Entry Three: Web Search Engines

When working with web search engines, in my opinion they are a little more difficult to use that the periodical databases. This is because you get so many different results, some may think that would be better because it is more information, but some of the results that come up do not revolve around the topic that you are doing research on they may only mention one of your keywords once or twice in the whole site. This means that you are spending unnecessary time reading through information that will not help you out in the long run. I think it is important that students learn how to use search engines because they can be helpful, depending on what you are looking for. If you are looking for just everyday information it is easier to use a search engine that will give you many different sources, but when it comes to articles that have been licensed and needed to be completely proven and up to date, unlike websites that can go months or even years without being updated, then using a database is the better pick. During this unit I learned so much about search engines and how there are many different pro's and con's to using them, you need to make sure when you are looking up information that you know what type of information you are going to need whether it be licensed or just everyday information.

Article: Kabakci, Isil, et al. "Opinions Of Teachers On Using Internet Searching Strategies: An Elementary School Case In Turkey." Online Submission(2010): ERIC. Web. 26 July 2015.

                      http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED537713

Website: http://www.kidtopia.info

Entry Two: Licensed Periodical Databases

When it comes to licensed periodical databases, I think that once someone goes over all the different things that you can do with it and how using different tools within it can change the results that you get on the specific topic, whether it be the amount of results or the quality on how closely they are related to the main topic that you are looking to get more information on. The reason using databases in the classroom is so important is that when student start to work on research projects, all they have to do is go to one specific place and find multiple sources that relate to what you are looking for. This causes less distraction because the students are on a site that only will give them articles and journals etc. and not just looking up on the web and finding websites that have games and not much information.  My experience using the databases in the past has been scarce, but after this week learning how to more effectively use them when trying to find articles, journals, etc. (using the Boolean search terms) really will make my future education and the needs of my future students a lot easier.

Article: Levetan, Janice. "In Comparison: Apples And Oranges And Lemons? Online Elementary Periodical Indices." Library Talk 12.4 (1999): 38-40. ERIC. Web. 26 July 2015.
  
 http://web.a.ebscohost.com.baypath.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?sid=a3fd6ed6-e8ce-4bc3-9018-33d653d8e509%40sessionmgr4002&vid=13&hid=4106&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=eric&AN=EJ593558

Website: https://www.library.yale.edu/researcheducation/pdfs/Searching_Evaluating_Resources.pdf

Compares the web with databases - # of hits, relevance, etc.

Entry One: Blog Unit

When it comes to blogs I really do think that they are an important educational tool. This is because this gives the students a place to answer questions or reply to posts given by the teacher and help them feel like they are not going to be judged on their wording or their answer because the teacher is the only one that has the ability to read the post. I have not had the ability to use a blog in a classroom since I am currently not working in one, but thinking back to when I was in school I think that it would have been so much easier for me to use a blog or something like it because I was always nervous that if I got an answer wrong people would make fun of me. After learning more about blogging, I think it is kind of like what we do here on Canvas, by replying to teachers prompts on a regular basis. 

Article: Lou, Shi-Jer, et al. "Effects Of Applying Blogs To Assist Life Education Instruction For Elementary School Students." Turkish Online Journal Of Educational Technology - TOJET 12.4 (2013): 41-55. ERIC. Web. 26 July 2015.

                 http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1018031

Website: http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml