Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Information Literacy (12/17)

Here's today's agenda (copy it into you planner):

1) WARM UP: Cool Math Games

-work through the webquest with a partner (or by
yourself if you prefer)
-use Word to type in your answers

3) finish WEEBLY website
-use this weebly tutorial if you need help

Objective: SWBAT demonstrate their understanding of cyber crime by completing the activities within the webquest AAPOAL.

Learning Log: Explain why it's important for you to understand what cyber crime is?

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Information Literacy (12/15)

Today's agenda:

1) WARM UP: Calculation Nation

2) READ THE ARTICLE: Mapping Facebook
-open up a Word document
-create a summary in the form of a
paragraph covering what you read

3) finish GLOGSTER ASSIGNMENT
-DUE TODAY

OBJECTIVE: SWBAT demonstrate their understanding of Glogster's functions by completing an online poster AAPOAL.

Learning Log: Using the Glogster rubric, what three things did your neighbor do at a proficient level or better and one area needing improvement on their Glogster poster.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Information Literacy (12/13)

Today's agenda (please copy into planner):

1) WARM UP: Calculation Nation (10 minutes)

2) EFFECTIVE SEARCHING W/ GOOGLE
-watch slide show
-complete "Google Search Tips" worksheet
a) go to my website
b) scroll down to "Attachments"
c) click "download" on Google Search Tips
d) complete the worksheet using Google
3) GLOGSTER ASSIGNMENT
-Due Wednesday

OBJECTIVE: SWBAT demonstrate their understanding of effective website searching by completing a search results worksheet AAPOAL.

Learning Log: Explain why it's important to have a better understanding of Google search functions?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Information Literacy (12/9)

Today's agenda (copy it into your planner):

1) Warm Up: Calculation Nation (15 min)
-click "join"
-enter your information
-choose a game and play

2) Read article about Smartphones (30 min)
-0pen a Word Document to take notes
-remember to include the main idea of each paragraph
and the supporting evidence
-you can use any note-taking format you'd like

3) Glogster Assignment (45 min)
-see the agenda from the last class meeting for info.
-project rubric

SWBAT read an article and create notes along
with the reading AAPOAL.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Information Literacy (12/7)

Here's today's agenda:

1) Warm Up (10 minutes)
-can you find the answer to this math puzzle?
-start with the center "7", collect 4 other numbers along the paths,
you CANNOT work backwards, what's the lowest number you
can score if you add all five numbers collected.

2) Citing Web Sources (30 minutes)
-Please use Purdue's Online Writing Lab (OWL) to cite your sources.
-REMEMBER: you need 4 sources for your Glogster Assignment.
-You must give credit within your Glogster poster.

3) Glogster Assignment (45 minutes)
-See me for your log-in information
-DUE December 15

Objective: SWBAT cite sources within their Glogster poster AAPOAL.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Information Literacy (12/3)

Here's today's agenda (copy it down into your planner):

1) Warm Up: Cool Math Games
-pick a game and play! (5 minutes)

2) Introduction to Glogster Assignment
(20 minutes)
-the assignment is attached to my website.
-we will have 3 class periods to work on it.
-DUE December 22nd!

(20 minutes)
-use the database to find your sources.
-you need 4 web sources.

4) Glogster Assignment (40 minutes)
-Log In with your nickname (on your card) and
Student ID # for password.
-Before you start, watch this tutorial.
-We will discuss the rubric on Tuesday (12/7)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Information Literacy Class (12/1)

Here's the agenda for the day (make sure you copy this down in your planner):

1) Warm Up: Cool Math Games
-choose a game and play it! (5 minutes)

2) Read to Write Pre-Assessment
-We will have 45 minutes to complete the assessment

3) Glogster Project (25 minutes)
-The assignment instructions will be handed out in class.
-I have also posted them on my website.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Information Literacy Class (11/29)

Here's today's agenda:

-choose a game to play (5 minutes)

2) Watch Elizabeth Gilbert's talk on Creativity
-Do we tend to put creative people (directors, actors, musicians, etc.)
on a pedestal?
-Do we tear them down if they don't live up to our expectations?
-Think about athletes, do we not label them some of them the "greatest"?
-Do they hold their athletic ability forever?

