There are many issues that accompany education and the Internet. Students and educators should be using online information although they should also have the skills to organize and summarize the information. Credit should be given through citations and digital bibliographies. Even young students can learn the importance of giving credit where credit is due. Educators can model ethical use of the Internet by following copyright and fair use laws. In addition, educators can design projects, activities, lessons, and papers that challenge students to think creatively rather than spouting back information that they have found online.

Process Over Product

Term papers, report cards, final exams. Often the end product is the focus rather than the process and learning taking place. Emphasize the research process. Use the research models from Lesson #1 concentrating on higher-level thinking skills. Take students through each step in the research process. When designing large projects for students, include deliverables along the way such as outlines, rough drafts, literature reviews, references, diagrams, and presentations. Also, consider using Essential Questions that challenge students to think and teachers to "uncover" rather than "cover" the curriculum.

Do As I Say Not As I Do

With so much information available, students and educators need to understand fair use and copyright. Ignorance is not an excuse for stealing and "do as I say not as I do" is not a good example. The Napster Cantata by M.E. Kabay has an answer to every excuse. Depending on the age of your students, you may want to share this resource with them. Another approach may be to hold a debate where the students argue the sides of copyright.

Ask & You Will Receive

Ask for permission to use online work by sending an email to the Web site editor or publisher. Most will be happy to share their work if it is for education. Landmarks for Schools created a Permission Template to make it easier for educators to ask for permission. Let your students know that you have received permission from the author when using material and graphics for Web pages and handouts. Have students document their sources by creating a bibliography or list of references with short descriptions of each resource. Use the resources in Lesson 3 to show students how to cite their sites.

Education and communication are very important when using online information. Take the time to talk to your students about the issues that accompany the Internet. With so many more resources available, students need to be aware of how to effectively, efficiently, and ethically use information for today.