I think the use of the Internet in the classroom and web-based materials can be extremely beneficial, however finding and using appropriate materials is an important skill to have, both for teachers and students.
For teachers, there is no reason to re-invent the wheel, when many other educators have good resources out there. No matter what content or grade level you're teaching, additional resources can always be found, simply by conducting a search in your favorite web-browser. However, the resources generated are not always high-quality and/or readily accessible. (As an aside, as a Special Education Teacher, I have seen many teachers confuse curriculum for content and use web-based applications in place of curriculum. For all students, web-based materials should supplement an independent curriculum). For students, it is important to find resources that are age-appropriate and understandable. Thus, finding appropriate web-based materials, always takes some consideration.
Some basic guidelines for evaluating web-based materials are:
~ Always look through more than just the page you've found. Does the website have a logical order/flow?
~ Look at the general layout. Is this website neatly created? Do all of the links work? Is the information on a variety of pages consistent with the information you found via your search?
~ Who created this site? When was it last updated?
~ Is the website run for/by a known organization and/or individual?
As a start, if you can answer "no" to any of these questions, the website you have accessed is probably not fully credible and/or appropriate.
Additionally (and ironically), a variety of on-line resources for helping individuals evaluate websites. Two such websites are listed below.
Kathy Shrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/eval.html
The Ohio State University Library's Guide to Evaluating Websites
http://liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/les1/
Overall, I think the key challenge, both for educators and students alike to how to find synthesize all of the information available to us, in an appropriate and orderly fashion. This seems like a basic skill to have, but one must remember that our students have grown-up with technology, literally at their fingertips, however some of them lack the skills necessary to appropriately utilize it! Likewise, for many teachers, technology has been integrated into the world around them at a break-neck speed and the learning curve for many teachers is very steep!
Thus, I feel that it is imperative that all who use technology, learn how to use it with an understanding of what acceptable use is and a critical eye toward the content, format, and layout of whatever web-based materials they are using.
This blog contains thoughts, ideas, and inspiration from the world of education. Enjoy!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Second Life
To start with, let me freely admit that I am a TOTAL skeptic about Second Life. Ever since I was introduced to it, a few classes ago, I’ve been of the mindset “Ugh.Second Life?!? I don’t have time for my regular life!!!” and I mean it. I often find that I have so much on my plate that I don’t dare add another thing, thus, it was with much apprehension, and a little disdain, that I “attended” Monday’s class in Second Life.
All of that grumbling aside, I appreciated the following about our class:
1) I am grateful that Craig was our guide and leader throughout the session. It was reassuring to have someone double-checking as we went along, making sure we were all in the right space, using the right equipment, etc.
2) Not having ever played video games, I can sometimes find the idea of “being in control” of a character disorienting and frustrating. However, I do feel that Second Life’s navigation is relatively easy, and I appreciate the ability to control both “camera controls” and “movement controls”. Once you get the hang of it, both controls are very powerful and very helpful.
3) The overall layout and organization of Second Life is relatively easy to understand. In the little bit of investigating the toolbar, I found that most things were labeled clearly and that if I’d been “on my own”, I feel that the program is relatively manageable.
4) Teleporting: SUPER helpful! Especially from “floor to floor”. The “Red/Yellow/Green” sign was easy to follow and made getting from floor to floor simple!
Overall, though, I have a number of concerns, about the idea of Second Life.
1) I think it is an incredibly addicting and potentially dangerous “game” for some people/students. Much of my concern comes from my job as a Special Education Teacher, who works with mentally ill and social/emotional challenged students. I think I could probably go on at length about the number of things that concern me with all virtual world experiences, but the major ones are as follows:
• From what I have seen, the majority of the clothing and gestures that avatars can perform can be quite suggestive (sexually and otherwise). I felt that the majority of the gestures that were available were highly suggestive. While many people may just see this as “good fun”, for people who struggle reading social cues, it could be an incredibly confusing, and ultimately detrimental experience.
• By the same token, the very idea of “being someone you’re not” via having an avatar, is also a potentially dangerous invitation. Looking like someone else and having a different name, could lead to a myriad of issues and just plain confusion. I have known a number of students who have lost years, literally, years, of their life by living in gaming and/or computer-based “worlds”. While I realize that this is indeed the exception to the rule, it truly concerns me.
