Essential #14 - Resources for STUDENT USE

Well of course there are thousands of sites for students to use. The trick is really finding ones that are absolutely user friendly, content specific and age appropriate. I chose to focus on my AP Chem students as they are the ones most likely to go use the resources as their BIG test is fast approaching. These are both sites they can load to their fancy phones and use on the go. The first one is from a well known AP Chem guru who has posted practice multiple choice questions on all topics AP CHEM. It can be found at

http://www.adriandingleschemistrypages.com/apquiz.html

The next site is a blog with podcasts embedded into it, Each post on the blog is a topic covered in my class so it is easy find a specific topic you would need help on just by looking at post titles. It can be found at

http://hatakappodcast.blogspot.com/

At the beginning of most of my units I do give the students a list of web resources to explore for extra help so they are used to this. I did post them on my school website - a first for me (it was easy). I will continue to do this next year so I am not constantly hunting for the resources. I also think I will add to my delicious tag system to discriminate between student resource and teacher resource or both. HMM - loving that delicious again.

AN OPINION - we have to begin to allow students to use the technology they have in their pockets. If our schools had wi-fi we would be able to utilize these student resources with the kids, immediately and quickly without having to check out a lab or wheel a lab, that might or might not work, into our classroom. LPS has to get with the game in terms of technology. WEB 2.0 is passing us quickly by.