Evaluating Websites

The internet is so accessible these days that almost anyone can post anything on the internet. With so many student projects that require internet use, I want to make sure that my students are finding reliable information. These websites are a great way to help students sort through the bad websites. If I end up teaching 5th or 6th grade classes, I would post these criteria for reliable websites around the classroom so students can constantly view how to judge a websites reliability and when not to trust a website. I've learned a lot through these websites, especially the Duke website, and will apply these to my own life while doing research!

Evaluating Websites

 Duke University Libraries has a great website concerning evaluating how reliable websites are. This site is very helpful because it considers the following criteria:

• Authority
• Purpose/Intended Audience
• Currency
• Objectivity
• Support

The website is accessible and easy to read. It not only goes beyond explaining the definition of these criteria, but it goes into depth about strategies the author of the website may have used to trick the researcher into believing the website is reliable. For instance, with currency, Duke Libraries discusses how a recent date does not necessarily mean the website is up to date. The last update may have just been the author fixing a typo or updating an email address. Overall, this is a great website and I will continue to use these criteria to judge the reliability of websites!

 http://library.duke.edu/services/instruction/libraryguide/evalwebpages.html

Wikis

I love wikis! I think they are an amazing idea. There are so many different ways that we could use wikis in the classroom. I like the idea of using wikis as a "showcase" for students' work. Parents love to see how their children are doing and this would be a great way to show off their work! I also think wikis are a great tool in college. Working on study guides and papers as a group are usually difficult with so many files, but using this is a phenomenal way to eliminate all the extra files. Students can easily add on without having to go through so many emails. Using wikis was something new to me, but it was very easy to pick up on. I didn't have any problems with creating a new page or editing another student's page. I like how easy it is to add pictures, links, and documents. It is also a great way to get to know other student's in your class!

Learning Expectations For This Course

I'm excited for this class! I've always liked technology and I want to learn how I can incorporate it into the classroom. I want to learn more about things I've never used like wikis, blogs, and podcasts. I also want to learn how those can be helpful in the classroom. I am a little nervous about getting behind somehow and losing foundation on how to do something. Technology is very step by step, so I always need to pay close attention! I also want to learn new things in regards to technology. I've used macs since I can remember, so that shouldn't be a problem- but I want to learn more than just the basic things!

About Me

I am from Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. I came to UT on a complete whim for warm weather and a big football school. I am a psychology major and an elementary education minor. I want to teach first or second grade! I volunteered at inner city schools throughout high school and that’s really my passion. If teaching younger children doesn’t work out then I want to go back and get my masters in psychology and take that route. I also wouldn’t mind living in a place with warm weather!