SURWEB: A Visual Literacy Tool Which Promotes Engaged Learning for Teachers and Students

This paper discusses the changing role of teachers and students working on the World Wide Web and outlines the following eight characteristics and associated descriptors of the engaged learning model: (1) vision of learning (responsible, strategic, energized, collaborative); (2) tasks (authentic, challenging, multidisciplinary) ; (3) assessment (performance based, generative, multiple measurements); (4) instructional model (interactive, generative); (5) learning context (collaborative, empathetic); (6) grouping (heterogeneous, flexible, equitable); (7) teacher roles (facilitator, guide, co-learner) ; and (8) student roles (explorer, apprentice, teacher/mentor, producer) . SURWEB (State of Utah Resource Web), an Internet-based multimedia tool and resource database for directly involving both teachers and students in these types of engaged learning activities, is described. SURWEB was initiated in 1995 by a consortium of public and private agencies including Utah's K-12 educational service centers, institutions of higher education, West Ed Regional Education Laboratory, museums, state and national parks, and Native American tribal councils and agencies. Its growing database provides teachers with hundreds of media shows, electronic field trips, and standards-based learning units. Furthermore, the tool enables students and teachers to create and produce multimedia presentations. Web sites for a sampling of student/teacher produced media shows are listed, and guidelines for successful classroom instruction using the Web are provided. (AEF) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** SURWEB: A Visual Literacy Tool which Promotes Engaged Learning for Teachers and Students http://www.surweb.org/ Paper Presented at the 8th Annual National Conference on Creating the Quality School U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educaeonal Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) O This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Memphis, Tennessee March 26-28, 1999