EDCI 5825 Week 2

Hi Everyone!

1.) This weeks reading, I thought, was extremely insightful about the ways to decode the Internet. I had never previously understood much of the information in regards to the ways in which the Internet works. Therefore, I believe that a part of being information literate means a person has to be able to understand the tools used to decode Internet sites and search engines and how to utilize these tools. By acquiring the skills to understand the process behind making a website, links in and to a website, Web addresses, the credibility of a website or person, and how to filter out inappropriate WebPages, shows that a person has a lot of knowledge on the information inside the Internet and how to use it. Just like the example that the text gave about Zack, if Zack understood just the fundamentals of a web address, he would have been able to question the web site automatically, and therefore would have been more information literate! I know there are so many times when I am doing research for a research paper in school that I tend focus on if it has a “.edu” or not, and never fully realized that the “.edu” can’t be the only thing I look at anymore for credibility! Has anyone else ever had that mentality?

2.) Along with utilizing the tools to decode Internet sites and credibility, a teacher and student should be able to determine the site’s purpose and look into ways to find out if the information given is credible and accurate. Teachers can show students the importance of cross referencing sources, and teaching them what it means to be information literate, as I described earlier. Using the MAPing technique would be a great evaluation tool for something like Wikipedia. The students would get a deeper look at the information by examining the Meta-web information, authors, and purpose. Because Wikipedia can be easily edited by any person that feels they have information that can be put on there, students have to understand that even if the website is monitored, it doesn’t mean everything is truth. Teachers should make sure their students are challenging the credibility of Internet sites, like Wikipedia, to make sure it is an appropriate resource.

3.) Similarities between the four instructional models of Internet use:
1. They help students with conceptual understandings
2. Shows students strategies for using resources on the internet
3. Provides ways of constructivist teaching and learning opportunities
4. Each instructional model will contribute to the fast growing changes in acquiring information and connections to vast parts of the world

Differences:
1. The complexity of each instructional model, and how simple or challenging each one is
2. Internet Workshop directly relates to using information found and comparing it with peers in the same classroom
3. The WebQuest is geared towards teachers developing curriculum resources, where as Internet Project allows students to connect with not just their peers but other classes around the world. (2 & 3 have different collaboration results)
4. WebQuest is for teachers to use and come up with curriculum that can then be shared and connected to others. So the instructional models have different uses.

Hope everyone is having a great day!