After reading and pursuing several online technologies for students, there were a few that would work well for young students, especially a first grade learner. I really liked the WebQuest format. This could easily be adapted into classroom use, or have groups of students collaborate in a computer lab, for follow-up to an in-class lesson. WebQuests would be simple enough for elementary learners to follow on their own, but offer valuable practice in collaboration, assessment of material as well technology skills. Students could be given a block of time (for a simple WebQuest), or several afternoons for a more complex WebQuest.
Using a WebQust would be the most useful in science, social studies, or even learning about somputer technology. Students would be able to follow an experiment online for science, or follow an animal through its habitat and learn more about the animal's life cycle. In social studies/geography students might follow a timeline through a certain period in history. They could learn about an event from a famous "historical" person's point of view. (Example: following Paul Revere through the events leading up to and into the American Revolution.) Having a reason to study history through a WebQuest helps students connect, and examine the real meaning.
Strategies such as this would help students in scaffolding information from class lessons. Students would explore their world through a safe environment, using a tool that was built for their age-group. Students would be familiar with the content, but still be able to learn new material in an exciting way.
Another online tool that would be nice for young classroom learners would be a wiki. Although I don't believe that first graders would be able to fully use the wiki in all its intended purposes, they could learn and explore resources set up by the teacher. (I think it would be hard for students to individually create, add to, or maintain a wiki, students would benefit from resources added by a teacher.) Here, a teacher could also add additional pages to the wiki for home use. Students could have games to play for reinforcement and practice. Parents could have access to home-connect websites and resource materials to help students review at home. Keeping parents current with educational practices and safe materials for helping their child.
While a wiki may be more for student use as a resource, the teacher could have a class wiki in which the teacher shows students how to properly use and maintain. The teacher could demonstrate in a while class setting how to use a wiki, and students could explore in a lab with teacher help, or even at home with parental guidance.
With a wiki, students could learn any content possibility. Resources for math practice, or language arts writing prompts and parts of speech resources for parents to review at home are all wonderful uses.
students could learn from inductive reasoning through material laid out for students to follow. But, deductive reasoning could also be used when ideas are shared and students are expected to explain their own reasoning for what they believe.
Many of the available tools for teaching and utilizing online methods were wonderful resources, but for older and more skilled student users. A few like online projects, simulations online field trips seemed quite impressive. However, many of the resources or skills needed to incorporate these tools would be beyond that of a six year old student. Also, many of the ideas shared in these resources would not be on a cognitive level of a six-year-old, nor in their ability to think through the process needed to complete the required tasks. Many of the resources shared did not have adequate material for very young learners. The online field trips has great potential to be very useful for young learners; however, most of the resources shared were not for students younger than the second grade. If there were more available topics, this would be extremely beneficial! I may have to do more digging to find online field trips for young learners, this would open a world of possibilities!
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