The Internet is a valuable resource for many different people and for even more different reasons. My task for the past three months has been to search the web for resources that could be implemented into most K-12 classrooms that already contain Internet accessibility. Some of the resources found, but not frequently included in the page Resources for K-12 Teachers, required an individual to respond by U.S. postal service mail in order to receive the resources. Others necessitated additional software accessories i.e. Plug-ins. Some of the resources even requested a payment for usage. Some resources with requirements such as these may have been very valuable. However, my goal and the goal of my education 603 classmates, I believe was to find worthy resources that could be retrieved with just a click of the mouse.
Why does one need on-line resources ? For some administrators and teachers this is an important question. Putting the Internet into a school or district is not cheap, and unfortunately in education today, finance often is the number one concern. No one wants to commit to anything that may become an expensive white elephant. On-line resources can enhance any ones educational experience. Pictures, documents, maps, scientific studies, stories, the list goes on and on. All of these things could be brought into the classroom for one fee. If a district was to purchase these extra resources in print form, the price tag could be exorbitant. The Internet resources, also don't depreciate like print resources, or take up limited space in closets or book rooms.
The majority of the Internet resources in Resources for K-12 Teachers don't just offer an alternative to using a World Book Encyclopedia or reading a trade journal. Most of the resources offer information that can't easily be found in a school or public library, an example of such a resource is Classroom Connect-Internet made easy in the classroom . This site has organized its resources around seven categories : 1) G.R.A.D.E.S. - advertised as The Best K-12 Internet links, 2)Searching - Find the lastest online information, 3) Classroom Web - Thousands of schools online, 4) Resource Station - Online materials for educators, 5) Virtual Auditorium - Talk live with educators online, 6) Teacher Contacts - Find other educators online, 7) Products & Seminars- Bring the Net into your classroom. This one site represents all the advantages of using the web as a resource for educators at any level as well as students. Its pages are clear and organized, they contain information on a variety of topics, in which resources can be defined. The most valuable aspect of a site like Classroom Connect is that it also facilitates asynchronous discourse. There are many opportunities within Classroom Connect to retrieve resources, many of its pages even include opportunities for the browser to comment on what they have seen or ask questions about what they may not understand, Teacher Contacts is a great example of this feature.
As mentioned previously, professional development, like finance, is an extremely important issue in education. Unfortunately, professional development programs within districts are often lacking. Three to six half days in a school year to improve upon strategies and methods is not sufficient. Resources on the Internet allow for professional development and collaboration to continue 365 days of the year. Whenever an education professional needs support, the Internet is accessible.
The Internet resources I don't believe, at this time, would in any way completely replace print resources. I even find myself printing the resources from the web and creating "books". I do believe when looking for something new, and creative, or even an old document, the resources in education found through the search engines on the web are usually second to none. Earlier I highlighted some of the problems with a few resources, but for the most part I feel those sites represent a small minority of what can be accessed.
The sites listed and reviewed in Resources for K-12 Teachers are representative of the quality contained in Classroom Connect. I highly recommend a browse through Resources for K-12 Teachers, it will not only be educational, but fun too!