Using the Internet for Homework
Browsing the Web is a favorite pastime for many but finding the right site or resources to use for homework can be challenging. Fortunately there is a great place to go for one-stop school help shopping that parents, teachers and students can use easily. Nearly 10 years ago the web site Internet4classrooms, or “i4c,” was born. The idea for the free education portal came from two teachers who saw the need. “We are educators who wish to help children learn by helping parents and teachers quickly find Standards Based activities, lessons and reviews for the classroom and home,” Instructional Technology Consultant, Professional Development Trainer and i4c co-founder Susan Brooks explains.
I4c is part of the expanding integration between technology and traditional classroom settings. Students can find help with homework and links to materials that are teacher-approved and not associated with commercial products or private interests. The idea is to cater to kids from kindergarten to college with pages separated by grade level for easier navigation. For parents the site offers a number of resources including ways they can be involved in homework, how they can determine their child’s learning style and tips on how to raise a good studier. The goal is to help parents help their children be the best they can be. “Learning to concentrate on a task, sticking with it through the difficult parts, asking for help when really needed, completing assignments in a timely manner, and becoming self-sufficient is the long term goal for having successful skills to compete in the future world that they will live in as they grow,” Brooks says.
With all the information out there on the Web i4c is a filter for parents and their kids when it comes to free, quality education help. The site even links its resources to state standards to aid parents in finding the concepts their students are studying. Additionally, there are also pages of resources to address each concept. Appealing to students, the site incorporates interactive games for students, which are designed to reinforce the skills they learn in school.
Brooks sees the site as an adjunct to traditional learning. She believes that there are multiple ways to teach a child a concept and finding the right way can involve employing multiple tools. Parents and teachers play a critical role. “The key to homework help is to be a facilitator. Children learn independence and responsibility by doing homework tasks. If the child does not understand the concept, re-teach the concept using Internet resources or pencil and paper resources, and then let the student complete the homework assignment alone,” she says.
On-line resources have become the encyclopedias for this generation of students. Knowing how and what to use is critical. Having guidance on how to appropriate educational tools can be a great aid for families and just might propel today’s students to become exceptional learners.
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