My favorite discoveries from this course were the Wikis/Webquests and Delicious.com! These are both tools that I would surely use in the future for my own personal use, for my use as a student myself, and also for the use of my own classroom!
Social Bookmarking (the Delicious website) would certainly come in handy! I think it is an amazing concept! It could prove to be a great assest and tool for the classroom! Imagine having your list of educational, relevant and interesting websites that you'd like to use in your classroom for a lesson, or for students to use outside of the classroom or for parents to view to see what their child is learning, and having a social bookmarking device to aid in any or all of that! I would apply it to my teaching techniques. I'm a Social Studies teacher, so most of the sites I explore for classroom use has to do with history. There are many great educational, teacher-oriented and student-oriented sites about education and history. It is pretty easy to know if a site is educationally appropriate or not. For starters, is the site information accurate? Secondly, is it layed out in a fun, interesting, informational way without being overwhelming or confusing? Thirdly, is it relevant to the student or teacher or subject and grade level? Also, what sources does it have listed? Lastly, it's always a safe bet if the site ends in edu, gov or org.
As for the Wikis, now that I've had the pleasure of learning what wikis are and experimenting with the Wetpaint wiki, I'd have to say that I like those too! I really like the idea of creating something and then letting others edit or add. I think that would be a great assets to the classroom and to any lesson no matter the subject. You could use something like Wetpaint to create a very intriguing English assignment such as a cooperatively-learning strategy with writing. You could use Wetpaint for any research projects in which students are working with others. The students can edit and add their findings and research to the paper until it's complete and then submit the final copy. This way students could work on their own, and collaborate as well! Teachers and parents could also edit or add their comments or findings on a certain subject. It, yet again, brings technology into the classroom which most students sincerely love nowadays!
This course has affected my lifelong learning goals in that I’ve learned that I can’t, shouldn’t and don’t want to ever stop learning what else more is out there, technology-wise! I can’t believe that a person of my age (twenty-four) and pretty technologically savvy did not know half of what this course was about! I am going to definitely keep up on what more advances are coming our way in terms of the Web, and would even take another course like this one if it presented more Web tools that I don’t know about! Especially, if the course was set up as this one was. It was very informative, without being an overload, clear, concise, quick and very helpful for educators! All in all, I think everything I took away from this course came as a surprise to me. It is not every semester that a student can find a course where he or she can take every lesson away and be able to apply those tools to their everyday life, education and teaching strategies!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Social Studies Webliography
The following ten web-sites are for teachers, students and the like. Some are geared towards just Social Studies, while most are geared towards education in general. Enjoy!
Scale:
Great ****
Good ***
Fair **
Poor *
History Channel, www.history.com
This is a good website, that gives a lot of factual information in very easy formats. There’s videos, pictures, games, polls, etc. This website discusses of all of history...from the very beginning of time to the upcoming elections. I feel that this website would be very useful, user-friendly, appealing and pertinent to any Social Studies classroom grades 6-12. I truly like this website and have used it for information and research in the past.
I rate this: ***
Discovery Education, http://school.discovery.com
This is also a very useful website that has a lot going for it. It has on it, not only information on different subjects (Science, Math, etc.) but also tools such as puzzle-maker, professional development, lesson plans, etc. Under “fun tools” are pretty neat things like “worksheets on the go,” “brain boosters,” and much more!
I feel that this website is fantastic! It would definitely benefit any teacher from any subject area. This website is more for teachers than students though.
I rate this: ****
Whitehouse for Kids, http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/index.html
This is a great website for Social Studies and education on a wide-scaled curriculum. There are videos, pictures, a link to the President’s dog’s website. There are fun, educational puzzles, and links to history, parents & teacher guides, polls & quizzes, and much more!
I would use this as a Social Studies teacher, but it is adaptable to every grade, and almost every subject!
I rate this: ****
Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov
This is a wonderful website! There is a ton of information on this site, with pictures, videos, webcasts, “did you know?” facts, links to other educational websites, resources for kids & families, teachers, librarians, researchers and anyone who wants to learn more!
I love this website!! I was so happy when I came upon it for this project. This is definitely a website that I’ll put under my favorites for future use! Anyone can use this website; it’s so easy and interactive!
I rate this: ***
PBS, www.pbs.org/history
This is a section of PBS. PBS is a great channel, TV production and now website for anyone! This is a very interactive site, with PBS resources and links for educators, kids, families, and anyone interested. There are links for PBS episodes and under history there are many options including: world history, US history, biographies, war & stories, and much more.
PBS itself is great, however the history section of this is just “good.” Having said that though, “good” is still good! This site is very educational, factual and interactive. Very good for teachers and students!
I rate this: ****
Education World, www.education-world.com
This website is okay. It is useful and handy to any teacher. It has resources for professional development, technology integration, lesson planning, administration topics, etc. The webpage format is very busy and kind of confusing. It’s overwhelming; like you don’t know where to start first. Though there are great resources and other sites for teachers, it is not something I’d use often.
I rate this: **
TeAchnology: The Online Teacher Resource, http://teach-nology.com
This website is a great online teacher resource. There are many links for “free” (but ultimately you have to sign up; it’s more like teasers until you do) resources for lesson plans, worksheets, rubrics, tips, games, etc. There are videos with tips and “teasers” (until you join) and it is just a good website. Very useful for elementary and middle schools.
I felt this website was useful. It stinks that you have to sign up to receive any real benefit from the website, but I could see how an educator could benefit a lot from the site.
