Reflections on the Uses of the Web in the Classroom

Throughout this course, I have been enlightened to the many uses of the Internet and how teachers and other professional staff can and should use technology to help our students become computer literate adults. The purpose of education is to prepare students for success in life and work in the 21st Century. (Willard, 2000). The internet is changing the world and the workplace. We have a choice – either keep up with it or get out!!

               This course has been a real eye opener for me as to the many uses of the web. Before this class, I knew the basics of searching for information but now I see the capabilities the web has of becoming an integral teaching tool.  The important thing for educators to remember is that there are tons of projects and information available for our use. We do not have to re-invent the wheel so to speak. (Harnessing the Web, 1999).  Although I am not a classroom teacher, I see many uses of the web when working with my students in small groups.  We are in the process of developing a career center, which will house approximately 10 computers, all of which will have Internet access. My major use for the web with my students relates to career and college searching.

As far as classroom management goes, I think that I have an advantage because I would never have more than 10 students at a time. It would be a great counseling tool to walk them through an activity (i.e., my web quest), and be able to walk around the room and help them. Having a small group also ensures that the students are staying on task and not searching the web for other things. Companies should not have to rely on technical blocking systems to ensure that their employees abide by use restrictions. Schools have a responsibility to help educate young people how to self-monitor when they are using a limited purpose system. (Willard, 2000). Therefore, teaching students about “netiquette” is very important.

The Internet and programs created through it could enhance my job as a counselor much more than I was aware of. In looking at the national and Delaware standards for school counselors, I found that the project I am creating covers all 3 standards under Career Development. Through the web, my students can: 1) acquire the skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and to make informed career decisions, 2) employ strategies to achieve future career success and 3) understand the relationship between personal qualities, education and training, and the world of work. (Delaware Model School Counselors Program, 2001)

Overall, I believe that my students could not only enhance their computer and Internet skills, but they could become better informed people about the opportunities available to them to pursue when they graduate. Our career center will really help me as a counselor to better serve our students. Unfortunately, so much of my time is taken up with scheduling and testing, I do not work with students in as much depth as I should and would like to. I can see the Internet being a big asset to my entire department. We teach not only through instruction but also by example. If we show our students how important the Internet and technology are in our own professions, then they will see the importance of it in theirs someday.

Resources:

Willard, Nancy (2000) Legal and Ethical Issues Related to the use of the Internet in K-12 schools. (Online) Available

http://netizen.uoregon.edu/documents/purpose.html

Delaware Model School Counseling Program (2001) A guide for school districts developing a K-12 School Counseling Program (Online) Available

http://www.schoolcounselor.org/standards

Global School Net Foundation (1999). Harnessing the Web (Online) Available http://gsh.lightspan.com/web