Module 2-Digital Citizenship

Search Engines:
Search engines and proper web navigation are a great resource to provide more reliable information about a topic. Being able to use search engines correctly are very beneficial to not only the teachers, but for the students as well. There are two commonly cited types of search engines: Major search engines and Metacrawlers. The "Big 5" search engines are: Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask.com, and AOL. These are the most used search engines in the US. Metacrawlers are programs that use more than one search engine at the same time to locate things. The top five include: Dogpile, Vivisimo, Kartoo, Mamma, and Surfwax. As Roblyer states, "Search Engines can be used in several different ways, depending on how you want to narrow the search"(pg. 183). This points out that when you or your students are using search engines, you should make sure to use keywords to narrow down your searches. This way, you will only receive useful resources.

Website Evaluation Video:

This short video is a great example on evaluating websites when deciding what resources to use. The video states to use the "5 W's: Who, What, When, Where, Why" Who put the website up/is the author? What information does this website give? When was the site created? Where did the author get his or her information? Why is this information useful? This would be a purposeful video for the students to use when they are deciding what websites they should use.

Favorite Professional Websites:
www.readingrockets.org- This is a website that has become popular among first year teachers. It provides teachers with good advice and resources available. It allows several modules on a variety of subjects and helps to prepare teachers. All of the information is the most current. This site also provides sufficient information on multiple topics you wish to search.

alex. state.al.us- This is probably the most popular website among teachers in the state of Alabama. This website contains all of the standards needed to be met for each grade, subject, and time of the year. This website has all of the current information, the site is complete, and all of the content is free from typos and misspellings. The pages load quickly and every page shows clearly how to navigate to parts of the site.

Online Safety and Security:
Online safety should be the first thing that teachers teach their students before they use the internet. Robyler (2016) states, "In addition to its benefits, the online world also has its share of society-wide debates, problems, and controversies. In many ways, it is a reflection of the best and worst qualities of our society". There are many dangers when it comes to using the internet, online predators, sales pitches aimed at children, privacy issues, cyberbullying, and email attachments with viruses. Students should be aware of these dangers and teachers should make sure that the students always take these in account when they are using the internet and should take the correct precautions. I believe that teachers make sure that the students know what is appropriate and inappropriate, as well as, what to do when something happens that should not.

"Basic Three" Software Tools

Word Processing Software 
As a teacher, using a word processing software would save a lot of time and it is something that most teachers are comfortable and confident using. Roblyer (2016) said, "Since it is a value as an aid to teaching and learning in universally acknowledged, word processing have become the most commonly used software in education." (pg. 114). It is something that will save time for teachers, it enhances document appearance, allows sharing of documents, allows collaboration on documents, and it also supports student writing and language learning (pg. 114-115). This gives teachers the opportunity to share and edit documents among one another year after year. This is something that benefits the students, as well. They are able to practice using technology that is crucial in the 21st century.
While it is important that students are up to date on technology, it is still just as important to practice handwriting the old fashion way. If students become too dependent on word processing documents, then they will also become too dependent on spell check and typed documents, as opposed to, their handwritten documents.

Spreadsheet Software
Spreadsheet is another important software tool that many teachers use everyday. They provide perfect visuals for students, as well as, great organization skills for teachers. Spreadsheets save time, organize displays of information, support asking "what if" questions, and increase motivation to work with mathematics (pg. 121). As a teacher, I would use spreadsheet to model math problems. This would make math more fun for the students and would benefit those visual learners, as well as, the hands-on learners. Students would be allowed to create their own spreadsheets and learn how to operate this software, that will benefit the students in the future.
One issue that could arise with this specific software would be that the students view the math more complicated than what it really is. They can see it as more of a challenge instead of a helpful tool. It is crucial for teachers to make sure that students understand how to operate and read the spreadsheets before they incorporate it into their lesson.

Presentation Software
As a teacher, I would use presentation software as a visual aid for my students. This would also be a good source to use as a checklist/agenda for the students to see what all they have completed for the day and what they have left to do. Presentation software work well for presenting information summaries, demonstrating materials for discussion, presenting illustrative problems and solutions, presenting assessments, and presenting book reports (pg. 131). Students are able to use them to present individual projects, as well as, group projects. Roblyer said, "Having learners become the designers and experts of content, in the end presenting their work to the class, can serve as a powerful technology integration lesson for any domain of learning" (pg. 132). This gives the students practice with technology and presenting in front of people. This also allows the teacher to assess the student(s) and see where they are academically and technical.
One issue that could arise with the presentation software would be the chance that students do not save their work or their presentation not working in general. There is always that chance with technology, but I believe that with the proper training and a back up plan, it will be very beneficial.

Classroom Use-Presentation Software
The software that I cannot wait to use in my classroom in the presentation software. I love that there are many different options that can benefit the teacher and the students. I will use this as a checklist so that the students know where we are through the day. They will know exactly what to expect next. This is a great tool to teach time management. I also feel that students will work more proficiently when they know what they have to finish in order to move on to the next.

I have attached a youtube video of the benefits of using technology in a classroom. It shows how well students respond to technology.

References:

Robylyer, M.D. (2016) Integrating educational technology into teaching (7th Edition).  [Yuzu] 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8ftIlmCOZw