I was so excited when this topic showed up. I perused several topics before I was able to find something I could use. I searched wood crafting, beginner photographer and then just crafts. I was unimpressed with the results. Clicking on the tabs didn't help. I didn't find the long list of descriptions helpful. I wish it was more like the periodicals and indexed that way. Thinking in regards to my 8th grade students, I might just be cautious in having them investigate with this source. for personal use it is nice to know it is there, but I don't necessarily find it applicable to my classroom. Of course, I know that is not all MARVEL is for, but that is my life.
Eventually I found baking ideas through the topics tab. I was thinking of Thanksgiving baking and looked for any new recipes I could try on the family! Found some! I sent the article that had 2 'new' choice desserts to my e-mail so I can use them for preparing for the holiday.
When I used the help tab, I saw listed MANY topics on the left hand column. I found that there are certain search techniques such as Boolean which could have helped me find my initial topics' information to my satisfaction. Live and learn on a daily basis!
I also learned there is a 24/7 Help desk should I really need to find something I found impossible to discover on my own through diligence and lots of reading.
Don't let this resource replace Pinterest in your life! lol!!!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Newspapers Exploration
1. The tutorial was helpful. I spent time looking through the sources and wished all this was available when I taught Maine Studies. I would have much rather had students use these sources than the Dirigo, I lead text. lol!!
2. This week I decided to use the exploration through newspapers to investigate the meningitis outbreak across the country. Knowing that the compounding facility was in New England peaked my curiosity to research why so many people were getting injections and how it would be possible to have infected steroids. I was able to search and narrow the topic down from 58,000 to 28 articles by using the various options. I can see how students can get hung up on language and not be able to narrow topics just based on a word or two. One has to be quite creative to get exactly what you need. I plan to work with the students very closely at this point so they can see the differences a word makes. I can see how this is going to be very valuable in my classes when I begin research for support on debate topics later on in the year. Students will also need to find support on timely topics addressed throughout the newspapers and use the information to persuade an audience through a public speech. What a MARVELOUS source!
3. I simple saved the search.
4. I responded to my friend's posts. She finds this very usable for a very practical reason...information on worldly events. She will use the information as she fortunately follows several students during the day.
4. I spend a great deal of time talking about the difficulties with blogging. Several staff members in my school are part of this invitational and we all struggle some. I've assisted one cohort by guiding her through signing on, another by encouraging her to breathe and understand that this is a new learning experience that may take time, and many times by team partner comments with several ways that we can use these sources in our classrooms which leads to a better collaboration and confirmation that we are both thinking the same things.
2. This week I decided to use the exploration through newspapers to investigate the meningitis outbreak across the country. Knowing that the compounding facility was in New England peaked my curiosity to research why so many people were getting injections and how it would be possible to have infected steroids. I was able to search and narrow the topic down from 58,000 to 28 articles by using the various options. I can see how students can get hung up on language and not be able to narrow topics just based on a word or two. One has to be quite creative to get exactly what you need. I plan to work with the students very closely at this point so they can see the differences a word makes. I can see how this is going to be very valuable in my classes when I begin research for support on debate topics later on in the year. Students will also need to find support on timely topics addressed throughout the newspapers and use the information to persuade an audience through a public speech. What a MARVELOUS source!
3. I simple saved the search.
4. I responded to my friend's posts. She finds this very usable for a very practical reason...information on worldly events. She will use the information as she fortunately follows several students during the day.
4. I spend a great deal of time talking about the difficulties with blogging. Several staff members in my school are part of this invitational and we all struggle some. I've assisted one cohort by guiding her through signing on, another by encouraging her to breathe and understand that this is a new learning experience that may take time, and many times by team partner comments with several ways that we can use these sources in our classrooms which leads to a better collaboration and confirmation that we are both thinking the same things.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Research-Research-Research!
Week 2
I find myself unsure which of the assignments I should respond to. I chose Lesson 2a Britannica School edition for Middle School. In discovery, I found that indeed the articles for elementary were very simplistic and unfortunately could easily be copied instead of utilized for research in the traditional sense. One (the teacher) needs to be clever in requiring research skills to be used other than just read, copy and present as own at any level. I've realized that at all levels, the research question needs to be specific as was our question to 'find a picture and information on the mammal's habitat' at both elementary and middle school level. Middle School changed to Compton's by Britannica, I noticed. I've found that to be very simplistic, but given our students' reading levels it is adequate for most. I liked creating and using work space for the notes, but was limited in total characters I could include... a very good lesson for all of us to relay to the students. I was able to modify and include all I needed.
The help button/section was one I should spend more time with. It is full of ways to use Britannica that I can initiate with my students once research begins. I fully understand why Britannica and MARVEL will be essential for research in my classroom as they provide soooo much valuable skill development activities pertinent to the task!
To be continued......
I find myself unsure which of the assignments I should respond to. I chose Lesson 2a Britannica School edition for Middle School. In discovery, I found that indeed the articles for elementary were very simplistic and unfortunately could easily be copied instead of utilized for research in the traditional sense. One (the teacher) needs to be clever in requiring research skills to be used other than just read, copy and present as own at any level. I've realized that at all levels, the research question needs to be specific as was our question to 'find a picture and information on the mammal's habitat' at both elementary and middle school level. Middle School changed to Compton's by Britannica, I noticed. I've found that to be very simplistic, but given our students' reading levels it is adequate for most. I liked creating and using work space for the notes, but was limited in total characters I could include... a very good lesson for all of us to relay to the students. I was able to modify and include all I needed.
The help button/section was one I should spend more time with. It is full of ways to use Britannica that I can initiate with my students once research begins. I fully understand why Britannica and MARVEL will be essential for research in my classroom as they provide soooo much valuable skill development activities pertinent to the task!
To be continued......
Marvel R US: #1
Marvel R US: This is my first involvement with MARVEL. I can't ...: This is my first involvement with MARVEL. I can't believe I had not known before now of such a great research tool. I'm looking forward to l...
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
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