6816 - Wikipedia Analysis (Steps 4-7)

STEP FOUR:

Chose a Question/Answer:
Q17: Doesn't the climate vary even without human activity?
A17: Yes, climate varies both with and without humans. But the fact that natural variations occur doesn't mean that human-induced changes can't also occur and vice versa.

Web Page Evaluation Checklist

Name of page: Is human activity a substantial cause of Global Warming?

Address/URL: http://climatechange.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=001445

Date Accessed: May 13 2013

How did you find the page? Google

DOMAIN

What is the domain of the page? .org

Do you feel that the domain type helps add to or lessen the page’s credibility? Yes

AUTHOR/AUTHORITY

Is the author of the page identified? Yes

Is the author of the page an individual? Yes - There are several

If the author is an individual:

Is the author clearly affiliated with a corporation, institution, organization or group? Yes - they all have PhDs and are active in this field

If so, does this affiliation lend credibility to the author? Yes

Are the author’s educational, occupational or other credentials identified? Yes

Is the author a professional in the field or a layperson interested in the subject? Yes

Does the author present any other evidence that supports his/her ability to accurately present the information that he/she is presenting? No

Does the author display any obvious bias (religious, political, commercial or other)? Yes - Some authors are pro and the others are the cons

Is the author the original creator of the information presented? Yes

If not, does the author acknowledge the sources of the information he/she is presenting? N/A


AUTHOR/AUTHORITY, cont.Does the author provide his/her contact information (usually an e-mail address) Yes

In conclusion, do you feel that the author is qualified to present the information found on his/her web page? Yes


INTENTIs the purpose of the page clearly stated? Yes

What is or appears to be the purpose of the page? To persuade you into thinking whether or not humans are the biggest reason for Global Warming

Does the page contain advertisements? Yes

Do the ads distract from the page’s content, affect the page’s reliability, or appear to be the main focus of the page? Might they be necessary to support the organization responsible for the page? They are not distracting - May be necessary

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Who appears to be the intended audience for this information/page? Adults who are undecided about Global Warming causes

Does the level or complexity of information provided, the vocabulary used, and the overall tone of the information/page match your needs? Some of the authors use huge words and it is hard to follow; however, some I could read just fine.

CURRENTNESS

When was the information on the page created or last updated? 2012

Are the dates of articles, news stories, newsletters, reports and other publications given? Yes

Is the page properly maintained or does it have broken links, outdated events calendars or other signs of neglect? Yes


RELIABILITY
Is the content peer-reviewed, authenticated by experts, or subject to some sort of editorial scrutiny? Yes

Does the page display any awards given by reliable sources, or link to favorable site reviews by reliable sources? Yes - for every author

Considering your answers to the previous questions, other observations you’ve made, and your overall sense of the page, how reliable does this source seem? I feel that this is a reliable source because even though it is biased, it is bias for both sides.

CONCLUSIONS

Do you feel that this source is appropriate for your current assignment or information need? Yes

Would you recommend this source to a friend doing similar research? Yes

What reservations, if any, do you have about the source? None

STEP FIVE:


What did you learn about issues related to global warming? How does Does reading this section influence you perception of Wikipedia as a resource for learning in school? Justify your stance using concrete examples.

I honestly learned more than I thought I would. I am not a huge fan on Global Warming - so it was a very uninteresting read for me. After reading this section; however, it made me realize that there are more things that they either said incorrectly - or they did not say at all.

For example - "The section states that the Arctic will be largely ice-free by 2037. There are, however, other estimates. In IPCC AR4, some models using the SRES A2 emissions scenario projected ice-free summers by the end of the 21st century [13]. According the UK Met Office, recent models project an early "plausible" date of 2025-2030 [14]"


For another example - The section should provide a summary of the literature on attribution, rather than focussing on individual studies. AR4 contains a number of attributions which aren't mentioned, including the contribution of anthropogenic forcing to sea level rise and loss of Arctic sea ice [15].


I think that as a source, knowing how many things were incorrect or 'bias' - I feel that using Wikipedia as a source - may not be such a good idea. I think that if my students would evaluate it like we did - maybe they would get more out of the information.

STEP SIX:

How does this information make you feel about the credibility and validity of information on Wikipedia.Justify your stance using concrete examples.

