What is Wikipedia??

What is Wikipedia?

• Wikipedia is a web-based collaborative encyclopedia project

How would you answer the question posed in this piece “How reliable can a source be when anyone can edit it?

• There is more chance of a project being accurate when collaborated with many people. It helps cut out biases and more objectivity

Who do the creators of Wikipedia place their trust in when it comes to weeding out misinformation?

• Volunteer group of editors and administrators

Why did founder Larry Sanger leave Wikipedia?

• He felt that more authority needed to be given to experts

What would abuse or vandalism look like on a Wikipedia page?

• people may add inaccurate information or even misspell words and small minute details.

What do the statistics quoted in the third paragraph of this piece reveal?

• Wikipedia is a constantly changing and constantly used source of information

Why do you think Wikipedia is so successful?

• Wikipedia gives people the opportunity to collaborate and it offers a unique and free source of information that is available to all people

Why might Wikipedia’s creators not want to accept advertising?

• Accepting advertising may make vandalism to grow and may make it harder to control and monitor entries and articles

How does Wikiscanner help increase the reliability of Wikipedia entries?

• Wikiscanner exposed governments and businesses that were editing the information on them in order to make themselves look better, so it helps monitor the site and articles and to try to eliminate biased information.

Wikipedia: Friend Not Foe

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/archival/EnglishJournalArticle2.pdf

3 things I learned:

• wikipedia has tutorials for prospective editors on structure, format, and style
• there is a discussion forum for each article that encourages debates about editorial choices
• footnotes provide commentary along with the citations

2 things that surprised me:

• i never thought about the idea of looking through encyclopedias for gaps where new research might be possible.
  
• articles are ranked based upon certain criteria. less than 2,000 articles have achieved the highest honor of "featured articles"

1 question I have:

• why do teachers automatically write off anything new instead of trying to discover ways of using new material and technology to encourage critical thinking and judgement.

Website Validation

Website validation

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Words... words.... words

"I didn’t know then that I was beginning a lifelong love affair with the first-person voice and that I would spend most of my life inventing characters to say all the things I wanted to say." (Shultz, 2011)

I have grown up around dyslexia. Never diagnosed but it is a family trait that I have become familiar with. My mom always came up with creative ways to try to help my brothers read better and to not mix up their letters. I often mix up numbers and have to have people repeat their phone number multiple times as I write it down. I never understood my brother's struggles with words though. Words have always been so magical to me and I have always been good at spelling. My brothers and my dad are not. My dad's dyslexia is unique in that his eyes read at a diagonal down the page instead of straight across, randomly jumping and causing him great confusion and frustration. He was in 3rd grade before his teachers realized he couldn't read. It is important for teachers to be educated in how to help their students. How to identify if a student is struggling and different ways to help them. Never is it okay to view a child as stupid or unintelligent. All people have brains and all people can use those brains. Our job is not to condemn, but to find the necessary tools for each of our students to succeed.


The website, http://www.sc.edu/scatp/ld.htm, had some interesting information. But I did not learn anything new. At my college in KY I was majoring in Deaf Education and we toured a technology factory that discussed many different options for many different disabilities and different learning options.

Two ways to use technology with students with disabilities is to allow them to use a word processor in order to write a paper, or use software that helps them organize their thoughts and ideas. There are also many ways to help focus students, my mom always used a ruler going across a page in order to help my brother's eyes stay on the correct line.




Citations:
Shultz, P. (2011). Words failed, then saved me. The New York Times, Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/with-dyslexia-words-failed-me-and-then-saved-me.html?_r=1

http://www.sc.edu/scatp/ld.htm

Webstie Evaluation

http://www.dhmo.org/

• Is the information biased in any way?

The information is only about DHMO, there is no other side to the information

• Does the site rely on loaded language or broad, unsubstantiated statements?

yes

• Is emotion used as a means of persuasion?

They try to use fear.

• Does the site offer more than one viewpoint?

Not that I can see

• Are there links to other or alternative viewpoints?

no

• Does the site's information seem thorough and well organized?

yes

• Does the site clearly state the topics that it intends to address?

yes

• Does it follow through on the information it has promised?

Yes

• Does the information seem complete and consistent?

Most of it.

• Is the information well written and easy to understand?

