Learning Tools

Technology tools offer students a multitude of opportunities for learning.  The Internet can connect them to any information that they need, so students need guidance to discover the best resources for the subject that they want or need to learn about.  Students who have grown up playing with desktop, laptop, or mobile computing devices know how to use them for fun and entertainment, but they may not know how to differentiate between a site that was created by a reputable source and a site that is filled with inaccurate information.  As teachers, we have the responsibility to teach students how to identify good sources that they can rely on for correct answers.  However, some issues that students need or want to learn about can be represented in several different ways by differing points of view.  Students must be taught how to locate sources that represent each stance or point of view regarding an issue in order to develop a well-rounded understanding of the issue and to form their own opinions.  As students develop these skills in school, they are learning how to find information independently- a necessity for adulthood.