Reflection on Information Literacy Skills in the Classroom
At the end of a course surrounding information literacy skills I am asked to reflect on any striking revelation I have had. An issue that comes to mind is realizing how important it is for me to stress to the students that they need to be critical readers of the Web. What this means exactly is that I need to explain to my students that what they are reading, albeit published material, may be biased or, even still, untrue. This is a factor that they do not have to worry about with published books. The internet, however, is a completely different animal. The strategies I learned in my graduate course will go a long way towards helping my students properly evaluate a website.
When constructing an inquiry project for this course I was involved in helping the students to generate a question for the project, elucidate how to effectively find good sources, evaluate those sources and finally to synthesize their information into idea they could call their own. I will depend on the topic + focus stratagem to not only help the students better concentrate on what their question should look like but as a tactic that is useful to find sources on the internet when plugged into a search engine. This is a valuable skill that has helped me in the classroom and will be incorporated into every inquiry project I create both on line and off line.
Finally, I am passionate about sharing my new found information literacy skills with my colleagues. We have a Professional Learning Community meeting once a week and I would like to put together a series of lessons wherein I can pass along all the effective tools and skills that I have learned in this class. There are numerous handouts that I can share as well as putting forth the experience I have gained from completing an inquiry based unit that involved the students researching on the internet. I would not be surprised if some of my colleagues are in the dark regarding checking for the validity of websites. Unfortunately we live in a time when you have to demonstrate rigor towards safety and cannot trust information as easily as we once could. I am looking forward to generating these lessons and passing them along to my colleagues.
Ruth Crawford
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
21st Century Classroom
As I reflect on the educator that was in the classroom prior to immersion in technology and the educator that will stand in my shoes come the new school year I am very pleased. I am pleased because intrinsically it is every educators' desire to hone their craft and improve pedagogy and I believe this technology course has done this. I have felt a swift kick in the right direction. I have seen how the roll of the teacher can be transformed from lecturer to facilitator. This creates a classroom that is learner centered as they move their ideas from their heads to the world. What an important concept that will help the students see that what they have to say will move beyond the teacher's desk to the world outside of the classroom and is relevant to others. I hope to create a link between my own urban students to other urban students in the country to see how many experiences they share and to create a sense of community. It has always been my contention that people have much in common we just need to get a dialog started to elucidate this.
One glance at my favorites tab will leave no doubt that this is a road with no u-turns. I am following blogs, twitters, and wikis of educators I have never met but whose council I seek. I can commiserate with my fellow colleagues in my course to see how they are progressing. This collaboration was stressed throughout the course and the efficacy of this skill is felt in my own endeavors so I will pass this along to my students.
It is an important goal as an educator to increase critical thinking skills and it is more than apparent to see how learning through the medium of technology satisfies this goal. With this in mind, one long term goal I have with regards to technology is to develop a unique and challenging project. The students will have to problem solve and collaborate on this project but the conundrum is to find a problem that is relevant to their lives and that will produce high interest to better bring their motivation on board. I will have to realize greater proficiency with the workings of a wiki site but I have all summer to hone that skill.
Another goal I have is to bring the educators at my high school into the arena of using 21st century skills with their students. This will no doubt require voluntary workshops but I believe that my excitement generated through my own use of blogs and wikis will garner the enthusiasm needed to bring other educators to the table. I have several one on one meetings scheduled with the principle this summer and if I can win her over then my battle is half won.
As this course comes to a close, I am grateful that I have the rest of the summer to investigate the inner workings of technology to get a grasp on best practices with regards to technology in my classroom. My goal is to keep the focus on learning standards and student achievement. Technology is an efficient tool to facilitate this learning.
One glance at my favorites tab will leave no doubt that this is a road with no u-turns. I am following blogs, twitters, and wikis of educators I have never met but whose council I seek. I can commiserate with my fellow colleagues in my course to see how they are progressing. This collaboration was stressed throughout the course and the efficacy of this skill is felt in my own endeavors so I will pass this along to my students.
It is an important goal as an educator to increase critical thinking skills and it is more than apparent to see how learning through the medium of technology satisfies this goal. With this in mind, one long term goal I have with regards to technology is to develop a unique and challenging project. The students will have to problem solve and collaborate on this project but the conundrum is to find a problem that is relevant to their lives and that will produce high interest to better bring their motivation on board. I will have to realize greater proficiency with the workings of a wiki site but I have all summer to hone that skill.
Another goal I have is to bring the educators at my high school into the arena of using 21st century skills with their students. This will no doubt require voluntary workshops but I believe that my excitement generated through my own use of blogs and wikis will garner the enthusiasm needed to bring other educators to the table. I have several one on one meetings scheduled with the principle this summer and if I can win her over then my battle is half won.
As this course comes to a close, I am grateful that I have the rest of the summer to investigate the inner workings of technology to get a grasp on best practices with regards to technology in my classroom. My goal is to keep the focus on learning standards and student achievement. Technology is an efficient tool to facilitate this learning.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Podcast on Students' use of technology
http://teacherruth.podbean.com/2009/06/04/prevelence-of-technology/
After much anxiety I have managed to upload my pod cast to a hosting site. Podbean. I can copy and paste my audio into another website but the url is 10 lines long so I posted a link to my podblog if you will and you all can listen to it there.
