Web Activity 8.10

I chose to do the 8.10 on-the-web activity which was called “Academic Tools Online.” This activity intrigued me because I wanted to know if they were tools for teachers, students, or both. Using the internet to find resources to enhance my lessons is very handy, so I am always in the market for new sites. I also know that students love using the internet for their assignments too, so if I can find online activities I can be a more engaging teacher.

The activity involved clicking links to various sites and exploring the available resources. I really enjoyed the New York Times learning site found at http://www.nytimes.com/learning/. It had current events in the news and then provided lesson plans that corresponded with the major stories. They even had a lesson for the super bowl! There was also a large lesson plan database, a “this day in history” feature, online news quizzes and puzzles for students, and a “search by subject” site index. The Scholastic company’s website, http://teacher.scholastic.com/index.htm, had pages for specific grade ranges (i.e. 9th-12th) that provided lesson plans, online activities, teacher resources/strategies (i.e. classroom management skills), and message boards to connect teachers around the country.

Besides finding some great resources, I also learned that many sites require you to have a membership to access any of their materials. It makes me wonder if the best resources are hidden in the sites you have to pay for, of if the free sites are just as good. Moreover, this activity made me realize how lazy a teacher could be if they just wanted to pull their entire curriculum off the internet. I could find a lifetime supply of full lesson plans, engaging activities, handouts, examples, and even lecture notes/PowerPoints without doing any work. This makes me upset because it allows people who aren’t dedicated enough to spend time developing a great lesson and fun activities reap the benefits of a dynamic classroom using someone else’s hard work. I know I should be glad that students who are stuck with these teachers will at least have a better experience, but I can’t overlook the fact that some teachers work their hearts out and others get a free ride.

In the end, I am pretty torn about whether I want to share the assignments, lesson plans, and creative activities I design on the internet. I think this activity was good for me because it is causing me to think about an issue I never really considered, but it will require more thought before I can make up my mind.