Cybersmart! Researching The Internet Wisely

I really found this video to be very informative. I totally agree with everything they are saying. One of the most important things I tell my students is that just because its on the internet doesn't make it correct. We can't send the students to Yahoo and have them research. An interesting point they make is that books are edited for the most part...websites not so much. Also, as teachers we have to provide interesting websites for our students to follow. We can't expect them to read a 42 page document of John Locke and answer 5 questions. Kids need action and adventure. We also need to teach the kids how to navigate the web and how to search through the different websites to find the truest answers.

YouTube blocked?? Try TeacherTube!!

Many (if not all) school districts have software installed that blocks certain websites from being accessed by either teachers, students, or both. YouTube is one of the most popular sites available on the internet. Because of the wide variety of videos--educational and otherwise--posted on YouTube, many disctricts have the site blocked to prevent faculty and students from wasting computer time and space on the network. This has been a problem for me in the past because there are some great videos on YouTube that can be used in my Social Studies classes. I kissed my troubles goodbye when I discovered TeacherTube. It is basically "YouTube for Teachers." I show Schoolhouse Rock videos, Ignite Learning videos, and perhaps my favorite--video projects that students have done in classrooms just like mine and uploaded to the internet. My kids love it. I think the only reason that my students know anything about the American Revolution is because of "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" video I played for them everyday for two weeks. I still hear them singing it in the hallway two months later. And the video projects from other students just like them give them ideas and inspiration to do projects of their own. There are videos on a variety of subjects and I feel as thought this website can be a great tool for any classroom. TeacherTube.com is a life saver!