Learning by Building Models
I have learned over time that I learn better by using “models”. These models can include databases, concepts, maps, spreadsheets, microworlds, expert systems, and other tools. In my future classroom I hope to teach and model these models to help students learn and remember information. This will not only help students with their own knowledge but also with conceptual understanding. This chapter does an excellent job in defining different methods and models that students can use in organizing and understanding information. Much of this chapter was new to me. I enjoyed learning about the models and ways to incorporate them into the classroom.
Modeling Knowledge with Concept Maps
Modeling knowledge with concepts maps is one way that I have learned to understand and organize information. I have had success in using this model and think that my students will also. An important aspect of concept maps that many people don’t realize is that concepts maps should represent information that is interrelated. So often teachers assign students to make concept maps and many of them have one major concept with information extended from it. It is important to realize that students should try and relate all the important information together for a better understanding. It is also important to describe the links between major thoughts. When I was taught how to complete a concept map I was never taught to do this. I learned how to do this in college and it has helped with linking the information and remembering why I put the information into the concept map. A program that does an excellent job in doing these things is CMap. This program allows students to make concept maps with linking words as well as relating all the information together. I have been using this program to make my concept maps and will have my students use them in the future.
Question: When should teachers use concept maps in the classroom?
Modeling Systems with Systems Dynamics Tools
This section in the book was harder to understand for me because I was unfamiliar with this type of model. From the reading I understood this tool as being a particular system being modeled by the use computer based systems that construct simulations of some sort. Students can use these to better understand how something works. They can also use this to observe and create different graphs, tables, and other animations. This tool can be used to help students truly understand how certain things work or the dynamics of the “system”. In my classroom I will use this tool to help better understand concepts that would normally be hard to understand if not seem through a model or system. Concepts like the way the body works, the way an engine works, and other things like that would be great concepts for teachers to use this tool with. This model reminded me a lot of simulations and letting students “simulate” through a certain system.
Modeling Problems with Spreadsheets
After reading this section I realized how helpful this tool with be for me as a teacher. This will be useful for keeping and organizing information for me and students. Generally I am an organized person and I have used spreadsheets multiple times to keep my information organized and easy to find. In the classroom I will use spreadsheets to help students see the difference between information whether it be through graphs or in a diagram format. The program that comes to mind when doing spreadsheets is Microsoft Excel. Although this program takes some getting used to, it is an excellent one to use when imputing information into an organized way. A website that can be useful in making spreadsheets is Google Spreadsheets. This can be used by students to create and maintain certain spreadsheets in the classroom.
Modeling Thinking with Expert Systems
This tool can be used by students who are looking for decisions or predictions based on several different factors. This tool will help students to organize those different factors and allow for the computer program to help them decide what the outcome should be. My first impression of this tool was that this would be hard to use in the classroom, but the more I read into it the more I understood what it is all about. This can be used as a project for students. They can first gather the different factors and enter them into a program, then they can make a problem and use the information that they found to help solve it.
Modeling Experiences with Databases
After reading this section I realized that databases will also be used by me as a teacher in the classroom. Learning about databases was beneficial to me because schools use these to keep all the information about their students. I need to be familiar with this so that I can easily use this in the future. Databases that students can use are things such as place where articles and information can be found. Students will use these sorts of databases when completing projects and finding important information. Databases can also be used in the classroom for understanding different points of view and different peoples’ experiences.
Question: What are ways teachers can use databases in the classroom?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Chapter 4: Writing and Technology
Supporting Writing Organization and Planning
This section was very informative. I know from my own experience I usually benefit by putting information into concepts maps. By making concept maps students can link information and identify important concepts. An online concept map program that I would use in the classroom is “CMaps” or cmap.com. This website/computer program is an excellent tool for students to use and for teachers. Students can use this program to help with their writing and reading. Students can put their main ideas on a concept map to help organize their ideas. Teachers can use this program to teach lessons and organize important thoughts for students. I think that concepts maps are important for students and their writing. When students use concepts maps they are beginning their writing strong and should be organizing all their important thoughts.