Seems to be

• Does the Web site offer a list of further in-depth resources or links to such resources?

Any link leads you to more information on the same site

• What's the copyright status of material found on the site?

Copyright by Tom Way

• Is it important that the information you're looking for be absolutely current?

Yes current information is important

• Is a reference date provided to show when the material was put online, or when it was last updated?

Yes. Last Updated: October 27, 2011

• Do the links work?

yes

Before you saddle up and ride out into cyberspace, it's a good idea to stop and consider whether or not the Internet is even the best place to go. Ask yourself:

• Can I get the information faster offline?

no

• Does the online material I'm finding suit my needs?

It could be useful

• Am I able to verify this information?

no

Stats

Special Education Level 1 is the most peaked. Asian Level 1 is the least peaked. There is not a bimodal score.

Internet = anti-social?

"McKenna et al (2002) and Bargh et al (2002) found that people who met on the internet liked each other more than those who met face-to-face first, even when, unbeknownst to the participants, it was the same partner both times." (Owens, 2009)

This article discusses the internet and its effect on social life. Many people are scared of the internet because of the anonymity. There is a certain danger to being online and not physically seeing who you are talking to. However, this helps people share their true feelings more often than if they could see who they are talking to. The internet gives people the opportunity to present themselves however they want to. Sometimes this is by showing who they really are, and sometimes it is by showing themselves as a really likable person in order to make people trust them... Although many relationships are formed through the internet, it is important for students and adults to realize that the relationship they are forming may be a person who is completely different in real life.

Related Source:

Citations:

Owens, L. (2009). Internet and anti-social behavior theory unfounded.Psychology: suite 101, Retrieved from http://laura-owens.suite101.com/internet--anti-social-behavior-theory-unfounded-a111897

Glasbergen, R. (Artist). (2010).Toon347. [Web Drawing]. Retrieved from http://www.glasbergen.com/cartoons-about-social-networking/

chart

Visual Literacy

"So, in this great circle of communication, you go from the emotional end of music and painting and art -- the visual forms of communication -- to the written communication and spoken communication. Finally, you end up at math, which is the most precise. It forms a beautiful circle of communication. But it's all part of the same circle." (Daly, 2004)

What a beautiful statement. It is important for teachers and school faculty to understand the importance of communication and the importance of ALL communication. To understand that it doesn't stop at english and writing a 15 page research paper. Communication has become so much more than that. At my previous college I was studying Deaf Education. They stressed the importance of non-verbal communication. Visual communicaion is imperative in the Deaf World because they do not hear verbal communication. However, non-verbal communication is emerging into everyday life and into the hearing world. Simply photos can be used to make someone form an opinion on any given subject. True communication occurs not when you use all of the right words. True communication occurs when you have the skill to effectively communicate your thoughts, ideas, and opinions without having to use written language. If we are not taking the time to instill these concepts in our students then we are not teaching them to truly communicate. We may be teaching them how to talk, or make-up enough words to finish a paper, but have we captured the true essence of what they are trying to say? Are we teaching the "beautiful communication story", or are we teaching students how to fake their way through life?

Related Source:
Creative way to communicate an idea using no words.

Click here to view

Citations:

Daly, J. (2004). Life on the screen: visual literacy in education. Edutopia, Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/lucas-visual-literacy

Romanf. (Artist). (2011). Nonverbal communication project 1. [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=240474&title=Nonverbal_Communication_Project

Voki's in Education

Media Literacy Entry

"Moreover, many recent studies identify persistent barriers to integrating new technologies into instruction, including lack of training and help for teachers and insufficient access to functioning technology" (David, 2009)

This does tend to be a struggle. Many of the teachers in education today struggle with technology and fight to keep up with an ever increasing pace of technology and news ways of teaching it and integrating it. But even more than that is the issue of availability. School notoriously do not view technology as important and often do not have the extra funds necessary to modern technology. Therefore students are not given proper opportunities to learn while using technology. It is important for teachers to receive proper training and the proper technology needed to make our students successful and media literate! As much as some insist on denying the fact that technology is important and not a necessary expense, the fact is- technology is everywhere and it just gets more complicated everyday. If students are not given the proper tools then they are going to be less successful in a technology-oriented world.

http://www.medialiteracy.com/
- This website is all about media literacy! There are discussions, resources, teaching areas. This is a good tool to have while wading through the debates regarding technology and its importance!


