Monday, July 19, 2010
Reflection #1 Web Searching
I have completed a similar assignment in another course, but the focus was on finding good websites rather than different search engines. This is a good exercise to focus more on the content and attractability of a website. I learned a lot about different search engines. I had no idea there were so many! I usually use Google to search for everything, but I will incorporate some variety in my personal and professional searches. This aspect of the assignment is very important to my job. I do a lot of searching on the Internet and have difficulties finding some things, so this assignment will really help me. This would be a great assignment for students in junior high and up. Students are not taught how to actually search for things on the Internet and this would certainly help them tremendously for the rest of their life. I have had to use the Internet, search engines, and all manner of web sites throughout all of my college and my children have used it throughout all of their schooling from 3rd grade on. Searching and accessing the content on websites are skills that can be taught and cultivated. There are obvious deficiencies in students’ skills in researching. Having students learn to search for web sites and determine if it is good and why makes them think on a higher level, which is the goal. This would be a great assignment for any course, but especially in English when writing an essay or research paper. Before the teacher has students write the essay or research paper, the teacher could demonstrate the various search engines. The teacher could then have students access various websites using a mixture of search engines and practice assessing the usefulness of the content, its visual appeal, and the sites’ interactivity. Variations could also include students presenting their findings on their blog, giving an oral presentation about the differences in search engine results, or creating a PowerPoint presentation about the pros and cons of two websites – one good and one bad. My future learning goals for this area are to learn more about different search engines and try looking at websites a little differently to see what is attractive and what my future students might like so that I can continue to get better at creating websites. To access this assignment click here, search for it, or scroll down and find it in my blog!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Discussion #5 - Internet Dangers & Software Filtering
Dangers:
Pornography
Inappropriate language
Immoral content
Information that goes against the student’s religion
Students may spend way too much time on the Internet
Not good for eyes
Not good for health (lack of exercise)
Less time being with family and friends
Predators
Gives students another avenue to find ways to get into trouble
Gives students opportunities to plagiarize easier – ethical issues
Strategies:
Introduction and regular review of the Acceptable Use Policy
Position computers so the teacher can view every screen
There is software available that teachers can see every screen on the teacher’s computer screen, as well as, lock students out of access, demonstrate on the student’s computer, and let students see your computer screen
Proximity to the student – walk around often
Use WebQuests – direct the student’s clicking
Effectiveness of Internet Filtering:
From my experience one school I student taught at had no filtering at all. The students regularly accessed sites that had nothing to do with education. The mentor teacher allowed it to go on – most of the students did not turn their work in on time and some did not turn anything in. The next school I went to had filtering and it was very frustrating. Many educational sites were blocked and a request to add the site to the approved list took forever – so, you either had to plan very far in advance or do something else altogether. What I observed was that the filtering was inconsistent in that it sometimes allowed sites and sometimes did not. According to “no filtering system is 100 percent fail proof. A diligent student will be successful at locating inappropriate material if it is out there.” The third school I taught at had filtering set at a minimum level, but also had software the teacher could view every computer. This seemed to work the most effectively at keeping the kids safe.
Pornography
Inappropriate language
Immoral content
Information that goes against the student’s religion
Students may spend way too much time on the Internet
Not good for eyes
Not good for health (lack of exercise)
Less time being with family and friends
Predators
Gives students another avenue to find ways to get into trouble
Gives students opportunities to plagiarize easier – ethical issues
Strategies:
Introduction and regular review of the Acceptable Use Policy
Position computers so the teacher can view every screen
There is software available that teachers can see every screen on the teacher’s computer screen, as well as, lock students out of access, demonstrate on the student’s computer, and let students see your computer screen
Proximity to the student – walk around often
Use WebQuests – direct the student’s clicking
Effectiveness of Internet Filtering:
From my experience one school I student taught at had no filtering at all. The students regularly accessed sites that had nothing to do with education. The mentor teacher allowed it to go on – most of the students did not turn their work in on time and some did not turn anything in. The next school I went to had filtering and it was very frustrating. Many educational sites were blocked and a request to add the site to the approved list took forever – so, you either had to plan very far in advance or do something else altogether. What I observed was that the filtering was inconsistent in that it sometimes allowed sites and sometimes did not. According to “no filtering system is 100 percent fail proof. A diligent student will be successful at locating inappropriate material if it is out there.” The third school I taught at had filtering set at a minimum level, but also had software the teacher could view every computer. This seemed to work the most effectively at keeping the kids safe.
Assignment #5 - Google Sites
I had to use Google Sites to create a site for a course. Click here to access it.
