Schrock Guide for Educators
This site developed and maintained by Kathy Schrock, offers a guide for evaluation of web sites for elementary, middle school, and secondary school levels at this page.

Quick Quality Education
This site developed and maintained by Health Development Agency in the UK offers a guide for evaluation of web sites for children that offers questions that children should be able to answer about sites including the author, the aims, the relevancy, the currency, the bias of the information in a kid-friendly interface.

Evaluating Web Sites
This site offers five online modules, three of which involve the web. Great for teachers or students, the modules offer information on Evaluating Web Sites, Conducting Effective Web Searches, and Designing Inquiry Based WebQuests. Also found here are modules on Planning with Storyboards and Designing Rubrics for Assessment. These modules were developed at the U. of TN. with funding from the Innovative Technology Center.

Integrating the Web into Learning

Working the Web for Education
Theory and practice on integrating the web into learning is the main focus of this site designed by Tom March, one of the developers of the popular WebQuest model. Of particular interest in a comparison of traditional resources and web resources such as the traditional library vs the Library of Congress and traditional fields trips vs a virtual field trip of The Heart. He reviews the benefits of the web as well as some concerns.

Integrating technology: Games

FunBrain
Pearson Education sponsors this site that contains Flash Arcades, Web Books, Movies and the Classic Funbrain collection. There is a new FunBlog for girls and boys in specific age groups. Pearson proves that students can have fun while learning. This site is developed for students in grades K-8.

Online Games
This site proposes to "engage and educate". Academic Skill Builders present online educational games for learning basic math, language arts, vocabulary and thinking skills. Increasing fluency impacts 3 learning outcomes: retention, endurance and application if while having fun. Try these games with single players or multi-players. Requires a flasher player to access.

Nobelprize
Play games and simulations based on the achievements of Nobel Prize-awarded achievements at this site. Test and build your knowledge in physics, chemistry, physiology medicine, literature, peace and economics. Explore this site and learn while having some fun!!

Integrating Technology: Online Projects

The Global Schoolhouse
Global SchoolNet is a network of teachers who practice online project-based learning activities in their K-12 classrooms. Since its beginning, Global SchoolNet has reached more than a million students from 25,000 schools across 100 countries in collaborative learning activities.

CIESE (Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education
Established in 1988 at Stevens Institute of Technology, CIESE helps bring the Institute's technology experience to the K-12 environment through the design of interdisciplinary projects that teachers can use to enhance their curriculum through the use of the Internet. Project opportunities include collaborative projects, projects using primary and archived data, real time data projects and partner projects.

WebQuest.Org
This site, recently revised, is "the most complete and current source of information about the WebQuest Model". Visitors may find WebQuests, create WebQuests, link to useful resources, research news and more. The history of this inquiry-oriented lesson format is shared along information about with the creators, Bernie Dodge, Ph.D. (with Tom March). Contact information for Dr. Dodge is provided along with links to stellar educators in the "Minds We Like" section. This new design offers friendly travel through the information.

A WebQuest about WebQuest
This page offers simulated practice for groups to learn the webquest model. Great for professional development training or the classroom when introducing the model.

Integrating Technology: Linking Students

ePALS Classroom Exchange
Established in 1996, this site has brought over 190 countries together in cross-cultural learning experiences.

KidLink
Established in 1990, this organization is aimed at getting students under the age of 15 involved in global dialog.

Integrating Technology: Managing the Classroom

Classroom Management
An assortment of resources from Glencoe about managing the classroom.

Computer Classroom Management
Internet4Classrooms (i4c), a collaborative effort of Susan Brooks and Billy Byles, is designed to help teachers provides a large collection of links for K-12 teachers to more information on managing the classroom when using computers as well as in-school integration support. Managing a computer classroom is key to technology integration. The computer management section allows teachers to browse effective management for one computer classrooms as well as an online workshop from WNET in New York that provides information on whole-class presentations, computer teams, independent work and special challenges such as difference in skill levels and those having no computer at home.

Managing Computer Use: Challenges and Solutions
Intel presents this resource that shares information about managing classrooms during computer use. Common challenges faced by teachers as well as questions and concerns from teachers implementing technology including how to keep students on task and productive, getting work contributed by each member of collaborative technology groups, dealing with the digital divide.

