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.