This information just made it even harder for me to decide whether or not we should use Wikipedia is schools. I can understand where NewsAndEventsGuy is coming from when he says


"Always assume its possible there's an ambiguity in the text that makes sense one way to you and makes equally good faith sense in a completely different way to someone else. Don't shoot back. When others try to make it personal remember that they are saying nothing about you and are instead telling the world they either lack discipline or else are consciously manipulating you to change the issue"


However, if students are getting information for a research paper - where there can be no bias - maybe Wikipedia would not be the best place for them to get information. They should simply use it as a guide or to get other sources.

STEP SEVEN:

How do think Wikipedia could be integrated into classroom activities?
Wikipedia can be integrated into classrooms by doing an assignment similar to this one. It can get the students to better understand the bias and all of the other 'stuff' in between.


What do you think about using Wikipedia as a source of information instead of textbooks? I know that textbooks can be very boring - however, I found reading this Wikipedia site boring. If I am interested in a topic - I can read it for days. If I am not, I feel there needs to be less writing, more pictures to show for a visual learner like myself, and more short - to the point - information.


Has your opinion changed? How? Why?
I have no idea what my opinion is. I used to think that it was okay to use Wikipedia - just don't site it (Opps!) But I now know that a lot of information can come from Wikipedia; however, some may be incorrect - or some can just be from the view points of one single author. We just need to make that information our own. I feel that Wikipedia can be used as a side tool, a 'resource-finder', and a way to teach students about the skepticism and bias on the internet. Also, I feel that we should be teaching our students how to find information as opposed to just reading one thing and BAM! they think they have found the correct answers.

6816 - Wikipedia Analysis (Steps 2 & 3)

STEP TWO:


"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation"


Web Page Evaluation Checklist

Name of page: Until We Know More About Global Warming, the Best Policy is a Highly Flexible One

Address/URL: http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/1999/07/02energy-mckibbin
Date Accessed: May 31st, 2013

How did you find the page? Google

DOMAIN

What is the domain of the page? .edu
Do you feel that the domain type helps add to or lessen the page’s credibility?
I think .edu adds to the page's credibility

AUTHOR/AUTHORITY

Is the author of the page identified? Yes

Is the author of the page an individual? Yes - Peter J. Wilcoxen and Warwick J. McKibben

If the author is an individual:

Is the author clearly affiliated with a corporation, institution, organization or group? Yes - Brookings Institution Press - Global Economy and Development

If so, does this affiliation lend credibility to the author? Yes

Are the author’s educational, occupational or other credentials identified? Yes

Is the author a professional in the field or a layperson interested in the subject? Yes - They are both professionals in the field

Does the author present any other evidence that supports his/her ability to accurately present the information that he/she is presenting? Yes

Does the author display any obvious bias (religious, political, commercial or other)? I feel it may have been a little bias; however, a lot of it was neutral

Is the author the original creator of the information presented? Yes

If not, does the author acknowledge the sources of the information he/she is presenting? N/A


AUTHOR/AUTHORITY, cont.

Does the author provide his/her contact information (usually an e-mail address)? Yes
In conclusion, do you feel that the author is qualified to present the information found on his/her web page? Yes, I feel that both authors are qualified to present the information

INTENT

Is the purpose of the page clearly stated? Yes - The title
What is or appears to be the purpose of the page? To inform us of the debates with Global Warming and to persuade us into taking the correct actions needed - not panic or pointing fingers.
Does the page contain advertisements? No 

Do the ads distract from the page’s content, affect the page’s reliability, or appear to be the main focus of the page? Might they be necessary to support the organization responsible for the page? N/A

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Who appears to be the intended audience for this information/page? Either adults with Global Warming questions, or high education students.

Does the level or complexity of information provided, the vocabulary used, and the overall tone of the information/page match your needs? I felt that it was a little hard to read - however, it was an okay article.  I am not into Global Warming - therefore, it did not perk my interest.  But it would perk the interest of those that are into it.

CURRENTNESS

When was the information on the page created or last updated? 1999 - This article was a little dated.

Are the dates of articles, news stories, newsletters, reports and other publications given? There is information about Brookings Institution

Is the page properly maintained or does it have broken links, outdated events calendars or other signs of neglect? No broken links - needs updated


RELIABILITY

Is the content peer-reviewed, authenticated by experts, or subject to some sort of editorial scrutiny? I am not sure - there are two authors; therefore, there were some peer-reviews.

