Problem Solving Document:
Facilitating Internet Research by Students
Problem:
As a teacher of hearing impaired and multiply disabled students at the secondary level, I was anxious to take advantage of the resources the internet has to offer. My initial visits to the computer lab for structured internet information gathering were not successful. One of the biggest reasons for this failure was the inability of some of the students to type in internet addresses. These are the students who cannot copy words and sentences from the board with out missed letters and misspellings—something happens between the board and the paper. Even though I had the lesson well structured: “Go to this site, and find the answer to this question:….” some of the students were unable to complete the task.
Solution:
There are several ways to eliminate the need for the students to type in internet addresses.
- Type the URL addresses and questions on a Word document ahead of time. The cut-and-pasted URL addresses will automatically become hyperlinks that the students can merely control-click on to get to where they need to go.
Advantages: The students can use the Word document to type the answers directly, eliminating the need for paper and pencil, or the creation of a second digital document for answers.
Disadvantages: The students have to get the Word document somehow. If they are good at email, that works well, or else the teacher must pass around a CD or disk, or be sure to preload the file on the computers before class.
- Email—send the links and the questions in an email to the students. The students can click on the links in the email, answer the questions, and send their replies directly back to their teachers.
Advantages: Quick, fast, easy.
Disadvantages: Students must have access to email, and be able to use it well. Students must be able to remember their usernames and passwords.
- Internet based “hotlists”. My favorite one is available at and is called “Activities”. There, you use a template and fill in the internet addresses that you want the students to go to, and the questions you want them to answer there. The students use click on the addresses in the hotlist to complete their activities.
Advantages: Easy template, easy for students to use, you can add pictures and other interesting details.
Disadvantages: Students must answer the questions or take notes on another Word file or on a piece of paper. The first URL address, the one for the hotlist, still must be entered manually. You must register at the site (although that’s quite easy, and gives you access to many wonderful applications) to make your own Activity.
- Another good place to create a Hotlist is at Filamentality. There are several
different formats available here, all with user-friendly templates to help you set
them up. The Hotlist, Subject
Sampler and Treasure Hunt formats are my favorite for struggling students.
Advantages: Easy templates, various formats, easy for students to use,
you can add pictures and other interesting details. You don’t need an
overall registration, just to label the activity you’re making.
Disadvantage: Students must answer the questions or take notes on
another Word file or on a piece of paper. The first URL address, the one
for the hotlist, still must be entered manually.
Impact:
I have used all these solutions at one time or another. Every student I have had has been able to succeed with one method or another. It makes the lesson flow more smoothly and time is utilized more efficiently. Two students (out of about 40 or so that I have done this with) decided on their own to make hotlists for me, about their favorite subjects. (Yes, I received a “New Kids on the Block” hotlist!) I can see applications for student-created activities as well. I find that most of my students are still more motivated to do research on a computer than in a book.
Contact Information:
Please feel free to contact me with any questions!
Denise Warren
Educational and Assistive Technology Specialist
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
Salt Lake City, Utah