Locating and Using EE Resources on the Internet In this section the terms Internet and World Wide Web (the Web) will be used interchangeably, therefore
definitions of the two terms are helpful. The Internet is actually a network of networks. It is basically a system of
linked computer networks that facilitates data transfer and communication services. The World Wide Web, or
the Web, is a collection of graphical pages on the Internet that can be read and interacted with by computer. In
order to access these Web pages, one needs a computer, an Internet connection, and a Web browser. The Web
browser is the program used to view, download, upload, surf, and essentially access and interact with
documents, such as Web pages. Currently, the most common browser is Internet Explorer. More Internet related
definitions may be found at the Web site -www.netlingo.com. For information on how to use the Internet, see
Appendix I. What Is Available on the Internet? Useful Applications A wide variety of information and materials are afforded learners and instructors who have access to the
Internet. Yet the Internet may be ineffective without a means to facilitate learning or integration into the
classroom. Aspects of the Internet that serve our learning goals can be pulled through classifying and defining
useful applications. Below is a summary of applications summarized from “What’s On The Web?” by education
consultant Tom March (1995). Enrichments • A range of games that serve as motivational springboards to other activities such as
including a cartoon in a presentation. Examples: • Planet PA.org - www.greenworks.tv/kids/index.htm • National Wildlife Federation’s Kidzone - www.nwf.org/kids/ • Earth Day Canada - www.bytesize.com/ecokids • PBS’s TeacherSource -www.pbs.org/teachersource/index.htm Lessons/Online Tutorials • Target specific learner outcomes and guide learners through a series of steps, often with
feedback and checkpoints.
Examples: • Franklin Institute’s World Wide Web Workbook -
www.fi.edu/primer/setup.html Tools • Internet tools can be used for information, interaction, and communication. Examples
include search engines and online calculators.              Finding and Choosing
Environmental Education Materials •    To provide information on how to use basic technological skills to locate environmental
education (EE) resources •    To examine several tools used to choose and evaluate EE materials Objectives: 1 •    To offer information on national and PA EE resources Next Page Module II Home