Project-Based Learning, team building, active teaching and learning, literacy bowls reading in digital, and the use of integrated curriculum are all a part Of the Expeditionary Learning approach, that is taking place in schools throughout the United States. In reading more about the expeditionary learning approach, a project based system of learning, there seems to be much planning that has to go into it for it to be successful. Teachers being trained, along with the community in small learning communities, I would think must take place for this type of program to be successful.
After reading the article about the Maine middle school adapting expeditionary learning, investigated the link on expeditionary learning and read more about it. Unlike the possibilities of what project learning in details for students, but this isn't something that we take place overnight. Like any sort of school change, you must make sure that there is a client from the staff and community and to do this. You must have faculty meetings and community meetings in which research-based information must be shared, distributed, and gone over by the stakeholders.
I like the idea of a portfolio-based, cross curricular, team centered, technology project that would enhance student learning. Hate to throw a but in there, but, much planning needs to take place to make sure of the success of this type of project.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Website Evaluation
In going over both articles on how to evaluate websites,the first just being a list of criteria for evaluating websites, the second by Kathy Schrock, a world renowned authority on educational technology, there are two points that stood out to me. The first one was the definition of what digital literacy is by Paul Gilster "the ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of sources when it is presented via computers", and Schrock's statement to teach students the best way to critically evaluate the information that they find in relation to the purpose at hand". Having students to be critical evaluators of websites is as Shrock states, a lifelong learning process.
Schrock gives in detail the skills necessary to evaluate websites, most of which is based on the criteria from the previous article. In this day and age our educational system must incorporate the proper use of an evaluation of websites for accurate sources in research is more more schools are going to standard base criteria they use of the Internet and collaborative projects are going to become more important. Students and teachers need to have the skills to be able to value it websites for their authenticity.
Schrock gives in detail the skills necessary to evaluate websites, most of which is based on the criteria from the previous article. In this day and age our educational system must incorporate the proper use of an evaluation of websites for accurate sources in research is more more schools are going to standard base criteria they use of the Internet and collaborative projects are going to become more important. Students and teachers need to have the skills to be able to value it websites for their authenticity.
School Webpages
the two articles I read about creating school webpages all come with the general guidelines:
-relevancy: does your staff feel that a school website is relevant.
-planning: the planning of the school website incorporates many different features. Planning involves getting together a qualified team to put the webpages together,planning involves the design of the website, planning involves what is going to be in the website, planning involves what resources are available, monetarily and technically, to make the website, and planning involves who is going to be in charge of the website and its upkeep.
I like the idea of field testing a new website to check out possible problems. Maybe some new ideas from those are going to be using it is a good idea. In coming up with a new website for school. There will be many changes that will take place during the first year of implementation. What looks like at the start, might not be the way it looks like at the end of the school year. But this is a natural progression to any new website that school uses. in coming up with a school website. Do not underestimate the help from students who have a background in webpage design. Or possibly making a class of webpage design. This will help in having resource for the upkeep of the webpage.
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-relevancy: does your staff feel that a school website is relevant.
-planning: the planning of the school website incorporates many different features. Planning involves getting together a qualified team to put the webpages together,planning involves the design of the website, planning involves what is going to be in the website, planning involves what resources are available, monetarily and technically, to make the website, and planning involves who is going to be in charge of the website and its upkeep.
I like the idea of field testing a new website to check out possible problems. Maybe some new ideas from those are going to be using it is a good idea. In coming up with a new website for school. There will be many changes that will take place during the first year of implementation. What looks like at the start, might not be the way it looks like at the end of the school year. But this is a natural progression to any new website that school uses. in coming up with a school website. Do not underestimate the help from students who have a background in webpage design. Or possibly making a class of webpage design. This will help in having resource for the upkeep of the webpage.
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Global Learning Communities
Two years ago I was introduced to young men from Germany looking into how schools are run in the United States. He was in the equivalent of our sixth grade. And he was doing a project on American schools. In 2006 Sunnyslope was in Newsweek's top 1000 schools nationally, and this is how he got interested in Sunnyslope. So he e-mailed me questions dealing with the school life of high school students. His English for the most part was pretty good, and I could communicate the information that he needed. This got to be a weekly event, and I look forward to his correspondence. I got to think of what this would've been like if I had been back in the classroom teaching and to have my class correspond to this young man on life in Germany, I think would be an exciting venture for all involved.
You have opportunities for young people, some of whom may never even travel to another part of United States, would have an opportunity to link up and work with students in other countries. These are planned projects are also cross curricular. Using mathematics, science and social studies to investigate the findings from areas around the world.
I'm thinking of an idea in which a computer in the classroom. A class using Skype video and an Internet camera can relay a videophone conversation with a class across the world with using a setup of similar technology. shooing the research and information on a smart board in relaying data across the globe would be exciting venture to all involved.
You have opportunities for young people, some of whom may never even travel to another part of United States, would have an opportunity to link up and work with students in other countries. These are planned projects are also cross curricular. Using mathematics, science and social studies to investigate the findings from areas around the world.
