The largest component of the Internet is email. Unfortunately, email is
probably
the least used component in schools! Why? One reason is that teachers aren't
sure of what they can do with it. Here are three practical
instructional uses of
email…in any classroom.
Conduct a survey. It is possible to ask questions to folks down the block
or
around the world…using email. The survey should have only a few
questions.
Provide choices for answers, just like a multiple choice test.
When the
responses come in students can then "interpret" them using t
ables or graphs. You
can even create a "report" on the information that
you have explored.
Create an ezine (electronic newsletter). Students can gather information
and
publish it without wasting a single tree…using email. The newsletter
can be sent
to students, parents, teachers or any other member of the community…providing
that they have asked for it. If you send email to
people who don't want it they
call it spamming. Not good!
Ask an expert. With email you can ask questions to experts anywhere i
n the
world. There are several Ask-the-Expert sites (such as www.allexperts.com)
around where experts in various fields are open
to your questions. However, that
doesn't mean that each student should
send a question or many questions to the
same person. It would be better
to collect the best questions and submit them at
once.
Email is free, widely available and has great potential in the classroom.
Teachers should, however, beware of some possible problems. First,
students
should not be sending email without parental permission (in writing).
Second,
teachers may want to create a special account just for classroom
use due to the
possibility of getting a large number of unwanted messages…spam or worse. Third,
teachers should discuss email projects
with their principals (in advance) to
make sure that they are complying
with school and/or district policies regarding
the Internet.
[
Joel Heffner is a retired teacher and teacher trainer who
now serves
as freelance writer and education consultant. He has written Grants
for Teachers and Studyology. If you have questions about using
email in the
classroom you can send him an email (of course) at jh@joelheffner.com.]
