Some Final Words

By the last couple of classes, I got excited about implementing some of the things I've learned. Now that I have time, I'm gonna also do the research survey that I forgot to do! But I do want to post on classmates' blogs; I hope I have the energy to follow through. Now, I want to take the spring class and go further. That I didn't expect to happen! See you in the FlipIt class!

The real get to know me survey

Take my survey

My Get to Know You Survey

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aph62dB0kX1xdElRZ2FSdUYtWFNoZ2JHTXJGUDU4R2c&hl=en

Last Homework

I showed my classes the Wonder Wheel. Mostly they were impressed, but they did raise good points about its use. Many said that if they just did a good, focused search, they wouldn't need the wheel. I countered with the idea that if one is just searching a topic and needs to narrow it, the Wheel could be useful. But no student had ever noticed the wheel before. I might agree with their assessments. I Google every day almost, and I've yet to find a use for the wheel. Good to know it's there if I need it though.

Internet Search Literacy

This article actually opened my eyes even further to how students need to be taught how to search a topic online, especially lower level students, many of whom have no computer to practice with at home.

Next time I will create a scaffolded record sheet for them to react to and record about their initial findings on their search. I will also encourage them to not just use Google to search. I will demonstrate on a site how to evaluate its credibility (look for an author, "about us," a date of publication, and corporate source, etc.). I will ask them how many initial hits they got on their search and where to find that, so they can narrow their search (something they inevitably need to do every time). I will demonstrate how to scroll over a home page to see what areas are "hot" and can be opened, and to read the page as one would a chapter in a text, noticing headlines, pics, links, and the general site map. I will also make an edoc or hard copy of scaffolded guidelines for them to record their findings without merely copying, how to summarize and cite the source, etc. This and more--back to letters of recommendation due in 2 days!

Image of chiefs

Library of Congress

Image of Chiefs in Virginia

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/i?pp/ils:@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3b01309)):displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=3b01309

Bibliographic info

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?pp/ils:@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3b01309)):displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=3b01309

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/i?pp/ils:@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3b01309)):displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=3b01309

late on 280

Traffic on 280 is interesting, less aggressive, therefore more aggravating when one is late.