Dave Snyder

SLM521SP03

2/8/03

Journal Article Review

Roberts, Grady, Dyer, E. James. (2002). The Cyber Classroom: Strategies for Using the Internet as an Instructional Resource. The Agricultural Education Magazine, Vol. 75, no 3, pg. 26-7.

The authors of this article are writing about how technology has worked its way into nearly every aspect of out lives. This technology is capable of providing a huge source of information and resources for our students and teachers. The problem with technology is there is so much information out there, that we as students and teachers can become lost if we are not capable of effectively managing this information. If teachers can be formally trained on how to use this resource and effectively manage it, then it becomes a tremendous asset to both the teacher and the student. The authors feel there are five common approaches to using the internet in the classroom. They are: Topic Hotlists, Webquests, Telecollaborative Projects, Simulations and Virtual fieldtrips.

I think this article brings up a lot of good points. There is so much information out there on the internet and so many neat and interesting thins we can do with the net that sometimes we can get lost in the awesome possibilities that exist. The key to not getting lost is to take part in formal training on how to use the internet to its fullest capability. One day in-service training would not in my mind qualify as formal training, it requires much more than one day to feel comfortable in using the net to its fullest potential. The authors go on within the article to very clearly outline how to each of the five activities listed above work and to provide examples of how to use them within the classroom. The internet currently is not a replacement for all other resources, but it should be able to provide a great alternative and variation to our current instructional techniques.