Supporting Presentation Writing
This section was more of a review for me. It focused a lot on PowerPoint and making presentations with this program. I think that PowerPoint is an excellent resource for students and teachers to use to present information. Presenting information can involve lots of steps and PowerPoint can help with those steps. Some of the things that I did not realize were some of the features that PowerPoint has to help students create presentations. I think each of these features can be helpful for students and can help to make excellent presentations. Another presentation website that can be used instead of PowerPoint is “Prezi” or prezi.com. I have learned to enjoy this website and find it to be enjoyable to use. PowerPoint can become a little boring when that is all I have known to use. Since I have began this class I have realized other resources to use for presentations. I think teachers need to branch out and use different outlets to present information. The main reason for this is because students will be more interested in the information because it may be presented in a way that they have never seen before.
Supporting Creative Writing with Technology
This section was very interesting to me. My first impression was how could I help to support my students and encourage them to write creatively. Internet publishing is something that is very new to me, but I think it can be very useful for students and their writings. This allows students to be more reflective which in turn makes them think about their work and the work of others. The website Kidscribe is a neat website to use for students to post their work. It is kind of nice because students can have their own world of writing and post their own creative writing for others to read. Since this is their own things students will take pride in their writing “space” and put much thought and creativity into their work. I will definitely use this in my classroom in the future. Not only can student benefit from this website but parents can also. This website can be used as a portfolio for each of my students and students can also see how well they have improved by viewing their online work. Not only can this website be useful but also a “BLOG” can be help with this as well. Students can post their own work on this and reflect on their work as time goes on.
Supporting Collaborative Writing with Technology
This was also a new concept for me. Initially I didn’t know what to think when writing and working with others was mentioned. After reading this section I realized that working and writing collaboratively can benefit all students. One of the examples that the books gives is Wikipedia. The one thing that came to mind when this website was mentioned was that students need to be careful in determining if this information is correct. Since anyone can edit or add information to different topics it’s hard to know what is factual and what isn’t. The other example that the book gives is Writerly. This is an excellent website for students and teachers to use in the classroom. It can give students a chance to share and work collaboratively on writings.
Supporting Peer Feedback on Writing
Student feedback can be more beneficial than teacher feedback. I had not thought about this but after I did I realized that students do value the feedback from their peers more than from adults or teachers. Peer feedback can help students improve on their writings. The website SWoRD is a great web-based review system that students can learn from. I will use this in the classroom so that students can go and review others work and have their own work reviewed. Most teachers don’t realize that students can benefit from others opinion. They often think that they are the only ones that can give effective feedback to students about their writings.
Overall this chapter was very informative and will definitely help in the future. I enjoyed reading this chapter and learned new techniques on how to improve students writing by the use of technology. I think the reason I learned so much in this chapter is because I didn’t realize how writing and technology can be intertwined.
This section was very informative. I know from my own experience I usually benefit by putting information into concepts maps. By making concept maps students can link information and identify important concepts. An online concept map program that I would use in the classroom is “CMaps” or cmap.com. This website/computer program is an excellent tool for students to use and for teachers. Students can use this program to help with their writing and reading. Students can put their main ideas on a concept map to help organize their ideas. Teachers can use this program to teach lessons and organize important thoughts for students. I think that concepts maps are important for students and their writing. When students use concepts maps they are beginning their writing strong and should be organizing all their important thoughts.
Supporting Presentation Writing
This section was more of a review for me. It focused a lot on PowerPoint and making presentations with this program. I think that PowerPoint is an excellent resource for students and teachers to use to present information. Presenting information can involve lots of steps and PowerPoint can help with those steps. Some of the things that I did not realize were some of the features that PowerPoint has to help students create presentations. I think each of these features can be helpful for students and can help to make excellent presentations. Another presentation website that can be used instead of PowerPoint is “Prezi” or prezi.com. I have learned to enjoy this website and find it to be enjoyable to use. PowerPoint can become a little boring when that is all I have known to use. Since I have began this class I have realized other resources to use for presentations. I think teachers need to branch out and use different outlets to present information. The main reason for this is because students will be more interested in the information because it may be presented in a way that they have never seen before.
Supporting Creative Writing with Technology
This section was very interesting to me. My first impression was how could I help to support my students and encourage them to write creatively. Internet publishing is something that is very new to me, but I think it can be very useful for students and their writings. This allows students to be more reflective which in turn makes them think about their work and the work of others. The website Kidscribe is a neat website to use for students to post their work. It is kind of nice because students can have their own world of writing and post their own creative writing for others to read. Since this is their own things students will take pride in their writing “space” and put much thought and creativity into their work. I will definitely use this in my classroom in the future. Not only can student benefit from this website but parents can also. This website can be used as a portfolio for each of my students and students can also see how well they have improved by viewing their online work. Not only can this website be useful but also a “BLOG” can be help with this as well. Students can post their own work on this and reflect on their work as time goes on.
