The internet is a huge resource for just about anything, and if used correctly it can be helpful for just about every aspect of teaching. It may be scary, and there are a million dangerous things on it, but if taught how to use it, the possibilities are endless. It is especially helpful in the areas of; real time data, original sources, simulations, collaboration, and publishing. Those are just 5 though of hundreds.
When we visit sites we should use a system to evaluate them. Below are some questions you could ask, and tips for deciding if a website is credible.
Is this site credible? Tips for deciding whether or not a web site is a good source of information.
1. Take the website apart, find out the original source.
2. Make sure you understand the purpose(s) of a Web site. Although those purpose(s) may not be entirely obvious.
3. Run a search on the author of the site or article.
4. Pay attention to the URL of the site. If it contains the world "user" or a "~" it is usually a site created by a user, and not necessarily a credible source.
5. If the URL includes .gov, or .edu it is usually more credible than a .com or .net site.
6. Run a search on the information in the site to see what other sources of information come up.
8 Questions to ask when evaluating a website.
1. Who wrote the pages and are they an expert? If you think so can you find out more about the author?
2.
What does the author say is the purpose of the site?
3.
When was the site created and last updated?
4.
Where does this information come from? Can I find out more about the producer or sponsor?
5.
Why is the information useful for my purpose? Could I find a better page?
6.
Is the site requiring me to register for something I don't need to register for?
7.
How many graphic images are used? Do they help me understand the information or are they advertisements for unrelated information?
8.
Is this a personal page or is it clear what organization is sponsoring the page? Can I find out more about the organization? Is there a link to their website
It is a tough task to keep children safe while surfing, but having a good filter is one thing that can assist in that task. It is also very important to teach them what to do if they encounter a "dangerous" site, and to help them learn how to judge if a website is safe or not.
In the box above "Internet in Education," there are some links to sites that I will use to help teach my students how to use the internet safely.
Here are some of the sites that I will be using to teach my students about safety on the Internet! The links are on my webpage at http://sites.google.com/site/misslindsaysclassroom/uen. Under Internet in Education
Net Smart
I Keep Kids Safe
Disney Internet Safety
FBI Internet Safety Tips
PBS Kids Internet Safety Game
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Week #8/#10
The question posed at the end of the video, " So what does it all mean," made me think. What does all of this information mean? Will our lives one day be like those portrayed in video's about the future. A few years ago that never seemed like it would happen in my lifetime, but at the rate that technology is evolving it seems more and more probable every day. It blows my mind how quickly technological devices are changing. I remember when the ipod came out, and how amazing that was, but just a few years later I now own a mini computer that calls itself the itouch. This is the world that our students will be born into. Those born this year probably won't even remember or know what an itouch is by the time they enter school. I am sure these facts are hard for long time teachers to accept. A lot of them won't born into a world where technology was so ever present. That is why it is our job as future teachers to stay current and learn how to use it in education. Our students won't except anything less. We need to learn how to incorporate the things they love into their schooling, or we will lose them. The average 6th grader today can do things with technology that I am barely learning about in college. I can't imagine what the world is going to be like when they get to where I am. It may be difficult for some to accept, but technology is huge and is just getting bigger. From this point on in life many people won't be able to live without it. It is a way of life, and we need to use that to help children learn. We have to prepare them for the world they live in.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Week #7
This week's video was another really interesting one. I love learning about the different technologies that are becoming available. I think that the multi-touch technology will become huge in the next few years. I can also see it being used in schools, not just for military and corporate businesses. I think that having this technology instead of the traditional blackboard or whiteboard would definitely engage students more in the classroom.
I really enjoyed the part of the video where they showed how it interacted with objects on the table. I definitely think that being able to connect and sync devices without having to plug them in is awesome! It is amazing what these companies come up with, and I can can't until this technology is more readily available.
I really enjoyed the part of the video where they showed how it interacted with objects on the table. I definitely think that being able to connect and sync devices without having to plug them in is awesome! It is amazing what these companies come up with, and I can can't until this technology is more readily available.