I'm thinking of an idea in which a computer in the classroom. A class using Skype video and an Internet camera can relay a videophone conversation with a class across the world with using a setup of similar technology. shooing the research and information on a smart board in relaying data across the globe would be exciting venture to all involved.
Digital Divide
This article on the digital divide brings about some interesting questions. Since this article is over six years old, there has been an increase in the number of homes and schools that now have Internet resources. At this time, in my opinion, I don't think the digital divide is as vast as it was six years ago. There are many federal programs that bring in millions of dollars into the schools for technology. Now into the homes, I think the digital divide is also getting smaller. There is this debate between the haves and have-nots. But like the author says, the haves and the want-nots. one site to look at for information on Internet usage in America go to: Internet Usage Stats at http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats14.htm
This site shows that the number of Americans use the Internet is close to 90%. This shows that the digital divide is not as fast as it used to be six years ago, though it is still a problem is in parts of the United States in lower socioeconomic areas. Both schools in these areas do have Internet access in lower income communities do have access to their community schools. So at this time, I don't think the digital divide is as big as a problem and some six years ago.
This site shows that the number of Americans use the Internet is close to 90%. This shows that the digital divide is not as fast as it used to be six years ago, though it is still a problem is in parts of the United States in lower socioeconomic areas. Both schools in these areas do have Internet access in lower income communities do have access to their community schools. So at this time, I don't think the digital divide is as big as a problem and some six years ago.
Teachings Act to Think.
In the article from November Learning. The writer gives a great example of how students sometimes look at the Internet when researching a topic.there has to be a greater emphasis on those in education, to take the time to teach the right way to research topics on the Internet.
I like his idea on how to evaluate a a good source on the Internet. putting information into the three categories of purpose, author and meta-web information will help the learner determine if the website is giving factual information.
1. The purpose: Teaching kids to see what the purpose of the website is to help them determine if the website is giving authentic information. This is something that has to be taught.
2. The author: students doing a research project need to take the time to use websites to determine an author's background.
3. Meta-Web Information: the author shows examples of websites that are personal or professionally made. any site, whose URL has the author's name in its has to be taken with a grain of salt. These URLs are usually from websites that are connected to personal ISPs such as Cox or Qwest. Cox and Qwest will give out space for personal websites in which people can put anything they want on. These are sites that students need to be aware of and be careful of. In doing research. They need to see if the information on the sides is accurate and truthful. I like how the author gives some ideas on how to go about doing this. This is an article that I will end out to teachers who use the computer labs to do research. This is a vital piece of information. vital piece of information
In the article from November Learning. The writer gives a great example of how students sometimes look at the Internet when researching a topic.there has to be a greater emphasis on those in education, to take the time to teach the right way to research topics on the Internet.
I like his idea on how to evaluate a a good source on the Internet. putting information into the three categories of purpose, author and meta-web information will help the learner determine if the website is giving factual information.
1. The purpose: Teaching kids to see what the purpose of the website is to help them determine if the website is giving authentic information. This is something that has to be taught.
2. The author: students doing a research project need to take the time to use websites to determine an author's background.
3. Meta-Web Information: the author shows examples of websites that are personal or professionally made. any site, whose URL has the author's name in its has to be taken with a grain of salt. These URLs are usually from websites that are connected to personal ISPs such as Cox or Qwest. Cox and Qwest will give out space for personal websites in which people can put anything they want on. These are sites that students need to be aware of and be careful of. In doing research. They need to see if the information on the sides is accurate and truthful. I like how the author gives some ideas on how to go about doing this. This is an article that I will end out to teachers who use the computer labs to do research. This is a vital piece of information. vital piece of information
A Cyber Pilot's License
In reading a cyberpilot's license I agree that creating and using an AUP (Acceptable Use Policy)in the classroom should be done as an educational tool. I really don't agree with all the yada yada stuff that went on with his paper. Because most AUP's have come up against the legal system in which schools need to protect themselves from those that take advantage of the use of technology, specifically the Internet at school.
To me, some of his ramblings, and in a sense they were ramblings, were brought about from somebody who has been out of the country for what seems like a period of time in which the educational community has changed because of and with the use of the Internet. Schools do need to protect themselves and an AUP, though a" Band-Aid" solution is a start. Most schools and school districts do just hand out their AUP at the beginning of the school year with many other papers that has to be signed. It probably would be a good idea to take the time to explain an AUP to students before they went into a lab to do research so that they understand the consequences of their actions.
To me, some of his ramblings, and in a sense they were ramblings, were brought about from somebody who has been out of the country for what seems like a period of time in which the educational community has changed because of and with the use of the Internet. Schools do need to protect themselves and an AUP, though a" Band-Aid" solution is a start. Most schools and school districts do just hand out their AUP at the beginning of the school year with many other papers that has to be signed. It probably would be a good idea to take the time to explain an AUP to students before they went into a lab to do research so that they understand the consequences of their actions.
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