Learning to use search engines and proper Web navigation can help the teacher and students to find better information that is useful to them. Knowing how to determine a reliable site will help determine if the site is a reliable resource. Knowing how to search on a search engine will cut down time spent looking through irrelevant links.
Website Evaluation Video
Included is a useful video that can be used in the classroom as a tool to teach students about how to determine if a site is reliable or not. Remembering the 5W's is simple and will help the student determine if the site could be trusted to use their information.
Favorite Professional Websites
One professional website that will be useful when I am a teaching professional is ReadWorks.org. On this site you are able to locate different passages based on reading level, topic, lexile level, and/or to target any specific reading skill or strategy. You are able to locate a passage that relates to the topic being discussed in class or a specific strategy that can be focused on during reading intervention. I found the website to be organized well and easily navigated (Roblyer, 2016).
Another website that I found useful is https://kids.usa.gov/. On this website it includes lesson plans, videos, and links to reliable websites that can be used in the classroom.
Online Safety and Security
Cyberbullying is very common in the technology world. "Cyberbullying is the practice of using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person" (Roblyer, 2016). Creating a safe zone within your classroom with help teach the students how to interact with others online. The website Kids.gov that I mentioned earlier has information on how to teach students about online bullying and what to do if it ever happens.
Mrs. McKee, you are right when saying creating a safe zone within the classroom is important because bullying is becoming such an issue. I'm glad the sites you provided help with anti-bullying. Robyler states, “Several sites have been set up to document and combat this problem, but the first line of defense remains school-based programs to raise awareness among students of what constitutes cyberbullying and to teach how to respond if they observe or are victim of this online mistreatment (2016, p. 175).” Great blog, keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteLane, your blog was extremely informative, and I enjoyed reading it! I completely agree with you that teaching our students the 5 W's will be beneficial to them in deciding if a website is reliable or not. The W's are short and simple and easy to remember!
ReplyDeleteI love the point that you made about how we should create safe zones in our classroom in order to teach them how to interact with others online. As stated by Roblyer 2016, cyberbullying is the same as the bullying that we find at school, it just occurs over the internet. As a result, cyberbullying has the same harmful effects on young people. The website that you mentioned is a great source to enforce the importance of not bullying online or at school, along with the safe zone created in your classroom!
Works Cited
Roblyer, M. D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson.