Shift Happens - Did You Know 2.0

An update of the original Shift Happens video can be found on UTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

Mozilla Firefox

Why might you choose Mozilla's Firefox instead of Microsoft Explorer for your Internet browser? Some of the reasons that Firefox is chosen might include:
1. increased security - originally, Firefox was believed to be more secure
(I'm not sure if this is still true),
2. pop-ups were blocked more effectively
3. it is open source which means that it's free, and it can support applications developed by users
(Firfox is created and maintained by a non-profit group)
Check out the Mozilla site for more information
http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/about/whatismozilla.html

Comments

I'm very glad to see that almost all of you have posted a comment on our blog. I'd like to address a few of your comments.
Colleen asked for some riddles for High School level students. I did a search using:
riddles "brain teasers" , and got this site which looks usable for students.
http://www.braingle.com/brainteasers/index.php
Shari says that she cannot use the favorites feature at her school, and must put the links into Word and open the site from there. This works if you click the link in Word using Ctrl-click (hold both keys down together).
Audrey comments on sites slowing down when a whole class tries to use it at the same time. This happens if the site is a smaller one. Servers cannot handle the traffic and slow.
The only solution I can offer is if you can use two sites during class and switch half way. This way only 1/2 the class will be accessing at one time.
I appreciate all of your thoughtful comments, and I'm pleased that you're beginning to use this technlogy.

Find a Site

There are lots of places to find sites for your students. Not all of them are good. We are going to try some that should give you sites that your students can use.
For K-4 students, try Ziggity Zoom, Cyberbee, and KOL Homework Helper.

For grades 4-7, start with KidsClick, Ask for Kids, Awesome Library, and Fact Monster.

High School students can use Awesome Library, Library Spot, & Homework Spot.
All of these can be found on the The Home Page (http://theteachersnet.org ) then click the search link.
Also, be sure to also check the Find a Site link to see a few additional site lists.

Glad You're Here

I'm glad that you're joining the "Internet for Teachers" class. I hope that you are ready to explore the whole range of educational resources and techniques on the Internet; to decide which of these resources might work for your students; to share your expertise with colleagues; and to figure out what your students know that you don't know. Welcome! Mary

Website - Find a Great One

I'd like to call your attention to three additional sites that will help you find good quality sites for your students. They are lists of sites that have been compiled by experts.
The first is geared to K-5 students. It is Ziggity Zoom Best Sites and can be found on my web page under the preschool heading, or just type in the URL http://ziggetyzoom.com/sites.php
The next two can be found on my home page under Tools.
ALA Best Sites for Kids http://www.learnnc.org/lp/external.ala then, click great websites for kids
And last, is: Cyberbee Sites for kids http://cyberbee.com/links/html
I have really enjoyed teaching your class. I have appreciated your willingness to work hard, your sharing with each other, the openness to new ideas, and the expertise that you have graciously shared with me. Have a great Spring! Mary

Comments

Your comments are great. It sounds like the class is providing relevant information, but not enough time to explore. I try to present as much new information as possible in the time available, and to provide additional resources in each area so that you can explore further when you have time. Keep the comments coming. Sign your first name, and post as Anonymous. See me if you need help.

Internet - The Old and The New

Keep those cards and comix coming. I've gotten a lot of them, so it is working.
Monday we will look at the "NEW" web, also called Web 2.0. It's different than the old familiar web that we all know and use. The traditional web is what might be called 'read-only". It contains a lot of sites where information is stored, as well as tools, such as search sites, to allow access to that information. People using the "old" web work independently. It also provides communication in the form of email, chat rooms, discussion forums, etc.
Web 2.0, the "new' web, is regarded as the read-write web. Blogs, wikis, and feed readers are some of the new applications. They allow people to work collaboratively to create new information for the web, and to share this information with users world-wide. Communication can be constant and ongoing. New communication tools include blogs, Flicker, Twitter, etc. The new web has the potential to dramatically change how we create and deliver educational content.

Welcome

Welcome! I hope you come with an open mind, and the enthusiasm to try some new tools and techniques in your classroom. These days, technology, and particularly, the Internet, are changing so quickly that it's a problem for teachers to keep up. Many students, however, are experts are the newer applications .
This class attempts to bring you up-to-date with some of those techniques that your students are using, and also with what other teachers are doing. We'll start with traditional sites and search, and end with Web 2.0 tools like blogs and wikis.