I neglected to mention the demographics - Title One School. I look for my student's names in the local section of the paper every day, most days they are not there thank goodness.
Enjoy the podcast, it was made with blood, sweat and tears :)
Ruthie
After much anxiety I have managed to upload my pod cast to a hosting site. Podbean. I can copy and paste my audio into another website but the url is 10 lines long so I posted a link to my podblog if you will and you all can listen to it there.
I neglected to mention the demographics - Title One School. I look for my student's names in the local section of the paper every day, most days they are not there thank goodness.
Enjoy the podcast, it was made with blood, sweat and tears :)
Ruthie
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Link to the short movie....
http://www.schooltube.com/video/36281/A-Brief-History-of-Technology-in-Education
Give this a look see, it is very interesting. We have come a long way baby, now let's avail ourselves.
Give this a look see, it is very interesting. We have come a long way baby, now let's avail ourselves.
A Brief History of Technology in Education
This short video is an interesting look at where technology has traveled in the last 20 years.
It is written by Adam Scott Bellow. What will we, as educators, be using in the next 20 years I dare ask.
Ruth
It is written by Adam Scott Bellow. What will we, as educators, be using in the next 20 years I dare ask.
Ruth
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills
The website can be found at http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ **
I can appreciate the mission behind this company's stance to create collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders to address the needs of 21st century children which are my children and your children.
They point out that every child in America needs 21st century knowledge and skills to succeed as effective citizens, workers and leaders in the 21st century. They claim that there is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces. They espouse that to successfully face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges and a globally competitive workforce, U.S. schools must align classroom environments with real world environments by infusing 21st century skills.
How do they address these concerns? They have well over 500 resources and tools that can be utilized to foster 21st century skills which are touted as being:
Information and communication skills (information and media literacy skills; communication skills) , thinking and problem-solving (critical thinking and systems thinking; problem identification, formulation and solution; creativity and intellectual curiosity), interpersonal and self-direction skills (interpersonal and collaborative skills; self-direction; accountability and adaptability; social responsibility), global awareness, financial, economic and business literacy, and developing entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options, and civic literacy.
They have a lot of big companies behind them such as AOL, Verizon, Apple, Dell, Microsoft, the National Education Association and even the U.S. Department of Education.
This site seems to take its job pretty seriously. I believe in the mission as I am aware that technology is only going to become better, faster, smaller and inundate every facit of our lives one day. I do not believe that day is too far off. I will avail myself of the information on the site to better equip my students to possess 21st century skills. There is a on-line summit in June that I have signed up for and it will be fascinating to be a part of the global conversation regarding 21st century skills. They will address important education reform initiateves concerning 21st C.S. I do believe that as far as technology is concerned, the United States are laggards. As a somewhat new educator, I have seen very little technology integration into the classroom. Where does the disconnect lie? Is it the lack of funding? Lack of vision? I don't know. I do know, however, that I can make a difference in my own classroom.
I can appreciate the mission behind this company's stance to create collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders to address the needs of 21st century children which are my children and your children.
They point out that every child in America needs 21st century knowledge and skills to succeed as effective citizens, workers and leaders in the 21st century. They claim that there is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces. They espouse that to successfully face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges and a globally competitive workforce, U.S. schools must align classroom environments with real world environments by infusing 21st century skills.
How do they address these concerns? They have well over 500 resources and tools that can be utilized to foster 21st century skills which are touted as being:
Information and communication skills (information and media literacy skills; communication skills) , thinking and problem-solving (critical thinking and systems thinking; problem identification, formulation and solution; creativity and intellectual curiosity), interpersonal and self-direction skills (interpersonal and collaborative skills; self-direction; accountability and adaptability; social responsibility), global awareness, financial, economic and business literacy, and developing entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options, and civic literacy.
They have a lot of big companies behind them such as AOL, Verizon, Apple, Dell, Microsoft, the National Education Association and even the U.S. Department of Education.
This site seems to take its job pretty seriously. I believe in the mission as I am aware that technology is only going to become better, faster, smaller and inundate every facit of our lives one day. I do not believe that day is too far off. I will avail myself of the information on the site to better equip my students to possess 21st century skills. There is a on-line summit in June that I have signed up for and it will be fascinating to be a part of the global conversation regarding 21st century skills. They will address important education reform initiateves concerning 21st C.S. I do believe that as far as technology is concerned, the United States are laggards. As a somewhat new educator, I have seen very little technology integration into the classroom. Where does the disconnect lie? Is it the lack of funding? Lack of vision? I don't know. I do know, however, that I can make a difference in my own classroom.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Yeah! I can blog!!
Good news blog fans, my principle gave me the A.O.K. and thumbs up! Technology kind of scares her and I assured her that I could moderate everything coming and going from the blog site so she was happy with that. We all know how kids these days are savvy enough to corrupt what should remain innocent and I think she didn't want that liability.
