Students appear to have natural abilities to use emerging technology. But the reality is, while students easily grasp the entertainment and communication value of the devices they use, they need to be taught how these tools can be used in learning and critical thought. This is a task for the Learning Commons.
Inquiry & Research
Technology is central to the inquiry and research process. Students interact with technology as they explore ideas, investigate resources, process information and create products to communicate their learning. Teachers and teacher-librarians can provide the instructional context for critical thinking as students access and construct ideas with technology and as they use technology to express themselves. Some resources and applications to be considered in the inquiry and research process include:
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Exploring
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Investigating:
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Processing:
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Creating:
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The Waterloo Region District School Board’s Information Technology Services department offers many professional development opportunities for teachers on using technology for learning. WRDSB staff can view courses on offer and register online using ProLearn.
For best practices around selecting online tools to use with students, refer to the Online Educational Tools page on the staff Privacy website.
