When I have students use the internet for research purposes, I provide them the sites and a worksheet or guide to help them find information. The reason is that with a short amount of computer time, the students do not have time to search for sites and then find the needed information. In addition, most students do not know what a good site looks like. By providing the sites, I am saving time and also showing students sites that are good to use. Use these websites for students to research information. When deciding to use a website for research, ask the following questions about the website to make sure it is suitable for your class.
- Is the reading level appropriate or can you work around it?
- Is the information you need easy to find?
- How and where can you align this website with your curriculum?
- What problems do you anticipate with students using this site?