Evaluating Educational Resources W301

What is learning? / Does Google make us stupid???

What is learning today (w/ tech)? / Cognition and emotions in meaning / Increase ability to do things / Connect specialized nodes or information sources / Know where to find information / Learning happens in different ways: textbooks, s, communities, conversations, web search, reading blogs. / Cognition and emotions in meaning / Increase ability to do things / Connect specialized nodes or information sources / Know where to find information / Learning happens in different ways: textbooks, s, communities, conversations, web search, reading blogs.

What is learning today? / Different approaches and personal skills are needed / Multiple perspectives / Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) / Decision making: choose what to learn and the meaning of the incoming information / A knowledge creation process, not only knowledge consumption. / Different approaches and personal skills are needed / Multiple perspectives / Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) / Decision making: choose what to learn and the meaning of the incoming information / A knowledge creation process, not only knowledge consumption.

What are Educational Resources? / There are many kinds of resources available to you: / Productivity Resources are tools that you can use in lesson planning and grading to make you a more efficient teacher / For example, gradebook software, lesson plan engines, and worksheet generators / Educational Resources are software and web resources that you can use actively with your students / There are many kinds of resources available to you: / Productivity Resources are tools that you can use in lesson planning and grading to make you a more efficient teacher / For example, gradebook software, lesson plan engines, and worksheet generators / Educational Resources are software and web resources that you can use actively with your students

Educational Resources Formats / Educational Resources can come in a variety of forms: / Websites that are designed for use by your students / Software products that you can use in your classroom / Educational Resources can come in a variety of forms: / Websites that are designed for use by your students / Software products that you can use in your classroom

Why Evaluate These Resources? / Just because resources are “published” - either by a software company or by an individual - does not mean they are appropriate for classroom use / To help you focus on the main points with educational resources, we are going to ask three questions… / Just because resources are “published” - either by a software company or by an individual - does not mean they are appropriate for classroom use / To help you focus on the main points with educational resources, we are going to ask three questions…

/ Is the resource Accurate ? / Is the resource Appropriate ? / Is the resource Aligned with state content standards? / Is the resource Accurate ? / Is the resource Appropriate ? / Is the resource Aligned with state content standards?

Accurate / Is the information current? / Is the information accurate? / Who is the author? / Does the author have expertise related to the content? / Does the author project bias? / Is the author a teacher? / Is the information current? / Is the information accurate? / Who is the author? / Does the author have expertise related to the content? / Does the author project bias? / Is the author a teacher?

Appropriate / What is the intended grade level and content area for the resource? / Is the reading level appropriate? / Does the content provide enough detail regarding the topic? / Is the use of media appropriate? / Do things load well? / Do they not distract or detract from the content? / Is the resource designed to be used BY students? / What is the intended grade level and content area for the resource? / Is the reading level appropriate? / Does the content provide enough detail regarding the topic? / Is the use of media appropriate? / Do things load well? / Do they not distract or detract from the content? / Is the resource designed to be used BY students?

Aligned / Is the resource aligned to state standards? Or can it be? / Does the resource give the opportunity to foster skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and reading? / A resource itself may only present an opportunity for alignment, based on how you use it. / Is the resource aligned to state standards? Or can it be? / Does the resource give the opportunity to foster skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and reading? / A resource itself may only present an opportunity for alignment, based on how you use it.

Lets Look at an Example / / Accurate? / Appropriate? / Aligned? / / Accurate? / Appropriate? / Aligned?

Now let’s find video or other multimedia production examples / Based on the criteria of evaluating educational resources and your thoughts about how the video facilitates learning, provide comments for your teammates’ videos. / General comments on : What is good and what is bad about the video. (but be specific) / Based on the criteria of evaluating educational resources and your thoughts about how the video facilitates learning, provide comments for your teammates’ videos. / General comments on : What is good and what is bad about the video. (but be specific)