Pretend there are plenty of computers in your classroom and they are all connected to the Internet

Describe what you think will be several of the most significant challenges you will face when using the Internet in the classroom.

There are numerous challenges that a teacher will face when using the Internet in the classroom. The first, and most concerning challenge for me would be making sure that all of the students are using their computers for educational purposes. Children today are so used to using their computers for fun and games at home and even at school, that I believe when it comes time to be use it ONLY for learning, there could be a significant problem.

The second challenge would be making sure that everything is done safely. The Internet is a very large and intimidating place, and children could easily find themselves swept up in a "fantasy" world. As the SafeKids website states, parents should get to know the services their child uses, well I feel that this is also true for teachers. If teachers stay current and up to date on what is popular and which websites are the most used by students in the age ranges of their students, it might be easier to combat the safety issue. Teachers can stress the safety precautions and explain what their students should and should not do. Anyone found to be in breach of the safety rules would be severely punished in order to make a point and show the other students that this is not acceptable behavior.

The third challenge would be plagiarism. Plagiarism is a very big problem with students and has been for years, and with such easy access to the Internet, the idea to plagiarize looks even more inviting and even less traceable. What many students do not realize is that there are many ways for teachers to check their work for plagiarizing. There are different types of software, and even easier, search engines that can quickly let a teacher know that the student's work has been plagiarized. Due to these rather simple methods of checking, this problem could become obsolete in a few years as these methods become more intricate.

How you are doing and feeling about what you have learned this week? Did the group experience help or hinder your learning experience?

I did good this week and learned a lot. Coming into this assignment I had no idea what a mashup was and now I do. I was quite familiar with online mapping but I did not know all of the details behind it as well as the information about GIS. It was very interesting to learn and I actually think these programs will be beneficial to me in many ways in the future.

I think the group experience in this instance was great. I am never usually a fan of group projects because I like to work alone. By working alone I feel that if I screw up then it is my own fault whereas in a group situation, if someone else screws up, it could change everything for everyone in the group and I don't like to rely on others to get my work done. However, I did like it in this case because everyone had their specific assignments and everything was pretty evenly divided so that everyone contributed to every question in their own way.

Meeting In Second Life

What do you think about your experiences in SL?
What are the potentials and dangers for integrating this technology in education?


After meeting in Second Life or SL, I was very impressed. I already agreed with technology in the classroom, but after my experience in SL, I agree even more (if that's possible). This program is so unique and so versatile that it's potential is limitless. After learning how to move and use the search functions, it becomes very easy to use, and even fun!

There is limitless potential for this program in education. A high school teacher could use this program as a fun way for the class to meet or as an alternative option on days where in-school class is not possible. A college professor could use the program for the same purposes, but also as a way to meet for distance learning classes "in-person" without actually making people come onto campus.

While it is a wonderful program, there are numerous dangers for using SL in education as well. When using the Internet, the fear of safety with youths is always an issue in regards to predators. Another issue is people pretending to be someone they are not, for instance if someone is supposed to attend a class session and has someone else do it for them since nobody can tell who is on the other end of a computer. Another issue that is not so much a danger, but could affect using SL in the classroom, is that everyone does not necessarily have a computer readily available at home.

Although there are drawbacks to using this program (as there are with any other programs), the benefits far outweigh them as far as I'm concerned.