3) Evaluating Sources Lesson:
b) Each student must evaluate each website for content, authority, reliability,
and design.
c) Each student must complete the evaluation chart according to their role
(I've downloaded the chart onto my website)

C = Content
* Is the information accurate?
Compare it with other sources.
* Do you still need more information?
* Is it current? Is the date of creation/update given?
(How important is the date for this topic?)
.
* Is the treatment shallow or scholarly?

* Is this the best source for this information? Books, periodicals, webpages all are "best" at certain types of information.
A = Authority
* Who is the author?
* Are the author's credentials given?
* Is the author an expert?
* Can you contact the author?
* Has the author published widely?
* For a webpage, you may have to go back to the homepage to figure out who / what agency is responsible for the site.
* Do a search on the web to find out about the author / organization.
* Look the site up with Network Solutions to find out who runs it / owns it
* Are the sources / bibliography given?
* Are they scholarly sources?
* Can you verify the sources?
* For a webpage, who links to it?
(Check by using Google - in the search screen putlink:webaddress) You may be able to judge a site by those that link to it.
* Are there links to other sites?
* Can you make any conclusions based on the type and strength of these sites?
* Enter the author's name into listserv and newsgroup archives to find out what he/she might have posted.
R = Reliability
* Is it biased?
* Does it present all sides of the argument / situation?
* Are opinions presented as facts?
* Is it from a reliable source that has done prescreening (library, virtual library, university professor, professional journal, specialized database)
* What is its purpose? Is it investigating an issue, examining different viewpoints, or arguing a point?* What is the domain? You can often but NOT always tell the purpose of a site by its domain: .gov .com .org .edu
D = Design
* Do the links work - both the internal navigation links and links to other sites?* Is the site overly concerned with graphics and less about content?
* Does the glitz get in the way?
* Are there errors in spelling, grammar or syntax?* Do the colors and graphics enhance the purpose of the site?
* Is the site user-friendly and easy to use?* Is the design of the site consistent throughout all the pages?

Friday, November 19, 2010

Information Literacy Class 11/22

Agenda for 11/22:

1) Warm Up: wordle.net
-click "Create your own"
-enter as many words as you can think of to describe yourself and your
world.

2) Post Links on Your Website:
a) create a link to my website
b) create a link to this blog
c) create a link to your wordle

3) Evaluating Sources Lesson:
b) In groups of 4, students will evaluate websites. Each student will have a
specific role within the group (content specialist, authority/credibility
specialist, bias/purpose specialist, viability/design specialist).
c) Each student must complete the evaluation chart according to their role
(I've downloaded the chart onto my website)

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Information Literacy Class (11/18)

Here's what we accomplished on the second day of class:

1) Warm Up: minute to win it

2) Appropriate Use of the Internet Lesson
-Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
a) What does it mean "you are a commodity"?
b) How can people find information about you even if you have deleted
it?
c) List at least three pieces of information you should never have on
your website, blog, facebook page, etc.?
d) Explain, in a well constructed paragraph, how information becomes
permanent on the internet.

KEEP YOURSELF SAFE OUT THERE, FOLKS!

3) Continue w/ Website Creation (weebly.com)
-please see me for a website rubric (also on my website)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

First Day of Information Literacy Class (11/16)

If you missed class (or maybe just curious about what happened), here's today's agenda:

1) Warm Up: List 3 technological innovations you would miss the most if you were born 20 years earlier.

2) Classroom Expectations/Syllabus (link takes you to my website; download syllabus under "Attachments")

-Does our education system kill creativity?
-What does this video mention about the class's essential 4 C's (communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking)?

4) Create your webpage using Weebly
-Tutorials for Weebly
**On your home page, create a well constructed paragraph explaining why you couldn't live without the 3 technological innovations (from the warm up).**

Friday, October 1, 2010

Boring Book Reports?!?!

