Presented by Heather Sparks, NBCT 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year S.O.E.A. University of Oklahoma September 16, 2010

 Which kid is cuter? Kid A Kid B

Nearly every classroom in America has at least one computer. -NCES, Internet Access in US Public Schools and Classrooms A decade later…

And one of the most significant classroom technologies…

“In recent years, the Internet has morphed into an application-based tool that allows users to create content, post ideas, and share experiences.” ~High Tech Teaching Success (2009) How can teachers leverage the possibilities the internet provides for classroom use?

Students can build a free website like this one.

Other Free Website Hosts

Students can create free 30 second music videos from uploaded photos and video clips.

Other photo/slide sites:

Students can build their free own comic books from templates.

Other comic creator sites:

The Pew Internet and American Life Project Survey found 93% of all US students between the ages of reported using the internet, 87% use , 75% have cell phones, and 97% play computer/video games. ~Rainey, 2009 Are teachers taking advantage of the skills and technology students already possess?

Teachers and students can create polls to gather responses or other data via cell phone text or the web.

Other Poll Sites: Fluidsurvey.com

Teachers and students can create and share mind maps or diagrams

Other Mind-mapping sites:

“The internet has undergone a shift from something that one passively browses to something to which users are actively contributing.” ~High Tech Teaching Success (2009) How can teachers help students ‘actively contribute’?

Teachers and students can create and share ideas through blogs.

Other Blog Sites:

Teachers and students can communicate with others from across the street or around the world.

Other Video Conferencing Sites:

~High Tech Teaching Success (2009) “Web 2.0 is a collection of Internet-based applications that allows users to easily create and post content.” How will Web 2.0 help our students learn?

Students can create their own virtual ‘glogs’ (digital interactive posters) on any subject.

Teachers create a social network for their classes and include photos, assignments, or links. Students can submit work, chat, or post ideas.

Students can analyze existing data or create their own surveys to send out.

Students can gather artifacts and link content research to their boxes.

“An inherent characteristic of technology education is the continual development of new technologies and creating innovative applications of already existing technologies.” ~G.E. Hall, 2010 What innovative ways will you find to use technology in your classroom?

Read blogs about teachers’ experiences using Web 2.0 with their students at Explore a free database of lessons and online curriculum housed at (Multimedia Educational Resources for Learning and Online Teaching. Search through curriculum resources from teachers around the world at Learn about creating electronic portfolios at

Technology In Action at Taft Middle School

Besnoy, K., & Clark, L. W. (2009). High tech teaching success. Waco: Prufrock Press. Ertmer, P., & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A. (2010). Teacher technology change: How knowledge, confidence, beliefs, and culture intersect. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 42(3), 255–284. Hall, G. E. (2010). Technology’s Achilles heel: Achieving high-quality implementation. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 42(3), 231–253. Internet access in US public schools and classrooms (2005). Washington, D.C.: National Center for Educational Statistics. Rainie, L. (2009). Pew Internet and American Life Project Survey. Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center.

For a copy of this presentation, visit Heather’s website: