Kendra Watterson

Google This! The Research Process Revisited By understanding how to best utilize Google's tools and algorithms, students can better understand how to utilize the system and have more effective searches and research. 10 top tips for searching are presented for how to broaden and/or specify your search results. There is a difference between "researching" and "googling" and the breakdown of how to use google for research is given. Three things I learned: 1) It's sometimes easier to find information and teach skills through Google Image search due to how visual it is and its easily accessible search tools (color sorting, date sorting, file type, etc). 2) There's a difference between research and googling. You can use google to research, but that involves more developed and intentional searching skills to be developed. It's important to develop these skills in students. 3) You can sort by source sites (based in a different country, etc) by ...

"Facilitating a Class Twitter Chat" The article describes how to effectively utilize a twitter chat for a classroom, with tips for pre-chat planning, implementation, and post-chat planning. Chats can be used to track a hashtag, provide immediate feedback, increase student discussion, and teach digital literacy. 3 things I learned: 1) Be sure to communicate with parents what you're doing and provide and opt-out assignments for students with concerned parents. 2) Clearly communicate the goal and purpose of the chat, but encourage student input on proper chat behavior 3) Make sure students understand how to use the forum and provide resources or teach them as necessary I participated in a twitter chat and slack forum in a college class this year and it was a fantastic class discussion and learning tool. I would love to stay open to the idea of using a tech forum for discussion, especially as I plan on teaching high school. Understanding broader ramifications (like p...