Beyond Fact-Hunting: Teaching 21st Century Research Skills
Today’s Topic:
Beyond Fact-Hunting: Teaching 21st Century Research Skills
Tech Tip: Sending Extra-Large Email Attachments
- Why should we be concerned about making learning meaningful and authentic for today’s students?
- What do we know about what really works to transform learning in the 21st century?
Claudia Wallis and Sonja Steptoe challenge us to consider how schools might shift to a new way of teaching which incorporates “portable” thinking skills such as: making connections between ideas and learning how to learn.
Putting an End to Topical Research
Jamie McKenzie is adamant about the need to transform research from a mindless “scoop and smush” process to one that encourages students to think for themselves and synthesize information to solve essential questions.
Online Activities Promoting Information Literacy
Here are resources from Joyce Kasman Valenza and others on incorporating the best information literacy skills into your teaching.
Research Models Supporting the Essential Curriculum and Information Literacy
The Baltimore County Public Schools staff has developed examples of effective K-12 projects which incorporate Jamie McKenzie’s research process model.
Tech Tip: Sending Extra-Large Email Attachments
Looking for a way to send that extra- large Powerpoint presentation or super-sized photo? Sending extra-large files as email attachments can be a problem if their file size is bigger than that allowed by your email system. Here are two free Web sites that let you send large files from popular email services, including Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL mail, GMail, and Microsoft Outlook:
1. Pando.com. Go to the Pando Web site to download the Pando software (Mac or Windows) and send up to a gigabyte using your regular email service. Your attachments are temporarily stored on Pando’s servers for your recipient to access.
2. Yousendit.com Go to the YouSendit Web site, register for a free YouSendIt Lite account, and send up to 100 MB of photos, mp3s, and videos. Up to one hundred recipients can download each file within a one-week time limit.
Announcement: Summer Registration is Available Online
Dates of Summer Online Professional Development Courses
Sign up soon to reserve your spot!
What Our Students Are Saying…
About the Digital Classroom: Teaching Information Literacy course:
"It's amazing that once you KNOW about primary sources, it's the first thing that enters your mind! This class is JUST what I needed to get several groups back into the library asking questions, using books AND the internet in a productive way!"
~ Media Specialist; Weatherford, Texas
"My information literacy skills grew tremendously throughout this course. I am more capable of narrowing down my searches and continually thinking of ways to refine my searches to get the results I am after.”
~ Middle School Librarian; Wisconsin Heights, Wisconsin
“I will take from the class the knowledge that primary sources can be used for any number of things in all disciplines. Each time I use primary sources I am amazed and excited about the level of engagement the students have. Primary sources in the digital age have endless possibilities, and this is exciting!”
~ Elementary Librarian; Blandon, Pennsylvania
Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions. UW-Stout is an "international-student- friendly" program.
Labels: 21st Century Skills, Tech Tips
Girls and Computers
Today’s Topic:
Girls and Computers
Tech Tip: Free PDF File Creators
- Why are girls under-represented in computer programming classes, and why should we be concerned?
- What can educators do to ensure that girls become savvy technology users?
- How can educators evaluate electronic resources to determine their potential appeal to girls and to stimulate an interest in technology?
Examining the Gender Gap in Technology
This University of Michigan site explores why we should be concerned about the low numbers of women in technology fields, and offers solutions for narrowing the computer gender gap.
Tech-Savvy: Educating Girls in the New Computer Age
The AAUW reports its findings about challenging gender and technology issues, and offers seven key recommendations for how schools and communities can address them.
Girls Tech
This site from Douglass College presents suggestions for helping young women become interested in computers and technology, and how to evaluate electronic resources and determine their appeal to females.
Girl Geeks
Sponsored by the Bay Area Video Coalition, this site is an online community for women and girls interested in technology and computing. Click on the Education tab and then Links and Resources to view a comprehensive list of online resources, and try the Streaming Video link to view videos of influential women talking about technology.
Tech Tip – Free PDF File Creators
PDF (Portable Document Files) are a popular way to share MicrosoftWord, Powerpoint and other files because PDF’s can be read by many different operating systems and can easily be posted on a Web site without losing special formatting. Users of the Macintosh OS X operating system have built-in PDF conversion through the Print window.
However, since Windows XP users have no built-in PDF capability on their computers, they can either purchase Adobe Acrobat Professional, or try the free PrimoPDF or CutePDF Writer. When downloaded and installed on your computer, these applications can convert most documents into PDF format by simply ‘printing’ to the PrimoPDF or CutePDF printer in your Print window. Your creation is optimized for print or screen and there are no pop-up ads.
Announcements: Summer Registration is Available Online
Dates of Summer Online Professional Development Courses
Sign up soon to reserve your spot.
Reading Teacher Certification Courses - Apply soon.
Financial aid is available if you are taking two reading courses.
Online Master of Science in Education Degree Program - Join the next cohort!
For additional information, email Joan Vandervelde at vanderveldej@uwstout.edu or call Joan at (715) 642-0209.
What Our Students Are Saying…
About the Problem-Based Learning course:
"The contact with other education professionals around the States and outside the US was very stimulating.”
~History teacher, grades 7-11, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
“For the first time I felt a graduate course allowed me to create something that was not only going to improve my teaching, but also increase my students’ way of learning. Problem-based learning is a wonderful tool that should be utilized in every classroom and in every subject area.” ~Grade 3 teacher, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Call University of Wisconsin-Stout Online Professional Development (715) 642-0209 if you have questions. UW-Stout is an "international-student- friendly" program.
Labels: Tech Tips