Workshop 1: Finding Resources

Overview

These workshops are designed for teachers to work with students in the classroom.

Workshop 1 introduces students to the basics of Internet research through two premier educational websites: PBS’s African-American World [link] and Africana.com [link]. By helping students locate and navigate informative and reliable Web resources, the workshop helps students develop quality Internet-based research methods. Using guided questions about stereotypes in black film and television, African American music, and historically black colleges and universities, the workshop covers the following topics:

Home pages: Using PBS’s African American World website, the workshop reviews the purpose and function of a home page. Students become familiar with the common categories found on home pages and how to navigate using links. Students also learn how to perform searches within a particular website.

Finding reputable sources: The workshop guides students in evaluating the quality of information on a web site. Using the “Credits” link on the African American World site, students learn to inspect who is responsible for posting the web pages.

Links: The workshop teaches students how to navigate out from the home page and back using links embedded in the web pages. Students practice selecting links that are appropriate for their research.

Discussions: Using the “Community” page on the African American World web site, the workshop encourages students to participate in discussions about important issues for African-American communities.

Graphics: Information can be conveyed not only through written text, but also through timelines, photographs, video, music, and art. The workshop shows students how they can use multiple forms of media in their research and how to gain virtual access to primary resources.

Other resources: By locating other resources beyond the initial website, students learn to extend their research and gain multiple perspectives.