In these 169 tech-centric situations, you get an overview of pedagogy—the tech topics most important to your teaching—as well as practical strategies to address most classroom tech situations, how to scaffold these to learning, and where they provide the subtext to daily tech-infused education.
Today’s tip: #117–How to Use an Internet Start Page
Category: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Sub-category: Internet, Search/Research
Q: My students get distracted when they go on the internet by all the ads, bling, and websites that are not age-appropriate. What do I do?
When students open the internet, it should kick start their browsing experience, not leave them searching for a bookmark. As a teacher, you make this happen with what’s called an internet start page. It’s also your first line of defense in protecting students from the inherent dangers of using the internet because it focuses them on safe, age-appropriate sites that you have personally approved.
When you set it up, include the important reasons why the student will visit the internet–websites, research, webtools, or another reason unique to your student group.
For more, here’s a thirty-minute video.
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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
wonderful idea… Always great to give students a good starting point. Another tool for this could be http://www.symbaloo.com/ 🙂
Love symbaloo. Yes, a great tool for students and teachers.