InspireData and Persuasion Map are two tools that I would like to use in my classroom. If I am able to have a few computers in my classroom, the students would most likely prefer to write their essays on it. The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate. Students begin by determining their goal or thesis in a short sentence. They then identify three reasons to support their argument, and three facts or examples to validate each reason. The map graphic in the upper right-hand corner allows students to move around the map, instead of having to work in a linear fashion.
InspireData also caught my attention as a tool I want to utilize because students can use InspireData to investigate, analyze, represent data and information in dynamic graphs and charts. InspireData tools make it easy to change variables and plot types so students can explore data in multiple, meaningful ways. This encourages them to investigate data analytically, ask more questions, and apply their understanding of the data to form better conclusions and continue exploration.
The suggestions made for the learning skills games for vocabulary building is also a new age way of tricking your students into learning vocabulary. Depending on the age of your students, there are plenty of games you can play with your students to foster learning. Incorporating educational concepts into the games they play will assist the children in retaining the information because in the background they are listening to the cues on screen. Depending on the task they have to achieve they will match the corresponding educational goal you have for the students. The students are focused on the action of the game without knowing that they are learning at the same time because the tasks the game has the children's achieve are educationally based.
My big take away form this chapter is for me to learn to view evaluating the websites I use with my students the same way I evaluate the books I use in the classroom. I now know to evaluate everything from the outside links the websites offer to the vocabulary used on the sites as well. I did not think that so much work went into choosing the websites I use as long as the school has the proper filters on their system.This would work for the sites I use in class but not for the sites I assign for outside reading or projects.
I like that you said how the website needs to be viewed as a piece of literature would. Every book I decide to have my class read is chosen with a purpose, to teach them a lesson, or broaden their thoughts. The same effort needs to be put into choosing a website. Usually teachers just choose a website as an add on activity instead of having it be the activity that teaches the students. I agree with you that the persuasion map is very useful when writing an essay.I like to use little strategies like that in my lessons to enhance students learning.
ReplyDeleteI liked your comparison of evaluating websites in the same manner as books. When teaching students how to conduct research, it is imperative to point out that most sources they will encounter convey information from a certain point-of-view. Usually, the authors will make clear the opinions they are attempting to convey but this is not always the case. Sometimes individuals will attempt to pass off their opinions as the truth and manipulate their own work or the work of others to force their agenda and confuse readers who may not be familiar with the topics being discussed. As a result, teachers must provide students with examples of bias so they are not mislead or misdirected by false information. Utilizing divisive or controversial issues is the best way to highlight how bias can skew research and reporting. Examining such an issue from different perspectives is a valuable way to present the ideas of objectivity and subjectivity to students. Additionally, it will help them identify established facts before considering the plethora of different viewpoints accompanying those facts i.e.
ReplyDeleteI like how you mention the chapters idea of evaluating websites. We touched on this briefly in class but I think it is import we as teachers keep recognizing that students need to be technologically literate but we also need to maintain some control and structure to what our students learn
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