As of September 30, 2005, the North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium is no longer in operation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Learning with Technology 1. What are some references that support engaged and worthwhile learning, project-based learning, and other LWT concepts? The entire November 1997 issue of Educational Leadership focused on technology. Throughout the periodical, examples can be found of engaged learning and project-based instruction. Additionally, there is an article on teaching students to be critical readers and users of technology. Yong Zhao (Michigan State University) did an extensive review of research and found that when teachers "forgot technology" and used it as an integral component of the learning environment and not as the primary focus of instruction, student critical thinking and literacy improved. In an article published on Log on Learning, Eric Soloway describes how students who are engaged in learning by performing across the curriculum construct knowledge more effectively than students who are passive learners. Other references are listed in the References section of this manual and in the Online Resource Center. 2. What do I need to consider before putting my students on the Internet? What is your school/district's Acceptable Use Policy regarding not just the Internet but all forms of media? The student's responsibility is an important consideration. With the controversy surrounding the Internet and all that is accessible on it, it is important to discuss with your students expectations for responsible behavior on their part. It is up to you to guide your students through the experience with curriculum-related expectations. Students who are directed by a particular goal or assignment are less likely to get into trouble than those who are just browsing. Students also need to be aware of "netiquette" (network etiquette) and safeguards, such as not giving out their own names, addresses, and phone numbers to unknown people. Students should be supervised by an adult: either the teacher or a trained volunteer. You may want to provide an opportunity in the fall for parents to attend an Internet demonstration to make them more familiar with it. 3. How do I integrate the Internet as a tool into my classroom? Remember a few simple rules as you think about using the Internet in your classroom: Curriculum drives the Internet, not the other way around. Information literacy is a natural fit with the Internet. Do more than use the Internet for raw data. All students should use information to think. Cooperative learning fits like a glove with Internet use. Have groups use the Internet for different aspects of the same subject. Make sure the lesson merits using the Internet. Try it ahead of time. Incorporate the Internet into what you are already doing. (For example, if students are doing a unit on biography and need to use and evaluate three sources, simply make the Internet one of the sources.) 4. Are there any tips for managing the Internet in my classroom? There are a number of strategies you might try: Make bookmarks work for you. Organize them into folders. Have your Web browser open to your bookmarks rather than someone's home page. Bookmark your favorite search engines. Maintain the cache. This saves time loading pages you and your students use regularly. Teach students careful typing of URLs. Watch for school sites that have similar needs. They may already have found the links and included them on their home page. 5. When my students or I use resources from the Internet, how do we cite our sources? It is important to cite materials. The following is a source for citation information: "How to Cite Electronic Media" (from Internet for Teachers by Brad Williams, published by IDG Books). These standards are modeled on the 1994 APA guidelines. 6. Is there an easy-to-read, useful Web site where I can find information about school improvement? NCREL's Pathways to School Improvement Web site offers easy-to-find, concise, research-based information on school improvement. The Pathways site provides the best information on a variety of topics. The following is a partial list of topics included on Pathways: Timely Topics Charter Schools Comprehensive School Reform Environment Policy Family & Community Safe and Drug-Free Schools Educators Leadership Professional Development Content Area Mathematics & Science Literacy Teaching Instruction Assessment Technology in Education 7. What is a listserv? Listservs (also called mailing lists) provide an opportunity for people with similar interests to stay in touch and share ideas, like a virtual teachers' lounge. Participants use e-mail to communicate. Because of the popularity of this technology, people can now choose from more than 54,000 groups. E-mail by itself allows one person to communicate with another. Listservs allow one person to communicate with many by sending the message through one address. Every subscriber of that listserv will receive a copy of the message via e-mail. Many listservs store past messages and make them available to subscribers. People interested in joining the listserv or discussion group must subscribe to be a member.