Citations:
David, J. (2009, March). Teaching media literacy. Educational Leadership, Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Teaching-Media-Literacy.aspx

http://www.medialiteracy.com/

Teacher of the Year!

"It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot, irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it."
-- J. Bronowski,

Seven-Powered Lens

"By sequentially focusing seven increasingly strong lenses on the news media, beginning with a close-up look at a news photo, students learn to apply powerful cross-disciplinary skills of visual, news media, and information literacy to analyze current political issues..." (Abilock, 2003)

This author is discussing the importance of knowing how to analyze photographs to understand what is trying to be communicated. It is important for students to be able to look at photographs and see why a photo has been used and whether or not the photo accomplishes its purpose. This author discusses a "Seven-lens" look at photos. Starting with what is seen and finishing with what the teacher can teach through each activity.

Until our photo analysis activity in EDUC 2202, I never thought about the importance of analyzing what I was seeing, I didn't realize that I inferred things through images without even thinking about them. I never thought about what techniques could be used with color, distance from focus, and objects included. It is incredibly important for students to be able to differentiate between what is actually true and what is just put in front of their faces to try to influence them.

Who Controls the Media?
This organizer describes the major media controllers. These companies control everything we see. If our students do not have the ability to analyze photos then they will never know the truth of what is happening.

Citations:

Abilock, D. (2003). A seven-power lens on 21st-century literacy. MultiMedia Schools, Retrieved from http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/consult/articles/PowerLensSingle.pdf

(2007). Who controls the media. (2007). [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/communications/tv/mediacontrol.html

Photo Analysis

Photo 1:


1. Based on what you have observed, list three things that you might infer from the photograph

• the government officials do not seem to be worried about the major crisis


• they do not think it is a big or serious problem


• The Coast Guard Administrator seems more concerned than the government officials

2. What questions does this photo raise:

• Why does the government seem unconcerned when obviously the Coast Guard Administrator is concerned


• Why are they smiling and laughing when there is a huge environmental disaster happening as they walk

Photo 2:





1. Based on what you have observed, list three things that you might infer from the photograph

• The reality may be sinking in


• He is no longer able to push the reality of the situation out of his mind


• He may be destroyed depending on how he handles the situation

2. What questions does this photo raise:

• Why is President Obama able to show his concern when he is by himself


• Is he worried about America or his Presidency?


• Why is the background blurred?

Which photo gives you more confidence in the President's leadership abilities? Why?

• The solo picture of him gives me more confidence in his abilities. He looks more concerned for the people and for the situation and actually seems affected by it, whereas in the group shot he seems to be completely unconnected from the situation. I think it is important for a President to show that they care and that the important situations going on are actually affecting them instead of seeming to brush the whole situation off.

Citations:

Defrank, T. (2010). Oil spill: bp gulf leak could stain president obama like iran hostage crisis destroyed jimmy carter. NY Daily News, Retrieved from http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-06-15/news/27067245_1_hostage-crisis-oil-spill-obama-risks

Werner, E. (2010). White house: obama ready to seize claims process. The Washington Times, Retrieved from http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/15/gibbs-feds-may-seize-oil-spill-claims-processing/

Digital Story explained...

The digital story project was time consuming, but it really made me think about what I wanted to say and how to create something that explained what I wanted to say. Creating this story required creativity, research, writing ability, and of course technology. I think this kind of project could be very useful to support a research assignment. It allows for a creative way for students to show off all of the research that they have done.

ISTE/NETS Standard 3a states that teachers should: "demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations." It is important that teachers understand how to use technology and how to transfer that knowledge to students and to understand how to take a print-based skill and create something with it using technology.

Digital Storytelling gives students a unique opportunity to work on writing skills as well as their creativity. In order to have a successful digital story it is imperative to actually have a story to tell. Students cannot narrate or add text to their digital story until they have actually written a story. (Ohler, 2005).