Supporting Collaborative Writing with Technology
This was also a new concept for me. Initially I didn’t know what to think when writing and working with others was mentioned. After reading this section I realized that working and writing collaboratively can benefit all students. One of the examples that the books gives is Wikipedia. The one thing that came to mind when this website was mentioned was that students need to be careful in determining if this information is correct. Since anyone can edit or add information to different topics it’s hard to know what is factual and what isn’t. The other example that the book gives is Writerly. This is an excellent website for students and teachers to use in the classroom. It can give students a chance to share and work collaboratively on writings.
Supporting Peer Feedback on Writing
Student feedback can be more beneficial than teacher feedback. I had not thought about this but after I did I realized that students do value the feedback from their peers more than from adults or teachers. Peer feedback can help students improve on their writings. The website SWoRD is a great web-based review system that students can learn from. I will use this in the classroom so that students can go and review others work and have their own work reviewed. Most teachers don’t realize that students can benefit from others opinion. They often think that they are the only ones that can give effective feedback to students about their writings.
Overall this chapter was very informative and will definitely help in the future. I enjoyed reading this chapter and learned new techniques on how to improve students writing by the use of technology. I think the reason I learned so much in this chapter is because I didn’t realize how writing and technology can be intertwined.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Chapter 3
1. My first impression of Sodaplay was that it looked like something that would be fun to explore. Sodaplay was an interesting website to use. I believe that this microworld is used by students to explore and see how things can change by giving it a command to do so. This website can be used in elementary classrooms for the use of explaining how things work. It can also be used to predict what will happen when a certain command is given to the object. The teacher can then do the action and see if the students’ predictions are correct.
2. Net Frog Dissection: My first impression of this simulation is that it looks educational and could be potentially used in the classroom. I also thought back to when I dissected a frog in high school biology and thought that this simulation could be used instead of doing one live. I think that using simulations with students is beneficial and can be substituted instead of using real life classroom observations. I also think that simulations can be beneficial for allowing students to simulate how something works or with training of some sort. I do think that this simulation provided meaningful learning for the students. It is interactive and allows students to truly understand what is happening during the dissection. Not only do students get to simulate through the dissection but also they have questions and exercises to test their understanding of what they witnessed.
Roller Coaster Simulation: My first impression of this simulation is that it would be really cool to design my own roller coaster. I also thought that this website didn’t look as good as the first one. I was interested to find out how it worked and how to make my own roller coaster. Like I said before, I think that using simulations in my classroom will be beneficial to my students. The only problem I have with using simulations in my classroom is that it has to promote meaningful learning and not be something that students play with and not learn anything from. I think this simulation means well but I do think that students will be too involved with making the roller coaster track and not paying any attention to the fact that they are learning physics.
3. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/media/index.html
Colonial House Simulation
This simulation is an excellent and unique tool to use in the classroom to help teach students about life in the 1600s. Students will be able to go through this website and participate in a simulated life set in the 1600s and how people lived through this time. The website does promote meaningful learning because it allows for students to explore the website and learn on their own time and at their own pace. It also gives students information that can be useful when learning about history during this time. The website also includes photos, videos, and audios that can help students learn in more interesting and interactive ways.
4.
Darfur is Dying
My first impression of the game was that it was interesting to look at. I also wanted to explore the site more to find out what the game was all about. This game would be an excellent tool to use with students in the classroom. I think that it allows for students to learn about the issues of Darfur while interactively participating in a game. The game provides information all throughout each “stage” which is good because students can learn at the same time. I believe this does promote meaningful learning because it allows for students to actively participate in the game while still focusing on what is important concerning this topic. Each of the games within this game allows students to navigate and choose what they want but still gives them information on why something happened or the reason why the game ended the way it did.
Game: The Cost of Life
My first impression of this game was that it looked interesting and looked like I would learn a lot by playing it. This game was a little difficult to play at first and took some getting used to. The whole purpose of this game was to keep the parents alive, educate the family, and see how it is to live in poverty. I think that this game would be useful in the classroom to teach these topics. I do think that it does promote meaningful learning but I’m also worried that students will get too involved with playing the game that they will forget what they are playing it for. I think they will see this game as a win/lose situation instead of a learning experience.
