Subject Sampler

In a Subject Sampler learners are presented with a smaller number (maybe half a dozen) of intriguing Web sites organized around a main topic. They are asked to visit the sites and respond to information found there. The selected sites can include photographs, art, music, text, and a variety of other types of information. What makes this a particularly effective way to engage students is that the teacher has chosen Web sites themselves that offer something interesting to do, read, or see about a given topic.

Second, students are asked to respond to the Web-based activities from a personal perspective. Rather than uncover hard knowledge, students are asked about their perspectives on topics, comparisons to experiences they have had, personal interpretations of artworks or data, etc.

Thus, more important than the right answer is that students are invited to join the community of learners surrounding the topic. Students see that their views are valued in this context.
Teachers can use a Subject Sampler when they want students to feel connected to the topic, to get emotionally involved in the topic, and to feel that the topic really matters.

Teachers may want to let students choose from a number of questions or activities connected with each site. Various areas of the topic may be assigned to groups so that all sites are covered in one class.

The following examples are good illustrations of subject samplers that are teacher created:

Black History Subject Sampler
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/BHM/AfroAm.html

Exploring Past Leaders Subject Sampler
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/ca_150/

China
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/China/sampler.html

Poetry Subject Sampler
http://www.beenleigss.qld.edu.au/requested_sites/poetrysamp/sampler.htm

Colonial Life
http://courses.lib.odu.edu/eci/cfleener/eci361spring2001/jenniferbu/jenniferbu.html

Monster Subject Sample
http://courses.lib.odu.edu/eci/cfleener/eci361spring2001/deidreterry/