Week 3: Internet and Databases

Standard 3 Diverse Learners: A teacher must understand how students differ in their approaches to learning and create instructional opportunities that are adapted to students with diverse backgrounds and exceptionalities.

Brief Description of Evidence Provided

            Teaching and learning about the Internet and databases in a classroom setting is a valuable tool to both the teacher and students. The Internet offers an opportunity to communicate with accessible sources that provides the needed information to successfully complete a learning topic in class. The databases provide the means to make this happen. Both the Internet and databases, when used to guide students in class to learn about something is a helpful tool.

            Incorporating the use of Internet in class lessons should be used with clarity of expectations from young learners. The Internet is a very useful tool and students will gain more knowledge afterwards. However, the teacher, as a guide, must be very clear of what he or she expect from students so that the Internet is used with a proper and educational purpose. A teacher must create instructional information to steer students of what they should do and look for as well as create a rubric. When using the Internet to help complete an assignment, students should keep a written journal of their daily application of Internet information.

            Moreover, the Internet allows students to communicate in a variety of way. Many young people, and even adults, can express better through communicating with others electronically. For example, many people use blogs and emails to send and receive messages, thoughts, emotions, opinions or ideas. Another example is that, some people just express themselves more openly when there are not too many individuals in front of them or looking at them. Also, the Internet makes it easy for teachers and students to connect with other people learning about the same topic.

            As a future English/Language Arts teacher, I plan to use the Internet to help my students access reliable history and information on certain topics. In many schools, it is unfortunate that not many can afford the right field trips to stimulate students’ learning progress and process. For instance, if I am teaching my students about Native American literature and linking it to our Minnesota history, it would be impossible to travel to the many places that were once the land of Indigenous peoples. However, we could use the Internet to help students gather more information and visually see these locations historically and present. Students will be able to understand more when they read something on text and then, take a remote journey to experience what Native Americans may have been through to understand why their literature is written and structured the way it is.

            The Internet has its pros and cons. It is a valuable source and tool within a classroom setting, but at the same time, young people and learners must always be monitored and guided when using it. The Internet can also be a dangerous place for students to enter. When a teacher uses the Internet as a tool to assist in a lesson or activity, the teacher must always direct students of what they need to do. Teachers should monitor chat sessions, blogs, e-mails, recent Websites visited and so forth as daily as possible. Keeping it a safe environment and the well-being of students should always be a teacher’s priority, also.

Reflection on How the Evidence Demonstrates My Competence in Meeting the Standards