3rd World Farmer
My first impression of this game is that is seemed very similar to Sims or the new game on Facebook, Farmville. This game was also a little more difficult to play because it involved keeping track of money and where the best place to put the items at. In a way this game is very similar to a simulation but does involve a win/lose situation by seeing if your family will starve or prosper. I would use this in my classroom to help students understand how families live in one of the poorest areas of the world. It will also teach students to be resourceful with their money and put other first to help them live. Again this website, like the other, involves a very distinct win/lose situation which can be problematic for students learning. Although they would be actively participating with the game they will be more focused on the winning aspect rather than getting much learning out of it.
5. http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/ConeCrazyLevels.htm
Cone Crazy Levels
This game can be used with fourth graders learning and practicing their multiplication facts. The game addresses some of Gee’s principles including the practice principle, allowing students to practice their facts over and over again. Another would be situated meaning principle by using penguins, ice cream and choosing the right scoop for the cone. The last principle I noticed that addresses Gee’s principles is multimodal principle by the way that the game is set up, instead of words and only numbers it has penguins, ice cream, and ice cream cones.
6. At first I “googled” virtual worlds and elementary students. One of the first things that came up was the website (http://jvwresearch.org/index.php?_cms=1248925779) that contained research on gifted students ages 8-15 and the virtual world, Quest Atlantis. This was the same virtual world that was introduced in the book as an excellent environment for students to learn and engage themselves in deeper level thinking. Another link that came up was the website (http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/ict/virtual/) involving different virtual worlds that elementary school children could be involved with. The one that stuck out to me was the one called Club Penguin. This virtual world allows elementary school children to play games, chat with others, and take care of their own virtual pet. The other that was mentioned on this website was excellent resources to use for all ages especially elementary aged children. The reoccurring aspect of these virtual worlds mentioned was that children would be actively engaged in doing something and will be able to have a deeper-level of thinking while doing it, which is a characteristic Jonassen mentions in the chapter.
7. I have not had enough experience with programming or writing an HTML code. The Scratch program looks interesting to use and hopefully after using it I will be able to use programming in various ways and be able to write HTML codes as well. When it comes to things like this I am not very good at it and hopefully with some practice I will be able to do both of these things.
2. Net Frog Dissection: My first impression of this simulation is that it looks educational and could be potentially used in the classroom. I also thought back to when I dissected a frog in high school biology and thought that this simulation could be used instead of doing one live. I think that using simulations with students is beneficial and can be substituted instead of using real life classroom observations. I also think that simulations can be beneficial for allowing students to simulate how something works or with training of some sort. I do think that this simulation provided meaningful learning for the students. It is interactive and allows students to truly understand what is happening during the dissection. Not only do students get to simulate through the dissection but also they have questions and exercises to test their understanding of what they witnessed.
Roller Coaster Simulation: My first impression of this simulation is that it would be really cool to design my own roller coaster. I also thought that this website didn’t look as good as the first one. I was interested to find out how it worked and how to make my own roller coaster. Like I said before, I think that using simulations in my classroom will be beneficial to my students. The only problem I have with using simulations in my classroom is that it has to promote meaningful learning and not be something that students play with and not learn anything from. I think this simulation means well but I do think that students will be too involved with making the roller coaster track and not paying any attention to the fact that they are learning physics.
3. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/media/index.html
Colonial House Simulation
This simulation is an excellent and unique tool to use in the classroom to help teach students about life in the 1600s. Students will be able to go through this website and participate in a simulated life set in the 1600s and how people lived through this time. The website does promote meaningful learning because it allows for students to explore the website and learn on their own time and at their own pace. It also gives students information that can be useful when learning about history during this time. The website also includes photos, videos, and audios that can help students learn in more interesting and interactive ways.
4.
Darfur is Dying
My first impression of the game was that it was interesting to look at. I also wanted to explore the site more to find out what the game was all about. This game would be an excellent tool to use with students in the classroom. I think that it allows for students to learn about the issues of Darfur while interactively participating in a game. The game provides information all throughout each “stage” which is good because students can learn at the same time. I believe this does promote meaningful learning because it allows for students to actively participate in the game while still focusing on what is important concerning this topic. Each of the games within this game allows students to navigate and choose what they want but still gives them information on why something happened or the reason why the game ended the way it did.