Integrating Technology: Virtual Field Trips

Jason Project
The well-know Jason Project is a gateway to adventures in Science. A nonprofit subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, Jason connects students in grades 5-9 with explorers and events to motivate them to learn science. The curriculum is aligned with national standards and can be adapted for lower or higher grade levels. Read more about how to get your students involved in an expedition.

Get Outta Class with Virtual Field Trips
Great field trips can be taken right in the classroom. Have your students travel to wonderful places that otherwise could not be seen. Education World presents a list of virtual field trips that are already operational to the solar system, other parts of the world, farms, museums and more. Teachers can make their own field trips with some of the templates available. Great strategy for using the huge information sources available on the web.

Internet Field Trips
Sponsored by Scholastic, this site offers field trips for Reading/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Math and K-2. A must see for every teacher.

Tramline
Involve students in active learning as they travel out of the classroom in safe environments that they could otherwise not go. This site offers software for making virtual fieldtrips in a teacher is interested or just take a trip from some of the ones offered at the field trip list. Permission forms are available to download and send home for parent signatures.

Virtual Fieldtrips
Check out the Teacher's Guide to virtual field trips at this page. Of special interest are links to MANY museums for wonderful tours in social studies, art and language students.

Internet Tutorials

How Internet Infrastructure Works
Good explanation with graphics about how the infrastructure of the Internet works.

Berkeley Library Guide to the Internet and Finding Information on the Internet
A tutorial presents basic Internet information.

Sandy’s Classroom Tutorials
This site is presented by Sandy Berger and offers helpful tutorials about computer basics, care and maintenance, email, hardware, the Internet, and Troubleshooting. Read about Sandy’s background and roam around this very informative and useful site.

Netiquette

A Kid's Guide to Etiquette on the Net
Part of Kidsdomain, this page guides students as they learn proper behavior on the Internet.

New Netiquette
Interesting comments on posting on blogs, photosharing, UTube, etc. A must read for those who want to be teachers.

Safety: Cyberbulling, Internet Safety, Hoaxes, viruses and scams

Cyberbullying
Read this article, The Fight Against Cyberbullying from the T.H.E. Journal.

NetSmart Safety Pledges
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children present safety pledge for grades K-2, 3-6 and middle and highschool. Teachers should review these pledges with students to facilitate safety while using the Internet.

Symantec Security Response
This site offers products for protection against the many viruses, spyware, and adware. The latest threads are shared and the ability to get support for home products as well as customer support is offered here. Be informed about this pests and how to protect yourself and your computer.

Internet Scam Busters
This site is provided as a service to inform the public about scams. There are articles and much more information that can be used to be informed about ways that teachers and students can become involved in scams when using the Internet. Be safe, not sorry.

Search Tips and Tools

Web Search Strategies in Plain English
This video, on YouTube, will help you and your students learn to make searching more successful. Rated at 5 stars!

Clusty
This tool completes searches by clustering the information into categories or clusters. Within the cluster, there are articles related to the search. By clicking on the cluster word, a group of pages appear that are identified for the reader. By choosing "images", photos appear that are related to you topic. In other words, the tool searches, not only for information on the topic, but images, new, blogs, jobs, and more. Try this very cool way to search.

Google
Google opens the way to a huge collection of tools as well as a search engine. Learn to search more accurately by setting your search preferences. Google seemingly has it all. You're just a click away from images, maps, a free email account with Gmail, interactive collaboration with Google docs, scholarly research with Google Scholar and so much more.

NoodleTools
A section of this site is dedicated to helping students choose the best search tool. This page indexes tools depending on the information that you need, who you are, the type of media that you need and more. Great help for everyone!

Global SchoolNet Directory of Internet Search Engines
Global SchoolNet offers a directory of search sites at this easy to access site.

Search tools for kids

Ask for Kids
Ask for Kids is a kid-friendly online search engine targeted at kids to provide quick access to solve some of their questions. Also located at this site are testimonials from kids, adults and even the press. An index on the homepage provides quick access to study tools such as the dictionary, thesaurus, math and science help and much more. It's worth the visit to this filtered information.

Kidsclick
This search tool provides a searchable database for kids that was created by a team of librarians as a project of the Ramapo Catskill Library System in New York. The site, presently maintained by Colorado State Library, was created to provide safe access for young learners.

Wordsmyth
Wordsmyth is a dictionary and thesaurus that can be used by general users of the Web. There is a children' s dictionary at this site as well as a crossword puzzle helper, the anagram solver, a vocabulary quiz builder, and a glossary maker. This is a great tool for teachers to explore.

