Webquests

The concept of a Webquest is one that is relevant for both students and educators...

Webquests are relevant for educators in a number of different ways. they can be used in a way that allows for students to discover the information they are learning on their own. Although when developing a Webquest the educator decides the websites the students will be using, at least for the majority of them, the students are responsible for exploring the different provided websites in order to gather and apply the necessary content. This can be an example of indirect instruction where the information is provided by the teacher but the students must do their own exploration of the content in order to make sense of it and to learn from it. This means that Webquests are more interactive and engaging generally for students allowing for the lesson in general to be more engaging and memorable for students as they have to construct the information and they are not just sitting and listening to the teacher. Finally, teachers can scaffold Webquests in order to meet the needs of every student while still providing them with the same experience and allowing them to construct their own knowledge of the topic.

Webquests are also relevant for students. The students are responsible for finding, analyzing, and applying the different information they find when completing the different Webquests. This means that the students are constructing their own information from what the teacher has provided; therefore, it is a more engaging and beneficial lesson. Of course every student may not discover all of the important information so it may be necessary for a follow up activity to be done but the information they do discover will likely be remembered more as they were actively engaged when they were learning it.

PowerPoint

I am very familiar with PowerPoint and the different features that can make any presentation more entertaining and informational. I was using an older version of PowerPoint though and it meant that my choices regarding the designs and colors and formats were very limited. I had become quite bored with them. Once I started using the updated version of PowerPoint I was very excited to see the different designs and formatting options. 

I also think it is quite helpful to incorporate hyperlinks into the presentation to make it more interactive and allow for you as the presenter to easily access material on the internet related to your topic that you wish to share. I am unsure how to use hyperlinks in order to go to other parts of the PowerPoint presentation but I feel as though this could be a very helpful tool. 

The "do's and don't's" that was in the class PowerPoint was a very helpful reminder of the key aspects and formatting of PowerPoint that can help any presenter excel in their display. PowerPoint should be used as a presentation tool and guideline, it should not be overly filled with information that may overwhelm your audience. I particularly liked the idea of picking a light colored background with dark font too keep your audience awake and more actively involved compared to using a darker background that could allow for your audience to start to snooze more easily.

Word!

So I have realized that not only have I been using a completely outdated version of Word, but I have been missing out on some awesome applications for its use. I have been using the 2003 version of Word since it came out, I have had a very outdated computer for a long time simply because it still worked and I could not financially afford a new one. I bought a new computer just before starting this semester, along with all up-to-date software, and it is like night and day. I have always been a fan of Word and decent user of the program; however, I never knew all the cool more advanced things that Word can be used for with the newer versions. I have the 2013 version on my computer now and would never go back to my out of date 2003 version. 

I enjoyed creating the scrapbook page. I am a huge fan of arts and crafts, including scrapbooking. Although it was strange for me to be creating a scrapbook page on the computer, I never knew that there were so many varying options that could be used to change the look of what your producing. I have always used Word simply for essays or simple typing, but there are so many different applications that it can be used for. If students are given the option to use Word in a way that steps away from merely typing up their work the possibilities are endless for what they may create.

I also like the idea about using the editing and comment options offered on the newer versions of Word. I do not believe my 2003 version of Word offered this option but it is a great classroom tool. With schools attempting to conserve paper having an option that allows collaborative editing is beautiful for helping students develop their best work. I have personally used it in one of my undergraduate classes at Naz when we were assigned to write a paper as a group. It was a wonderful tool especially when we were unable to meet with one another because we could send the paper to one another and add comments or change sections. This could be used similarly with a student who may be absent for an extended period of time but has access to a computer with word and the internet. This student could continue to work on any written work and be able to email it to their teacher who could add in comments and help the student with the editing process even if they are not meeting face to face. 

The advancement in technology is a wonderful tool that when embraced correctly can change the classroom for the better!

Week 2

Coming into this course I am aware the controversy revolving around the incorporation of social media into the classroom. Using social media in the classroom can be detrimental to the students in a number of ways; however, the sacrifices teachers make by not embracing this powerful tool may be far greater. Social media can be dangerous if misused by students in way that could put them at risk of numerous things, such as cyber-bullying or being targeted by a predator. Nevertheless, if social media is used properly it can open up a rich new world to students that can be both engaging and educational. I know very little about Web 2.0; however, I have been part of social media in some form or another since high school.

If we leave either Web 2.0 or social media entirely out of education I feel it is robbing students of a number of things. There are students who struggle to share their thoughts throughout classroom discussions but these same children may thrive in a setting that they can share their ideas and opinions through writing, like in a class forum. In addition to this benefit of incorporating Web 2.0 and social media there are many other pros to using either technological resource. In the business field today, or just about any employment field for that matter, it is important to learn how to conduct yourself properly on the internet. It is important for us as educators to teach our students how easy it is for employers to follow up on their employees through social media. It is also vital that we emphasize that once something is on the internet it is out there forever and for anyone to see, despite the precautions we may attempt to take. If we do not teach our students how social media or Web 2.0 works, who will? I understand we are attempting to protect our students but they are growing up in an era that their entire lives can be found on the internet. By the time these students become adults it is likely that technology will rule their lives; therefore, as educators we must show them how to use it safely and even how to use it in a way that could help them become their best and even foster the curiosity that many students lose through just generic instruction. Students are interested in the internet and particularly social media so why not use that to help educate them?


Article arguing for social media