Game: The Cost of Life
My first impression of this game was that it looked interesting and looked like I would learn a lot by playing it. This game was a little difficult to play at first and took some getting used to. The whole purpose of this game was to keep the parents alive, educate the family, and see how it is to live in poverty. I think that this game would be useful in the classroom to teach these topics. I do think that it does promote meaningful learning but I’m also worried that students will get too involved with playing the game that they will forget what they are playing it for. I think they will see this game as a win/lose situation instead of a learning experience.
3rd World Farmer
My first impression of this game is that is seemed very similar to Sims or the new game on Facebook, Farmville. This game was also a little more difficult to play because it involved keeping track of money and where the best place to put the items at. In a way this game is very similar to a simulation but does involve a win/lose situation by seeing if your family will starve or prosper. I would use this in my classroom to help students understand how families live in one of the poorest areas of the world. It will also teach students to be resourceful with their money and put other first to help them live. Again this website, like the other, involves a very distinct win/lose situation which can be problematic for students learning. Although they would be actively participating with the game they will be more focused on the winning aspect rather than getting much learning out of it.
5. http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/ConeCrazyLevels.htm
Cone Crazy Levels
This game can be used with fourth graders learning and practicing their multiplication facts. The game addresses some of Gee’s principles including the practice principle, allowing students to practice their facts over and over again. Another would be situated meaning principle by using penguins, ice cream and choosing the right scoop for the cone. The last principle I noticed that addresses Gee’s principles is multimodal principle by the way that the game is set up, instead of words and only numbers it has penguins, ice cream, and ice cream cones.
6. At first I “googled” virtual worlds and elementary students. One of the first things that came up was the website (http://jvwresearch.org/index.php?_cms=1248925779) that contained research on gifted students ages 8-15 and the virtual world, Quest Atlantis. This was the same virtual world that was introduced in the book as an excellent environment for students to learn and engage themselves in deeper level thinking. Another link that came up was the website (http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/ict/virtual/) involving different virtual worlds that elementary school children could be involved with. The one that stuck out to me was the one called Club Penguin. This virtual world allows elementary school children to play games, chat with others, and take care of their own virtual pet. The other that was mentioned on this website was excellent resources to use for all ages especially elementary aged children. The reoccurring aspect of these virtual worlds mentioned was that children would be actively engaged in doing something and will be able to have a deeper-level of thinking while doing it, which is a characteristic Jonassen mentions in the chapter.
7. I have not had enough experience with programming or writing an HTML code. The Scratch program looks interesting to use and hopefully after using it I will be able to use programming in various ways and be able to write HTML codes as well. When it comes to things like this I am not very good at it and hopefully with some practice I will be able to do both of these things.
Cone Crazy Levels-Multiplication Practice
http://www.multiplication.com/flashgames/ConeCrazyLevels.htm
This game can be used with fourth graders learning and practicing their multiplication facts. The game addresses some of Gee’s principles including the practice principle, allowing students to practice their facts over and over again. Another would be situated meaning principle by using penguins, ice cream and choosing the right scoop for the cone. The last principle I noticed that addresses Gee’s principles is multimodal principle by the way that the game is set up, instead of words and only numbers it has penguins, ice cream, and ice cream cones.
This game can be used with fourth graders learning and practicing their multiplication facts. The game addresses some of Gee’s principles including the practice principle, allowing students to practice their facts over and over again. Another would be situated meaning principle by using penguins, ice cream and choosing the right scoop for the cone. The last principle I noticed that addresses Gee’s principles is multimodal principle by the way that the game is set up, instead of words and only numbers it has penguins, ice cream, and ice cream cones.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Colonial House Simulation- PBS
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/media/index.html
This simulation is an excellent and unique tool to use in the classroom to help teach students about life in the 1600s. Students will be able to go through this website and participate in a simulated life set in the 1600s and how people lived through this time. The website does promote meaningful learning because it allows for students to explore the website and learn on their own time and at their own pace. It also gives students information that can be useful when learning about history during this time. The website also includes photos, videos, and audios that can help students learn in more interesting and interactive ways
This simulation is an excellent and unique tool to use in the classroom to help teach students about life in the 1600s. Students will be able to go through this website and participate in a simulated life set in the 1600s and how people lived through this time. The website does promote meaningful learning because it allows for students to explore the website and learn on their own time and at their own pace. It also gives students information that can be useful when learning about history during this time. The website also includes photos, videos, and audios that can help students learn in more interesting and interactive ways
Monday, September 7, 2009
Chapter 2 Thoughts
1. Registered for Google Reader.
2. The first website (Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus) is a made up website and doesn't have accurate information. Although the website information isn't accurate, the website is set up correctly. When evaluating this website I looked for the problem being presented, why this is a problem, what the issue is about, and how we can help to change the problem. It also has other resources that could be used to get more information on the issue at hand. After evaluating the website I also noticed that the layout was easily accessible with the tabs to different pages at the top and bottom of the main page. It is also up to date and has the latest information on the issue being presented. I saw that there was a date at the bottom right hand corner to inform viewers that the website is up to date. I also looked at how well the words and information was easily read.