• Additionally, as I understand it, real money can be spent in order to enhance the features of your avatar, building and/or island. This is of great concern as well, as money management is an on-going concern for many people.
2) Application for in the professional setting
• Per our experience, I can see that inviting users to use Second Life in a professional setting could be potentially confusing and frustrating for all involved, especially when a variety of technical issues flair-up. I think this could be a real frustration and/or aggravation for those using it professionally.
• I would be curious to see it used in a professional setting, like perhaps a webinar on a specific topic.
3) Overall setting/design
• My largest concern about the entire set-up of Second Life is the “island” format. The oft-quoted sentiment of John Donne, immediately springs to mind, when thinking about thy paradoxical dynamic of such a geographical set-up.
"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
~ John Donne, Meditation XVII
The commonly known association of the first part of the aforementioned quote is that people are interconnected, and that in order for them to survive, they must embrace such an understanding. However, I have many questions about what role Second Life is playing in upholding this sentiment, and I wonder, do the merits out-weigh the risks?
Update 06/11/11: There is a new film, receiving critical acclaim about Second Life and the people who live in both virtual reality and reality. For more information go to http://www.life2movie.com/ and there's also a great report on it from On The Media. http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2011/06/10/04.
All of that grumbling aside, I appreciated the following about our class:
1) I am grateful that Craig was our guide and leader throughout the session. It was reassuring to have someone double-checking as we went along, making sure we were all in the right space, using the right equipment, etc.
2) Not having ever played video games, I can sometimes find the idea of “being in control” of a character disorienting and frustrating. However, I do feel that Second Life’s navigation is relatively easy, and I appreciate the ability to control both “camera controls” and “movement controls”. Once you get the hang of it, both controls are very powerful and very helpful.
3) The overall layout and organization of Second Life is relatively easy to understand. In the little bit of investigating the toolbar, I found that most things were labeled clearly and that if I’d been “on my own”, I feel that the program is relatively manageable.
4) Teleporting: SUPER helpful! Especially from “floor to floor”. The “Red/Yellow/Green” sign was easy to follow and made getting from floor to floor simple!
Overall, though, I have a number of concerns, about the idea of Second Life.
1) I think it is an incredibly addicting and potentially dangerous “game” for some people/students. Much of my concern comes from my job as a Special Education Teacher, who works with mentally ill and social/emotional challenged students. I think I could probably go on at length about the number of things that concern me with all virtual world experiences, but the major ones are as follows:
• From what I have seen, the majority of the clothing and gestures that avatars can perform can be quite suggestive (sexually and otherwise). I felt that the majority of the gestures that were available were highly suggestive. While many people may just see this as “good fun”, for people who struggle reading social cues, it could be an incredibly confusing, and ultimately detrimental experience.
• By the same token, the very idea of “being someone you’re not” via having an avatar, is also a potentially dangerous invitation. Looking like someone else and having a different name, could lead to a myriad of issues and just plain confusion. I have known a number of students who have lost years, literally, years, of their life by living in gaming and/or computer-based “worlds”. While I realize that this is indeed the exception to the rule, it truly concerns me.
• Additionally, as I understand it, real money can be spent in order to enhance the features of your avatar, building and/or island. This is of great concern as well, as money management is an on-going concern for many people.
2) Application for in the professional setting
• Per our experience, I can see that inviting users to use Second Life in a professional setting could be potentially confusing and frustrating for all involved, especially when a variety of technical issues flair-up. I think this could be a real frustration and/or aggravation for those using it professionally.
• I would be curious to see it used in a professional setting, like perhaps a webinar on a specific topic.
3) Overall setting/design
• My largest concern about the entire set-up of Second Life is the “island” format. The oft-quoted sentiment of John Donne, immediately springs to mind, when thinking about thy paradoxical dynamic of such a geographical set-up.
"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
~ John Donne, Meditation XVII
The commonly known association of the first part of the aforementioned quote is that people are interconnected, and that in order for them to survive, they must embrace such an understanding. However, I have many questions about what role Second Life is playing in upholding this sentiment, and I wonder, do the merits out-weigh the risks?
Update 06/11/11: There is a new film, receiving critical acclaim about Second Life and the people who live in both virtual reality and reality. For more information go to http://www.life2movie.com/ and there's also a great report on it from On The Media. http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2011/06/10/04.
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