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The Internet and Online Research for Teachers |
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The Internet as a Tool for Your Studies in Education Chapter Four introduces students to the Internet as a resource for people studying the field of Education. It begins by providing the addresses of a wide-range of general resources dealing with education and related topics that are available on the Internet, and then provides addresses for specialized areas of study and course area such as Introduction to Education, Social and Cultural Foundations, Psychological Foundations and so on. Useful government sites for education include: Educator’s Reference Desk Probably the best place to begin to search on your own for information on education is the U.S. Department of Education. The various web sites of this federal office include extensive statistical data as well as reports by researchers and government officials. Suppose, for example, you have an assignment to write an essay on the conditions of schools in the United States or on the work of teachers. At the U.S. Department of Education web site you can find the information, key references and links to sources that will help you complete your assignment. U.S. Department of Education Additional government web sites concerned with education can be searched for at: Government Web Sites Many web sites are not specifically focused on education as a subject but have information and resources that deal directly with educational issues. Say, for example, that you are interested in learning about Supreme Court Cases that have affected American education such as the 1954 Brown v. Topeka desegregation case. The following web sites could prove invaluable: Oyez Oyez Oyez Supreme Court Decisions Information about nonpublic and alternative education is also available on the World Wide Web. Homeschooling, for example, where parents educate their children themselves, is an increasingly popular movement. Resources on this topic can be found at: Homeschooling Information There are many different web sites that will provide you with background and information on national curriculum standards and requirements. A good site on educational standards with excellent links is the Putnam Valley, New York, school district’s site: Developing Educational Standards National Standards for United States History Eisenhower National Clearinghouse: Standards and Frameworks Project 206: Science Literacy for a Changing Future If you are interested in different types of information about colleges and universities, the following web sites will be of interest. American University Links Black Colleges and Universities Peterson’s Education Center U.S. News College Center The web is an ideal place to learn about schools and teaching. Among the best starting points to research about accreditation issues and requirements for entering the profession is the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education You can connect to other teachers for help on lesson plans, professional planning, and similar types of issues by connecting to Teacher Talk at Indiana University: Teacher Talk Teachers Helping Teachers describes itself as a service that provides “basic teaching tips to inexperienced teachers; ideas that can be immediately implemented into the classroom… new ideas in teaching methodologies for all teachers… (and) a forum for experienced teachers to share their expertise and tips with colleagues around the world.” Teachers Helping Teachers Social and Cultural Foundations For national attitudes and opinions dealing with not only schools, but American society in general, visit the Gallup Organization: Gallup Organization Information on Civil Rights and equity issues can be found at: Museum of Tolerance National Civil Rights Museum An excellent set of links for different aspects of the Afro-American experience can be found at: The Universal Black Pages Links on Chicano and Latino culture can be found at: Chicano/Latino Net Native American links are available at: Native Web For general sources on diversity and education visit: University of Maryland Diversity Database Excellent materials on gender equity can be found at: The American Association of University Women Make sure to connect to the following page at the American Association of University Women for educational equity materials: Research on Gender Equity Other gender equity resources can be found at: Use the following site to learn about population trends (how many people teach, who goes to school, and the like). You can even find census data for the community you live in. U.S. Census Bureau The U.S. Department of Education includes extensive research reports and compilations of data for many topics you may need to explore in the social foundations area. Who are dropouts? What are the employment projections for teachers? What is the representation of different racial and minority groups in the public schools? How many private school students are there in the United States? These are just a few examples of the type of information that is available. U.S. Department of Education Psychological Foundations Many of the web-based resources that you are most likely to be interested in for the field of educational psychology will be found at psychology web sites such as: Brown University, Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences Individual figures important in educational psychology and psychology can also be researched. For example, background on the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget is available at: The Jean Piaget Society To learn about the Russian constructivist Lev Vygotsky, you can visit: Lev Semenovich Vygotsky School psychology resources can be found online at: School Psychology Resources Online Special Education The Web provides exceptional resources for those interested in different areas of special education. Separate sites can be found for various areas of special needs, as well as on the use of computers by individuals with special needs. Apple's The Disability Connection http://www.apple.com/disability/ Autism Resources Blind Links Deaf World Web Down Syndrome Council for Exceptional Children Eric Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education Family Village National Information Center for Children and Youths with Disabilities Learning Disabilities Association of America Office of Special Education Programs Scotter's Low Vision Land Special Education Links Special Education Resources on the Internet Special Education Resources, University of Virginia Gifted Education Like the more general field of special education, gifted education is well represented on the Internet. Center for Talent Development Gifted and Talented Education http://www.pitsco.com/P/Respages/gifted.htm National Association of Gifted Education Stanford Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) Multicultural Education Multicultural education sources on the Internet and World Wide Web include a wide range of resources, from information on historical figures like Martin Luther King to sources on Native American people. A good place to begin to link to different curriculum resources is the web site “Walk a Mile in My Shoes:” Walk a Mile in My Shoes: Multicultural Curriculum Resources Other useful sites are the University of Virginia School of Education’s Multicultural Pavilion and the diversity site at : Multicultural