The second website (MLK) is not one that I would recommend as being accurate. After evaluating this I realized that this website couldn’t be trusted to teach anyone on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. First of all when I clicked on the links the information didn’t reflect to what the tab said. Also the author is a "White Pride" organization, which proves that the information was biased. Instead of historical information and I saw opinions and other information that was important. It also seems like there isn’t one group or person including the information on this website. It seems like each link has different information from different sources and people. Since there really isn’t a main author it’s hard to realize if the information is credited and when the information was updated.
The third website (Dog Island Free Forever) is another made up website. The first thing that I noticed was the disclaimer about the website being made up. If the website was correct and accurate it would have all the information that someone would be looking for concerning this topic. The website is very user friendly and allows the user to easily look through the information. Another thing that I looked at when evaluating this website is the links for people looking for further information. This website was loaded with further information for whatever someone would be looking for concerning dogs, dog food, and taking care of dogs. I also liked that there was a Google link at the top in case visitors to the site needed to search something while looking through the site. Another key thing that I saw when I evaluated the website is that the website is copyrighted.
The fourth website (All About Explorers) is also a website that someone set up to try and trick visitors. The one thing that really stood out to me was how useful this website is for teachers. It has many different links, lessons, and ideas to use in the classroom. Also when evaluating this website I noticed the information had disclaimers. The website was only made for teachers to show how their students how to search for things on the internet. the characters on the website are fictional. I also evaluated how easy it was to view the website and understand the information presented. This website presents information in an easy to read way and the layout makes its user friendly. Being user friendly is a must for visitors to be able to use without having any trouble.
The fifth website (History of Robots…) is another false website. When searching through this website I noticed that the links take me to some other website that isn't credible and could not be taken as fact. Although the information is bogus, compared to the other websites this website is not as complex. I first looked to see if the website had been updated and had an author to give credit for. I also evaluated the layout of the website. It did an excellent job of stating its purpose and intent.
The sixth website (Dihydrogen Monoxide) is a research website presented by a National Assessment Center. This website is not real and has been put up by an organization that is factual. If I'm not mistaken, Dihydrogen Monoxide is water. Although the information is not correct the website itself is set up very nicely. I evaluated what type of information was given. The way it is presented is easy for visitors to follow. The website states their purpose, the problem, and what being done to try and fix it.
The seventh website (The First Human Male Pregnancy) is a website used for people’s opinion about this particular topic. Although there is some information on what is happening with this man, most of it is people’s opinion of the situation. I don’t feel as though this website would be useful for finding out facts or other information. After evaluating this website, I noticed that this website is more about informing the public on the man’s status through his pregnancy instead of actual facts on why this is happening. At the bottom of the page, the name of the author is present along with a disclaimer. Although this happened to a man (who was a women), this isn't real because men cannot have babies.
(www.wto.org) This website is the true website for the World Trade Organization. This website is copyrighted by the organization. The layout of the website seems to be more authentic than the other which makes me think that this website is the true website for the World Trade Organization.
3. After searching the internet for scavenger hunts on Civil War lessons, many examples are found. The ones that are mostly found don’t remind me of meaningful learning. Most of them are interactive and allow for students to be the ones to find information. But I think that students will become more involved in using the internet than learning the information on the Civil War. After searching for cites on Civil War scavenger hunts I searched in general for internet scavenger hunts. After searching for this I found a website that had lots of scavenger hunts that could promote meaningful learning. The website had tons of hunts that were broken down by months. The one thing that I noticed was that these hunts weren’t as heavy as the topic of the Civil War. I think this makes a difference when using scavenger hunts to help to teach students. The lighter the material the more meaningful learning can take place, which can be helpful when using the internet and scavenger hunts.
