A Tip About Getting Started

Don't re-invent the wheel. Has anyone else created an Internet lesson plan similar to the one you have in mind? How can you find out? Why not adopt or adapt a lesson that already exists?

• Look in the lesson plan archives in this Use Guide;
• Use a Search Engine such as Alta Vista, Google, or any of the search engines found under Net Search in your browser's title bar, then enter a keyword such as "seeds", "weather", Hamlet", or any topic you'd like to explore; or
• Look at the Sample Lessons in this Use guide.

See what types of lessons lend themselves to the Internet. Some possibilities are: gathering information from experts; collecting information and using spreadsheets or graphs to analyze trends; sharing information with people at distant locations; researching information and writing a report; and analyzing information from multiple perspectives to write a position paper on a controversial topic.

Here's an example of some well-designed activities, from Tracy Sena, a teacher in San Francisco.

Our International Language teachers often have their students use the Internet for researching about countries, cities, and traditions in the language of the country which they are studying. Additionally, many major cities have maps as well. Students can give directions to real places, or paste them into reports. All search engines support other languages. Our students also write reports or short stories for younger children in PowerPoint and HyperStudio, and give oral reports (to either just the teacher or the whole class) to integrate the use of technology into the teaching of languages.

Next, ask yourself these questions:

• How well is your lesson aligned with your state's content standards? (For guidance, see the Align to Achieve database of state standards by grade level and content area.)
• How does your lesson encourage your students to take responsibility for their own learning?
• How will your students use their knowledge to solve authentic problems related to an identified real-world problem or issue?
• How do the activities promote higher level thinking?
• How do they provide ways for your students to demonstrate their learning?

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