Web Sites Teacher Tools

Teachers' Tools

Web Sites Tools For Teachers
Using Educational Technology in the Classroom

Written by Magda Al Sebai

Introduction

Having an Internet connection in the classrooms is important because such a connection enables teachers to extend learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. It also provides teachers with a great variety of teaching tools. Teachers can connect with other schools, educators, and experts around the world. Teachers can search the Internet to check recent publications, new teaching resources, and new websites. In other words, the Internet helps teachers to explore, compare, communicate, and collaborate to improve their teaching techniques while integrating technology into the classrooms.

While exploring some of the websites that are found on the Internet search engines, I have selected the following ones because they feature a wide variety of teaching tools:

The first website is titled Eduscape Learning Resources. It can be retrieved from educator spaces. This website was developed in 2001. Basically, the learning resources that this website provides Online Shareware Organizers.

The Double Cell Diagram can be used in classroom for discussing two items linked by characteristics or attributes. As a teaching tool, it can be used to describe and compare attributes and characteristics of two items, things, people, places, events or ideas. The Double Cell Diagram addresses the following critical questions:

What items do you want to compare?
What characteristics do the items have in common? Which are not in common?
How are the items similar and different?

The Web Template is a good example of how instructions on such a big unit can be simplified and presented to students using a Web Cell. Using a Web Cell is an example of how visual thinking allows students not only to understand the lesson, but also to arrange their ideas in unlimited ways through using technology.

The second website that I have checked is discovery school and it was developed in 2004 . This website provides magnificent teaching tools for integrating technology into learning. These tools include videos, CD-ROMs, books, learning packs, animation films, clip arts software, and electronic generators to create worksheets. The puzzlemaker saves time and effort. It is also a very attractive way to help students develop vocabulary skills. It also uses a word filter to prevent the random creation of offensive words.

The third website is mutlimedia studio 4 (2005) and it provides a wealth of free and sharable resources to assist teachers in expanding their computer skills. Along with product updates and tutorials, teachers can find projects on professional development materials and copyright-free media.

Conclusion

It is obvious that the Internet can provide teachers with countless online teaching resources. Morrison and Lowther (2001) stated in their book Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom, that although there are many books that deal with learning and technology, book resources become dated quickly because of the time difference between writing and actual publication. This has given the Internet the privilege of providing teachers with information on the most recent publications, teaching materials, electronic devices, software or hard ware programs. Practically speaking, the Internet can provide any resource a teacher might need. Moreover, some web sites are themselves indexes to other websites. These indexes are like Gopher menus as they offer categories of many potential links .This facility makes the Internet a great source of providing teaching tools that teachers can use on a daily basis.

References

Morrison, G. & Lowther L. D. (2000) Integrating computer technology into the classroom. New York: Pearson
       Education.

                                                              Learning and Technlogy