Digital+Resources

flat
= NETS*T for Digital Resources = = =

**1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity**
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers... .....a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness .....b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources .....c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes .....d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers... .....a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity .....b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress .....c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers... .....a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations .....b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation .....c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats .....d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

** 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility **
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers... .....a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources .....b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources .....c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

** 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers... .....b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others .....c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning .....d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

= Digital Resources in Otto-Eldred =

A Librarian's Interview
.....Well, I guess I am sort of cheating since I am the librarian and I will be answering these questions myself!  .....As with most districts these days, resources which cost money are fairly limited. We do have access to "Power Library", and our access is a direct link. There are a couple issues with using it however. They have an image database, which I am very interested in for digital projects with students, but every image, without exception, within the database is blocked. You can access specific images through articles, but not to use the database. As far as being a resource, I feel there are better ones out there.  .....At present we also have access to Discovery Education. Personally, I LOVE Discovery. Their archives are quite extensive and varied. Their teacher support tools are excellent and everything always works - I've never run into something blocked by our filter! The bad thing is that we don't have student accounts. As a teacher it is great, but as a practical resource for students it is not, unless I log in myself on every computer. We were recently told that we THINK there is a generic student account that our students could share, but no one remembers what the log in information is on it. That's helpful.  .....The only other resource we have available to us is the library's circulation and cataloging program called Destiny. It offers some awesome tools for teachers and students, geared toward research. Our problem is access. I only have one computer in the library and because I have classes all day it is devoted to circulation. The teachers have been inserviced a couple times on it but there were problems there also. Problem #1 has to do with the fact that I can not promote it with the students because I do not have access to computers with them and I don't have computers in the library they can use. I can teach it, but they can't use it - unless they do it from home. Problem #2 has to do with overload on the teachers. Our teachers have been inserviced to death on new resources and everyone is feeling very overwhelmed. How do they master any one tool when they have a to thrown at them all at once? Problem #3 is that each time I have tried to completely inservice the teachers on its features something goes wrong: technology doesn't work properly, time ends up cut, whatever.  .....Even with budget cuts, I do not see these resources disappearing. I know they can not cut Destiny and I do not know what cost is involved with Power Library - I would say that is one that could go. Our district is "polling" the teachers to see if there is interest in switching to Safari Montage instead of Discovery. Feelings are mixed - heavily. Until we gain better, more reliable, and more equitable access to computers, our few resources can not be used to their full potential.  .....In regard to how I instruct the students on checking reliability, accuracy, and appropriateness, I really like the [|All About Explorers] site I mention in an earlier posting. It has tons of hidden, fabricated facts to use as basis for research. The real learning comes when they go to verify their facts with another website. All About Explorers has a teacher section and a WebQuest already set up, both of which are excellent. The rest of my instruction comes from practicing with them, modeling. I am always looking for other sites like this (and the water one we just used last week), so if you know of any - please share!