Below are the questions that were asked during/after the first session of the course.  I have attempted to answer each question as completely as possible, but please feel free to ask further questions if you still have them. (The identity of the questioner has been removed to protect the innocent :-)

• What are the passwords to the Online Services (authorized users only) on the Internet Gateway on the Unit 5 home page?

• How can my class communicate with a musher in the Iditarod?

• How can we sign up for e-mail pen pals?

• What is the difference between an Internet-Based Lesson/Project and a WebQuest?

• When making a WebQuest can I gear them toward certain sites or should I let them find it?

• How do I make a hotlist?

1. What are the passwords to the Online Services (authorized users only) on the Internet Gateway on the Unit 5 home page?
Some of the services do not require passwords.  Others do.  I will have more specific information for you during class today.

2. How can my class communicate with a musher in the Iditarod?
I'm not sure about the ability to e-mail mushers from the race, but the Iditarod website offers many learning opportunities.  There is also a "teacher on the trail" that has created lessons, etc. for you to use and you can email her as well.  Just go to iditarod.com to find out more.

3. How can we sign up for e-mail pen pals?
Go to one of the pages on the example page, such as ePALS, kidword keypals, etc. that are focused on email and online communication.  These sites then will provide you the opportunity to sign up and find a class or group to communicate with.  I know, for example, that on ePALS, when you click on Find Partners it allows you to search for a classroom that meets criteria you provide.

4. What is the difference between an Internet-Based Lesson/Project and a WebQuest?
Well, an Internet-Based Lesson or Project is a general term used to refer to any lesson or project in which most or all of the information used/found, etc. comes from the Internet.  A WebQuest is one type of Internet-Based Project, as it fits this criteria.  The PDA course next week will go into more detail, but here is an excerpt from The WebQuest page:

• A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The model was developed in early 1995 at San Diego State University by Bernie Dodge with Tom March, and was outlined then in Some Thoughts About WebQuests.

Essentially, a WebQuest's focus is on student USE of the information, rather than simply gathering it.

5. When making a WebQuest can I gear them toward certain sites or should I let them find it?
It is always a good idea, I believe, to gear students toward certain sites.  You can accomplish this best by creating a hotlist.  However, it is also a good idea to teach students how to search.

6. How do I make a hotlist?
First of all, you can use either Microsoft Word or Netscape Composer/Microsoft FrontPage, or some other web editor to create your actual hotlist.  You will need to have your web browser and your creation/editing tool open simultaneously.  You can switch between them by clicking on them on your bottom toolbar/taskbar.

To create a hotlist that can be published and used on the web, you will actually be creating a web page.  There are a couple ways to do this:

• In FrontPage:

Start a new page.  Add any topical or subject headings you want, though you can do this later if you choose.  Then begin adding links to the hotlist.  It is best to offer a little annotation with each entry, though this is not necessary.
The best way to do this it to have your web browser open as well.  When you find a page you want to use, highlight the address in the window at the top of the browser, right click on the highlighted address and select COPY.  Now go to your web page/hotlist (use the task bar at the bottom to open it), place the cursor where you want it, right click and select PASTE.  The link to the webpage should appear as a link on your page.  Repeat this until you finish your list.  Then save the page - use 8 or fewer letters to name the page and use no spaces and all lower case.  If you have access to the web server you can upload the page, or you can have the building webmaster do it.  If all else fails, contact Pat Cox, the Unit 5 Webmaster, and have him help you get it on the web.

Eventually it is better to type the name of the page rather than have the entire URL (http:// . . . .) - in FP2000 you can do this simply by highlighting the URL, typing the new name over it and clicking off the link - it will keep the hyperlink properties the same.  In FP Express and Netscape Composer you will need to type the name you want to appear, highlight it, right click, select HYPERLINK PROPERTIES, and type the name of the address you want it to link to - or you can copy and paste the address into the HYPERLINK PROPERTIES window.  Then resave your page.  You can also include hotlists within another webpage - i.e. your classroom webpage.

• In Microsoft Word:

You can do the same as above in Word instead of FrontPage.  You can also type in the complete URLs/addresses, hit the spacebar and they should appear as links.  Then go to File, Save As HTML and again name the file with 8 or less lower case characters and no spaces.  The rest of the process works the same as above.  This will save your Word Document as a webpage and allow you to publish it to the web.

If you can get the hotlist published to the web (through your class or school page) you will also want to provide links to Unit 5, your school, your class page, etc.  You can do this the same way as you created a hotlist, but provide these links at the top and bottom.

If you want to use the list in your class but can't get it on the web, save it to your h-drive and then you can open your web browser, go to FILE, OPEN, select BROWSE, find the page on your h-drive and open it.  It will open the page from your local drive in the web browser.  You can now add it to your bookmarks to bookmark toolbar for your students to access easily.

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