Part 3:

Technology Enhanced Instruction

Integrating the Internet into the Curriculum

Using the Internet to enhance the curriculum:

This section focuses on curricular resource materials available on the Internet. We will take an investigative look at virtual field trips, scavenger hunts, WebQuests, research modules, and "slam dunks." Visit the sites explaining each main resource and any additional links that are of interest to you.

1. Electronic Field Trips: (also know as virtual or guided tours)
   What are Virtual Field Trips?
   Virtual Field Trips, or Guided Tours consist of a list of web site pages that have been pre-selected by teachers and arranged in a particular order.  The students can navigate to the various sites by clicking on list of links in order. There is often a worksheet that students complete as they progress from one site to another. 

   Creating a Virtual Field Trip or Guided Tour often involves several steps, similar to the following:
   1) The teacher searches the internet for websites she would like the students to visit on the given topic.
   2) The teacher creates a list of links that the students will be able to click on to visit the various sites in a particular order.
   3) The teacher often creates a worksheet that the students complete as they visit the websites.
   4) Tours are sometimes posted on the internet to make it easier for students access and follow the links.

   There are many "ready-made" virtual field trips on the Internet.  There are also sites that walk the teacher through the process of creating their own virtual field trips and provide methods for the teacher to upload the links for the students to follow.
   http://www.field-guides.com/develop.htm - "Field Trips" powered by Tramline: http://www.field-trips.org/abouttram.htm)
   http://trackstar.4teachers.org/ - TrackStar software for creating online lessons and activities
   http://trailfire.com/ - TrailFire a web collection and annotation tool similar to TrackStar
   http://ikeepbookmarks.com/ -iKeepBookmarks.com free internet based tool for teachers to store and share a listing of websites for students to visit (premium membership of additional features available for an annual fee).

   Additional links and examples of Field Trips:
   There are also many pre-created virtual field trips that can be used directly by teachers.
       Aquifer (elementary or middle): http://www.spokaneaquifer.org/kids/
       Zoos: http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr080.shtml
       Museums (various): http://www.museumspot.com/
       Museums (Smithsonian): http://www.si.edu/
       Museums (British Museum): http://www.britishmuseum.org/
       Africa: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/
       Virtual Tours site: http://www.virtualfreesites.com/museums.interest.html - portal to virtual tours on the internet
       Virtual Field Trip Sites: http://www.gaillovely.com/VirtualFieldTrips.htm - Gail Lovely's list of links to virtual field trips
       Virtual Fieldtrips: http://www.theteachersguide.com/virtualtours.html
       Virtual Activities: http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/Virtual Activities.htm - see section on Virtual Field Trips
   

2. Scavenger Hunts:
   What are Scavenger Hunts?
   The main difference between scavenger hunts and virtual field trips is that students actually have to search the internet for websites that will answer particular questions, instead of the teacher providing the links to the websites. See the following link for more details.
   http://www.mobal.com/articles/26.html - Fun Scavenger Hunts on the Web

   Additional links to sample Scavenger Hunts:
       Crisscrossing the Country: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson195.shtml
       Animals of the World: http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson068.shtml
       Dinosaurs: http://www.spiritsd.ca/teacherresources/science/themes/dinosaurs/hunt.htm
       Mathematics Scavenger Hunt: http://www.wtvi.com/math/mathhunt.html
       Internet Hunt Activities: http://www.mrsoshouse.com/ext/internethunts.html
       Virtual Activites:  http://its.leesummit.k12.mo.us/Virtual Activities.htm - see section on Scavenger Hunts

3. WebQuests:
   What are WebQuests and why use them?
   WebQuest Portal - http://webquest.org/
   What are WebQuests (Really) http://bestwebquests.com/what_webquests_are.asp

   If interested, visit the links on WebQuests provided below.
       WebQuest Resources http://webquest.org/index-resources.php
       WebQuest Garden http://questgarden.com/
       Best WebQuests by Tom March http://bestwebquests.com/
       Kathy Schrock's Guide to WebQuests http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/webquest/webquest.html
       Comprehensive listing of WebQuest projects http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/ 

   Some Additional examples:
       First Grade Keypals: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/keypals/index.html
       Light in the Forest: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/litf/index.html

   The WELS has also created a website of WebQuests at http://www2.mlc-wels.edu/webquests/ which includes links to help you understand and create WebQuests. Note the WebQuests created by WELS teachers. (If you have a particular WebQuest you would like to create, help is available to construct the pages and post the WebQuest to this site.)

4. Research Modules:
   What are Research Modules and why use them?
   An overview of the main components and process behind creating a Research Module.
   http://questioning.org/module/module.html
   
   

5. Slam Dunks:
   What is a Slam Dunk?
   http://fno.org/sept02/slamdunk.html "The Slam Dunk Digital Lesson" September, 2002
   http://questioning.org/module2/quick.html Module Maker II - an overview of the main components and process behind creating a Slam Dunk Digital lesson (Summarizes the article "The Slam Dunk Digital Lesson".)
   http://questioning.org/module3/slamdunk6.ppt - PowerPoint based template for 6-step Slam Dunk.

   "Which Hurricane?" example http://questioning.org/module2/storm1.html

   Five Types of Slam Dunk Lessons: (with examples of each)
   http://fno.org/sum04/fivekinds.html - article by Jamie McKenzie, summer 2004
   http://questioning.org/module2/5types.html - examples of each type
   

   "Nothing But Net" article by Jamie McKenzie http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/issues/march-april-2006/how-to.html from the March/April 2006 issue of EdTech: Focus on K-12 magazine. This article seems applicable as you learn about creating "Slam Dunk Digital Lessons" and introduces a new "NoTime" type of Slam Dunk (see link below). Some excellent links are contained in the article if you are interested.

   The NoTime SlamDunk Digital Lesson http://questioning.org/jan06/notime.html