Incredibly Useful Teaching Resources

(Missy O’Brien’s SLM 521 Web Index Page)

The following pages were specifically created with my future career as a teacher of

English and Theatre in mind, but they may be helpful to teachers in all content areas. Enjoy!

WebQuests

WebQuests are a great way to get students motivated into group collaboration and higher-level thinking. Using the internet, students complete a task based on research and real-world problem solving.

Ancient Greece: The Game: Rather than lecturing students on the background of a literary work, why not immerse them in a task that will allow them to have fun while learning much more than they’d ever learn from listening and taking notes. Students direct their own learning as they create a game about Ancient Greece in this WebQuest. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/ancientgreecewebquest.htm

Literature WebQuests: Looking for more WebQuests? On this page, you’ll find a sampling of excellent WebQuests for literature classes. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/literaturewebquests.htm

Web Dropins

Web Dropins are simple web-based activities that allow students to take on a problem using websites provided by the instructor. They only take 20 – 30 minutes to complete and can be a lot of fun!

Using MLA Format to Cite Research Sources: In this activity, students are asked to read the rules for using MLA documentation, view examples of citations, and create their own citations of provided research sources. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/webdropin1.htm

Haiku Poetry: A Gift from Japan: This activity introduces students to the characteristics of Haiku poetry and invites them to create and share their own poems. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/webdropin2.htm

Picturing Don Quixote: Designed to go along with a unit on Don Quixote, this activity invites students to evaluate a selection of illustrations of the work’s title character. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/webdropin3.htm

You Never Have to Wonder What to Wear: School Uniforms: School uniforms are a matter of growing debate. Students are invited to take their own stance after researching both sides of the issue. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/webdropin4.htm

Stanislavski vs. Brecht: Designed for a 12^th grade theatre class, this activity introduces students to the theatre theories of Konstantin Stanislavski and Bertolt Brecht. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/webdropin5.htm

Web Link Bibliography

A web link bibliography is a collection of links centered on a specific topic.

Teaching with Comic Books and Graphic Novels: This bibliography is centered on using comic books and graphic novels in the classroom. Included in this bibliography are links to resources for teaching MAUS, an amazing work that won Art Spiegelman the Pulitzer in 1992. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/weblinkbibliography.htm

Internet Course Module

Internet course modules present activities based on resources found on the Internet.

Online Journaling: This Internet Course Module introduces students to online journaling, which is growing in popularity. Through this activity, students assess available journaling hosts and keep their own journal. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/coursemoduleoj.htm

Other Useful Items

The following pages don’t fit into any certain category, but are useful all the same!

The Best Search Engines on the Web: This review will help you find the best way to find what you’re looking for using the wide variety of search engines available on the Internet. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/searchengines.html

Search Tips: Using search engines for research can be frustrating and time consuming. These tips will help make the best out of using search engines. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/searchtips.htm

Literature Lesson Plans: Looking for lesson plans on the Internet can be tedious and frustrating. Here are links to some great places to find lesson plans for teaching literature. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/literaturelessonplans.htm

Email Tips for Teens: This page is designed to be shared with students on their way out of high school. It includes tips for using email in both professional and personal communication. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/email.htm

Places to find great clipart: Finding clipart to brighten up handouts and websites can be a pain. This page may be able to help! http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/clipartlist.htm

Radio and Streaming Audio for the Classroom: There are lots of great ways to incorporate radio and streaming audio available on the internet into the classroom. Here are just a few ideas. http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/obrienm/radio.htm

Last updated 10 July 2003.