Creating Web Based Lessons

by Shannon Goode, CIT, Monroe May Elementary

Return to Previous Page / Introduction / Types of Lessons / Credits

Introduction (Part 1):

There are many benefits of using the Internet as a resource for your students.  The Internet contains vast amounts of up-to-date information that can be useful in researching a particular topic.  However, having students just search for information on a  search engine can often prove to be a waste of time.  Some students get so carried away clicking on links and looking at pictures that they don't stop to read any information.  Other students never find anything useful about their topics.  By designing an Internet lesson, you can avoid wasting time by directing students to specific Internet sites that you have previewed.  Students have clear goals to accomplish at each site and are often engaged in higher level thinking.  Further, most students are highly motivated to use computers and therefore find Internet lessons to be very enjoyable.

In this course, you will design a Web based lesson to use with your class this year.  You may create a hot list, subject sampler, treasure hunt, or a Web quest.  Once you have designed the lesson, you will use it with your students.  If you have questions or need assistance with anything, please contact your course instructor.

Return to Top

Types of Lessons (Part 2):

Read the definitions of 4 main types of Internet Lessons.  Choose a lesson you would like to create.  Follow the links to obtain directions on completing the project.  Please note that due to difficulty level, some projects are worth more staff development hours than others.

Hot List - A Web page that lists Internet resources for your students to use as they research a particular topic. Think of a hot list as a way of narrowing down the sites that students can use in a research project.  You have searched for the sites already and composed a list of the most useful ones.  View examples of hot lists and find directions to create your own.  This is worth 2 hours of staff development. Continue with Hot List directions.

Subject Sampler - A lesson in which students research and evaluate information on a given topic.  Usually, a subject sampler has a main topic with four or five activities that relate to that topic.  For each activity, students look at a particular Web site and answer questions about the information presented.  Students answer questions about what they believe, value, or like about the topic.  At the end of the lesson, students can write a conclusion about what they have learned.  View examples of subject samplers and follow directions to create your own.  This is worth 4 hours of staff development.  Continue with Subject Sampler directions.

Treasure Hunt - In this type of lesson, students answer a list of about 10 questions on a given topic.  There are links that have information to help the students answer all of the questions.  The last question (often called the Big Question), usually requires the students to summarize the information they have learned.  Creating a Treasure Hunt is worth 4 hours of staff development.  Continue with Treasure Hunt directions.

Web Quest - A Web quest is an inquiry based lesson in which a group of students complete an overall task using Internet resources.  Each student has a specific role in their group.  This type of lesson promotes higher order thinking.  Creating your own Web quest is worth 6 hours of staff development.  Continue with Web Quest directions.

Return to TOP

Credits:

Background design from www.countryclipart.com

Region 20 Projects: Creating Web Based Lessons

The Web Quest Home Page