How to Teach High School Students to Use the Internet

Teaching high school students to use the Internet can be a challenge. Many students use the Internet for games or social networking but they do not possess a strong foundation in Internet research skills. Other students may lack Internet access due to socioeconomic reasons and have not had the opportunity to learn how to use it. High school students should learn to identify basic computer hardware and be aware of Internet ethics and etiquette. Teaching high school students to identify keywords and evaluate websites will help them become successful Internet users.

Things You'll Need

• Acceptable use policy
• Computer lab
• Internet connection
• Keyword assignment
• Search engine assignment
• Website assignment
• Citations format

Instructions

Acceptable Use Policy

1. Review the acceptable use policy. Most public school and public libraries have their own policy requirements for use in their districts.

2. Discuss Internet ethics with the class, as stated in the acceptable use policy. Tell students what is considered inappropriate, what websites will be blocked and that the purpose of the school computer lab is for research only.

3. The policy should be signed by parents and students before students use the Internet.

Computer Lab

1. Reserve a computer lab that accommodates the class size.

2. Review computer basics. Students should be able to turn on the machine, use the mouse and log on.

3. Connect to the Internet. Instruct students to practice logging on and off again. If possible, try different browsers so students can compare and contrast them.

Keyword Assignment

1. Assign a topic for student research or have students choose an approved topic.

2. Create a student handout on identifying keywords.

3. Demonstrate finding keywords. For example, if the research topic is "The Causes of Global Warming and Climate Policy," instruct students to delete filler words such as "and," "the" and "of."

4. Explain to students that they may conduct searches using single words or phrases, such as "global warming" or "climate policy."

Search Engine Assignment

1. Instruct students to conduct a keyword search using different search engines.

2. Encourage students to compare results from each search engine. List the number of results found.

3. Ask students to determine which search engine provided them with the most results and which search engine they will use for research.

Website Review

1. Review with students the different website endings: .com, .edu, .gov, .net. Explain the difference between a valid site and a personal site.

2. Demonstrate how to check for website validity. Compare various sites that appear in a keyword search. Ask students the following questions: Who wrote the information? Are citations available? When was the page last updated?

3. Ask students to list three websites that contain their keywords and end in .edu or.gov. Instruct them to explain why those sites are valid.

Citation Format

1. Demonstrate how to copy and paste a link in a blank document.

2. Show students how to cite an internet source in a bibliography.

3. Instruct students to create a bibliography page using the three relevant websites that contained their keywords.

References

• "The Computer Lab Teacher's Survival Guide;" Holly Poteete; 2003.

Resources

• Kathyschrock.net: Kathy Schrock's ABC's of Web Site Evaluation
• Purdue Online Writing Lab: Research and Citation Resources