Lesson Seven
Hopefully you have read the assigned readings for this class and have a basic yet well-rounded understanding of how to teach the internet. Let's apply it to FCLP.
Focusing on Class 6 from the FCLP Syllabus
Because the internet is an extremely new concept for many of your students, it is suggested that you bring handouts to class to make it easier for them to understand.
Once you feel your students have a basic a understanding of what they'll be embarking on, have them do a Webquest that you have designed. As you read in the reading assignment, Webquests are a great wake to learn how to search and to learn new information. Tailor a webquest that will benefit an adult learner, such as a place to shop for cheap plane tickets, real estate site, or how to help supplement their children's educational resources. Spend the entire class going over this and getting them used to google. It may seem simple to you(a very experiences internet user), but for them it is most likely a whole new world. The Internet can be 'too much to quickly'. Make sure your students get the practice they need in terms of using google and practicing how to search.
The key to search engines is using keyword(s). It is dire that you explain to your students what a keyword is. A good analogy to use is the library. Student go to the library and are looking for a certain topic. Let's say they're interested in looking for information about Apple Pie Recipes. Apple pie is a food. Food is a category. However, food as a category is too big. It encompasses all food, including Apple Pie. Being specific is what keywords are all about. More specifically, apple pie is a dessert. However, dessert have many subcategories. Eventually, the student may find what she or he is looking for, under the subject of either dessert or pie. Using analogies like this, helps students understand how to search the internet.
For students to visually understand why keywords are important, have them do a search of city of Cambridge. First have them type in the name 'Cambridge' and hit Search. Point out that you come up with hundreds of thousands of results. Why? Because that wasn't specific enough. A more adequate search of Cambridge will come up with smaller results: "Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, City Hall". City Hall is an important phrase because if internet users are looking for information about the town of Cambridge, the City Hall is an entity that may provide that.
Because the internet can be 'too much to quickly', make sure your students don't wander off on the internet. Make sure they follow instructions and that their attention isn't taken away by interesting links that they click on.
Challenges
It is important that students understand why they must type in the URL perfectly, every time. Use analogies such as a mail address or phone number. If someone wanted to call 617-987-3455 and called 617-3355 instead, they're going to get a completely different person. The same is true with typing in a URL. If they want to go to Amazon.com and type in http://www.amason.com instead of http://www.amazon.com, they're not going to go to Amazon.com.