Teachers may be unclear about the ways in which they can use digital newspapers in their classrooms. The following information will help you meet their needs.
When you speak to educators about using electronic editions, you'll want to be sure to review the advantages. Advantages for school use include:
Students see all of the same text, photos and ads they would see in the print edition.
- Students can flip through pages, skim headlines and stories and use e-editions much the same way as print editions.
- It's easy for students to change screen layout and move easily through pages or sections. Often, moving the mouse over a story or headline provides a summary for a quick read. This is especially helpful for emerging readers.
- Students can type in keywords to research people or topics.
- Students can save, print or e-mail articles with simple clicks.
- Speakers of other languages may be able to click on a story, drag it into a word-processing program and instantly translate it into languages they can read. Some e-editions even provide translation tools.
- Online newspapers are environmentally friendly. They create no classroom clutter.
- Teachers may be unsure about managing computer use as it pertains to newspapers. The following scenarios include recommendations you can suggest.
- One computer in the classroom
If a teacher has access to just one computer in the classroom, it's a good idea to divide the class into two groups. One of the groups can work with print materials like books or newspapers while the second group uses the computer to work with the e-edition. When the groups are finished, they can switch places.
- Using a Monitor or Projection Equipment
The class can work as a group to use the e-edition. The teacher should make sure that every student in the class can see the screen, go to the newspaper Web site and review the information presented there. The teacher can also use the e-edition search tool and allow the students to suggest the search criteria. The class can bookmark and/or print the pages that may be helpful for reference later.
- Several computers in the classroom
The class can be divided into small groups. Groups can use the e-edition of the newspaper. Group members should take turns navigating the newspaper's site. Teachers can also set the class up so that each computer is dedicated to a different section of the newspaper. Students will then move around the classroom, getting different information from each station.
- Using a computer lab
A computer center or lab space, with a computer-to-student ratio of 1-to-3, is ideal for using a digital newspaper. Generally, when doing Web-based research of any kind, it is helpful to put students into groups of three. This way, students can help each other if problems or questions arise.
 Try This...5.4.1 5.4a Click here to download the NAA Foundation's white paper on “Digital NIE.” |
