This week in class we were dealing with wikis, maintaining our blogs(*cough) and discussing web based searches. Okay, that is a big chunk of information. I find that there are just to many options and links and things. It is a little overwhelming. It's kind of like why I don't like shopping a large department stores: to many options and most of it is crap (pardon). You really have to weed through sites to find quality content. Just the other day I was looking for a few quality, elementary age appropriate sites about Dung Beetles. One of the sites looked fine until I realized that there were ads on the page. Most of them where innocent enough until I came to the last one. It was some nonsence about "find hot Costa Rican women". I scrapped that site.
Positive note:
I know that if I keep working at it, it will become easier to navigate my way though the sites, blogs and wikis. The more I play around with them. the easier it will be to ignore the unimportant functions and zoom in on relevent ones. I mean I'll shop at a department store and find something if I HAVE to, so I know I can do this eventually.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful reflection, and the English teacher in me loves the simile comparing Internet searching with department store shopping.
I could really go crazy with this: Google, as you know, is often called the "Wal-Mart of the Internet." But we all have issues with Wal-Mart don't we? For a long time I resisted relying on Google in much the same way I resist shopping exclusively at Wal-Mart. It's good to branch out and "patronize" other establishments, eh? Yet, going off the beaten path means encountering "too many options and links and things." What's a gal to do?
It seems you need a personal shopper to aid you, and luckily that comes from building a trusted personal learning network through f2f collaboration (as I see you do with Patrick and Chloe) as well as virtual collaboration in communities of like-minded teachers. You might, for instance, check out the community Classroom 2.0. This is a viable, reliable network of professionals who share and problem solve around issues related to technology and the Internet. I've been a member for several years, and I often go to Classroom 2.0 first when seeking answers to questions about edTech. They have an elementary group. Why not browse the topics and conversations and see if you couldn't learn from these people? If you want to comment or ask a question, you have to join the network -- it's free. In shopping parlance, I think that's called a "bargain"! ;-)