UEN scavenger hunt
I really enjoyed the UEN scavenger hunt activity. It took a long time to complete, but I learned about a lot of resources that I had no idea existed. One tool that I learned about that I will definitely be using as a teacher is SIRS Discover. I have been using Google for a long time, and this site amazed me. Not only does it contain tons of educational information, but it is also organized and extremely easy to use. I really liked how the site labeled each article with a reading level, and put everything into categories. 
I never realized how many resources are available for teachers online, and it amazed me that the Pioneer Library brought a lot of those resources together in to one convenient place. I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface in regards to the possibilities that these tools bring to educators.
Searchasaurus was another tool that I found really interesting. I loved that it was designed just for elementary school aged children, and that you could search for articles that fell within specific age levels. I know that I will be using this tool quite frequently when I’m looking for ideas when I begin teaching.
I was also amazed at the amount of interactive activities that these
sites led me to. Earlier this semester I struggled with finding
interactive sites and so I was amazed at how many I found while doing
this UEN scavenger hunt. I know that while teaching Kindergarten I will frequently have my students do some of these interactive activities at home and at school to enhance their learning.
Another tool that we discovered that I know I will be able to use in the future is the UEN lesson plan and core curriculum site. Since it is my first semester discovering the education program I still have a lot to learn. I really enjoyed learning about the different requirements for each grade level. I thought it was awesome that for each standard and almost every objective in those standards there were links and sample lesson plans. I have heard from many teachers that lesson plans are the most difficult part of the first year of teaching, and with this tool I know that part will be easier.
Searchasaurus was another tool that I found really interesting. I loved that it was designed just for elementary school aged children, and that you could search for articles that fell within specific age levels. I know that I will be using this tool quite frequently when I’m looking for ideas when I begin teaching.
sites led me to. Earlier this semester I struggled with finding
interactive sites and so I was amazed at how many I found while doing
this UEN scavenger hunt. I know that while teaching Kindergarten I will frequently have my students do some of these interactive activities at home and at school to enhance their learning.
Another tool that we discovered that I know I will be able to use in the future is the UEN lesson plan and core curriculum site. Since it is my first semester discovering the education program I still have a lot to learn. I really enjoyed learning about the different requirements for each grade level. I thought it was awesome that for each standard and almost every objective in those standards there were links and sample lesson plans. I have heard from many teachers that lesson plans are the most difficult part of the first year of teaching, and with this tool I know that part will be easier.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Week #6
This week's video covered a lot of the information that we had seen in previous videos, but it was more interesting because there were actual students in the video. This week I went and talked to my sixth grade teacher. She made a comment that was interesting. She said that things have changed a lot since I was in school. Students don't want learn anymore, they want to be entertained. As I look back on that conversation now I realize that she didn't even have a computer at her desk. It was obvious to me that technology wasn't used frequently in her classroom. It made me wonder if using some of the new technology, that is ever present in our society, would help engage her students. It also made me worry that when I become a teacher I will not be able to help students find the joy and discovery in learning. I think showing students how to learn using technology will help them to enjoy learning. I first remember frequently using a computer when I was in 7th grade, but now that age is a lot younger! Children as young as 2 play games on the computer all the time. The world is quickly changing, and technology is a HUGE part of that. This video just showed how important it is for teachers to adapt to their students. If we continue to use the traditional teaching techniques students will continue to be board out of their minds. It has definitely shown me the importance of beginning to search now for technology tools I will be able to use when I become a teacher.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Technology Articles
JUMPSTART KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE
Jumpstart Kindergarten and Jumpstart First Grade are two computer programs that I will be using frequently in our classroom. I talked a little about these programs in the Technology In Our Classroom section of the website, but I wanted to explain a little more. These programs are the same one I remember using when I was a child. Of course the graphics are updated now, and the programs run a little better, but they are still pretty much the same. I didn’t struggle in school when I was younger, and I believe that these programs were one of the many reason that I didn’t. I loved to do math and I learned how to think logically by using these amazing programs. I found the joy in learning, and that is something that I still possess today. These games will help me as a teacher to instill a love of learning in our students while also allowing them to have fun. The programs appear to just be games to children, but as a teacher I know they are so much more. Learning happens faster when it is fun, and these programs create a fun learning environment. They help our students develop their skills in word identification, rhyming, counting, ordering, sequencing, colors, shapes, and telling time. One of my favorite parts is that the game builds on it’s self. It starts with the most basic skills and then uses those skills in the next level. It tells kids when they make a mistake and helps them figure out how to get the right answer. It does require the students to be on the computer for an extended amount of time, but technology is rapidly evolving and allowing these kids to learn how to use computer programs will only help them in the future. In my curriculum these programs will be integrated in. I will schedule time weekly for each and every student to spend time working playing it in our computer lab. Some students may struggle at first because they aren’t familiar with computers, but these games are simple and have been designed to be user friendly. They are designed specifically with children this age in mind, and that is just one more reason why they are so beneficial in the classroom. We will begin at the first of the year with Jumpstart Kindergarten, to make sure that the basic skills are in place, and by the end of the year they will be using Jumpstart First Grade to allow them to be prepared for their First Grade year.
