Friday, July 27, 2012

Chapter 6


I was happy to be assigned this chapter because it actually linked back to what I said in chapter one. (Tying back to the learning opportunities that are now available: virtual fieldtrips, online “textbooks”...) This really hit me my first year teaching when we took our eighth graders to Boston at the end of the year. A great proportion of our students had never been given the chance to visit a museum, let alone leave the state. Teaching in a school where over 80% of my students are low income, free or reduced lunch it really makes me think about how fortunate I am. But now, thanks to technology my students can experience, in a vitual format, some of the things they maybe have never had the possibility to take part in. 
I decided to check out some the websites mentioned in this section and posted the links below for anyone else that was curious as to what they really involved. I think, based on the information that was given in the book along with what I’ve browsed in these sites, that these are the correct links. But please correct me if I’m wrong! Really they seem to offer great resources to all grade levels and content area. 
Connexions: http://cnx.org/
MoOM (Museum of Online Museums): http://www.coudal.com/moom/
One of the things mentioned about this post that I really liked was about allowing visitors to share their own memories - photos, voice recordings, stories. I’ve always wanted to do this with my vacation photos! Now I’ve just got to visit one of these museums and do so! 
Encyclopedia of Life: http://eol.org/
Pretty cool for science. I think that’s what you teach Art, right?
ECHO (Exploring and Collecting History Online): http://echo.gmu.edu/


P.S. Sorry I haven't been commenting on all of your posts - finishing up another online class and getting married two weeks from tomorrow - YIKES! I'll be back to post soon! :) 

3 comments:

  1. To think of it in these terms.... in the past Labor was expensive and technology was cheap. For awhile it switched were Technology was expensive and labor was cheaper. AS it merges the paradigm is shifting, it is no longer about who can access the information, but who can sort through the noise.
    In the article they talk about being able to look at Darwin's work... but does that mean we can decipher it as well?
    As a librarian I watched as it was all about Quantity how much could you have on your shelves for access. Now it is about Quality and helping them find the right info.

    The author talks about who will be reading your email, twitter post, blog entries... your online presence in the future. I ask, Why? As we all have tech devices at our finger tips... we can post anything anywhere anytime.

    For example, my facebook is covered with pics of my new puppy which is important to me and a few friends/family, but really to everyone?

    The future is tools that will sort the chafe from the wheat for us. As newspapers have died which used to sort info for us online versions like Drudge and huffpost have replaced them.

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  2. I agree. It is cool to take the kids to places like the Boston Museum of Science. I can once in a while.....but I can always have them at least learn for the virtual content.

    I think its incredible how much science has benefited greatly from the internet. The ability to share information globally is huge. The examples used in the book (squid) reveal one way that the web has allowed research and especially science awareness to blossom. A search on any topic will reveal an enormous amount of information (video and text) that you can learn. So much free information is at our fingertips.

    The examples that best relate to me is the use of DNA BLAST data. The ability to look up a trait and see the genetic code or plug in a DNA sequence and reveal what animals share this code or what the trait may be is incredible. The entire human genome is available (for free) on the Internet)

    Secondly, I used to stay on top of science topics through journals and periodicals. While I still use these the web is my primary source to keep abreast of new discoveries. Instant info when I need it.

    MOOM - Virtual exhibits and museums are another way to expand our learning and increase the resources available for students. The incredible resources and digitized copies of great historical works that are available to everyone is astounding (the writings of Charles Darwin, the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, the records of Albert Einstein, and the Magna Carta are just a few examples). Also so many of these resources contain additional links and information that go beyond the basic exhibit.

    One virtual muesum that I have used is the Boston Muesum of Science Virtual Exhibts (http://www.mos.org/events_activities/virtual_exhibits). I always find a wide range of learning opportunities that can be a great foundation for a lesson or extended learning activity.

    Curriki (http://www.curriki.org/) - I have used this site quite often and have found a number of great lessons and resources that I have used on a number of occations. This site also led me to discover the Khan Academy and NROC, which have been very helpful in enhancing my curriculum. The availability of such high quality resources to teachers, and the general public further demonstrates the power of the web.

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  3. These are such rich resources for teachers. Thanks for including the links.
    I was excited about hearing Florence Nightingale's recording. It sounded like a cross of Julia Child and the aliens in Mars Attack. I couldn't understand it. Still so cool though - from a wax cylinder to YouTube.

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