d.
Developing Your Own Knowledge of the Resources
Having
made decisions about using some of the resources and opportunities
in tandem, it is important for the teacher in the case study to
get to know the resources well enough to feel confident about
using them in the classroom. It is also important that the pupils
will feel comfortable about using the resources.
We
can focus on this with an exercise that requires that you get
to know a bit more about searching and retrieving material from
a CD-ROM or the web.
Firstly, try the following two search methods using the web:
-
Go to any of the search engines mentioned above, and type in
only the phrase genetically modified food. Take a note of how
many hits you get from the search, and look at them to see how
relevant they are.
- Then,
repeat the search, this time typing in "genetically modified
food". Note again the number of hits and their level of relevance.
Take
a look at the results of your search, and visit as many of the
sites as you like. Note the views expressed on the sites, and
consider how these views might inform the arguments of learners.
Try
the same technique for the CD-ROM. Also, though, use the topic
and subject index for the disk and note where in the subject structure
of the disk the topic has been placed.
Then
answer the following questions - just to give you some focus to
begin with:
- When
you searched for the words 'genetically', 'modified' and 'food'
together, what happened to your search results?
-
When you placed these words together as - "genetically modified
food" - what was the difference?
-
How would you describe the range of perspectives encountered
on GMF compared with that on the other two topics?
-
How would you describe the materials in the CD-ROM you used
from the point of view of their value as stimulus to discussion?
- Do
you know how to copy segments from the web or the CD for insertion
in your own worksheets and resources? If you do, are you aware
of the copyright laws governing this action?
When
you have looked at your CD-ROM and the web in the light of these
questions, and perhaps written some worksheets of your own to
go with the CD-ROM and web, you should discuss with your mentor
what you want to do with the resource in the classroom. This can
be done in a mentor visit, over the telephone or by e-mail, and
should serve merely to satisfy you that you are on the right track
with your use of the materials.
 e.
Planning the Work of Learners
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