Discussion #4 WebQuests
I created a WebQuest for an assignment. The WebQuest led my students in creating a trip for their "boss". Students were broken into small groups. They each had jobs to do. Together, they had to create an itinerary including every minute detail. They had to acces the links to learn all about hotels, eateries, sites to see, money exchange rates, costs of everything, flights, etc to put the whole trip together and present it as a group. This also went along with the next lesson - which was Global etiquette and they had to continue learning about the country they chose in regards to etiquette, which included a meal and showing proof they had learned how to set a table, greet people properly, try not to offend, and could behave properly at a dinner party. The students had a ball with this project and really learned a lot.
The WebQuest was easy to create and fun. It also allows you to lead the students to the sites that you have already checked out and keeps the time down that the student would be looking on their own at hundreds of sites. This also gives students a list of the things they need to accomplish and can be saved in Word. All of these make WebQuests user friendly.
You really have to watch your time with this project because students seem to really get into using it and it can be hard to manage. You really have to be diligent and keeping students on task. I did have a couple of issues with the links I had gathered and had to replace them during class - so be watchful of that.
The WebQuest was easy to create and fun. It also allows you to lead the students to the sites that you have already checked out and keeps the time down that the student would be looking on their own at hundreds of sites. This also gives students a list of the things they need to accomplish and can be saved in Word. All of these make WebQuests user friendly.
You really have to watch your time with this project because students seem to really get into using it and it can be hard to manage. You really have to be diligent and keeping students on task. I did have a couple of issues with the links I had gathered and had to replace them during class - so be watchful of that.
Assignment #4 - Diigo Social Bookmarks
I had to create an account with Diigo and bookmark at least 15 items. Click here to visit my Diigo site.
Discussion #3 Web-based Instruction
I can use the Web in teaching by letting students research topics for a paper, use a WebQuest for making travel arrangements, blog as their reflections journal, find out about the latest NASA news, learn how to bring a recycling program to their school – there are many more ways. For learning, I can use the Web to research all about my research paper topic, the latest teaching strategies, examples of projects to implement, etc.
The Good:
Virtually unlimited potential
With limited resources you can still broaden your students’ horizons
Learn from other cultures
Hands-on
Students learn to research
Students see more examples
Good for students who are more shy
Good for students who cannot always make the drive to the campus
Can ask questions and access content any time
The Bad:
Inappropriate sites
Network/server issues
Connection issues
Lack of money for equipment and to keep up with the latest
Not everything you find is true – have to weed through
Lack of personal interaction
Harder to motivate students
Harder to get to know students
Communications and Interactions Issue:
There is good and bad in this issue. On the positive side, WBI allows students who have difficulty being successful in social situations the opportunity to focus on their school work instead of the social aspect. On the negative side, the personal interaction is great to learn. The more you do it – the better you get. Students not getting it lose out on the opportunity to get practice. There is also some loss in group collaboration in WBI. It is hard to read someone in an online environment and get to know how someone thinks and will be in the group setting. Not having the non-verbal interaction in the group is difficult to overcome. However, I had to do multiple group assignments last semester and loved it – our whole class was great and especially my group. I had a great experience with it, but I do realize that many groups are not like that at all. There are issues with groups in the traditional setting also. The non-verbal communication is also lost in chat, email, and discussion. It is more difficult to convey a dry sense of humor and it may be easy to ruffle feathers.
The Good:
Virtually unlimited potential
With limited resources you can still broaden your students’ horizons
Learn from other cultures
Hands-on
Students learn to research
Students see more examples
Good for students who are more shy
Good for students who cannot always make the drive to the campus
Can ask questions and access content any time
The Bad:
Inappropriate sites
Network/server issues
Connection issues
Lack of money for equipment and to keep up with the latest
Not everything you find is true – have to weed through
Lack of personal interaction
Harder to motivate students
Harder to get to know students
Communications and Interactions Issue:
There is good and bad in this issue. On the positive side, WBI allows students who have difficulty being successful in social situations the opportunity to focus on their school work instead of the social aspect. On the negative side, the personal interaction is great to learn. The more you do it – the better you get. Students not getting it lose out on the opportunity to get practice. There is also some loss in group collaboration in WBI. It is hard to read someone in an online environment and get to know how someone thinks and will be in the group setting. Not having the non-verbal interaction in the group is difficult to overcome. However, I had to do multiple group assignments last semester and loved it – our whole class was great and especially my group. I had a great experience with it, but I do realize that many groups are not like that at all. There are issues with groups in the traditional setting also. The non-verbal communication is also lost in chat, email, and discussion. It is more difficult to convey a dry sense of humor and it may be easy to ruffle feathers.
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