Ways to Incorporate the Web into Classroom Lessons

What are some ways you have incorporated the Internet into your classroom lessons? Please reference your grade level and subject area(s) and possible lesson plans that work when trying to do the above...

One way that I use the web in my 8th grade language arts classroom is to have the students create their own personal blog pages using this website. The purpose is for them to be able to post their writing assignments so that their classmates could read and respond to them. It also gives them a chance to describe themselves creatively by using the personalization features available. They will often download pictures, music, and movies without having to be instructed on how to do so. This makes the assignment not only technically challenging, but stimulating to the 21st century student.

The Web and Appropriate Content for the Classroom

What exactly is considered appropriate when using the Internet in your classroom? Students want to use Facebook or Myspace or A.I.M. (AOL Instant Messenger), but what are the risks involved? Can the students access material that could be deemed offensive, or explicit in content? Technically, students are not supposed to be able to access web sites that the district has blocked through filtering, but how failsafe are these restrictions? Facebook is not supposed to be accessible through our district's internet server. When a student tries to open the page up by typing in the URL in the address bar, they are given a message that the page is unavailable. The only thing is, students find ways around, or back doors to gain access to these restricted sites. "I know how to get in," and "they can't stop me," are familiar scoffs at the administrations attempted control over its students.

What has been your experience in dealing with these difficulties? Is there a remedy? Respond now!

Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Integrating many kinds of technology in today's classroom is of major importance to teachers who wish to capture the imaginations of the 21 century student. Almost all of their mental stimulation comes from electronic devices that make up our world today. Gone are the days of outdoor games of imaginary war, and in are the days of taking control of a c.g.i. (computer generated image) WWII soldier and storming the beaches of Normandy, while interacting with other players from all parts of the world. If you ask any male student about their after school activities, in usually begins with, "I was up past midnight playing Call of Duty on Xbox Live with someone in the UK."
So, my question for you is, how does a teacher with a chalkboard and an overhead projector, provide the necessary visual and auditory stimuli necessary to keep a group of 25, 13 and 14 year olds engaged for 45 minutes at a time? In what ways have you used technology in your classroom?