4. The wequest that I chose deals with 6th grade students and researching women in science. This webquest is more than an electronic worksheet because it allows for research on a famous women scientist. The students are also taking the information and making something out of it. The students have to make a newspaper article with important information and pictures at the end of the assignment. If this was a mere electronic worksheet then students would just have to fill in the wanted information and do nothing with it at the end. The webquest is well designed according to Jonassen. First of all the webquest promotes cooperative learning. In order for the students to complete the assignment, students must partner up and assign each other roles. This will allow students to bring prior knowledge to the assignment and help each other complete it with the best information. The webquest also incorporates many learning perspectives. When the process of the project is introduced, the teacher does not give explicit instructions on how complete the project. I think this helps to incorporate different learning perspectives because it allows students to find the information the best way they know how or the way that they learn the best. Giving students an option is an excellent way to get student involved and making them want to learn the information they are looking for. The webquest also incorporates analysis and synthesis of information. The way that this occurs is when students have to take the information that have found and make a newspaper article from the pertinent information. In order for students to be able to understand what needs to go into the article they must analyze and synthesize the information found through the various websites given. The article is an excellent resource in order to demonstrate knowledge gained from this webquest. The article is something that will be original among all the groups and will show that each of the groups have gained knowledge from the information found. The way that they gain knowledge from this project is from having to put the information into an article format with only the information used in an article. The webquest as a whole is student-directed because they are able to use resources that the teacher provides as well as other websites they feel are important. The teacher only gives an outline of what the assignment is about and the students take that information and use it to complete the project on their own. In a sense the webquest is open-ended. It can allow for further research on a women scientist and can allow for further information on why this person is important.
5. The teacher uses handhelds to help teach fables in a third grade reading class. The teacher pairs the students up and allows them to use a handheld together. Each student must choose a fable to read and then compare their fable with the other student. They will then use programs in the handhelds to make a Venn Diagram comparing the two fables. The teacher could have done this before but by using handhelds the teacher can make it more interactive and interesting for the students to complete. If the teacher was not using the handhelds this would be done with a book of fables and paper and pencil to make the Venn Diagram. Instead the students can use handhelds to read and explore their fable and another program to help compare their fables by making a Venn diagram. So even though the teacher could have completed this lesson before the use of handhelds, it only makes the lesson better by having the students use them.
6. Completed the survey about Facebook and MySpace.
2. The first website (Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus) is a made up website and doesn't have accurate information. Although the website information isn't accurate, the website is set up correctly. When evaluating this website I looked for the problem being presented, why this is a problem, what the issue is about, and how we can help to change the problem. It also has other resources that could be used to get more information on the issue at hand. After evaluating the website I also noticed that the layout was easily accessible with the tabs to different pages at the top and bottom of the main page. It is also up to date and has the latest information on the issue being presented. I saw that there was a date at the bottom right hand corner to inform viewers that the website is up to date. I also looked at how well the words and information was easily read.
The second website (MLK) is not one that I would recommend as being accurate. After evaluating this I realized that this website couldn’t be trusted to teach anyone on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. First of all when I clicked on the links the information didn’t reflect to what the tab said. Also the author is a "White Pride" organization, which proves that the information was biased. Instead of historical information and I saw opinions and other information that was important. It also seems like there isn’t one group or person including the information on this website. It seems like each link has different information from different sources and people. Since there really isn’t a main author it’s hard to realize if the information is credited and when the information was updated.
The third website (Dog Island Free Forever) is another made up website. The first thing that I noticed was the disclaimer about the website being made up. If the website was correct and accurate it would have all the information that someone would be looking for concerning this topic. The website is very user friendly and allows the user to easily look through the information. Another thing that I looked at when evaluating this website is the links for people looking for further information. This website was loaded with further information for whatever someone would be looking for concerning dogs, dog food, and taking care of dogs. I also liked that there was a Google link at the top in case visitors to the site needed to search something while looking through the site. Another key thing that I saw when I evaluated the website is that the website is copyrighted.
The fourth website (All About Explorers) is also a website that someone set up to try and trick visitors. The one thing that really stood out to me was how useful this website is for teachers. It has many different links, lessons, and ideas to use in the classroom. Also when evaluating this website I noticed the information had disclaimers. The website was only made for teachers to show how their students how to search for things on the internet. the characters on the website are fictional. I also evaluated how easy it was to view the website and understand the information presented. This website presents information in an easy to read way and the layout makes its user friendly. Being user friendly is a must for visitors to be able to use without having any trouble.
