Search Engines
Search engines such as Google (https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl) are important for students to learn how to use as a jumping-off point for research. While library searches and academic search sites may be intimidating, using something such as Google will help students become comfortable with using a search engine, especially since many already know how to use it. As Roblyer and Doering (2012) describe, keyword search engines like Google are used by “typ[ing] in the search word or phrase, and the search engine displays a list of websites whose URLs contain the word or phrase” (p. 219). Something as easy as this is perfect for students to learn how to filter and find information on the Web, since all kinds of sites, both valid and biased, are there to be easy used.
Website Evaluation Video
For website evaluation in the classroom, this video is perfect for teaching a younger classroom:This video sets up a scenario that many can relate to, about “hearing it on the Internet,” and a solution to finding information that is relevant. Roblyer and Doering (2012) rightly remark that the Internet is “a reflection of the best and worst qualities of our society” (p. 214). Because of this, videos such as this one can teach students how to tell what websites are reputable and which ones aren’t. Domain names especially can be the different between educational and offensive. Roblyer and Doering (2012) tell us that “the Internet is designed to make information easily obtainable, and unfortunately, such materials can be accessed all too easily by accident” (p. 214).
Favorite Web Site #1
One of my favorite websites I use and students should use is http://www.jstor.org/. This site has a simplistic opening page that lets the user know immediately what they need to do to access the page. Roblyer and Doering (2012) say that one piece of criteria for evaluating a webpage is that “the first page of the site indicates clearly how to navigate to other features of the site” (p. 255). Jstor does this perfectly, and is clear in what the site is used for and what it can do. Students wishing to access any kind of scholarship need this site at the disposal when writing papers or researching for a project.
Favorite Web Site #2
Another site I have found to be useful is the wiki that was designed by a teacher for their 10th grade English class: https://bhsenglish10.wikispaces.com/. This wiki is perfect for getting student’s thoughts about assignments and letting them take discussions outside of the classroom. Importantly, the site loads fast, which along with it being "easy to get around in the site" is important for students so they can use it (Roblyer & Doering, 2012, p. 255). I could use a wiki much to the same effect, since the English discipline is one that could take much time when reading certain texts.
References
GCSCLibrary (2013, February 12). Evaluating Websites [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aem3JahbXfk.
Roblyer,
M.D. & Doering, A.H. (2012). Integrating educational technology into
teaching (6th ed.). Columbus, OH:
Merrill Prentice Hall.
Jstor is definitely a website that got me through writing under-graduate papers with ease. It makes it extremely easy to find legitimate resources that are needed. That site fits the bill for Roblyer and Doering's (2013) requirement of "easy navigation." (255).
ReplyDeleteI like your wiki reference. Another great thing about wiki is the creation of a community of collaboration (Robyler & Doering, 223).
ReplyDeleteBrad,
ReplyDeleteI used Jstor for my senior thesis materials, and it indeed was quite a help. It was when I came across articles that I had to be very cautious about the source. Roblyer and Doering (2012) discuss the individual parts of a uniform resource locator (URL), and during the senior thesis I predominately used the domain designator .gov (217). It made finding the real FDA.gov information easy.