Chapter 8

Integrating the Internet into the Curriculum

Chapter 8 was interesting and informative for teachers in showing how to integrate the Internet into their curriculum. Teachers could have web-based lessons and projects, for example electronic pen pals, electronic mentoring, electronic field trips, electronic publishing, group development projects, problem based learning, and social action projects. Having electronic field trips will help teachers and schools save some money, for the students will get the same experience on the Internet in a different way. Integrating these strategies of web-based lessons include support for student research, motivation for writing, practice for information literacy skills, visual learning problems and solutions, development of collaboration skills, and multicultural experiences. I feel that if students are not motivated for writing and students not getting the support for research will not help the fact of integrating the Internet into the curriculum. Teachers could also use web page and website software tools in their curriculum by using development tools such as Google Pages and Adobe Dreamweaver and Flash, which produce the same web products but require less technical expertise. I think the Google Pages would be a good tool for the students for research papers on possible a famous scientist of explorer. Google Pages has a lot to offer for students as well as for the teachers. One thing this chapter talks about that I thought was interesting was web page evaluation and assessment resources. Criteria for evaluating web page/website design include good structure and organization, clear text and/or graphic links, good visual design, and easy navigation. Teachers and students may use rubrics to assess the quality of their products. This will help students find the bad websites or web pages as well as the good websites and web pages. I thought this chapter was very informative and interesting for the use of integrating the Internet into the curriculum.