Venturing into Second Life

Yesterday, I dove into the world of Second Life. It was the first time I have ever used a virtual social networking world that was like a video game. I use Facebook all the time and I have used MySpace (which I barely use now), but Second Life is totally different from those. I thought it was so much fun being able to choose my name (different from my own), what I looked like, and basically all the features about me. I was able to control my character, I was able to literally run into people, and fly!

I really think that people can be anyone they would like to be in this world. They can look how they want to look, wear clothes they dream of wearing, and create themselves to be someone else. It reminds me of the song “Online” by Brad Paisley:

I work down at the Pizza Pit
And I drive an old Hyundai
I still live with my mom and dad
I'm 5 foot 3 and overweight
I'm a scifi fanatic
A mild asthmatic
And I've never been to second base
But there's whole ‘nother me
That you need to see
Go checkout MySpace

Online I live in Malibu
I pose for Calvin Klein, I've been in GQ
I'm single and I'm rich
And I've got a set of six pack abs that would blow your mind
It turns girls on that I’m mysterious
I tell them I don't want nothing serious
'Cause even on a slow day
I could have a three way
Chat with two women at one time
I’m so much cooler online
Yeah, I'm cooler online

I went into the world before my class and it was interesting to talk to other people. Some like to approach and say not nice things; however, there are others who actually want to talk.

I think because there are people who say not nice things, I don’t think I would use it in a classroom. As a teacher it is always good to check out sites before you use them in the classroom to know what your students will run into. With Second Life, it seems to be unpredictable. Who knows who a student may run into while venturing into the world. Also, I work in a Catholic school and the idea of the avatars being able to take off their clothes would not go over very well with some parents.

For my own personal experience; however, I enjoyed being able to venture into different worlds including the Louvre, even though it didn’t have the Mona Lisa. I was also able to the play the piano! I enjoyed flying and finding different treasures along the way to pick up. What made it better, too, was knowing I knew people that were there at the same time as me. It was fun to have side chats and to see what they discovered as well. Working as a team made it so much better!

I think it will be interesting to go into the world at least one more time to try to find other islands that may have more people to meet other people and experience the rest of Second Life. I did enjoy the experience.

Criteria for Evaluating Websites

When I first read this topic, I honestly did not know that there were specific criteria that are used to evaluate websites. I searched on the Internet and found some great points made about what should be evaluated on a web page.

I found an article on the Cornell University website that is very helpful: <http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webcrit.html>. It explains five different areas that should be evaluated.

First, one should check to see how accurate a web document is on the web page. This is checked by seeing who wrote the page. It is a great thing if there is a link to be able to contact the author of the page. It is also good to know if the author is qualified to write the piece that you found. Make sure that the qualifications of the author meet the purpose of the piece.

Secondly, make sure to check the authority of the web page. When I first read the article, I thought this meant the author again; however, it refers to who published the article and on what domain is the piece put on in order to be read on the Internet. This is obviously different then the author. Again, make sure the institution and the qualifications meet the purpose of the piece.

Thirdly, make sure to check the goals of the piece. For example, if you find an article that meets your needs make sure that it is not biased. Some web sites are biased if it involves advertising. Also, make sure that you are not swayed by opinions. It is important to look for facts especially if you are using the found web site as research.

Fourthly, it is important to check the date of the produced web site. When was it produced? How often is it updated? It is key to make sure that your facts are not outdated. Also, make sure to check to see if the web site’s links are up to date. Do the links still work?

And last, but not least, make sure that what is presented to you on the web site covers the topic that you are searching for. Do the links on the web site complement the theme? Are there images and text? Are all resources cited properly? I think this last question is very important. If I find information on a web site, I want to make sure that the information I find is fact. I can do this by checking the citation to see where the facts came from. Checking resources can help you to get true facts and can also lead you to more resources!

After reviewing this article, I now feel more confident stepping out into the Internet world because I know what to look for while searching for reliable web sites.

Web 2.0 Tools

The latest in technology is so fascinating to learn about: Web 2.0 tools. Web 2.0 is pushing more interaction when it comes to searching the Internet. Instead of just reading an article passively, Web 2.0 is geared to guarantee interaction to engage people. Some examples of Web 2.0 tools are: blogs, social networking applications, RSS feeds, and wikis. Below I have described some of my favorite Web 2.0 tools!

Grooveshark:
This is a great tool that can help anyone share music, review music, and discover music. Once you type in a song, Grooveshark will recommend songs based off what you typed in! It is pretty cool! You can also save a play list that you created on Grooveshark and make it a widget to put on your own website! You can also sync your library with any player from iPods to iRivers. You can check out Grooveshark at the following link: http://listen.grooveshark.com/



Hulu:
A popular site that I have heard about through many people is called Hulu. It is an online video service that offers TV shows and hit movies. I think this is a great site! It makes it easy to catch up on your favorite TV shows. I also love that I can find hit movies right online for FREE! Along with being free there is also no registration or downloads required! Check it out at the following link: http://www.hulu.com/



Slide:
If you enjoy taking pictures and organizing them, Slide is a fun tool for you! This site can turn your personal pictures, things you want to buy, news, entertainment, etc. into your very own slideshows! You can put these slideshows onto your very own website or your own desktop! Once you decide what pictures you would like to use, you can pick a theme, a certain song that plays in the background, a video to play, the size, the background, style of transition, and you can choose your own privacy settings of who can see your slideshow! You are the designer at this site! Preserve your memories and make it fun at this site: http://www.slide.com



LinkedIn:
Along with having fun, it is important to keep up with your professional life as well! As you know, making relationships is key to your professional success! LinkedIn is a tool to help you open doors to opportunities using the professional developments you already have! Keep in touch with people that you have already met in the workplace and then meet people through the connections you already have! Once you make a free account you can fill in your profile. You can put your work experience, your education what you are looking for, and connect with others to find a job. Social networking is key to success! Start by going to this site: http://www.linkedin.com/

Reflection on the value of Internet resources for education

In today’s generation, the Internet is a very popular tool. It is becoming a tool that has become essential to many people in their everyday life, whether to check e-mail, keep up with friends on a social networking site, do research for a report, or check the news to see what is happening in the world. The Internet has so many uses and has become a very powerful tool.

I am a fourth grade teacher in a private school. The students do not have access to the Internet at school and they also do not have access to a library in school. The absence of these leaves gaps that keep students from learning how to research properly. Being a teacher without these resources makes me realize how valuable these resources are to be in my students’ lives. I feel that if I had the Internet or a library I could make my lessons even more engaging than they already are.

Even though my students do not have Internet in school, my class this past year had a wonderful sense of the Internet. Some of my students had even built their own websites. They always told me how they wanted to learn more about the Internet, how to use it properly, what they can find, what they can build, and what they can learn to be better students.

I honestly cannot wait until I have the opportunity to have Internet in a classroom to open my students’ eyes to. A few resources that can be shown are Google (and all it has to offer), Encarta, YouTube, webquests, Amazon, sites that have newspapers from all over the world, and so much more. They are all available 24/7 with endless possibilities. All of these resources can be a starting point for lessons. For example, the students can look at prices of a book on Amazon and compare that to prices of the same book on EBay. The student can learn how to look around for the best deal, compare prices using subtraction, and learn about what to look for in a product. Students can also learn how to use the Google search engine or other search engines like Bing to research for reports or for homework by finding reliable websites.

The Internet is a world of information at the touch of our fingertips. This is a world that students should know how to use safely and effectively. It will be a resource that students will be able to use now and in the future.