The Internet is a tool that has the ability to impact learners like never before. Answers to students’ questions are at their fingertips, students can collaborate with peers, mentor a professional, and share documents and information with ease. In my opinion, learning has not seen such an impactful resource in ages, if ever.

Furthermore, visual literacy allows teaches to touch a specific learner group. Certain students benefit from this teaching tool. Modeling, mapping, and computer simulations can are examples of ways to use visual literacy in the classroom.

Graphic organizers are a strategy that I would like to use in my classroom. I have done mini-organizers for major themes of a unit, but with new web technologies, I think my students would benefit from a new trick brought to the classroom.  Sites such as Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers found here: http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm

Or Education Place found  here: http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

To me, the Internet is a tool that my students work with on a daily basis.  Though it doesn’t happen very often, the days when the Internet is down, times can me tough in the classroom. Don’t get me wrong, I have taught long enough that I have a back up plan for most technological mishaps, but the students and I have become so used to having such a vast amount of knowledge and resources so available at an instant.

 

 Last of all, I would like to share this video. Hopefully this will get the wheels turning as to how the Internet can become an effective tool in your classroom, and how social media may be the next way to reach our students.

Remember, Shift Happens!