What do URLS tell you/students about websites?
The ending of the site (such as .gov or .com) give clues about what kind of website this may be. Additionally, the url may reveal some of what the website offers as far as content.
How can learning about search engines benefit you/students?
Search engines help students find information quickly and efficiently. Students may become better scholars by seeing that certain keywords will benefit stronger results.
Which internet tool might you use in the classroom?
I would use social media, definitely, because my students are already on there anyway and they could contact their fellow classmates or me more readily. I would most likely choose the most popular of the social networking sites, founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook. I have appreciated having Facebook as a resource for my questions for Education 527 and I think students could benefit from having each other on call for questions and collaborations.
Favorite web sites?
One of my favorite web sites is tumblr.com. From what I understand, it is becoming more popular for younger users than Facebook. I contribute this fact to its anonymity, in that users can post whatever they wish without fear that people they do not like from class or authority figures will see their posts. It is essentially a blogging site, which may feature photographs as well as text posts. According to Robyler & Doering (2013), “blogging sites provide a content management system that consists of easy-to-use forms in which the user enters their text, images, and content, with the page immediately published online for anyone to see” (p. 222). Students will feel that they are taking their education into their own hands by blogging their feelings toward literature and grammar. There are tags on tumblr that they can follow. For instance, if we are covering Keats, the students could follow the Keats tag and see different philosophical or literary interpretations for that particular author. However, tumblr can present, due to the anonymity, risqué materials, and as Robyler & Doering (2013) suggest, “the Internet has materials that parents and teachers may not want students to see, either because they are inappropriate for an age level or because they contain information or images considered objectionable” (p. 214). Thus, as a teacher, I would have to ensure that my students use this website solely for academic purposes and not for more degenerate means. I would tell them to be careful who they follow, to ensure that they are receiving literary information only.
Another favorite website of mine is Facebook, which I use to keep up with high school and college friends. Everyone I know has a Facebook, and I feel using this website in the classroom would be beneficial due to the fact that students would be able to access information academic information even when they are not in “homework” mode. I have found that having the Education 527 group has been convenient for collaboration and in the answering of questions when I do not have the teacher before me. I have learned to check my Ed527 blog as I am on Facebook, which conveniently places me in an academic mood even while I am in a more sociable mood. Roblyer & Doering (2013) point out “that Facebook provided ‘Social Capital’ for college students and supported personal relationships” (p. 225). I would certainly encourage members of my class to “friend” one another in case they are having issues with assignments, and have found that having a class page helps in weeding out issues early on. Robyler *|& Doering (2013) also note, however, that “social networking sites are popular, but the jury is still out on the impact and the value of them in education” (p. 225). I would certainly approach using Facebook in the classroom with caution and would never “friend” a student, but I think it can help accelerate students’ collaboration and help them solve their problems in a thoughtful manner.
Social media is great for students to use in the classroom. As you said they are already using it in their everyday lives outside of school. Facebook is great for collage students but there are some drawbacks for younger users. I think as you get into a school setting that uses Edmodo you will really like the similarities to Facebook but you will enjoy the added security of a closed system.
ReplyDeleteThanks, after reading your commentary about it in your blog, I will certainly look into it.
DeleteI had a co-worker tell me that she enjoyed Tumblr because of the anonymity of it. I feel that students often do not speak up and participate in class because they feel they would be judged. This could be a way to participate without the anxiety attached to it. As you said, we have to be careful when allowing students to use these sites. Roblyer & Doering (2013) state, “Although most SNSs are blocked in schools today, the dominance of them outside of school and the lack of experience most students have may put young people at special risk” (p. 215).
ReplyDelete