Teaching students of mixed ability and some lacking basic reading skills, I must look at how I am to deliver the content information. In this I need to rely on visuals. I am lucky that I have a document camera, a hook up from my computer to a In Focus projector. I am able to show visual documents and point out ideas using the document camera. What is even better is being able to link the computer with the InFocus projector. I am able to stream video clips, show Powerpoint slide show and even take my students on a virtual field trip to the White House all in one class period.
My students can gain the knowledge and experience using the internet in the classroom. This was not even a thought 15 years ago when I first started teaching. The only thing I was able to use in my social studies class is the computer lab and CD Rom of educational games on each computer. There was no interaction between students and only between the student and the game. Students can still do that, but now there are ways for them to interact with each other in a learning game/simulation.
Using the internet and visuals has opened the world to students who would not be able to experience due to poverty, learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities. It opens the world for new experiences and to broaden the students visual vocabulary. It is the most exciting teaching tool I have been able use. I can only hope that there will be more options in the future. A few links that I suggest for teachers are...
www.neok12.com/ an excellent resource for elementary school teachers, but good for basic concepts in high school.
www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_social.shtml Social studies resource for elementary and middle school teachers
youtube.com an all around resource for about every topic or interest
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