A lesson plan that I found used PowerPoint to create a digital story. Students were to watch a 5 slide movie as an example and then go to a storyboard and create 5 slides of their own adventure. Then the students were filmed acting out parts of their story and they took pictures or used clipart to finish their story. This project would be good to use for a "What did you do this summer?" or some other creative writing assignment in order to integrate writing and digital storytelling.

Citations:

Technomovie. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.technokids.com/computer-curriculum/junior/digital-storytelling-lesson-plans-technomovie.aspx

Nets for teachers 2008. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx

Ohler, J. (2005). The world of digital storytelling. Educational Leadership, Retrieved from http://www.jasonohler.com/pdfs/digitalStorytellingArticle1-2006.pdf

~ArT iS iMpOrTaNt~

"We need, in David Thornburg's (1990) words, to prepare our kids for their future rather than our past. Kids must become fully literate, and that literacy must include art, the fourth R." (Ohler, 2000)

It is amazing to me that some things can take so long to become as important as they should be. Having art at some point in my life would help me be more creative and unique today. Art is a special skill that doesn't require solid walls, it is an opportunity for individual's to express their creativity and to express who they are. Art is beautiful and it is time that the world recognize it for the necessity that it is! Children cannot be literate without being creative and without being able to completely identify and show who they are as an individual.
In an increasingly digital world, it is necessary to not only have something to say, but to be able to present what you have to say in a way that is appealing to a wide variety of people. Humans are notoriously driven by what they see. If a presentation is wonderful but has no visual appeal, no one is going to listen. However, if a prospective employee is asked to give a presentation that he/she animates, adds photos, borders, music, colors and adds a creative element to that presentation, someone is going to pay attention! That is what our students need, they need the ability to stand out in an increasingly competitive world. To be able to showcase themselves not only through words but through design and photos and creativity, then our students can go far and become successful!

This article is from 1997 and although it may not be the most recent, I think it is important to realize that this is not a new discussion. Art has been up for discussion for a long time, but it is becoming a more important part in education and something needs to be done.

Business Leaders Make a Case For Education's Fourth R: the Arts

Citations:

Jason, Ohler (2000). Art becomes the next r. Educational Leadership Magazine, 58(2), 16-19. Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vCKbHYY-gzXtLXnLak8i_hoV7TPAOfxNIamNrkWW3Pc/edit?pli=1


Goodale, G. (1997). Business leaders make a case for education's fourth r: the arts. The Christian Science Monitor, Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/1997/0130/013097.feat.arts.1.html

Fair Use

1. Can students upload their multimedia project to YouTube?

If the nature of their project is to accomplish a certain task that does not take away from the value of the original material and it is for an educational, or news type project, I think students can upload multimedia projects to YouTube. They should also give attribution to the creator.

2. Are the limitations to the amount of pictures or length of music or video that can be used in a multimedia project?

Length and amount should be limited to what is required for the project. When possible do not use the whole work and use clips instead of full videos or songs.

3. Do you need to request permission from the original creator in order to use copyrighted material in multimedia project for school related assignment?

Under fair use it is not required to receive permission from the original creator. As long as it is for educational purposes, news reporting, parody, and has no commercial impact. Fair use is flexible and can work in the favor of the user.

Information from :

Center for Social Media

Technology

"Such technologies give voice to a number of otherwise quiet students... Yet many students lack an intuitive grasp of how to use digital technology to enhance their stories..." (Ohler, 2005)

The author is speaking both of students who use technology well and those who do not. It is important not to get so completely swept away by current technology that we forget that there may be students who struggle with technology. The author also references students who "don't fit the regular academic mold" as an example of how technology is useful. But just like there are students that struggle with standard academic work and are not as successful with it; there will be some students that struggle with technology and not be as successful as if they were doing a more traditional assignment. It is always important to have a balance of traditional and modern assignments available so that all students can be successful. Although technology is crucial; it is important to know how to write instead of type, or read instead of scroll.

The purpose of teaching is not strictly to push the newest technology in the classroom but to help our students become successful adults. If we can accomplish that goal without making students feel inadequate, we have become successful as teachers.

Related Resources:

Technology

Citations:

1. Ohler, J. (2005). The world of digital storytelling. Educational Leadership, Retrieved from http://www.jasonohler.com/pdfs/digitalStorytellingArticle1-2006.pdf

2. http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

Digitize!

cartoon time!