James Burke's The Knowledge Web: An Educational Resource
Graduation Date
Spring 2005
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program Name
Education
Program Director
Madalienne F. Peters, EdD
Abstract
The Knowledge Web is an online, interactive, educational resource that allows users to travel through a 3-dimensional web that connects seemingly unrelated people, places, and events, and shows how these unexpected and unpredicted connections produced our modem world. With schools under increasing pressure to meet the needs of all learners, educators have been forced to develop new ways of presenting the lessons so that learners of all ability levels and learning styles have access to the curriculum. The Knowledge Web provides supplemental material for teachers and students collated to the California State History - Social Science Standards. Recent research by experts in education and technology indicates that there is a need for supplemental resources such as the Knowledge Web.
Teachers and students will need a manual that will give background, introductory material, and lesson plans for using the Knowledge Web. This manual, the culmination of this project, will be provided in three forms. These manuals, designed for 6th to 12th grade teachers, will include a single page introduction sheet to Knowledge Web, a handout to accompany a teacher workshop, and a more descriptive manual that can be used as a stand-alone guide. Teachers and students having access to computer technology will be able to use the Knowledge Web for individual research and group projects.