I can now start working on my summer reading blog. Thanks for the encouragement!
Ruthie
I can now start working on my summer reading blog. Thanks for the encouragement!
Ruthie
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Technology in my classroom
I would like to create E-portfolios for my 9th and 10th grade intensive reading students. I believe it will be a good learning tool. They will be able to see where they started with their writing and where they developed to by the end of the year. Writing is such an important aspect of being a good reader.
I could also create on-line reading passages for my students to read and react to. Another thing I would like to do is post tasks on a classroom blog to carry out project-based learning tasks with my students. I think this would be very convenient and save my students from having to ask for the assignment paper over and over again.
Lastly, I would like to create a classroom newsletter. I could do this on the classroom blog as well. Now, I just need to get the principle's permission to have a class blog.
Ruth Crawford
I could also create on-line reading passages for my students to read and react to. Another thing I would like to do is post tasks on a classroom blog to carry out project-based learning tasks with my students. I think this would be very convenient and save my students from having to ask for the assignment paper over and over again.
Lastly, I would like to create a classroom newsletter. I could do this on the classroom blog as well. Now, I just need to get the principle's permission to have a class blog.
Ruth Crawford
Friday, May 15, 2009
No Blogging
Hello everyone!
I send out an email to the principle's secretary asking her to forward a message to the faculty soliciting any one's help with blogging. I get a curt message back: The principle wants to see you. Ut oh am I in trouble - "The principle wants to see you" always has an ominous tone to it. I rush down to her office after school and alas she has left already. I steel myself for possible bad news and sheepishly ask if I were in trouble but tried to sound like I was kidding. Well, (Barb - the nice secretary)- says, she does not want you blogging in the classroom. She specifically said no blogging at Mainland. Okee Dokee I say, I'll see her tomorrow. Oh she won't be here tomorrow, you will have to see her Friday. Guess what, she left before 7th period was over again.
So there I am, no blogging at Mainland. I think I shall put forth a good pro and con list and see what she says. There are ways to moderate what gets posted to and from the blog am I right? If that is her fear I should be able to ameliorate her with that news. I certainly read enough on other educator's blogs on how they use blogging in the classroom. It can't be that harmful can it be? While it may be innocuous in the elementary level maybe high schoolers can't be trusted with it. Any advice before I see the principle Monday would be greatly appreciated.
I send out an email to the principle's secretary asking her to forward a message to the faculty soliciting any one's help with blogging. I get a curt message back: The principle wants to see you. Ut oh am I in trouble - "The principle wants to see you" always has an ominous tone to it. I rush down to her office after school and alas she has left already. I steel myself for possible bad news and sheepishly ask if I were in trouble but tried to sound like I was kidding. Well, (Barb - the nice secretary)- says, she does not want you blogging in the classroom. She specifically said no blogging at Mainland. Okee Dokee I say, I'll see her tomorrow. Oh she won't be here tomorrow, you will have to see her Friday. Guess what, she left before 7th period was over again.
So there I am, no blogging at Mainland. I think I shall put forth a good pro and con list and see what she says. There are ways to moderate what gets posted to and from the blog am I right? If that is her fear I should be able to ameliorate her with that news. I certainly read enough on other educator's blogs on how they use blogging in the classroom. It can't be that harmful can it be? While it may be innocuous in the elementary level maybe high schoolers can't be trusted with it. Any advice before I see the principle Monday would be greatly appreciated.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Blogs in the Classroom
I found a lot of wonderful ideas in chapter 5 of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (Richardson, 2009). A few that really appealed to me are to provide online readings for students to read and react to, publish examples of good writing, and build a class newsletter. Much to my chagrin the principle at my school called me into her office today to tell me that I could not utilize blogging at my school. She was unable to verbally tell me this herself as she had left for the day before 7th period but her secretary enlightened me. I am going to meet with her and give her all the pros of blogging such as the fact that comments from around the world are powerful motivators for student writing and that students show more interest in their work when blogging and what a great opportunity blogging is for collaborate learning. I know there is a moderating issue but as I arm myself with blogging information and how other schools are using it I can't see a much of a problem. If I set the blog to only publish after I have approved it then that will solve the problem of putting something out there that is embarrassing to the school. Do any of you forsee a problem? Maybe my principle is just not blogging savvy and I need to calm her fears.
Ruthie
Ruthie
Monday, May 11, 2009
Blogs in the Classroom
I teach intensive reading to 9th and 10th graders. I would love to integrate blogging into the classroom experience. I am not quite sure what to have them blog about, maybe the books we are reading. That might be a good idea. They could share their thoughts on the Bluford series.
Does anyone else have any good ideas?
Ruthie
Does anyone else have any good ideas?
Ruthie
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Technology
I am looking for a creative way to use technology in the classroom. I am wanting to bathe my students in all there is to do with regards to podcasting, wikipedia and blogging. Any ideas are welcomed, thank you.
Ruthie
Ruthie
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