Topic 2 - Researching Reflection
I have different strategies for different types of searches. For academic searches, I usually use Google Scholar or a Journal Database provided from the ULeth Library. These are great at collecting resources that are academic and the resources found always provide further links in their References section, that I can look up as well. As for general searches, I use Google. Although I do not use Boolean Operators as often as I should, I enjoy the variety that Google provides and sometimes enjoy coming across an article or website that I may not have otherwise come across had my search been very specific. I did not know that there were education specific search engines and now that I do, I am so excited to use them for planning and in my classes! I particularly enjoyed exploring instaGrok! Perhaps it is the visual artist or the teacher in me, but I love the way that information is compiled in a concept map! I will definitely be using this search engine.
In order to encourage students to develop their own search strategies, I think that a class discussion about online searching along with a demonstration would be the route that I would take. I might also show a video, like the one I have included below on Boolean Operators.
I do not believe that teachers are content curators - when creating a Web Quest, we can pick and choose what sites/content the students will be viewing to complete the task. However, with one quick click, students can be taken off course and be viewing random content that was not selected for a specific task. In that sense, teacher’s cannot be curators as students that have access to the internet will always have, at their fingertips, the capability to insert their own information or content into what the teacher has provided. I know that in my Graphic Arts class, students would constantly be veering off task and oftentimes viewing YouTube videos or playing video games on their computers. This activity was minimized by walking around the room and maintaining a solid teacher presence throughout the class, but it did not entirely stop students from attempting to “curate” their own internet activity!
Article Reflection: “Study Finds That Memory Works Differently in the Age of Google”
Memories are formed through associating, not just remembering specific facts. This article discusses how people are remembering where to find information, not what that information is. This ties into the learning theory called Connectivism, which I am particularly interested in as of late. Here is a great article discussing 4 learning theories: Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism and Connectivism:
http://www.edudemic.com/2012/12/a-simple-guide-to-4-complex-learning-theories/
People today are creating knowledge outside of themselves and constructing it with other people, then storing it in specific locations, for example Wikis. The impact on education that this new type of memory or learning has on us as teachers is that we need to ensure that we understand what this means for the content we are teaching. Is it available online? If students need to remember it for later access without the internet - for example tests, then that needs to be made clear to them when teaching test specific content. I know that for myself, I do not make a huge effort to memorize specific information if I know that I can go to my Bookmarks and locate the links to that specific information. I think it is important to ensure that students are aware of the importance for creating their own database resources to collect specific information, folders/bookmarks for future reference and to provide them with the opportunity to contribute to a class Wiki or blog so that they are familiar with how information is stored, recalled and expanded in today’s society.
Here are a few programs or websites that I have chosen to specifically reflect on:
Google Earth
This program is an excellent way to explore the world from your very own computer! You can just type a location in and explore or you can create your own itinerary of locations to explore. This would be great for planning a trip somewhere you have never been, so that you have a better grasp of what that location is like geographically before ever stepping foot there.
Google Earth could be integrated in the classroom for a wide variety of purposes - the most obvious being for Social Studies, to visit the sites that are being discussed in the history books or to see how cities grow, using the View the Past feature. As a future art educator, I could see using Google Earth to explore architectural locations, like Gothic Cathedrals, St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow, Poland. Concerns would be what content would show up, if you clicked on the shared photos or tour guide videos, as well as the speed of the internet connection at the school.
Wikipedia
There is an issue with reliability within the world of Wikipedia as anyone can add to or edit content. Further research to support findings in Wikipedia is a great way to extend findings and find either supporting or disprove the information on Wikipedia.
Dictionary
I use online dictionaries and thesauruses quite often, they are very handy, especially when writing a paper!
Journals & Newspapers
These are amazing resources for fact finding and creating your own database for information regarding whatever you might be researching.
I have different strategies for different types of searches. For academic searches, I usually use Google Scholar or a Journal Database provided from the ULeth Library. These are great at collecting resources that are academic and the resources found always provide further links in their References section, that I can look up as well. As for general searches, I use Google. Although I do not use Boolean Operators as often as I should, I enjoy the variety that Google provides and sometimes enjoy coming across an article or website that I may not have otherwise come across had my search been very specific. I did not know that there were education specific search engines and now that I do, I am so excited to use them for planning and in my classes! I particularly enjoyed exploring instaGrok! Perhaps it is the visual artist or the teacher in me, but I love the way that information is compiled in a concept map! I will definitely be using this search engine.
In order to encourage students to develop their own search strategies, I think that a class discussion about online searching along with a demonstration would be the route that I would take. I might also show a video, like the one I have included below on Boolean Operators.
