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EDTECH 240 Online Companion

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Module 1: Critically Evaluating Websites for Learning and Organizing and Analyzing Information with Databases

Session Objectives: After this learning module, you should be able to: use an Internet browser to access websites marked by your instructor critically evaluate three websites using a common criterion based rating rubric and defend your ratings in discussions with classmates use a simple online form within a database to enter rating information into the appropriate database fields and post online for others to view enter data accurately into preset fields of a database and sort by a particular field  reflect on the importance of being able to critically evaluate websites and pull out helpful teaching resources available within a particular website give specific examples that describe learning with databases as well as teaching with databases Completing these tasks contributes to your continued growth in the following areas:  ESPY Course Objectives Connecticut Technology Competencies for Level 1 Exam National Technology Standards

 

REQUIRED TASK:  Before attending this lab session, please use the evaluation rubric below to rate each of the following three  websites in regards to quality websites for use in the classroom.  Keep in mind the particular age group and/or content you are expecting to teach.  For each component in the rubric, make some brief notes to support your rating.  Enter your comments into the online database form and be prepared to share and compare your opinions with others during next session.

Evaluation Rubric  Link to and print out the website evaluation rubric made available from Pacific Bell's Blue Web'n.  You can read more about the details in each rubric category in the outline provided by the Oregon Public Education Network.   (You'll also find a checklist for this rubric in your Student Guidebook).  Use these categories to guide your rating of the websites below.  Websites to evaluate Blue Willow Literature Cyberguide for Grade 4 Students Rader's Biology4Kids  Bonus.com Online database for submitting ratings  Enter your webpage ratings into this online form by clicking in each cell and typing your answer.  Click the submit button to electronically submit your opinions.  You will access the compiled data during your lab session next week and use it as a prompt for discussion about quality websites for learning.  You'll also spend some time sharing ideas about how databases can be used as a tool for teaching and learning. (see some examples in the related resources below).  Follow-up Reflection:  Send an email message to your teaching assistant responding to one of the following:  What would you identify as the one most important criteria for a quality website when looking critically at its learning value and why?  How do you think anonymous student responses displayed in a database, as you used in class, fosters or inhibits discussion in a classroom of middle school students?

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EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES You are not required to visit any of the resources listed in the following section as part of this course. These links are available to enrich your own use of technology in this course and as you move through the IBM program and out into your field experiences.

Critically Evaluating Websites for Learning ABC's of Website Evaluation is an excellent resource also included in your student guidebook Teacher's Guide for Teaching Internet Literacy from Yahooligans is designed as a complete unit with links to interactive activities to guide your students through evaluating websites with a critical eye.  Pacific Bell Blue Web'n Site Evaluation Rubric is also described in more detail here Ed's Oasis Evaluation Center includes online worksheets to help teachers and students evaluate a website or score a lesson plan Web Evaluation Tools from Classroom Connect's Library Hot Five links to five websites that contain web evaluation tools you can use yourself or with students that you work with Kathy Shrock's Critical Evaluation Page will help answer all your questions and link you to many examples of web evaluation formats

Teaching and Learning with Databases Using Databases with Upper Elementary Students from Prince William County, Virginia addresses how to effectively teach students about databases and gives a good lesson example of how fourth graders are using a database to learn more about the solar system. Promoting Scientific Thinking with Databases from MAPE in Scotland provides links to information about several different types of uses of database programs with elementary students and science. Introduction to Databases outlines a unit lesson plan used in the United Kingdom. Database Tutorial from GeekGirls.com walks you through the general steps of creating a database and using it to manipulate and anaylze information Chapter on Databases from Merill Education's Link to Technology companion website Database Tools and Tutorials from 2Learn in Canada is a comprehensive tutorial of the most popular database programs including Appleworks, ClarisWorks, Filemaker Pro, and Microsoft Access.  Nutrition on the Web is an example of an online database created for students to use to analyze and interpret data in a real-world application.

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