Questions 5 & 6

Internet and the classroom

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Strengths, Weaknesses and Implementation

Open Book, Spinning

Strengths of the Internet:

Accessible from anywhere

Inclusivity (even learning disabled students can be taught to use it effectively)

up-to-date and relevant information (for research)

Immediate and fast (particularly for feedback)

Fun and interesting (pictures, graphics, sounds)

Learning always occurs (through searching, chatting, sharing files)

Has a Cognitive emphasis when used properly.

Boosts self-esteem and aids computer technical skills and confidence.

Weaknesses of the Internet:

Can be a distraction from classroom learning tasks

Invalid, broken links or inappropriate sites

inappropriate 'nettiquette' (harrassment or bullying)

Teachers may not have Competent internet skills

School may not have the resources for internet enabled classrooms (ie schools in low socio-economic areas or remote rural areas.)

Costs money for set-up and technical support, and maintenance.

Insecure sites or hackers

Implementation Strategies.

"Demonstrating, explaining, questioning, group discussions, role play and pupil presentations are all important features of good ICT teaching in addition to setting pupils practical ICT tasks. They are skills you need to learn and develop as you progress through your training and into your teaching posts...

Every lesson should make use of a range of teaching strategies to ensure that you cater for the different learning styles of the pupils and their different levels of attainment. It is important to ensure that the strategies chosen enable the children to meet the learning objectives of the lesson...Assessment opportunities occur during the initial question and answer session to introduce the topic or recap key points, whilst pupils are working on the task and during a plenary session at the end...The facility for developing and improving the work is an important feature of ICT..."

(Learning to Teach ICT in the Secondary School, Hughes, I. & Kennewell, S. "Structuring Lessons and Units of Work" 2003)

Think Spot

Thought-Provoker 3

How can you implement the internet for everyday classroom use? Think of some non internet strategies that can be linked to internet use.

Click on the 'Enter Forum' button below to enter forum and respond to thought-provoker 2.