If you’re just starting to dip your toes into the greater “wild world web” for using digital resources in your elementary classroom, a slight change in the way you approach a lesson can give you a better sense of how to manage and incorporate more online resources in your teaching.

Take for example a math lesson. Having students play an online game that involves addition is a fun and motivating way for them to practice their skills. You could start with some practice drills on paper, reminding students that they will put their practice to the test by going onto the computer to play a couple of addition games.

To control and manage computer time for your students, having a tool that points them to an online activity directly might be useful. Instructional Architect is a free tool that allows you to create links to materials outside of your school’s server and make pages that specify where students need to go and why. You can use existing materials teachers have used or create your own. For our example of math, try this simple lesson that uses two links, both of which provide adding practice, one as a competition, and one as a baseball game.

Once you’ve tried it, you can think about how using online materials can enhance what you’re doing. You might also want to brainstorm with your colleagues on ways to use these materials for more self-directed approaches or self-assessment activities.