Final Project

For my final project I am going to work on a website for my classes.
At the moment I am using Weebly to publish and my address is http://mcguiremath.weebly.com

Teaching in a Web 2.0 world

Richardson, W. Teaching in a Web 2.0 world. Kappa Delta Pi Record v. 43 no. 4 (Summer 2007) p. 150-1

http://lesley.ezproxy.blackboard.com/login?url=http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.lesley.ezproxy.blackboard.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790e003debe8a300716f9dbad53c0699fea174b4d68d0bacf1584684d7388c02797c&fmt=H
Richardson, W. Teaching in a Web 2.0 world. Kappa Delta Pi Record v. 43 no. 4 (Summer 2007) p. 150-1
I am really begining to like Will Richardson. This article talks about all the new opportunities Web 2.0 offer both our students and ourselves. I really like his last comments that we can not expect our students to get into this new found ways of sharing information if we do not try it ourselves. He just adds to the fact that we are doing what we need to in this class. He validifies all that we are learning with the wikis, blogs, webpages, etc.
In order for us to fully appreciate what our kids are enjoying we must first take the plunge.

The Internet-only Research Approach: Does the Web Really Have All There Is to Say?

In this article, Ken Vesey investigates the validity of web research and encourages teachers to not forget the resources of the Library. He has several good points about the information that is available on the web and the validity of the information. He makes it a point to show how you need to research the credentials of the person that is credited with the information that you find on the web. Several times he found that the person used books and periodicals that are available in the library.
I understand his points about double checking the validity of the work you use on the internet. But I do not think we have to go all the way back to only using the books in the library as resources. He asks the question, "Why not a LibraryQuest?" He then goes on to say that he includes both book and web resources.
I think the biggest thing we need to keep in mind is that we need to help our kids to remember to always use more than one resource to verify their information.

Blogging and RSS: The "What's It?" and "How To" of Powerful New Web Tools for Educators by Will Richardson

This article was interesting but I came away feeling like I still needed more information. I Liked Lewis Elementary School's webpage that used linked together blogs and RSS feeds to share information with parents.
I also liked the weblog used by the teacher to discuss the book The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. That started me to thinking more about what I am trying to do with my students and journaling this year. Maybe I shouldn't be having them all journal online on our class blog. maybe I should keep them journaling on paper and just sellecting one a class to post their thoughts to the class blog.
A Lot to think about and running out of time to decide.

A Future Fiction by David Warlick

I liked this article by David Warlick. I like that he prefaced the article by saying "This is a work of future fiction....because I have every reason to expect that schools can change this much, and that it could happen during my career." I myself do not see it happening in my career. I think we have too many people who are too closed mind to technology used correctly. They seem to think that giving students the technology and the proper instruction will not keep them from misusing the technology. I also think that we have too many teachers who are too afraid of the new technology items to consider using them.
I consider myself a techno geek. I am willing to learn and use anything that makes everyday tasks easier and incorporates technology. With that being said, I find it difficult to properly incorporate the technology into my classroom.
This year I am trying to incorporate more technology and more student based instruction allowing the kids to use the classroom computers I am blessed to have because of other classes I teach. I am leery of how it will go and if it will successfully teach the students the lessons they need to learn.
Only time will tell.