Wikis are here--use them to go paperless!

Trust me, if I can set up this blog, you all can set up class wikis. To get a feel for all that you can do with a wiki, go to 43 folders, a wiki for Cornell notes. Then, go to the Teachers First tutorial on Wiki Ideas for the Classroom. This tutorial will walk you through setting up a wiki, and ideas for using it in the classroom, and what your students can gain from using wikis. I do think using wikis and blogs can help us save paper, increase student response to assignments, etc. For example, let's say you require your students to each read and respond to 4 health-related (or science, or civics) current events per semester. Instead of running off each current event, (sometimes with 2 to 3 sheets per event), you could set up a current events wiki or blog. Each student would be required to post a link to each article, (like I do here) then annotate that link (sort of what I do here, but better). Students could then respond to that post in comments. You will have to remember that links to current news events will go down quickly, as major news sources charge for archives. Instead of posting a link, the student could post the article in MLA format, with the link, then the annotation. Students, or you, could find the archived article in the magazine database at www.ncwiseowl.org. Remember, if Lucy and Ethel can blog and wiki, so can you.

FREE, and I mean FREE online reference sources

I have been sent a link for a remarkable set of free online reference sources. This page links to free online reference websites that our students can use instead of blithely searching the Internet! Click on this title for ALA's website of Best Free Reference Websites.

Another great website!

As you are looking for resources for next semester, check out TeachersFirst. This website is packed with links to many, many resources, lesson plans, tech articles, teacher tools, etc. I have linked you to a page that lists the web links by subject and grade level, but once you are there, click on the tabs at the top of the site to find even more great info and links!

Have you had something del.ci.ious today?

I want to introduce you to a new web tool I am using called del.icio.us (pronounced delicious). So far, I am a beginner at using this tool, and am only using it to hold my bookmarks, but I really love it. I promise you, if I can figure out how to use it, anyone can! I have installed del.icio.us on my computer here and at home, and it pops a nifty toolbar in my Explorer bar. Now, when I go to a site I want to visit again, I just click the TAG button. Del.icio.us can bring up my bookmarks no matter what computer I am on--here, school, the public library, Paris (I wish). I could also share my bookmarks with all users, or a group of users. To read more about it, check out this informative article at PBS' Learning Source. It goes into more detail on all the things you can do with your del.icio.us account!

Websites to guide student research

I have found several websites I'd like to share that help guide students through the research process.

Springfield Township High School Virtual Library Research Guide
IMSA Full Circle Resource Kit
CRLS Research Guide
ODU Libraries Idea Generator
Oregon School Library Information System

Google Workshop for Faculty

I'll be having a faculty workshop on Google on February 7th, 2007 during each planning bell and after school. I will teach you skills that will amaze and amuse you and your friends and family! I will teach you how to set up a Google account (which you need to post to my blogs), set up a personalized Google search page, advanced Google searches, and other amazing feats! This will take up the entire planning bell--but you will leave here with extraordinary Googling abilities!