Do you despise the traditional book reports? Do your students?

Richard Byrne's Free Technology for Teachers (If you don't subscribe to his blog, you must!) had a post about entertaining alternatives to book reports.

He lists a few:

What do you use with your students?

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Presentation Tools


I was recently asked by a friend to create a document describing free, web applications his grad class could use for presentations.

I came up with this list:

1) Animoto (animoto.com)

A free, web application designed to create professional slideshows using your choice of pictures and music. It’s extremely simple. You decide on pictures, music, text, and themes, and Animoto does the rest.

**Similar online tools: slide.com, 123-slideshow.com

2) Blabberize (blabberize.com)

This free, web application allows a user to upload pictures and create audio to go with the picture. It even has tools to edit the picture to add movements or decorations.

3) Prezi (prezi.com)

Tired of the same old power points? This free presentation tool creates a zooming effect within your presentations. It allows a user to zoom in and out on uploaded pictures and text.

4) Glogster (glogster.com)

With Glogster, you’ll never need to buy poster board again. This free, web application allows users to create posters online using the tools to upload images, videos, and decorations.

5) Voicethread (voicethread.com)

Voicethread is a collaborative slide show presentation. It allows users to upload images, documents, videos and comment over the presentation. The user can then invite others to view and comment on the presentation using voice (mic or phone), text, or webcam. Users can also doodle on top of the presentation as well.

6) Weebly (weebly.com)

Weebly allows users to create a website or a blog for free! It’s an easy step-by-step process in choosing you page’s theme, content, links, and more. You can share your thoughts, ideas, and creations with the world.

**Similar online tools: Webs, Google Sites

7) Jing (http://www.techsmith.com/jing/)

Jing is free software allowing users to create images or videos of your computer screen (called a screencast). The image or video can be dubbed over with audio using a microphone (most computers have internal mics), and the user can instantly share the image or video through a link or email.

**Similar online tools: Screencast-O-Matic, Screentoaster


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Blabberize

Mr. A's 8th grade US History class created projects using Blabberize. The projects centered around the American Revolution.

Blabberize allows a user to upload pictures and create audio to go with the picture. It even has tools to edit the picture to add movements or decorations.

He added the students' projects to his wikipage. Check 'em out!

How could students use Blabberize in your classroom???

Monday, August 23, 2010

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back all Morey students!

It's officially the 2010-2011 school year!

On the first day, I already had students asking me, "What do you do all day besides check out books?"

It's a great question, which I wasn't at all offended by. I'm sure many people outside of schools often wonder what we do all day.

The librarian at Olathe East High School created a blog to explain this complex question.

A library is like a gast station...GENIUS, pure genius!

Any other great library analogies out there????

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Screencast

I just created my first screencast. I used Jing to create it. Jing is free software you can download from their site. I highly recommend it. My students can use my screencast in the library. How can/have your students use screencasts? How have you used screencasts?

Monday, June 28, 2010

ISTE conference

Here I am at the 2010 ISTE conference in Denver. I'm trying not to wander aimlessly but this place is huge! So many great things to see, discover, and learn. It's an adult Chucky Cheeses without the creepy robots!

Anyway, I'll try to update as I come across intriguing ideas, tools, or all around fun stuff. I'm about to watch Will Richardson and his ideas on saving the world through social networking. Hmmmm.....

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Shelfari

I just added my Shelfari shelf=========>>>

I've used Shelfari in my library to create book groups for students to discuss books outside of school. Students seem to really take to it.

How do you use Shelfari in your class/library/life???

Thursday, June 10, 2010

My first!

I've offiicially succeeded in becoming a blogger! It feels...good? It seems easier to create a blogger account than it is to create a meaningful blog. I guess you'll never now how cold the water is until you jump in. Canonball!!!!

So...I've always wondered how a blog could be used in the library or classroom, so all of you out there in the blogosphere, how are blogs enriching your students? Any examples? Ideas?

Help me:-)