Alan November Chapter 4 & 5

Chapter 4: Accessing Primary Sources to Enhance Critical Thinking

Teaching students to know how to search for primary sources is very important. The information available is overwhelming, so if we teach our students to be able to find accurate information it would be helpful to them. The learning will be more authentic as well. We as teachers should help the students become critical thinkers when searching for primary sources. In the chapter Alan recommends some questions to use when teachers are observing students using primary sources:

• Do students understand the definition of primary source?
• Do students have the skills to document the source of the primary source?
• Do students have a well-defined search strategy? 
• Do students know when to use different search engines and databases?
• Do students have the ability to make meaning from the primary sources that they found? 
• Are the students easily distracted or do the stay on task?
• Do different students have different strategies?
• Where are students struggling?
• Where are they delighted?
• Are they using their imagination (ex. asking "what if" questions"?
• Which students are taking the lead?
• What is the role of the instructor when student(s) ask for help?
• Are students working well together?

When reading this chapter Alan mentioned a website called www.archives.gov/education, it is a great site to look for primary sources. I think it is a great source to diigo.

Chapter 5: Online Learning

Online learning has become so popular lately. It works well for many adults who have to work and go to school at the same time. Since 2001, online learning has increased. However, online learning is not for everyone. It depends on the person. Online learning is different, there is still involvement of the parent, teacher and school. However, some roles change. In the classroom teachers manage the learning, however in online learning, the students manage the learning. Alan says that some students have said that teachers give more feedback through online learning. I think online learning is great for the right people. However, I also agree that we need the social aspect of school. I think that online learning can be part of our school learning. Online learning should always be an option because not everyone will succeed.

Alan describes a successful student as:

• Motivated to take the class
• Self-disciplined and responsible
• Able to work independently
• Has parental support

Alan describes a successful online teachers as:

• Think out of the box
• Are certified to teach in the state
• Have four or five years of classroom experience
• Have not taught the same course year after year
• Like students
• Are willing to learn and apply what they learn to teaching students
• Are not technophobes or techies
• Devotes time and energy to teaching online
• Is available to students
• Is creative and willing to experiment
• Breaks down curricula into clearly organized, clearly explained smaller units
• Focuses on concepts, not class periods
• Integrates curricula

Alan also mentions that Scotland is building/built a nationwide online learning platform and I decided to look it up. The name of the website is Glow. I thought it was very interesting because they have everything in one location for parents, educators and students. This page gives you more information on what it is and how to use it. 

Alan November Videos

After reading the book and watching the video clip Kelly had shared with us, I decided to look him up and see what other ones would come up.

This first video was at a School where he gave a workshop to parents talking about the 3 Skills Students Need to Succeed. The year was 2007 but I feel like these skills still apply.

What did you think of the video? Do you think these are skills students need to succeed in 2012? 

Here is another video in which Alan talks about Who Owns the Websites Your Kids Access? I felt that this video went along with what we learned about in Empowering Students with Technology. Again this video is from 2007.

What did you think of this video? 

This last video is about Technology Changing the Role of the Learner. This was recorded in 2009 but I believe still applies in 2012. 

What do you think? Has the role of the learner changed? Do you agree with his explanation?

Alan November Chapter 1-3

Chapter 1 Teaching and Learning the Structure of Information:

Alan November begins chapter one with saying that the internet is an open space where people can express any version of the truth. Therefore we need to teach the students how to evaluate the websites and the information they are using. He introduces MAPping a plan we can use to help students access information they need and make meaning of  it. MAP stands for: 

Meta-web information

Authors
Purpose
Students need to learn how to evaluate the website address, the author and why the website was created. When reading this I couldn't believe how important this is and yet I do not see it happening. Unless it is happening in the upper grades. Not only do I think it is important for students now to learn this but also adults. His ideas go along with the NETS for teachers and students.

Chapter 2 Empowering Learning by Expanding Relationships:

Alan begins with speaking about how educators need to help students be information literate and communications literate. With technology we are able to communicate with others. There are some great tools we can use in our classroom as a learning opportunity and way for students to become communications literate. One tool Alan talks about is Skype. You can use Skype in different ways in the classroom. Teachers can pair students up to work together on a project from different schools, states, towns or countries. Work as a group to research information from other people globally. Ask an expert about information they are studying about. Teachers can setup an a couple hours in the evening for homework help through Skype (rules should be placed). Including students who are not able to come to school because of an illness or accidents, etc. The students would be able to participate in class through Skype. Alan also believe that technology will help us with the school to family connections. Parents will be able to know what is happening in the schools. Alan gave a great example of what a district did for their families since there was a digital divide. They asked for a grant and the parents were able to connect through a modem. The parents and students loved the idea. This would be great if it could happen in every district. There will be more authentic applications of practicing a skill if we use the communication tools. The last idea I found interesting in this chapter was publishing students work on the web. I have seen this before but I would love to try to implement it. The students will feel important.

Check out Thinkquest- a website that holds students projects.

Chapter 3 Emerging Roles within the Knowledge Community:

Teachers are to learn that changes are good. It is okay to change roles. As teachers we want to teach them, however we need to let the students take hold of their own learning. They should own their learning to a certain point. As teachers we can guide them through it. This chapter reminded me of the NETS for teachers and students. Students are to become critical thinkers and solve their problems.

Alan has some great advice for educators. Through my experience students are motivated with technology. I hope that we will all be able to integrate it more with our teaching and not make it separate. I hope that the focus of standardized testing will diminish and we can help our students become critical thinkers. With these ideas I feel like the students will enjoy to learn again.