No...not as in searching my soul for deeper understandings about who I am! But being reflective about my searching techniques and skills!
I see myself as a pretty proficient searcher. I use Google at least once a day to find information, and I have been able to find what I needed with very little trouble. I did pick up some tips and tricks from the video that helped me improve, because, after all, we can always get better! I see myself as a "viewer" type searcher! I think one of the main reasons is that I have never been a big "reader". I tend to go through sites and resources quickly, and if nothing sticks out immediately, I move to the next in search of something to quickly finish an assignment or task.
Considering this fact, I think that I am very similar to typical teens in terms of searching. The reading passage in, "How Teens do Research in the Real World", pointed out several things that I can certainly relate to! I have a very short attention span, and procrastinate often! In fact, I am very surprised I am writing this post tonight, instead of waiting until Tuesday! I think these two factors contribute to my searching style.
The "Filter Bubble" is a little creepy to me! After reading the articles and watching the videos, I am slightly unsure about how to "pop" mine. I know that removing your cookies and changing some settings can help reduce it. However, it doesn't get rid of it all together. I guess I am just going to have to be careful what I click on! Maybe even try to confuse the Internet by searching off the wall topics and throwing off the algorithm!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Is There An Off Switch?
Wow! Talk about information overload! Seriously...is there an off switch? All of the items that we had to reflect on seemed to follow the same concept with exception to The Journey from Digital Literacy to Digital Fluency. We are all constantly learning, and we don't have any choice about it. If a person were to find an off switch and flip it, they would be so far behind once they turned it back on that they may never catch up! This can be very overwhelming for a person who is not accustomed to this large quantity of information (i.e. a person over the age of 25). You know, those people who understand what a dial up signal sounds like, having to type in the command prompts, and why that save symbol in Microsoft Office is shaped like that!
But, fortunately for us, our students are accustomed to having this unlimited information. We are also fortunate that children are naturally inquisitive. It is our job as teachers to provide them with the skills to safely access the information, teach them to determine what is accurate, and provide a means for presenting what they learned!
The teacher that is digitally literate is not too bad at doing this. However, teachers that are fluent are great at it! If all teachers would make it their goal to become digitally fluent, the possibilities of what we could do in the classroom would be endless! I agree with the author of the last blog post, Karen Lirenman, it will be a "slow and painful process" to make the transition. But how "exciting and invigorating" it will be!
But, fortunately for us, our students are accustomed to having this unlimited information. We are also fortunate that children are naturally inquisitive. It is our job as teachers to provide them with the skills to safely access the information, teach them to determine what is accurate, and provide a means for presenting what they learned!
The teacher that is digitally literate is not too bad at doing this. However, teachers that are fluent are great at it! If all teachers would make it their goal to become digitally fluent, the possibilities of what we could do in the classroom would be endless! I agree with the author of the last blog post, Karen Lirenman, it will be a "slow and painful process" to make the transition. But how "exciting and invigorating" it will be!
Blog Post #1
Hello! My name is Brad Boykin, and I teach fourth grade at Screven County Elementary! I currently only teach Math and Science, and have two classes of students. My class set up is set up so that I teach 5 rotations of small group math. While I teach, the students are busy working in the other 4 rotations. I current use several webquest type activities in order for my students to discover and explore different concepts in science. They utilize Microsoft PowerPoint almost everyday to create presentations about all kinds of things.
I would like to continue to teach the way that I am! However, I feel like I am not fully utilizing the many resources that are available. I hope that I am able to learn about many different tools and procedures that I can use in my classroom to make my students' experience even better! I am very excited that Dr. Repman is having us set up this PLN, because this will give me several more brains to pick to see what good stuff I can reuse!
I would like to continue to teach the way that I am! However, I feel like I am not fully utilizing the many resources that are available. I hope that I am able to learn about many different tools and procedures that I can use in my classroom to make my students' experience even better! I am very excited that Dr. Repman is having us set up this PLN, because this will give me several more brains to pick to see what good stuff I can reuse!
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