All four of the instructional models of Internet use (Internet Project, Internet Workshop, Internet Inquiry, and WebQuest) have many similarities between them and many times actually overlap in their use. All four of these models use the Internet in some way in order to obtain information for personal knowledge or to be able to share with a group. There are only a few defining differences between their form and use. Internet workshop is a simple research activity that a teacher will utilize in order for students to gather open-ended information about a topic to be able to share with the class. This differs from Internet project where students collaborate on a project with another classroom either in the building or elsewhere. Internet projects allow opportunities for cultural exchanges as many classrooms from around the world may participate in these projects, whereas Internet workshop intends to collaborate within student’s own classroom.
Internet workshop and Internet Inquiry are similar in that students are attempting to research information on the internet, but Internet Inquiry is more of a personal research quest for the student. Internet workshop is guided more heavily on questions from the teacher, whereas Internet Inquiry allows students to choose their own research question based on the unit of study with guidance from the teacher. Internet workshop and Internet Inquiry both rely on the students to share their results from their findings.
Internet workshop and WebQuests are directly related to each other as teachers can use WebQuests in their Internet workshops. WebQuests consist of teaching/learning units on their Internet already tested by other teachers. Students follow the directions and complete their learning experiences at the webquest site. Teachers should fully investigate the WebQuest before using the activity for an internet workshop in order to deem it an appropriate activity.
Internet project and Internet Inquiry utilize Internet research conversely. Internet project utilized the internet as a collaborative project whereas Internet Inquiry is an individual effort. It is possible that some Internet projects utilize a WebQuest as one of the activities so this is how these two instructional models may overlap. As for comparing Internet Inquiry and WebQuest, these two instructional models also approach using the internet differently. Internet Inquiry relies on personal research and investigation where the WebQuest guides the student along for information.
Since my subject area is Spanish, using internet project would be something I could use in my future classroom. Internet project allows for cultural exchanges between two different classrooms so this would be an excellent opportunity for my students to meet students from other Spanish speaking countries to be able to share information with one another. In this way, my students and the other cooperating classroom will be able to experience another culture first hand. My internet project would most likely consist of e-mail exchanges with the other cooperating classroom so it would be like having an online pen pal. This is a known as a form of internet project called a temporary project where teachers develop a project that fits a specific curriculum need (Leu, 2001). My students would be directed to write about certain things to their pen pal to enforce certain grammatical points and vocabulary that I am currently covering. In this way, students will see a greater importance of being able to communicate in the Spanish language as they will actually be talking to someone who is native Spanish speaker.
I have been able to meet with my cooperating teacher already so I have an idea of some of the technology components she would like me to include in the classroom. The textbooks that I will be teaching from have additional online resources that I may utilize in my lessons. These additional resources include online activities and additional online information about certain topics in the textbook. There is also a language lab in the school where activities such as internet workshop can occur as well as opportunities for students to practice listening and speaking Spanish. The classroom that I will be using will also have access to a SMART board, which my cooperating teacher uses frequently. I hope to be able to devise some lesson plans that will allow me to use the SMART board. I have already received the textbooks that I will be teaching from in the Fall so I will shortly begin to start planning my lessons and I plan on trying to fit the SMART board in there somehow.
Mac Questions: I have noticed that there are certain videos that I am not able to play because I don’t have the correct plug-ins. If I opened the windows side of the mac would they play? Can I download the plug-ins for the mac or is it for windows only?
Reference
Leu, D.J., Jr. (2001, March). Internet Project: Preparing students for new literacies in a global village [Exploring Literacy on the Internet department]. The Reading Teacher, 54(6). Available: http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/elec_index.asp?HREF=/electronic/RT/3-01_Column/index.html
Good job describing similarities and differences!
ReplyDeleteBefore you got to the windows side - you could try to see if the plugins can be downloaded on a MAC -do a quick Google search. Otherwise - it may be more likely that you can play those videos on the windows side...
What types of videos are you talking about?
Also, I do see two things missing - each week you are required to make a specific connection to a practical application in your classroom. For example - how could you see yourself using an Internet Workshop in your future classroom?
Second - I do not see an APA citation and reference. You have to attempt to include at least one in every post.