Seriously, what did we do before the Internet?! There are so many great resources available for students and teachers. Interactives are one example of how to truly integrate and technological experience into a lesson. Of course, some interactives are better than others, so it is critical to verify the quality and appropriateness before having your students use them.
I learned that interactives can be divided into five main categories:
- Study/Practice Websites and Apps
- Lessons with Multimedia
- Simulations
- Mapping and Timeline Interactives
- Virtual Worlds
I chose to focus on intercatives from the categories: Mapping and Timeline Interactives and Study/Practice Websites and Apps.
Remember, when thinking about how to use technology in the classroom, we as educators must ask and be able to answer a number of questions. One way to verify that we are using a resource appropriately is the SAMR Model.
My first reaction to this interactive is that it is very similar to Google Earth. However, as I began trying to manipulate the map, I discovered some features that were pleasantly surprising. I could imagine asking students to explore countries based on languages spoken, agricultural products produced, or personal interest. Of course, they would be expected to create a product in the target language–English. They could also use this program to help them better understand distances between countries or cities (using the “Draw a Polyline” Tool). My one complaint is that I was unable to find a way to learn more about each individual state in the United States. As we focus on American culture, I think that this would have been a great feature for my students to use.
Thinking about how this resource addresses the SAMR Levels, I would say that this resource could be used to Redefine the Task (learning about agricultural production with a visual representation that is also interactive) and to Augment student learning (rather than using paper maps, students are able to use interactive maps).
I have always loved the Grammarly website. As a teacher, I often reference it when preparing my own lessons (to verify that I have an accurate understanding of what I am going to teach my students, as well as a clear and concise way of explaining it). Unlike other study websites that I have found, Grammarly is very clear and gives examples of both what to do and what not to do. This would be a great way to extend the learning of a topic discussed in class. Sometimes, students need to learn the content in a number of ways before they are able to remember and apply it. I think that the topics included on this website are topics that are commonly challenging for English language learners. I think that using these resources would allow students to check their own understanding, as well as fill in any gaps in learning.
I think this resource addresses the SAMR Level of Augmenting the Lesson. By using technology, students will be able to verify their understanding, as well as interact with the information in a different way. I like that students are able to choose what they study, and the information is not too long or detailed.
21Things4Teachers: My Personal Experience 