TASK

Preservice teachers must recognize the benefits of using technology to enhance students’ literacy learning. Preservice teachers can do this by educating themselves and then helping others to learn more about technology. This is indeed a reciprocal relationship - as exemplary teachers of technology share their knowledge, in turn, more preservice teachers will become educated and share their findings with others.

There are several ways that exemplary teachers like The Miss Rumphius Award winners can share their ideas, understandings, and activities with others around the world. The key to this communication is the Internet. The Internet is a way for teachers to communicate without ever leaving their classrooms. Your task is to make connections with other teachers to gain support, guidance, and knowledge about effective ways to integrate the Internet in the literacy curriculum.

ASSIGNMENT: On your own or with one or more of your classmates, you are to make “connections” with exemplary teachers of technology via the Internet. You will browse The Miss Rumphius Award winners' sites, join a list serv or mailing list, e-mail a Miss Rumphius award winner directly, join a collaborative project, and read interviews of Miss Rumphius Award winners by going to Reading Online: Teachers’ Voices. While you are making connections with other teachers, you will keep a journal of any ideas, materials, or activities that you become familiar with as you journey through the Internet. These notes documenting your journey will be helpful when you complete a “Resources Guide” indicating which resources you anticipate using in your classroom when you begin teaching!