There are many useful Internet sites devoted to professional development
ALL over the world teachers are using the Internet to help each other, by posting lesson plans and advice totally free of charge. Here are some of the most popular websites dedicated to teaching and teachers.
Aimed at primary school teachers, TeachNet is a treasure trove of teaching ideas, tips and lesson plans. Although based in the United States, the website still has plenty of content that can be adapted for use in local schools. Lesson plans are available for art, language, mathematics and science. You’ll also find tips on how to deal with cheating in the classroom and advice on how to organise a school newsletter.
http://www.teachnet.com/
Teachers Helping Teaching is a free service that offers lesson plans to teachers in all subject areas. There’s also an online forum where teachers from all over the world get together to ask questions and exchange information. Don’t miss the site’s ”stress reduction moment” — it’s sure to make you smile.
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/
There’s no shortage of educational material online but it can be hard to find. Gateway to Educational Materials comes to the rescue with a search tool to help you locate information on specific subjects. For instance, type in ”algebra” and the educational level you require, and you’ll find dozens of lesson plans and articles. The site is US-based, so you’ll have to convert American grades to our own, but you can also just browse through the subject directory.
http://www.thegateway.org/
The Global Schoolhouse is dedicated to collaborative learning and offers a range of communication tools, such as classroom conferencing, mailing lists and discussion boards, while the section on professional development outlines how teachers can make the most of the Internet. You’ll also find printable worksheets, lesson plans, and flash cards.
http://www.gsh.org
Mainly for secondary school teachers, Teacher Talk tackles a range of issues, providing in-depth articles on topics such as classroom management styles, sexuality, cultural diversity, drugs and violence and eating disorders. Hosted by Indiana University, the website is particularly fast-loading and easy to read.
http://education.indiana.edu/cas/tt/tthmpg.html
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has a website with news regarding educational initiatives worldwide and it includes a ”Teachers Talking” forum. http://www.unicef.org/teachers/
— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, June 12, 2000.
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