Hot
Spots for Chapter Four — The World Wide Web: Bringing the World into the
Classroom Hot
Spots for Chapter Four — The World Wide Web: Bringing the World into the
Classroom The hot items below are organized according to the corresponding section of Chapter 4 in your book.
Search Engines are constantly evolving, new ones appear regularly. Here are some to try out.
Eurekster — search results are based on social networking. You and your friends, who presumably have similar tastes and interests, all sign up and then when you search, you'll also get results based on your friend's searching. Results should get better over time as the system has more past results to use. (It can also be a bit scary.)
Kartoo — presents results graphically, similar to a concept map.
Ithaki — a "global" tool available in 14 languages with the ability to limit searches to language-specific sites
Link Lists — places to start looking
Teacher Links (organized by subject)
K12News (variable, but can be useful)Where in the World?
Check out the web site for New Hartford, MN. Apply your skills at evaluating the validity of a web site on this one.
CUIP — a partnership between the University of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools to enhance learning through the Internet and other technologies.
Mugglenet - this site is so authoritative that author J.K. Rowling reportedly uses it to help her maintain consistency in her characters! She even invited 19-year-old creator Emerson Spartz (LaPorte, IN) to meet her in Scotland on the release weekend.
J.K. Rowling's official web site - the original, available in multiple languages.
The Leaky Cauldron - another top site according to author Rowling.Money — Resources for understanding social studies and economics
The Mint (no, not the government one, but with things for all ages)
Money Savvy Generation (featuring the Money Savvy Pig — a special piggy bank)
Young Investor (resources for kids, teens, parents, and teachers)Primary Sources — get it from the source
History resources (includes How to read primary source documents and how to write an essay)
Science
EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE
Molecular Expressions (fascinating and amazing photos taken through microscopes) Their Powers of Ten "exhibit" is a nifty exploration of what increasing magnification really shows. See also Powersof10.com
Best of Hubble — an awesome Australian image show from the Hubble telescopeSpecial Needs Learners
ABLEDATA (example of accessibility as well as information
CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology)
Closing the Gap (technology in special education and rehabilitation)
NCIP (National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education Through Technology, Media, and Materials)
Resource list for assistive technologies
Science for All (from NCIP)
It's not always possible to visit sites physically that can be wonderful learning experiences. Electronic "virtual" field trips are an alternative. Check out this "Walk Through the Woods" as one example.
The Da Vinci Code (is this really a WebQuest or just fun for fans of the novel?)
Curriculum Webs is an approach to integrating the Web into the classroom. Curriculum Webs are teacher-created and tied carefully to curriculum.
Check out a joint project of the University of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools. You can view some sample Summer 2003 Curriculum Web Projects (much variation in content) as well as a full index to projects over many yearsNeed help on Web design or technical details? Check out this section of about.com
Online personal safety is a significant issue for all Internet users, and especially children and adolescents who may lack experience and/or judgement for dealing with potential problems. Launched in November 2006, 2SMRT4U is a collaborative effort of the US Postal Inspection Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The site offers not only tips and advice on safety issues, but also IM icons and ring tones for your cell phone!
Problems? Bad links? Contact the author at jlockard@niu.edu
Copyright © 2004-2007, James Lockard