Pavilion If you want to explore books on multicultural topics, connect to: Multicultural Book Review Homepage Interesting Native American sites can be found at: The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Index of Native American Source on the Internet Maya/Aztec/Inca Center Migration and Ethnic Relations Native American Indian Resources Computers and Education Technology Education Home Page WWW Virtual Library: Educational Technology Information about Internet filters and protecting children can be found at: Internet Safety for Kids Tips for Safer Surfing Children’s Literature and Language Arts An excellent starting point for learning about children’s literature on the web is: Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site The Children's Literature Web Guide The WEB: Celebrating Children's Literature You can go online to ask well-known children’s authors questions by visiting the following site: "Ask the Author" Other web sites on children’s literature, folklore, and mythology include: Classics for Young People Kindred Spirits (L. M. Mongomery Institute) Laura Ingalls Wilder Home Page The Little Red Riding Hood Project Newbery Award Home Page The Grimm Brothers Cyber Seuss Tales of Wonder Winnie the Pooh and Friends Mythology and Folklore Encyclopedia Mythica Folklore, Myth and Legend Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts Mythology and Folklore Mermaids Mythology in Western Art Social Studies Methods Social Studies, because of its use of original documents (diaries, deeds, census records) and visual sources (photographs, art work, maps), is an extremely rich area on the Internet and the World Wide Web. Excellent gateway sites include: The History Page World History Compass If you want to find out what happened on a specific date visit This Day in History: This Day in History Individual historical periods can be found at sites such as: Civil War The Psychedelic ‘60s History in the Classroom Social Studies Genealogy is a great subject to integrate into courses in American history, as well as state and local history. Gateway sites can be found at: Genealogy.Com Gengateway.Com Gen Source (Genealogy Gateway) More practical “how to do it” sites can be found at: Genealogy "How-To" Guide Family Search The Genealogy Page (National Archives) Surname Origin List The art and architecture of cemeteries and tombstones is a fascinating topic. It can be explored at length by visiting: Tombstone Rubbings Maps are an invaluable resource for social studies teachers at all levels of the educational system. The World Wide Web has many excellent map resources. Among the most useful are: Click a Map Earth Rise Geography Resources from the U.S. Census Bureau How Far is It? Maps of the World Quick Maps U.S. Gazeteer (U.S. Census Bureau) Vintage Panoramic Maps (Library of Congress) A gateway for historical documents that can be used by teachers can be found at: Historical Documents Examples of sites with excellent collections of historical documents include: Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy Thomas Historical Documents Emancipation Proclamation Historical Documents If you want to find different types of history timelines to use in your classes, then go to the following gateway site: History Timelines If you find yourself teaching a course that includes information on your state or local community, you will find the following state addresses helpful: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Delaware Florida Georgia Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Information on world cultures can be found at the following web addresses: 3-D Atlas Online Asia Society Data Base Europe Latin American Information Network The World Factbook Online sources related to Economics that could be useful in the classroom include: Economic Statistics History of Economic Thought If you want to explore inflation and the consumer price index visit: Federal Reserve System Consumer Price Indexes Inflation Calculators Gateway sites for Archeology include: Archeology Related Links Arch Net Examples of Archeological sites that can be used to support teaching include: Biblical Archeology Classics and Mediterranean Archeology Egyptian Artifacts Exhibit Megalythic Mysteries Petroglyphs and Rock Painting Resources on architecture include: ADAM (the Art, Design, Architecture & Media Information Gateway) The Ancient City of Athens The Bahaus Gothic Dreams International Archive of Women in Architecture Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Look into specialized subject areas to help students develop an interest in historical information. The history of aviation, for example, provides a great place to jump off into the study of history. Examples of sites you could start with include: Airship and Blimp Resources History of Flight The K-8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook National Air and Space Museum Airship and Blimp Resources The Aviation History Online Museum The K-8 Aeronautics Internet Textbook Science Methods General reference and science gateway sites of interest include: Cornell Theory Center Math & Science Gateway MathSciGateway/Explore Science Extreme Science Frank Potter's Science Gems MadSci Net (Ask-A-Scientist) SciCentral Science Education Gateway Scout Report for Science & Engineering Some of the science methods and general resources available on the web are: Bill Nye The Science Guy! Biology4Kids Chem4Kids Physics4Kids Science Learning Network Whales: A Thematic Web Unit Information on Science Fairs can be found at: Experimental Science Projects: An Introductory Level Guide Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab Science Fair Central Science Fair Project Resource Guide Science Fairs Homepage Step-by-Step Science Fair Success Ultimate Science Fair Resource Useful biology sites include: Surf Sites for Cyber Biology General Biology Ecology and Biodiversity Evolution and Behavior Information on science and health can be found at the following federal and international sites: Centers for Disease Control National Institutes of Health U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Some good gateway sites for animals include: Birdwatching WWW Links Bill’s Wildlife Sites Zooweb Specific animal websites include: Birding Tips for All Seasons Cat Fanciers Canine Web Electric Zoo The Complete Hamster Site Horse Web Marine Mammals House Rabbit Society A Master Piece of Evolution—The Shark Information on endangered animals can be found at: Endangered Species Endangered Species and Habitats Threatened Animals of the World For sources on the environment consult: Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Organization Web Directory Greenpeace Population Index on the Web Geology sites can be found at: Geology Link National Geographic Data Center U. S. Geological Survey Mathematics Methods There is a wealth of material available on mathematics on the web. Check out some of the following sites: Ask Dr. Math Geometry Through Art MathEd: Mathematics Education Resources Math Goodies Mega Math On-line Mathematics Dictionary Space Exploration and Astronomy An excellent gateway site for astronomy can be found at: WebStars For information on space exploration and astronomy, visit: The Constellations and Their Stars Exploring Mars Galileo Mission Planetary Fact Sheets Great activities to use in the classroom can be linked to at: Amazing Space NASA Kids
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