Key Words in Instruction
Interactives:
Dynamic Learning Environments
by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson
F or over 100 years,
hands-on exhibits
have been used
in museums as integral
components of active
interactives:
ThinkPort (http://www.thinkport.
org/Classroom/trips.tp) creates
interactives across the curriculum
such as Lure of the Labyrinth
(http://labyrinth.thinkport.org/), a
a story of their own (see Figure 1).
While many interactives run online,
others are downloadable and can be
played from the computer’s hard drive.
WolfQuest (http://www.wolfquest.org/)
is an interactive game focusing on the
pre-algebra adventure game. lives of wolves. While students can play
learning centers. Over BBC is well-known for their the game off-line, they can go online
the last twenty years, interactives such as Science Clips to chat with wolf biologists and share
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ their artwork and stories. The game was
these interactive displays scienceclips/). found to promote knowledge, and gain
have been combined an emotional attachment to wolves and
with computers to Interactives Defined an interest in using the online learning
Interactives are much more than resources (Schaller, et al. 2009).
create dynamic learning text, graphics, audio, and video infor- While some interactives are com-
environments. Working mation on a Web page. They provide an plete instructional packages, others
collaboratively, educators engaging environment where learners simply provide quality content to
can organize resources, manipulate explore.
and museum developers information, and even create new con- Virtual Field Trips. With limited
have now produced Web- tent. Students aren’t simply consumers funding for field trips, consider
based interactives that of information; they become part of an ways to provide virtual learning
active, learning experience. visits. Explore Julia Child’s Kitchen
can be used by anyone, According to
anywhere, anytime. Annenberg Media, Figure 1. Elements of a Story
Following are some of these Web- interactives provide
based interactives: “educators and stu-
The Children’s Museum of dents with strate-
Indianapolis (http://www. gies, content, and
childrensmuseum.org/games/) activities that can
Online interactives complement enhance and improve
physical exhibits. students’ skills in a
National Gallery of Art (http://www. variety of curricular
nga.gov/education/classroom/) areas” (2009, ¶ 1).
Online art activities for children The Annenberg
and young adults. interactive, Elements
Museum of Modern Art (http:// of a Story (http://
www.moma.org/learn/activities/) www.learner.org/
Interactive art activities for interactives/story/),
children and young adults. teaches elementary
Public television stations and children how to tell
nonprofit groups such as the follow- a good story, explore
ing have also been active in developing narratives, and write
School Library Monthly/Volume XXVI, Number 5/January 2010 41
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