Using Technology

Using advanced technologies in the workplace requires Wyoming industries to emphasize more than ever safe work habits. Webquesting can have its dangers too. Look over these hints to use technology safely to your instructional advantage.

• Avoid disasters, emergencies and unpleasant surprises that catch you unprepared by previewing all parts of the webquest you are assigning before your students do.

• Consider these prerequisite skills you need to know and share with students before entering Minequests: bookmarking, recognizing highlighted links, and using scroll bars.

• Supplementary worksheets for some webquests are in downloadable PDF files. Tell your students whether they should access the links provided to print the files or if you will provide them with copies. If you decide to have them print the files, check with your tech colleague or try downloading a file before your students log on. This will reveal how your local operating system deals with downloaded files. You may need to give your students some additional information on handling and printing these files.

• Check with your tech colleagues to see if students are allowed to save bookmarks in the web browser software.

• Check with your tech colleagues to see if your local district network can sustain multiple simultaneous access to the Internet. If this is an issue, discuss options for how to maximize teamwork as a way to minimize problematic load times before sending students into Minequests.