The fifth website (History of Robots…) is another false website. When searching through this website I noticed that the links take me to some other website that isn't credible and could not be taken as fact. Although the information is bogus, compared to the other websites this website is not as complex. I first looked to see if the website had been updated and had an author to give credit for. I also evaluated the layout of the website. It did an excellent job of stating its purpose and intent.
The sixth website (Dihydrogen Monoxide) is a research website presented by a National Assessment Center. This website is not real and has been put up by an organization that is factual. If I'm not mistaken, Dihydrogen Monoxide is water. Although the information is not correct the website itself is set up very nicely. I evaluated what type of information was given. The way it is presented is easy for visitors to follow. The website states their purpose, the problem, and what being done to try and fix it.
The seventh website (The First Human Male Pregnancy) is a website used for people’s opinion about this particular topic. Although there is some information on what is happening with this man, most of it is people’s opinion of the situation. I don’t feel as though this website would be useful for finding out facts or other information. After evaluating this website, I noticed that this website is more about informing the public on the man’s status through his pregnancy instead of actual facts on why this is happening. At the bottom of the page, the name of the author is present along with a disclaimer. Although this happened to a man (who was a women), this isn't real because men cannot have babies.
(www.wto.org) This website is the true website for the World Trade Organization. This website is copyrighted by the organization. The layout of the website seems to be more authentic than the other which makes me think that this website is the true website for the World Trade Organization.
3. After searching the internet for scavenger hunts on Civil War lessons, many examples are found. The ones that are mostly found don’t remind me of meaningful learning. Most of them are interactive and allow for students to be the ones to find information. But I think that students will become more involved in using the internet than learning the information on the Civil War. After searching for cites on Civil War scavenger hunts I searched in general for internet scavenger hunts. After searching for this I found a website that had lots of scavenger hunts that could promote meaningful learning. The website had tons of hunts that were broken down by months. The one thing that I noticed was that these hunts weren’t as heavy as the topic of the Civil War. I think this makes a difference when using scavenger hunts to help to teach students. The lighter the material the more meaningful learning can take place, which can be helpful when using the internet and scavenger hunts.
4. The wequest that I chose deals with 6th grade students and researching women in science. This webquest is more than an electronic worksheet because it allows for research on a famous women scientist. The students are also taking the information and making something out of it. The students have to make a newspaper article with important information and pictures at the end of the assignment. If this was a mere electronic worksheet then students would just have to fill in the wanted information and do nothing with it at the end. The webquest is well designed according to Jonassen. First of all the webquest promotes cooperative learning. In order for the students to complete the assignment, students must partner up and assign each other roles. This will allow students to bring prior knowledge to the assignment and help each other complete it with the best information. The webquest also incorporates many learning perspectives. When the process of the project is introduced, the teacher does not give explicit instructions on how complete the project. I think this helps to incorporate different learning perspectives because it allows students to find the information the best way they know how or the way that they learn the best. Giving students an option is an excellent way to get student involved and making them want to learn the information they are looking for. The webquest also incorporates analysis and synthesis of information. The way that this occurs is when students have to take the information that have found and make a newspaper article from the pertinent information. In order for students to be able to understand what needs to go into the article they must analyze and synthesize the information found through the various websites given. The article is an excellent resource in order to demonstrate knowledge gained from this webquest. The article is something that will be original among all the groups and will show that each of the groups have gained knowledge from the information found. The way that they gain knowledge from this project is from having to put the information into an article format with only the information used in an article. The webquest as a whole is student-directed because they are able to use resources that the teacher provides as well as other websites they feel are important. The teacher only gives an outline of what the assignment is about and the students take that information and use it to complete the project on their own. In a sense the webquest is open-ended. It can allow for further research on a women scientist and can allow for further information on why this person is important.
5. The teacher uses handhelds to help teach fables in a third grade reading class. The teacher pairs the students up and allows them to use a handheld together. Each student must choose a fable to read and then compare their fable with the other student. They will then use programs in the handhelds to make a Venn Diagram comparing the two fables. The teacher could have done this before but by using handhelds the teacher can make it more interactive and interesting for the students to complete. If the teacher was not using the handhelds this would be done with a book of fables and paper and pencil to make the Venn Diagram. Instead the students can use handhelds to read and explore their fable and another program to help compare their fables by making a Venn diagram. So even though the teacher could have completed this lesson before the use of handhelds, it only makes the lesson better by having the students use them.
6. Completed the survey about Facebook and MySpace.
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