Friday, July 17, 2015

Module 3 Blog

Search Engines

Search Engines are a great tool for any type of research. Students need to know how to use search engines efficiently. Search Engines can make looking up information very simple. Roblyer and Doering (2012) stated, “When searching Google, you are doing a keyword search” (p.219). Students do not even need to know the whole idea behind their search, just the key points. Search engines are a great asset to any teacher or student as long as they are used correctly.

Website Evaluation Video

The video below shows how to find a reliable website. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between a good web page and a bad web page. Roblyer and Doering (2012) stated, “at a time when everything in the world seems so high tech and highly controlled, the Internet is, in some ways, a wild frontier” (p.254). Not everything that is read online is true. This is why knowing how to evaluate a website is key to getting the right information. Some websites even have “works of complete fiction presented as fact” (Roblyer & Doering, 2012, p. 255). I think the video does a great job at identifying what to look for in a good website.




Favorite Web Site #1

This website is a collection of different lessons, some made by teachers, for all different subjects. Roblyer and Doering (2012) stated, “It should be very clear how a user can find the content they are looking for on the website” (p.255). This website made it very simple to look for whatever someone may be searching. It lists subjects and different types of worksheets. 

Favorite Web Site #2 

This is an example wiki for a math class. I like that it is members only, so I did not get to view much of the information. The links to different areas were easy to understand and navigate. I liked how he had each class their own link to their sections and class work. Roblyer and Doering (2012) stated, “links are provided so you can get back to the main page from any part of the site” (p.255). As I passed to the different links I always saw a link to get back to the main page.
I would use a wiki like this to get my students all connected. Each class would have assignments posted and a PowerPoint to help with the lesson. They would be able to ask for help from each other and the teacher. Wikis make it easier for items to be added to different links. 

References
GCSC Library (2013 February 12). Evaluating Websites. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aem3JahbXfk

Roblyer, M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into teaching (6th ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill Prentice Hall.



3 comments:

  1. You suggested that the wiki you found had a good design. Roblyer & Doering (2012) stated, "a website has to have a good user design, meaning that it is easy for a user to experience the features of the website" (p. 255). If you implement a private wiki, how would you ensure collaboration among your students while keeping the wiki organized?

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  2. I also found educationworld.com very organized and full of resources. Many people however, get distracted with a good/ home page that catches your attention and then get lost while trying to navigate through that website. Roeblyer & Doering (2013) stated, "some sites are so poorly designed that people may find it difficult or impossible to locate or treat the information they have to offer"(p.255). Other than showing this video to your students, what are some other resources you would implement in your lecture to help your students learn how to evaluate Web information?

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  3. Dang, 4 out of 4 ED 527 students recommend this video! I will laugh if all 12 of us listed it...great minds, you know :)

    Love that educationworld.com has news on it related to teaching...I love current events, sign me up! My question---for your wiki, do you have any specific rules for class netiquette (Roeblyer & Doering, 2012, p. 221)? I would ban vulgar language (surprise, right?) and cyberbullying, first off. The rest I might have to make up as I go, as the situation arises.

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