So apparently this week I must have been in a very technology centered frame of mind when reading blogs. Most of my selections this week have to do with new technologies and their impacts on education.
"Why I Order Graphic Novels for the Library"
-Julie Greller
June 16, 2011
http://mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-i-order-graphic-novels-for-library.html
I definitely agree with Julie Greller's stance on including graphic novels in a collection, even at the high school level. She makes two main supporting arguments: first, at least they would be reading something, and second, that they can keep the interest of students where some novels cannot.
Students need a variety of resources to be able to look at, read, and enjoy. Graphic novels are a great way to encourage those who do not like to read to pick up a a book. I know in my classroom library, I had a series of graphic novels that were in high demand. Were those the only books my students read all year? Absolutely not. They read many books including award winners (Newbery and Mark Twain). I feel that students need a little break every now and then. They should have the option to read a variety of books on a variety of levels. Graphic novels are something that I will include in my library as well.
"Best of 2011 So Far-VuSafe"
-Richard Byrne
June 15, 2011
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/06/best-of-2011-so-far-vusafe.html
VuSafe is a program that allows you to collect YouTube videos in a safe environment. I think this would be an excellent way to still be able to use YouTube videos in the classroom if YouTube is blocked. The VuSafe program eliminates ads and comments that can sometimes be inappropriate for the classroom. I can definitely see school districts using a program like this to filter YouTube so teachers and students can still benefit from the good stuff that is out there. Plus, students can access the accounts from anywhere, so they could watch videos again at home, still in a safe environment. Luckily, I am at a district where teachers are given higher permissions than students and we can access YouTube, but I can see where this would come in handy if I couldn't.
"2000 Hours"
-Jennifer LaGarde
June 17, 2011
http://lib-girl.blogspot.com/2011/06/2000-hours.html
I thought this was a very interesting challenge to pose to teachers and librarians. We all know that we spend countless hours outside of school hours doing school related activiites. I think this challenge is a great way to let others know just how much time we really do spend working to improve the educaiton we are providing of our kids. I also don't think I realize exactly how many hours I do put into my career. Not to mention, participating in this challenge now will make filling out my PD form at the end of the year so much easier.
This blog links to the 2000 Hours blog (http://2000hours.blogspot.com/).
"Top 10 Educational Apps for Facebook"
-David Kapuler
June 15, 2011
http://cyber-kap.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-10-educational-apps-for-facebook.html
This blog posts what David Kapuler feels are the most educational apps for Facebook (Send Files, Study Hall, Slideshare, Flashcardlet, Quiz Monster, Zoho Online Office, Webinairia, Book Tag, To-Do-List and Typing Test). I think it would be amazing if schools would embrace using tools that the students are familiiar with. Why not use the Facebook apps to help students learn? I really like the idea of the app called Booktalk, where students can share what they've read. I also like the idea of an app that can make flashcards, using Flashcardlet, that can be studied. If the kids are going to be on Facebook for hours playing games anyways, why not let them use applications that are beneficial to their learning?
"Evaluating Web Pages"
-David Kapuler
June 16, 2011
http://cyber-kap.blogspot.com/2011/06/evaluating-web-pages.html
So this blog posting itself isn't very interesting, but it does link to the Edgalaxy website, which is what he wanted to share. The Edgalaxy website, maintained by the UC Berkley Library, put together a reference tool for evaluating websites. This is an excellent resource that I think all kids should have when they begin searching the Internet. Many students don't know how a page is named and what clues you can find out from the URL, such as if it was created by an individual, organization, government agency, etc. I think by showing kids these tricks to understanding URLs, they will be more effective in their searching and evaluating information that they locate for validity and accuracy. If we want students to use good information, we need to teach them the tools to locate it.
VuSafe sounds fantastic. I've bookmarked it. What a clever idea.
ReplyDeleteI think kids don't know how to evaluate Web sites but I wonder if this long laundry list is going to be something students would use? It is intimidating to look at.
It definitely is, and I think if I used it, I would certainly liven it up a little bit. Kids won't use it if they won't even read it. Turning it into a multimedia presentation would be a much better way to present the information to kids. Never underestimate the power of colors and graphics, especially when dealing with kids!
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