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Day 29 [5/4/10]

Wikipedia is a great site. I use it all the time for papers, assignments, homework, and just to look up different things. I think when teachers tell me not to use it, it makes me wonder why they think it is such a horrible site. I will let my students use it in the classroom considering if I use it this much, they will get the same knowledge from it and that is what I want from them. This is a tech-savy world these days and if my students learn from the internet, why would I give them sites that they are not allowed to use. Especially if they are gaining factual knowledge from teh sites that i ban from their using. I do not beleive that wikipedia is an uncredible, unvalidated website. I think that all students, if willing, should be able to use this site, if and only if they gain factual knowledge from it. If they use it correctly, they will understand things in a better way using the links and sources provided in each wikipedia website.

Day 28 [4/29/10]

Today in class, we chose the website that we were going to validate. I chose a website about Martin Luter King Jr.( http://www.martinlutherking.org/ ) This website looked like it would be credible with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., a picture of him, and links that were provided to learn more about the man. However, there were no dates on this website, therefore, I did not know if it was outdated or not. Also, it had other links all around one of which said "Learn more about Kwanzaa". Personally I do not understand why if I were learning abuot Martin Luther, why I would want to know anything abuot Kwanzaa. Another big link right under his picutre said rap lyrics. Another reason of confusion. Why would I need to know any rap lyrics if I only wanted to learn abuot Martin Luther King Jr.? This website may have had great information, but it had way too many other things that were not perfect for the website to be completely credible.

Day 27 [4/27/10]

While searching the internet and on websites for validation, I learned alot actually. I never have looked at a site to validate it. Normally I just use the site! I learned that you need to look at dates, sources, and even just simply headings and titles to make sure that the site you use is valid and credible. The ISTE-Nets T statndard that I think goes well with this is 4a. 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers: a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources. This is because everyone needs to validate the websites they choose to get research from. Every site needs to be credible.

Day 26 [4/22/10]

Today in class, all of the students gave their SMARTboard presentations. I did learn a few new things; however, I still do not like SMARTboards. One group had a really interesting interavtive website that dealt with the disection of a frog. It was the exact step by step process with vocals on how to dissect the frog. Since the website was interactive, all the students needed to do was use the interactive pens as the knives to disect the virtual frog. Once they pulled away the "skin" of the frog, the website had the insides of the frog as well. However, dealing with this interactively does not actually show the students the dimensions in the frog. It also does not have the smell and mess which may or may not be a good thing. However, the students do not get the full effect. Once again the SMARTboard gave my group trouble during our presentation, therefore, I still agree with my previous blog, that SMARTboards are not worth the investment.

Day 25 [4/20/10]

Today's blogging assignment is to answer the question "Are Smartboards worth the investment"? Personally, I do not think they are worth the investment. I feel that most of the time they do not work! Students probably do love SMARTboards due to the fact that when they attend classes, they know that they are going to spend half of the time working on getting the SMARTboard to work properly. For example, in the classes that I have used them, there has been plenty of times where instead of learning new things, I am stuck just sitting there while the teacher fixes the problems. Also, I feel that teachers can use a whiteboard, chalkboard, or a projector to do the same things that most teachers use the SMARTboard for. If they teachers decided to use it in a way that is is supposed to be used, meaning interactive and not just plan write notes or drawing pictures, then it may be worth it. However, all in all I do not feel that a SMARTboard is worth that load of money due to the fact that students are going to learn in any way that you teach, not with just technologically advanced tools that may or may not work correctly.

Day 24 [4/15/10]

Today in class, our SMARTboard whiteboard didn't work properly. However, once it started working, it seemed like a fun way to explore teaching criterias. When looking at the ISTE-Nets T standards, I feel that one in particular is the best for teachers using SMARTboard whiteboard. The ISTE-Nets T standard is 1.a. 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. This is because they are not actually teaching about the SMARTboard or any technology, they are teaching them the knowledge they already know through the SMARTboard, whiteboard, or any other form of technology.