Thing 1 and other comments

OK, I have gone way too long without posting a blog here. I have been busy and have just completed reading the materials for "Thing 1". So without further comment or excuses, I would like to comment on the items I read for "Thing 1" and ask a few questions regarding a project I am trying to get organized.

I did not write down all of the questions prior to logging on to this blog, so I will attempt to answer the questions I did write down and those that I do not complete today I will finish off this week.

Regarding the question: What do you think of the Blog? (or something to that effect):

I have to say that I do not feel that comfortable blogging. I haven't taken the time to do "Thing 1" before today, and I didn't really know what to blog about other than that. Additionally, I am not a very extroverted person by nature and I don't really like exposing my thoughts and feelings in such an open forum. I do not have a Facebook or Myspace account and I do not plan on creating one at anytime in the near future. I probably says a lot about my age, having grown up before the computer revolution, but that's the way I see it.

Regarding the evolution of the Blog in general, I feel that it's growth (did I read that there is one new blog created every second, or half second?) is really mind boggling to me. I have read very few online blogs before joining this class, although I do read the printed blog comments that are featured in the Star/Tribune editorial pages regularly. I am sure that this is because I haven't taken the time to investigate them. This was one of the reasons I signed up for this class. I knew that there were new tools on the web but I didn't know much about them.

How do all these things fit together? Or don't they?

I think they do fit together. Information literacy is, as I recall, without having the definition written down, the ability to incorporate new technology tools avialable online to gather reliable research data and compile the data as well as communicate that data. It is an attempt to help students understand the many tools on Web 2.0 and classroom 2.o to help them become lifelong learners, and to "learn how to learn."

I am not sure that I really understand the Web 2.0 or the Classroom 2.0, but I gather that they are structured in a very open ended fashion; the student researches the information and uses these tools to create their own website on a particular topic ("Students are content creators") using the Web 2.0. The problem, it seems to me, is that students do not know the difference between reliable and false/inaccurate information, especially when they use such search engines as Wikipedia as the final authority on any and all topics. I did find the Washington Post article interesting in stating that the evolution of the web has not necessarily fostered more knowledge and understanding of the world, but many times it has led to a lot of misinformation. I would have thought the opposite. So, how do we teach studnets to use only the reliable sources of information? This is something I need some training in!!!

How do you gather, interpret, organize and store information? How do your students do it?

Well, obviously, I need some training in how to do all of these things. I have traditionally used books, and online databases that feature newspaper, periodical articles, and other research tools offered through the Chaska High School Media Center (i.e. SIRS, Opposing Viewpoints, etc.) I think students, even though I ask that they do not, will run to Wikpedia first and use that as the main source of their information. This is an area where I need to work the hardest on, so that I can help them do the same.

I was heartened a bit when I read the article "Students as content creators: Consequence of Literacies (?) They emphasized the importance of gaining technology literacy skills in a students' college education, but also said that very few colleges are offering any kind of comprehensive program to teach these skills to the students. My take on this article is that I am not the only educator that needs some "education" on these literacy skills.

Is the definition of Information Literacy enough? (this is not the exact question, I know, but I think this is generally it.)

The definition gives one a good start at grasping the idea, but to really be "Literate" is so much bigger than the definition provides!! There are so many online tools that I have perused in the short time I have exposed myself to them that I am truly overwhelmed. I can't imagine how a person can become truly literate without years of study and an almost daily exposure to these developments and the new tools that will emerge rapidly. It is truly a lifelong commitment to keep up with these developments.

I think these are most of the questions I was asked to address. I have a better understanding of their overall structure and some of the implications for education as a result of having read the articles, etc. But, at the same time, it has created more questions than answers!

If anyone has read this all, I am sorry!! I feel as if I have droned on too long. But I will post a query, without having investigated this tool enough myself: Is it pretty quick and easy to learn about Google docs, and present it to my students, so they can use it to put together a project on the upcoming election?

Thanks!!!