Does the page display any awards given by reliable sources, or link to favorable site reviews by reliable sources? No

Considering your answers to the previous questions, other observations you’ve made, and your overall sense of the page, how reliable does this source seem? This source is not the greatest of sources.  I chose it because I felt that it was not bias for or against global warming.  I chose it because to me, the title caught my attention as well as the ending paragraph.


CONCLUSIONS

Do you feel that this source is appropriate for your current assignment or information need? I feel that it is appropriate for the assignment at hand; however, any assignments on actual global warning may use other sources.

Would you recommend this source to a friend doing similar research? If they were doing this exact activity - yes.

What reservations, if any, do you have about the source? none






Web Page Evaluation Checklist #2Name of page: Global Warming 

Address/URL: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/

Date Accessed: May 31 2013

How did you find the page? Google

DOMAIN
What is the domain of the page? .com
Do you feel that the domain type helps add to or lessen the page’s credibility? yes

AUTHOR/AUTHORITY

Is the author of the page identified? Yes

Is the author of the page an individual? No

If no individual author is identified, is the corporation, institution, organization or group responsible for the web site clearly identified? Yes, National Geographic
If the author is a corporation/institution/organization or other group:
Does the organization have a reputation for credibility? Yes

Does the organization explain its purpose, mission, goals, or guiding principles? Yes

Does the organization provide the names of its officers, editors, staff or other major participants? Yes - in their home page

Does the organization provide contact information (phone, address, or at least an e-mail address)? Not that I can find - But you can subscribe to become a member or receive magazines

Does the organization appear to filter the information appearing under its name? I do not believe so

Does the organization display any obvious signs of bias? Yes

In conclusion, do you think that this organization is qualified to present the information found on its web page? Yes

INTENT

Is the purpose of the page clearly stated? Yes - the title
What is or appears to be the purpose of the page? For information on global warming as well as anything else that National Geographic has in store.  Also, to explain all that they have to offer.

Does the page contain advertisements? No

Do the ads distract from the page’s content, affect the page’s reliability, or appear to be the main focus of the page? Might they be necessary to support the organization responsible for the page? No

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Who appears to be the intended audience for this information/page? National Geographic can be for anyone
Does the level or complexity of information provided, the vocabulary used, and the overall tone of the information/page match your needs? Yes

CURRENTNESS

When was the information on the page created or last updated? 2013

Are the dates of articles, news stories, newsletters, reports and other publications given? Yes

Is the page properly maintained or does it have broken links, outdated events calendars or other signs of neglect? Yes this page is properly maintained.

RELIABILITY
Is the content peer-reviewed, authenticated by experts, or subject to some sort of editorial scrutiny? I am sure it was reviewed - they have journals that are published, as well
Does the page display any awards given by reliable sources, or link to favorable site reviews by reliable sources? Yes

Considering your answers to the previous questions, other observations you’ve made, and your overall sense of the page, how reliable does this source seem? Yes, I think this is a good source for this assignment and any assignment.


CONCLUSIONS
Do you feel that this source is appropriate for your current assignment or information need? Yes

Would you recommend this source to a friend doing similar research? Yes

What reservations, if any, do you have about the source?  None

STEP THREE:

What does it mean that this article and its editors are subject to General Sanctions?

I feel that it means that they have to know what they are putting out there and realize that the information needs to be correct - they cannot have information that is untrue or false.

6816 - Wikipedia Analysis (Step One)

STEP ONE:

Does the Wikipedia article appear to be bias in anyway or does it maintain neutrality? 

I feel that the article is biased towards Global Warming.  It focuses on the continuation of Global Warming and basically gives no feedback on any other point of view.

What facts has the author omitted?

The author has omitted any information on the other points of view.  For example, some people may think that it is a hoax.

What additional information is necessary?

I think that the author should have information specifically geared towards people who may think that Global Warming is a hoax.  Instead of being bias on humans being the cause, and all of the problems - answer the questions that these people disbelieve in.

What words create positive or negative impressions?

Negative Impressions :
-projected continuation
-destruction
-threat
-human-derived causes

What impression would I have if different words were used?

Basically it is inevitable.  I personally cannot do anything about Global Warming.  I wouldn't see a "threat".  I wouldn't see humans as the MAIN reasons

Biased Ideas:

"Climate models produce a good match to observations of global temperature changes over the last century, but do not simulate all aspects of climate."

- I feel that the word 'good' in this statement can be biased.  They may not be 'good' match - I want to know more about it.

