Enhancing Content Instruction – Ask a student what they think about their textbook…many wouldn’t express much fondness for them, but they would talk highly of teachers who include other resources.

Grab a projector and get online to make use of millions of informative websites. Educate students to be critical of internet material by modeling the process during instruction. Show pictures, short clips, play music, or even chat with an expert in the content area being covered. The possibilities are endless and all are intriguing to today’s students.

Staying Informed – Ask a person if they visit many of the same websites each day to check for updates in news, local events, or even products and services…many would agree the information online quickly changes.

Consider using Google Reader to subscribe to the changing websites you use most. In the classroom, current events, news coverage, and even weather are educational topics that can be examined over time. Let the information come to you when the updates are automatic, ultimately saving time and effort that is better spent teaching and learning.

Organizing Great Websites – Ask a teacher if they recommend certain websites for specific information and activities…many would say they have their favorites and would encourage students to use them.

Social bookmarking is a way to save your favorite websites and organize them to best suit your needs. The most important feature is that these bookmarks (favorites) are online and accessible from any computer with an internet connection. Students can use them not only in the classroom, but at home, in the school library, or anywhere they want.

Create a Twitter account to give you, the teacher, and all your students the ability to keep others informed of (and to comment about) what’s going on each day in the classroom. Best of all, short messaging fits into the busy school day because it’s quick.

Connecting Global Students – Ask a student if they know anyone who lives outside their city, state, or country…many would have friends or family in the area outside their city, some may know people outside their state, but often students don’t know anyone living abroad.

Open the lines of communication by creating classroom blogs on different topics being studied. Students can share information, ask and answer questions, as well as learn about other students around the world. This interaction exposes students to various cultures and ways of life that may be quite similar or very different from their own.

Making Collaboration Work – Ask a teacher, parent, or student what would be a drawback of group assignments…many would say getting together is difficult with busy schedules and other obligations.

Using a wiki when working in a group allows each member to contribute ideas, information, and products with the entire group. The effort put forth by each individual is contained to one place and everyone remains in the loop each step of the way.