I enjoyed the experience gained from developing the course site. It was surprising to me how planning the design and content for the site also allowed me to identify areas within my lesson plan that needed to be revised and be more defined. As I tuned up my lesson plan, I was able to more clearly determine the best way to structure the site, making sure to align the instructions provided on the various pages to my learning objectives. I was sure to keep in mind my students who would have to navigate the site, and the parents who would also access the site to learn about what their children would learn in the course. My goal was to make the site visually appealing with relevant graphics and icons and easy to read and navigate.
Educators have abundant access to information on the Internet that they can use in their classroom to support curriculum delivery. I found this especially true as I was able to navigate so much information on Financial Literacy that at times I could see how teachers can become overwhelmed or even distracted towards their teaching goals as they explore material and interactive resources for students to use. The beauty of the Internet is that it presents innovative avenues for educators to engage students in exploratory and creative learning. As the Internet is a platform where people are free to contribute their own ideas, opinion, knowledge, etc. I can understand that some would take caution and seek for a certain level of moderation and protection from inappropriate content be established. This is especially true when addressing the use of Internet in schools. The use of the Internet in classrooms can be a risk as the World Wide Web is an information freeway where access to online resources are unfiltered, not patrolled and accessible to whomever can find it. This poses a risk, especially as educators increasingly use the internet to acquire resources to use in their classrooms. Although, this is a potential hazard, however, I believe that it is up to the schools or teachers to implement appropriate safeguards to ensure that students do not have access or are exposed to inappropriate content. By integrating filters, and blocking access to certain sites, schools and educators can control Internet access on the school’s website. In addition, as educators search for Internet resources to use in their classrooms or for instruction, they should do their due diligence in assessing the credibility of the site and source to ensure that it is one that is geared for educational purposes.
As I searched for resources to include in my site, I was careful to read about the author or source of the site, and I tested the links on the page to ensure that they were directed to appropriate web pages or sites. The challenge of safeguarding access to inappropriate content comes as children access the Internet from their homes. In this case, communication between parents and students is necessary so that parents are aware of the Internet requirements and the scope of Internet use that have been established by the teacher for instructional purposes. Parents can also put filters into place at home for students’ use based on the sites that students are required to navigate to complete lessons and assignments. It’s unfortunate that a resource that is so invaluable such as the Internet can also be harmful. However, I believe that by establishing clear guidelines with students, and parents, and with careful planning, and communication, schools and educators can be strategic and successful in integrating Internet use to facilitate learning and curriculum delivery.