"Vulnerability of human societies to climate change mainly lies in the effects of extreme-weather events rather than gradual climate change"

- Where is this proven?

6816 - Weekly Reading #2

What is Henry Jenkins main arguments about Wikipedia?

1. "Students are responsible for accuracy of the information they provide, and they cannot point to Wikipedia or any similiar source that may appear in the future..."

2."Wikipedia is not a acceptable citation, even though it may lead one to a citable source." - Henry Jenkins SlideTwo

What is "participatory culture"?

1 -low barriers to artistic expression and civic engagement
2 -strong support for creating and sharing what you create with others
3 -some kind of informal mentorship
4 -members feel their contributions matter
5 -some degree of social connection between members
SlideEight

What is the relationship between "old literacies" and "new media literacies"?

NEW MEDIA LITERACITES:

1 -Social skills and cultural competencies, not individual skills.
2 -Are skills for participation – not simply consumption of pre-existing media content.
3 –Emerge from taking seriously children and youth’s own cultural lives.
4 –Are not products simply by media technologies but also of the social and cultural practices that grow up around those technologies.
5 –Are unevenly distributed even among the “digital natives.”
6 –Are shaped through interactions between children and adults at all stages.
7 –Require a shift from a focus on media effects to media ethics.
8 –Come into play off-line as well as on-line
9 –Build on existing framework of literacy and research skills.
10 –Suggest the importance of integrating media literacy across the curriculum.
11 –Need to be fostered through schools, after school programs, public institutions, churches, parents, etc.
SlideNine

OLD LITERACIES:

1 –Paper Pencil
2 –Individual Skills
3 –Information through books

What are the reading and writing behaviors associated with "new media literacies"?

1 –Collective Intelligence – the ability to pool knowledge and compare notes with others towards a common goal
2 –Judgment – the ability to evaluate the reliability and credibility of different information sources
3 –Networking – the ability to search for, synthesize, and disseminate
4 –Negotiation – the ability to travel across diverse communities, discerning and respecting multiple perspectives, and grasping and following alternative sets of norms.
SlideFifteen

According to Henry Jenkins why is it important to teach "new media literacies" in school?

Teaching the children to be skeptical of what they may be reading is very important. They need to know how to read critically. Students need to be aware of how the knowledge can be produced. – Henry Jenkins

What can young people learn through contributing or even consuming Wikipedia?

Students need to realize that anyone with internet access can add information to any of the Wikipedia articles. Not only can students be consumers of this knowledge, they can be producers themselves. They need to realize the history behind the information provided to them. There was a quote from a outside speaker in the video – he stated that when reading the newspaper, he wanted a discussion section so that he could read others’ views.

How do you feel about Wikipedia after reading or listening to Henry Jenkins? Do agree or disagree with his arguments? Why?

I agree with majority of his arguments. I feel that young people need to know HOW to use information technology, WHAT to use when using it, and WHY or WHY NOT the information can be trusted. While the encyclopedias are useful, they sit on the shelves and never get updated until a new set of books are purchased. I feel like Wikipedia can have edits (wrong or right); however, there can be links that one can go to for more information, as well as, other sources that can be used. Encyclopedias cannot be updated as much as Wikipedia. However, I am still skeptical about the situation – but it is all in how we teach our students to use the information.

Find an online resource that supports your position on using Wikipedia as a resource for learning in school. Summarize the argument being made in the resource and explain how it supports your position.

This website explains different ways that you can use Wikipedia in the classroom. It also gives great advice on having your students complete a Wikipedia project. It will definitely have an effect on students’ using skepticism to realize how and when to use Wikipedia.



9. Find an image that relates to Wikipedia and schooling.Embed the image in your blog and provide proper attribution.



http://memebase.cheezburger.com/graphjam/tag/wikipedia

6816 - Multigenre & Multimodal =)

MAKE SURE YOUR VOLUME IS UP!!! MY SOUND IS QUIET!!!!

6809 - Weekly Reading #2

Readings Related To Multigenre & Multimodal Assignment:

1. Writing Outside of School - This relates to this assignment due to the digital writing we had to form in the video.  We wrote text using digital technology to create a story that explained other forms of text that mean something to us.

2. Literacy Learning in the 21st Century - "To be successful in the 21st century requires skills that an 

earlier generation never imagined."  The very first quote in this reading speaks for the whole article.  We must be literate and own the skills to become educators in a technological world. The videos that we made were just a touch of the technology that we can create to show different ways to read.

