Today’s study builds upon understandings made in the previous post, “The Internet and the classroom”. It aims to investigate online resources that can be of practical use to the classroom. These resources may be of worth to multiple disciplines (such as organisational or productivity tools), or specific to secondary English.
Web-based resources (content and tools)
Scootle is an Australian resource that provides teachers with digital learning content. Educators can browse the curriculum by subject and outcome; mapping content, tools and resources to each. Cool Australia provides similar resources; including units of work designed for the local context. Pearson offers a paid online resource for lesson plans and activities, which can be accessed offline or online via its eBook software.
The English K-10 syllabus and the senior years (English 11-12 syllabus) are available online from the Board of Studies. These guiding documents are foundational web-based resources that inform daily teaching practice.
Google Classroom is a free platform (part of the G Suite for Education) that connects students and teachers via a web-based content management system. Google Classroom can be used to manage lessons, tasks, assessments, and to provide feedback to students.
Google Docs allows classrooms to access a free, web-based word processor. It can also be used to collaborate on projects, or to share documents with the class.
Google Drive can be used for cloud data storage purposes. There are many similar online resources (most offer a free service up to a certain data limit). This can be used in conjunction with Google Vault; an app that archives school emails for compliance needs.
Chrome for Education provides a robust web browser for schools that is fast, compatible with many devices (windows, mac, android and iOs), and is safe and secure for students. Chrome for education uses built-in malware and phishing protection. There is also a custom search engine (Search Engine for K12 Education) that returns content specifically for school use.
Microsoft Education is a web portal with an abundance of web-based resources. This includes resources for higher education (classroom management templates, training, and guides), as well as lesson plans and collaboration tools. The teaching with technology course can be viewed here by way of example.
The Discovery Education Network (DEN) offers digital textbooks, professional development, online lessons, and engagement programs for teachers. Despite the quality of this web resource, it may be too American-centric for Australian schools.
YouTube for Teachers and YouTube EDU customises the online video service for education purposes. YouTube for teachers provides education-based videos, information and training for free use. This can be used for instructional purposes or teacher training.
Google Cultural Institute is a collection of exhibits (photos, letters & artefacts) from museums that can be incorporated into lesson planning.
Google Books is an online library which allows English classrooms to access web-based texts. This can be used with Google Scholar for broader academic reading. Google Books also allows users to create their own library, which can be organised and recalled online. Google Play Books is another resource to access paid eBooks.
OneWorld Classrooms, ePals, iEARN, and Global School Net connects students from different sides of the world to learn about global citizenship and develop cultural awareness. These resources could be used to collaborate with a foreign school on a shared project.
Writing with Writers is an electronic mentoring program created by Scholastic. It provides classrooms with tutorials and clinics by professional writers to improve literacy.
Headliners is a UK-based website that provides students with an online platform to publish and share their stories. It teaches journalistic principles and gives young people a media outlet in which to voice ideas and concerns.
ReadWriteThink provides classroom resources for reading and writing development. It can be used as a web-based activity resource, or to gain additional ideas for practical tasks.
Teach With Movies is a website that supports teachers integrate feature films into lesson planning. This is useful to English teachers (who are teaching adapted texts) and also to science and social studies.
A Google A Day is a web-based daily quiz that could be used to engage students at the beginning of a lesson. It teaches digital and information literacy.
REFERENCES
Hi James,
Thanks for sharing such a comprehensive list of resources, there are few there I did not know about and its always very helpful to have more ideas. My discipline is not English it is Food Technology and Design Technology, however I can see how many of these resources would become useful across different disciplines as you mentioned
I had a look at Google Cultural Institute and thought it was a particularly good space and resource for students to explore and learn form . Another good resource similar to this is the National Gallery of Victoria website (http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/). Here you can view the wide range of artworks and collections, search by artist and access an education section which if your not in Victoria may not be much use but I’m sure similar state galleries would run similar educational programs.
Thanks for sharing
Estelle 🙂
Fantastic – thanks Estelle!
Hi James,
Another terrific blog entry. You have presented a very comprehensive list of resources which would be very useful for any English teacher. I had not heard of Google a Day or Teaching with movies until reading your post. The latter is fantastic. Who doesn’t have vivid memories of days when we got to ‘watch a movie’, as the consumption of television and video games for younger generations increases, I believe as teachers we need to seek more ways to frequently enhance lessons with visual stimulus as this is a method they engage with so often. I found this resource helpful not just for adaptations, but integrating movies when looking at ethics, morals and understanding other cultures.
Another idea for integrating visual learning with English is considering game creation. This article gives insight into how this practice is dominating youth culture and how it can be used to facilitate learning in classrooms http://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanshapiro/2015/03/30/how-video-games-in-the-classroom-will-make-students-smarter/#1c58c2201828
Through this article and those attached with it I discovered twinery.org
This website is an excellent resource, allowing students to create Interactive fiction a lot like the ‘choose your own adventure’ stories, with multiple endings, using a game format. I could see this facilitating excellent learning around structure and character journey. All the best with your studies!
Hi James thank you for sharing an extensive range of resources you can use in your teaching area of English. I am a studying to be a PE teacher and can see how I can also use some of the resources you’ve listed.
Another good resource that is beneficial to PE but I believe also has benefits in English is Skype. Skype has the potential to engage students of any year level and any stage. Skype can promote student collaboration and engagement, beneficial in a 21st century classroom (Roblyer & Doering, 2014, p.267). Skype has the potential to promote the inclusion of guest speakers or experts, book writers, poets etc to speak to students in the classroom. Using Skype, students will actively process information from that they see and hear, and turn it into knowledge (Fryer, 2005). Providing this experience to students they are going to be more likely to be motivated, not bored and actively listening and thinking in a 21st century classroom.
References:
Fryer, W. A. (2005). Skype in the classroom. Retrieved from: http://publications.wesfryer.com/index.php/archive/article/view/38/140
Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2014). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (6th Ed.). Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited.