Ch.5- Researching and Evaluating Internet Information

Focus Question: How can teachers and students thoughtfully evaluate online information resources, including the online encyclopedia Wikipedia?
The web has different types of information problems, including Wikipedia which is used for evaluating the quality of information on the web. High quality information meets the five criteria: accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage. This criteria involves paying attention to URL extensions, discussing cognitive load, using lesson plans site selectivity, and giving clear Web research guidelines.

Tech Tool Link:  Building a Pipe on Yahoo

To build a pipe is free and you can combine different feed types and create data machups. You can also use the website to publish and run your own online projects and your web services.

Summary and Conclusion: In this chapter, Students and teachers learn how evaluate the online information in-depth in order to make it a safe and trustworthy environment for research. Moreover, it features a new lesson plan where new strategies are used for teaching any online information to students who need to be informed about the latest societal problems. I consider this chapter a key one for learning how to manage what you browse on the web.

Chapter 4 Integrating Technology and Creating Change

Focus Question: What are "digital inequality" and the "participation gap?"

"Digital inequality" explains how the student's lack of access to technology resources is connected to their socioeconomic standing in society. "Participation gap" means that the low-income and the lower class of students have not had the same chances as as their more wealthy peers to use the newest technologies for learning.

Tech Tool Link:
NCTE Testimonials

Through the NCTE Inbox Blog, the teacher leaves her independent world of a classroom into a community of teachers wanting to make a difference in today's students. They could talk to friends, neighbors, colleagues,and family about what's happening in your classroom, tell Stories to illustrate the complex and rewarding work you do, and put names and faces on your students as you talk about their excitement for learning.

Summary and Conclusion: Through this chapter, I learned about the variety of ways that technology can be used when it is hands-on-work time in a classroom as an educator. Even for those teachers who have a so-called "participation gap," it showed me the different ways that a teacher can achieve with technology without having the newest stuff.

Ch. 3 Developing Lessons with Technology

Focus Question: How can teachers evaluate and assess their students?
Technology offers multiple ways to conduct test and performance assessments, both as part of traditional measures such as tests and quizzes and in supporting performance measures such as portfolios, exhibitions, and student writing.

Tech Tool Link: www.4teachers.org
After accessing the Quizstar online, it provides the teachers with the ability to manage classes and quizzes, attach multimedia files to questions, make quizzes in multiple languages, access from any Internet-connected computer, allow students to complete and review.

Summary and Conclusion: This chapter shows me how technology provides teachers with the ability to convert their lesson plans, assessments and quizzes into an online resource, and therefore, cause even a greater effect in a student's life. I conclude by saying that there is a need for professors to even assess their teaching plans electronically to not only teach a student, but also be able to make a difference in their lives.

Ch.2 Transforming Learning with Unique, Powerful Technology

Focus Question: How can students express their creativity using technology?
Word processing, desktop publishing, design tools, digital cameras, digital video movies, and podcasts support expressions of creativity by students and teachers. Fostering creativity involves establishing conditions in schools where students express new ideas, create new approaches, and envision new solutions. Using computers for writing and electronic communication establishes new patterns of self-expression and interaction among students.

Tech Tool Link: http://www.stonesoup.com/
 This online magazine is such a great resource for every kid that desires to deepen into their creativity and find the amazing artistic gifts hidden inside of them. Is beautiful to know how this website makes every child feel important after not only letting them feel themselves when writing or drawing, but by also publishing it to the whole world; becoming a seed that could make a difference in another child.

Summary and Conclusion:
In this chapter you could find the main focus of technology today, which is the students, and the different types of ways that teachers can interact with the students with the different technology resources. It promotes the different ways that technology collaborates for the different learning style of students, and therefore, engage their learning.