I do not believe that teachers are content curators - when creating a Web Quest, we can pick and choose what sites/content the students will be viewing to complete the task. However, with one quick click, students can be taken off course and be viewing random content that was not selected for a specific task. In that sense, teacher’s cannot be curators as students that have access to the internet will always have, at their fingertips, the capability to insert their own information or content into what the teacher has provided. I know that in my Graphic Arts class, students would constantly be veering off task and oftentimes viewing YouTube videos or playing video games on their computers. This activity was minimized by walking around the room and maintaining a solid teacher presence throughout the class, but it did not entirely stop students from attempting to “curate” their own internet activity!
Article Reflection: “Study Finds That Memory Works Differently in the Age of Google”
Memories are formed through associating, not just remembering specific facts. This article discusses how people are remembering where to find information, not what that information is. This ties into the learning theory called Connectivism, which I am particularly interested in as of late. Here is a great article discussing 4 learning theories: Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism and Connectivism:
http://www.edudemic.com/2012/12/a-simple-guide-to-4-complex-learning-theories/
People today are creating knowledge outside of themselves and constructing it with other people, then storing it in specific locations, for example Wikis. The impact on education that this new type of memory or learning has on us as teachers is that we need to ensure that we understand what this means for the content we are teaching. Is it available online? If students need to remember it for later access without the internet - for example tests, then that needs to be made clear to them when teaching test specific content. I know that for myself, I do not make a huge effort to memorize specific information if I know that I can go to my Bookmarks and locate the links to that specific information. I think it is important to ensure that students are aware of the importance for creating their own database resources to collect specific information, folders/bookmarks for future reference and to provide them with the opportunity to contribute to a class Wiki or blog so that they are familiar with how information is stored, recalled and expanded in today’s society.
Here are a few programs or websites that I have chosen to specifically reflect on:
Google Earth
This program is an excellent way to explore the world from your very own computer! You can just type a location in and explore or you can create your own itinerary of locations to explore. This would be great for planning a trip somewhere you have never been, so that you have a better grasp of what that location is like geographically before ever stepping foot there.
Google Earth could be integrated in the classroom for a wide variety of purposes - the most obvious being for Social Studies, to visit the sites that are being discussed in the history books or to see how cities grow, using the View the Past feature. As a future art educator, I could see using Google Earth to explore architectural locations, like Gothic Cathedrals, St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow, Poland. Concerns would be what content would show up, if you clicked on the shared photos or tour guide videos, as well as the speed of the internet connection at the school.
Wikipedia
There is an issue with reliability within the world of Wikipedia as anyone can add to or edit content. Further research to support findings in Wikipedia is a great way to extend findings and find either supporting or disprove the information on Wikipedia.
Dictionary
I use online dictionaries and thesauruses quite often, they are very handy, especially when writing a paper!
Journals & Newspapers
These are amazing resources for fact finding and creating your own database for information regarding whatever you might be researching.
Boolean Operators Here is an interesting video describing Boolean Operators: http://youtu.be/xsSZps3NH-M As for myself, I should use be using Boolean Operators as it will narrow the amount of information that could take me off track from where my search should be directed! | |
Resources
Emilyatchemlib. (April 24, 2008). Boolean Operators. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/xsSZps3NH-M
Lepi, Katie. (December 24, 2012). A Simple Guide to 4 Complex Learning Theories. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/2012/12/a-simple-guide-to-4-complex-learning-theories/
Study Finds That Memory Works Differently in the Age of Google. (July 14, 2011). Retrieved from http://news.columbia.edu/googlememory
Emilyatchemlib. (April 24, 2008). Boolean Operators. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/xsSZps3NH-M
Lepi, Katie. (December 24, 2012). A Simple Guide to 4 Complex Learning Theories. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/2012/12/a-simple-guide-to-4-complex-learning-theories/
Study Finds That Memory Works Differently in the Age of Google. (July 14, 2011). Retrieved from http://news.columbia.edu/googlememory
My Comments
Ms Telfor's ED 4764 Blog: http://msmaryelizabethtelfer.weebly.com/3/post/2013/07/topic-2-research-journal-entry-and-reflection.html?
Michael Shields ED 4764 Journal: http://michaelshieldseducation.weebly.com/ed-4764---journal.html
Ms Telfor's ED 4764 Blog: http://msmaryelizabethtelfer.weebly.com/3/post/2013/07/topic-2-research-journal-entry-and-reflection.html?
Michael Shields ED 4764 Journal: http://michaelshieldseducation.weebly.com/ed-4764---journal.html