Yahoo! KIDS
Yahoo! Kids is designed for ages 7 to 12 and presents sites that are hand picked and appropriate. Designed to protect kids from sites that are objectionable, this site presents "Ask Earl" section for answers to questions plus many other interesting features for kids.

Subject directories

MSN directory
Hosted by Microsoft Network, msn has a nice directory that is not listed by UC Berkeley (found below). Although the information reported on the others is not available without some research, this is a nice directory for consideration that may be viewed by category or alphabetized.

Recommended Subject Directories
UC Berkeley publishes this page that presents links to subject directories that are proven winners. Here you will find direct links to the Librarian's Index, Infomine, Academic Info, About.com, Google Directory and Yahoo? Directory presented in a table format that advises the size, and ability of each to search phrases, use Boolean logic, truncation, and search fields. In addition, advice is given on how to find subject-focused directories.

Integrating Web 2.0 Tools: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, RSS, Social BookMarking

GO2WEB20.NET Web 2.0 Tools and Applications
Visit this directory of Web 2.0 tools and applications to find a huge collection. Mouse over the icon to discover what the tool does. Students should keep in mind that many tools come and go. Keep in mind that these are free to try but some may have a fee after a trial period.

Kathy Schrock's Web 2.0 Tools
Kathy Schrock shares a list of Web 2.0 tools (free), including aggregators, blogs, database, podcast and wikis, for teacher evaluation. She cautions that many of the tools are open Internet and because of security issues with open Internet, teachers use use caution when using them with their students.

Learning in Hand
Tony Vincent, a form elementary teacher and technology coordinator, hosts this site that presents information on educational technology topics on free and inexpensive ways to engage learners. Including easy to understand, relevant and free information for teachers who are beginning to use podcasts, PDAs, iPODs, and Netbooks. A great site!!

7 Things You should Know About. . . the series
Educause Learning Initiative offers this series which covers a different topic each month. Link in to read articles about the latest emerging technologies and how they can be used in the classroom.

Blogs

7 Things You should Know About. . . Blogs
Educause Learning Initiative offers this article (on from this popular series) that explains the basics about blogs or weblogs. This article explains what it is, who's doing it, how it works, why it's significant, what the downsides are, where it's going, and what the implications for teaching and learning are. Download the pdf doc from this page.

Blogs in Plain English
Commoncraft presents a video introducing the basics of blogs.

Blogger
Blogger, a Google tool, allows anyone with a Google account to create a blog. Blogger is a user-friendly tool allows students to embrace journal writing while inserting photos and creating hyperlinks. Great tool for building literacy skills.

What It's All About: Blogs & RSS
Learning in Hand presents links to many sites that demonstrate the use of blogs in the classroom at this page. Neat site to see how teachers are using blogs to communicate what happening the classroom and with students.

RSS in Plain English
Commoncraft presents a video introducing the basics of rss.

Social Bookmarking

Social Bookmarking in Plain English
Commoncraft presents a video introducing the basics of social bookmarking.

Delicious
Delicious, a social bookmarking site, allows users to save, share and explore favorite websites. Access your bookmarks from any computer and find new and exciting sites by sharing with others in your fields of interest.

Wikis

7 Things You should Know About. . . Wikis
Educause Learning Initiative offers this article (on from this popular series) that explains the basics about wikis. This article explains what it is, who's doing it, how it works, why it's significant, what the downsides are, where it's going, and what the implications for teaching and learning are. Download the pdf doc from this page.

50 Ways to Use Wikis for a More Collaborative and Interactive Classroom
This site sponsored by Smart Teaching. org lists ways to use wikis for resource creation, student participation, group projects, student interaction, for the classroom, community and other ideas. In all, fifty ideas are shared.

Wikis in Plain English
Commoncraft presents a video introducing the basics of wikis.

pbworks (educators)
PBworks (formerly PBwiki), provides a section for educators that offers helpful information regarding the value of wikis, how to use a wiki, how wikis can help students, the safety, the costs, why to use a wiki rather than a blog or forum and much more.

Wikispaces
Wikispaces provides space for public wikis free of charge and private, ad-free wiki options from a monthly fee. You will find a link for K-12 teachers that allow teachers to apply for a free private, ad free wiki space for their primary or secondary classrooms. Check out the opportunity.

WetPaint
WetPaint provides space for public or private wikis free of charge. Templates are available to for "click and type" page entry. Check it out.

On the Web: Internet