Links to other sites

Miscellaneous

Virtual Library Trip. Connecting to the university library's online database to conduct research is one of the simplest and the best uses of a networked computer lab. While there may be some functions that won't work at the library from a computer lab (and connectivity to the library can vary from institution to institution), connecting as a class allows students better opportunities to collaborate on research and better chances at saving their search results by "cutting and pasting" into local word processing documents. Further, researching the library in the computer lab provides better opportunities for teachers to immediately address student problems and concerns about using the system in their research.
Netiquette Quiz. There are several places on the web you can go to take a quiz of the "dos" and "don'ts" of the Internet. A useful exercise for both students new to the 'net and ones who have been around for a while. One good site is at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/netiquiz.html

Disk Exchange (or students can change seats). Students start a story or description, SAVE file, and exchange disks (or change seats). Second student continues, discussing information gaps with partner.

Brainstorming. Working alone or in groups, students type in all the words the topic calls to mind: "What do you already know about X? What does X remind you of? What does the audience need to know?" Questions may be loaded onto file server or personal disks as a template.

Sentence Construction. Instructor models types of sentences desired on the file server or LCD overhead. Students compose their own sentences as instructor checks work.
Mad Libs on the Web. I wasn't sure where to put this, but the site is available at http://www.eduplace.com/tales. Perhaps more appropriate for K-12, these exercises are fun ways to learn more about parts of speech, play with the language, etc.

Using the NotePad. I have my students use the Mac's "NotePad" to keep notes and organize thoughts. I like it better than the Scrapbook, because the contents of the NotePad can be edited easily.
I also ask them to copy/paste web addresses with notes they copy from web pages on the notepad. They also copy/paste all bibliographic data to the note pad and add the date they accessed the data. I encourage using a separate note page for each source. The notes can be printed from the NotePad or transferred into a document.

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