I rate this: **
Funbrain: The Internet’s #1 Education Site for K-8 Kids and Teachers, www.funbrain.com
This website is perfect for kids!! It’s bright, colorful, and organized. There are games, math problems, fun quizzes, reading,etc. There are also great teacher resources such as “standards finders,” “curriculum guide,” and “homework relief center.”
I love this website! I think it’s educational, lively and fun! It is perfect for almost every subject, and almost every grade!
I rate this: **
Webquests: Current Information About the Webquest Model, http://webquest.org
This website is fair. It is a specific website to describe what a webquest is, links on how to create on, and also links to search for certain webquests.
It is organized in structure, but is kind of confusing if you have no clue what a webquest might be. It is also somewhat difficult in creating a webquest on your own. However, the webquests that you can search and find through this website is useful, and educational for teachers.
I rate this: ****
Scholastics, Inc., http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp
Scholastics company is a very respectful organization, similar to their site. Their site is truly great! It is bright, colorful, organized, and interactive! There are resources for teachers, kids and parents. Under the teacher resources there are links for lesson plans, teaching strategies, printables, new teacher tools & tips and much more. Under student resources there are links for election 2008, games, dictionaries, write & publish, etc. There is so much to this site!
I love this site. I will definitely use this as a teacher. It is very interactive, educational and useful to every teacher, parent and child.
I rate this: ****
Scale:
Great ****
Good ***
Fair **
Poor *
History Channel, www.history.com
This is a good website, that gives a lot of factual information in very easy formats. There’s videos, pictures, games, polls, etc. This website discusses of all of history...from the very beginning of time to the upcoming elections. I feel that this website would be very useful, user-friendly, appealing and pertinent to any Social Studies classroom grades 6-12. I truly like this website and have used it for information and research in the past.
I rate this: ***
Discovery Education, http://school.discovery.com
This is also a very useful website that has a lot going for it. It has on it, not only information on different subjects (Science, Math, etc.) but also tools such as puzzle-maker, professional development, lesson plans, etc. Under “fun tools” are pretty neat things like “worksheets on the go,” “brain boosters,” and much more!
I feel that this website is fantastic! It would definitely benefit any teacher from any subject area. This website is more for teachers than students though.
I rate this: ****
Whitehouse for Kids, http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/index.html
This is a great website for Social Studies and education on a wide-scaled curriculum. There are videos, pictures, a link to the President’s dog’s website. There are fun, educational puzzles, and links to history, parents & teacher guides, polls & quizzes, and much more!
I would use this as a Social Studies teacher, but it is adaptable to every grade, and almost every subject!
I rate this: ****
Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov
This is a wonderful website! There is a ton of information on this site, with pictures, videos, webcasts, “did you know?” facts, links to other educational websites, resources for kids & families, teachers, librarians, researchers and anyone who wants to learn more!
I love this website!! I was so happy when I came upon it for this project. This is definitely a website that I’ll put under my favorites for future use! Anyone can use this website; it’s so easy and interactive!
I rate this: ***
PBS, www.pbs.org/history
This is a section of PBS. PBS is a great channel, TV production and now website for anyone! This is a very interactive site, with PBS resources and links for educators, kids, families, and anyone interested. There are links for PBS episodes and under history there are many options including: world history, US history, biographies, war & stories, and much more.
PBS itself is great, however the history section of this is just “good.” Having said that though, “good” is still good! This site is very educational, factual and interactive. Very good for teachers and students!
I rate this: ****
Education World, www.education-world.com
This website is okay. It is useful and handy to any teacher. It has resources for professional development, technology integration, lesson planning, administration topics, etc. The webpage format is very busy and kind of confusing. It’s overwhelming; like you don’t know where to start first. Though there are great resources and other sites for teachers, it is not something I’d use often.
I rate this: **
TeAchnology: The Online Teacher Resource, http://teach-nology.com
This website is a great online teacher resource. There are many links for “free” (but ultimately you have to sign up; it’s more like teasers until you do) resources for lesson plans, worksheets, rubrics, tips, games, etc. There are videos with tips and “teasers” (until you join) and it is just a good website. Very useful for elementary and middle schools.
I felt this website was useful. It stinks that you have to sign up to receive any real benefit from the website, but I could see how an educator could benefit a lot from the site.
I rate this: **
Funbrain: The Internet’s #1 Education Site for K-8 Kids and Teachers, www.funbrain.com
This website is perfect for kids!! It’s bright, colorful, and organized. There are games, math problems, fun quizzes, reading,etc. There are also great teacher resources such as “standards finders,” “curriculum guide,” and “homework relief center.”
I love this website! I think it’s educational, lively and fun! It is perfect for almost every subject, and almost every grade!
I rate this: **
Webquests: Current Information About the Webquest Model, http://webquest.org
This website is fair. It is a specific website to describe what a webquest is, links on how to create on, and also links to search for certain webquests.
It is organized in structure, but is kind of confusing if you have no clue what a webquest might be. It is also somewhat difficult in creating a webquest on your own. However, the webquests that you can search and find through this website is useful, and educational for teachers.
I rate this: ****
Scholastics, Inc., http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp
Scholastics company is a very respectful organization, similar to their site. Their site is truly great! It is bright, colorful, organized, and interactive! There are resources for teachers, kids and parents. Under the teacher resources there are links for lesson plans, teaching strategies, printables, new teacher tools & tips and much more. Under student resources there are links for election 2008, games, dictionaries, write & publish, etc. There is so much to this site!
I love this site. I will definitely use this as a teacher. It is very interactive, educational and useful to every teacher, parent and child.
I rate this: ****
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)