GOOGLE EARTH
In our class we will be using may technological tools to help the students learn. One tool that we will be using is Google Earth. I explained a little about why we are using this in the Technology in Our Classroom section of the website, but here I will explain a little more. This program came out just a few years ago, but it is amazing! It allows me to show the students the places on Earth that we talk about. We can start at our school and go anywhere! It will allow the students to be able to visualize how large Earth is, and how many amazing things are present on it. One cool feature that we will use often is the snapshots that are placed on of different areas of the world. When I talk about the ocean I will be able to show the class how much area the ocean actually takes up. I will be able to show them exactly how far it is away from our school, and show them snapshots of different areas. When we talk about deserts I can show them Africa and the deserts that are there. I can show them what jungles look like, and where they are located. The pictures aren’t 3D, and that is one major con, but the snapshots assist with this problem. The main use of this program will be to show students where everything is located, and how big they really are. It will help to broaden their perspectives. The tool has its faults. There are a lot of places that it doesn’t have very good images of yet, but updates are continually occurring, and the basic images are already there. It may be difficult for our Kindergarteners to understand at first, but I know many young children throughout the world love the visual aspect of it, and can’t believe what they are seeing. I will assist our students in this process of discovery, and help them understand what they are seeing. I know it will be a valuable tool in our classroom, and will help students build a foundation for the geography they will learn later in their school years.
Jumpstart Kindergarten and Jumpstart First Grade are two computer programs that I will be using frequently in our classroom. I talked a little about these programs in the Technology In Our Classroom section of the website, but I wanted to explain a little more. These programs are the same one I remember using when I was a child. Of course the graphics are updated now, and the programs run a little better, but they are still pretty much the same. I didn’t struggle in school when I was younger, and I believe that these programs were one of the many reason that I didn’t. I loved to do math and I learned how to think logically by using these amazing programs. I found the joy in learning, and that is something that I still possess today. These games will help me as a teacher to instill a love of learning in our students while also allowing them to have fun. The programs appear to just be games to children, but as a teacher I know they are so much more. Learning happens faster when it is fun, and these programs create a fun learning environment. They help our students develop their skills in word identification, rhyming, counting, ordering, sequencing, colors, shapes, and telling time. One of my favorite parts is that the game builds on it’s self. It starts with the most basic skills and then uses those skills in the next level. It tells kids when they make a mistake and helps them figure out how to get the right answer. It does require the students to be on the computer for an extended amount of time, but technology is rapidly evolving and allowing these kids to learn how to use computer programs will only help them in the future. In my curriculum these programs will be integrated in. I will schedule time weekly for each and every student to spend time working playing it in our computer lab. Some students may struggle at first because they aren’t familiar with computers, but these games are simple and have been designed to be user friendly. They are designed specifically with children this age in mind, and that is just one more reason why they are so beneficial in the classroom. We will begin at the first of the year with Jumpstart Kindergarten, to make sure that the basic skills are in place, and by the end of the year they will be using Jumpstart First Grade to allow them to be prepared for their First Grade year.
