ECOMP 6008- Week 7

Week 7- a look back….

Wikis that appears to be a platform that I was not completely comfortable to explore with my students. But now that I know more about them and what platforms have more safety nets to help my students along and to protect their use, I am seeing many different collaborative projects. At this time I have begun a wiki and hope to get my students on board next after the holidays. I will use winter vacation to plan it and complete it. (Who said teachers had too many vacation days???) I am planning on getting permission slips to go along with the assignment, since the children will have an email address (though temporarily) through the site.

Chapter 7- The reference sources in this chapter are helpful. They are a good exercise to use before we set the students on a WWW exploration. Students tend to take what they read on the web as fact and do not analyze the different sources. This chapter is a good reference and guide to get the children to explore different sites and see what works and what does not.

ECOMP6008 Week 6

Week 6- Time sure does fly by quickly. During week 6, we have looked at Wikis place and their place in the classroom. I have been able to find one that is as secure as a Wiki can be, but I still want to examine it carefully before I invite the students to work on projects through a Wiki. Hopefully by January, that will be a possibility. I added more bookmarks to delicious and found some really interesting sites to examine later. Some may be very useful in the classroom.

The Text- Chapter 3 How To Validate Information On the Web

The text introduces the acronym REAL to use to remind students to validate the websites the visit. It also has a very good activity to help take students through the process. Students need to be taught how to pick and choose the correct site. Too many times we hear them talking about something new they have seen on the web and on further investigation we find out that the event, or information was a hoax. The chapter gives many good activities that can be easily adapted to allow students to become better web consumers.

Chapter 4- Look At The Links

The last step in the REAL acronym is the L or Looking at the links. The chapter examines how to breakdown the parts of the links. It also hits upon something I do sometimes, but not with full concentration. That would be looking at the links from the viewed webpage. Where do they take you? Are they related to the content of the original page? What do these added links have to say about the original intent of the webpage? Can you navigate away and get back or are you lead astray to a sight you can never seem to get out. Some very good ideas and concepts to bring up with students for the next time we are browsing.

ECOMP 6008 Presentation

I am also submitting a copy of my project on Telecommunications in the Classroom

ECOMP 6008- Week 5

     This week we looked through the Ludcke Library. There are a lot osf sources there and I definitely have to revisit.

      Also I  read Ch#6 in our Web Literacy for Educators text. The discussion was on Blogs, RSS, and Wikkis, and how to use them in the classroom. Blogs are still an experimental area for me when it pertains to the classroom. Personally I enjoy using them, but in the classroom I become concerned about the WWW audience. How can I protect my students? The chapter explores this problem and gives suggestions, some I do plan to invesitgate. I know there are a few sites that have securities but I need to be sure for the students and their parents. I have them same concern for RSS and Wikkis but there appears to be more programs that allow a more secluded use. I have been using some of my research time to go through the recommended sites from the text and class, to see what the offer, and am trying to find feasible ways to use these options in my classroom.

ECOMP 6008 Week 4

Got to chat with a classmate. It was fun and time sure flew. We had to read an article called Digital Natives. I would suggest all teacher read it, for laughs and definite look at what we are facing in classrooms, today. I actually wonder if this is why we have so many "ADHD" diagnosis.

The chat experience help to connect me more to the whole program. Finally the names I see on discussion boards have more substance to them. I begin to see the person.

We also added more information to our Delicious accounts. I feel like I want to be cautious of what I add, not because I am afraid that I will choose poorly, I just want to add those site that I think I will need or use again. Less junk and more substance-- a way I wish I approached my favorites link on my browse.

The course is half-way over and I do see myself taking quite a few pieces of it away with me to use everyday (okay once a week!) The most precious thing about higher learning is that it does take us into new thoughts and directions!

ECOMP 6008- Week 3

We tried out a few different programs: the first is RSS readers. I do use Google Reader and am now able to track updates to several sites without having to tie up my email system. The other is delicious. No not food or anything to do with food. Instead it is a community bookmark system. You do have to sign up a Yahoo account. But once you get going you can bookmark all of your favorite sites and share it amongst others.

I do need more time to explore all of these but I did add it to the short list.

ECOMP 6008 Week 2

This week we explored the Internet. I have found at least one site Digity that is an online timeline program. I can already see the possibilities for school. We also have a text to read and to give our opinion on. The text, I have to admit, was not a priority until yesterday. It was a pleasant surprise. Web Literacy for Educators was a simple read full of very pertinent information. Definitely a keeper to be placed near the desk (versus on the pile in the closet).

The problem with the course (and others I am taking in this program) is that I am getting idea overload. So I have begun to keep a list of the ideas to come back to later. I may be able to get one or two going before the year is over.