Introduction

• web browsers
• search engines
• chat rooms
• FTP
• images & animation
• regular video & audio
• streaming video & audio
• electronic whiteboards
• MUD's & MOO's
• videoconferencing
• web authoring tools
• push technologies
• site capturing
• intranets

References

Introduction

Modern computers are designed to connect to other computers; and (by logical extension) to connect computer users to other computer users. When designing computer networks, engineers recognize several layers at which connections must be made, from hardware, to operating system, to applications (Dean, 2003) and the capacity to quickly and easily configure the hardware and software necessary to connect to networks on all of these layers also designed in to computer systems. The result of this planning is that computer users who have little knowledge of the complexities of modern network protocols can access a wide range of resources on networks with little effort.

For educators, these resources and tools accessible using computer networks provides information that would be unavailable without digital networks and also can facilitate dynamic and interactive communication among students and between students and teachers (and other adults) that is not feasible without digital networks. The menu to the left points to pages on which the uses of modern digital network protocols and applications to support teachers and learners are summarized.

These Internet resources are presented as tools useful to educators under the following assumptions:

• Educators will take the time to play with the tools and become confident users to the tools prior to using the tools with students. While learning to use the tools, educators will be mindful of the potential for the tool in his or her classroom.
• Educators will be aware of the complexity of modern digital networks; not all devices are completely compatible with all other devices on networks. Some things will work easily, some things will work with effort, some things will not work.
• Educators will be sensitive to digital divide issues and not limit students' abilities to interact with people and ideas because of limited access to technology away from school.