GOOGLE EARTH
In our class we will be using may technological tools to help the students learn. One tool that we will be using is Google Earth. I explained a little about why we are using this in the Technology in Our Classroom section of the website, but here I will explain a little more. This program came out just a few years ago, but it is amazing! It allows me to show the students the places on Earth that we talk about. We can start at our school and go anywhere! It will allow the students to be able to visualize how large Earth is, and how many amazing things are present on it. One cool feature that we will use often is the snapshots that are placed on of different areas of the world. When I talk about the ocean I will be able to show the class how much area the ocean actually takes up. I will be able to show them exactly how far it is away from our school, and show them snapshots of different areas. When we talk about deserts I can show them Africa and the deserts that are there. I can show them what jungles look like, and where they are located. The pictures aren’t 3D, and that is one major con, but the snapshots assist with this problem. The main use of this program will be to show students where everything is located, and how big they really are. It will help to broaden their perspectives. The tool has its faults. There are a lot of places that it doesn’t have very good images of yet, but updates are continually occurring, and the basic images are already there. It may be difficult for our Kindergarteners to understand at first, but I know many young children throughout the world love the visual aspect of it, and can’t believe what they are seeing. I will assist our students in this process of discovery, and help them understand what they are seeing. I know it will be a valuable tool in our classroom, and will help students build a foundation for the geography they will learn later in their school years.
Week #5
This week in class we learned about youtube, zamzar, teacher tube and explored the national geographic website. I really enjoyed a lot of the activities that were on the national geographic website. Especially the site for kids. I think that it is a great tool that can help me connect kids to technology. I know my cousins who are in the Kindergarten love to play on the internet, and allowing them to play on this site will not only help them learn, but it will allow them to have fun.
Teachertube and Youtube were sites that I was familiar with before our class. I had used them in other activities and I love the resources that they are. The only problem with youtube is that anyone can post anything and sometimes those videos aren't good for kids to watch. Teachertube solves that problem, but it also doesn't have half as many videos. Zamzar comes into play to solve this problem. It allows me to save my videos onto my computer and then show them without using the internet. I really enjoyed learning how to use Zamzar and I think it will be very useful when I am a teacher because I will not only be able to keep the videos that I find for future use, but I will also be able to show them to my students without the dangers of the internet. :) I will also be able to share the videos with colleges and parents through my classroom website and emails.
This week's video was really short, but also way cool. I especially liked the part where they talked about what they think the future of technology will be like. When I think about it I am blown away by how fast technology is evolving. The fist Ipod came out only a few years ago, and now with the Itouch and Iphone they are more like mini computers. I thought the idea of credit cards becoming obsolete was a really good idea, one I had never even considered before. It amazes me what people can come up with, and the kid that suggested fingerprinting could be the one to actually develop it. It is also crazy to think that when I am a parent my kids, and students will grow up in this constantly changing technological world. It definitely shows the importance of using it in the classroom. Traditional classroom activities are changing, and technology should be a huge part of that change.
Teachertube and Youtube were sites that I was familiar with before our class. I had used them in other activities and I love the resources that they are. The only problem with youtube is that anyone can post anything and sometimes those videos aren't good for kids to watch. Teachertube solves that problem, but it also doesn't have half as many videos. Zamzar comes into play to solve this problem. It allows me to save my videos onto my computer and then show them without using the internet. I really enjoyed learning how to use Zamzar and I think it will be very useful when I am a teacher because I will not only be able to keep the videos that I find for future use, but I will also be able to show them to my students without the dangers of the internet. :) I will also be able to share the videos with colleges and parents through my classroom website and emails.
This week's video was really short, but also way cool. I especially liked the part where they talked about what they think the future of technology will be like. When I think about it I am blown away by how fast technology is evolving. The fist Ipod came out only a few years ago, and now with the Itouch and Iphone they are more like mini computers. I thought the idea of credit cards becoming obsolete was a really good idea, one I had never even considered before. It amazes me what people can come up with, and the kid that suggested fingerprinting could be the one to actually develop it. It is also crazy to think that when I am a parent my kids, and students will grow up in this constantly changing technological world. It definitely shows the importance of using it in the classroom. Traditional classroom activities are changing, and technology should be a huge part of that change.
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