Post 5

In my opinion the ability to use the internet for student research is extremely useful. I believe that the internet has advanced students' ability to gain knowledge above and beyond the limits of books. The internet provides students the opportunity to browse material from hundreds of sources in a short period of time. The internet allows students to read facts along with opinions and gain a multi-deminisonial outlook on the material researched. However, I do believe that the internet does have a negative side- the amount of effort needed for students to research a topic is much less. The internet contributes to the extreme laziness of students and greatly lessens the amount of time students spend reading and in the library. Another way I would web-based resources to support student learning are online games and blogs. Students respond well to interactive activities and prefer to learn material in fun/unusual/unique ways. I hope to someday teach 6th grade in an elementary school. I recently observed a 6th grade classroom and the students were to give an oral presentation on a famous African American. However, one of the students did no research and read a biography, word-for-word off a website. Ironically enough, this is one of my biggest fears- dealing with students who have plagerise- especially at a young age (i.e. 6th grade). The students are old enough to understand the idea of plagerism but not necessarily old enough to understand the consequences.