Beginning with word processing software, we later created a Hypercard stack. Along the way, we incorporated a scanner and a Canon XapShot camera into the process. Each student added his or her picture and a very brief personal information page. These early projects were certainly effective in helping students develop research and language skills. Furthermore, they had the satisfaction of publishing their research results for a limited audience of classmates and family members.
Students still begin searching with our in-house print resources.
I ask them to do this for two reasons. Research skills using books will continue to be a needed skill for these students because Internet access outside the classroom may not be available to them for quite some time. It also provides them with a knowledge link between written information and the Internet. Students often take their notes and compose their inquiries on AlphaSmart portable word processors, then port them over to their Web pages. When they expand their research to the Internet, they are able to search literally to the far corners of the earth, and they frequently find pictures and detailed descriptions relating to their projects.