3. Reading and Writing Differently - I have to admit, I am that student who does not like to read long texts.  This article related to our videos because we learn to take a text and explain it to others

4. Writing Now - This article relates to the videos because we were writing in this assignment, but we were shaping the way people read it by animating, adding pictures, and voice/music.

5. Adolescent Literacy - This article relates to the video by the focuses on the myths of reading and literacy.  In the video, we are not just showing the text so that one can just simply read.  We are showing emotions in the text by using voice/music and pictures to go along with the words we wrote. 

Reinforcing My Thinking:

1. In Writing Outside of School, the article showed and reinforced my thinking of digital technologies to support children to read and write by the realization that many students do read and write outside of the classroom.  I realized that there are the children that like to create stories, plays, blogs, and messages outside of school; therefore, they are using literacy skills.  We need to embrace these children and encourage this.

2. In Literacy Learning in the 21st Century, the article made me remember that the children we will be teaching in the future (even now) are growing up knowing only technology based ways to learn.  We, as educators, need to realize this and keep up with the technology in order to keep up with our students.

3. In Writing Now, I came to the understanding that children really can enjoy reading and writing.  They just need the modivation to complete a proper form of writing.  We, as educators, need to combine the best practices in school and out of school to modivate these students.  They myths in this article really spoke to me.

Sample of Students Using iPads in the Classroom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWUFXE0OLEw

6816 - Why Information Literacy is Important in a Democratic Society

- When watching the video, I realized just how many people were using the internet and digital media to support President Obama before his election.  I think that it is fascinating that in other elections - the people who were on the internet and were seen on facebook had the most votes.

- I think that it is insane that someone was in prison for blogging their beliefs!

- I feel that parents should help their children with the internet at home; hoewever, as educators, I feel that our job is not only teaching our curriculm - but we are to be teaching life lessons and how to live in the "real world".  I think that we need to use every opportunity to help them learn life skills.  We are using technology to teach and they are using technology to learn.

- I agree that it is time for us to bring the "real world" together with the "virtual world".

WIKIPEDIA:
- I know that this website can be edited by anyone.  However, if information is found on this website and it can be triangulated with other websites' information, then it can be used.

6816 - Introductory

My name is Emily Crow, and I am from Glen Dale, WV - a small town south of Wheeling, WV.  I have attended FSU since Fall of 2008 - graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education specialized in Mathematics grades 5-9 in December of 2012 - and started my Master's in Digital Media in the Spring of 2013.  At the beginning of the 2013/2014 school year this August, I will start my first full-time (big girl!) job as a sixth grade/mathematics teacher at Sherrard Middle School near Wheeling, WV.  This just happens to be where I attended middle school, and my classroom is the same classroom I had homeroom the entire time I was there!  I am very excited to start this next chapter in my life.  I hope to get a lot of technology-based ideas for my classroom next year, as well as, a better understanding of the digital media we deal with today.

The video has so much to do with information literacy.  In this video, it shows just how much information we can find on the internet and through technology.  It explains to us how the information gets to the websites, and it shows how we can use the websites to our own benefits.

I believe that information literacy is exactly what it says.  It is being able to collect the information that we need easily and effectively.  I feel that it is what we need to learn before we just take off on websites.  It enables us to understand the technology we are using before we use it without knowledge of what we are using.  This link is a resource that I found helpful when defining this term.

6809 - Digital Media Effects on Conventional Reading and Writing Practices

 Quote from "Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers?"

"Digital tools have also changed student writing by providing the ability to marry text and other media in ways that can often help them provide greater depth and texture to what they are trying to communicate."

- At the beginning of this article, it discusses spell checker.  I feel that if one is unsure of the word they are looking for, if they are already using the spell checker - they may as well look up the word.  I do not mean in a dictionary - people think that takes up too much time.  You are already on the computer - Google it!  I have used Google, spell checker, and the thesaurus in a Word document to better my writing; therefore, I learn new words and concepts to use on an everyday basis.  I absolutely agree with this statement - the whole article for that matter.

Quote from "Literacy Debate: Online R U Really Reading?"

"“Nobody has taught a single kid to text message,” said Carol Jago of the National Council of Teachers of English and a member of the testing guidelines committee. “Kids are smart. When they want to do something, schools don’t have to get involved.”"

- This caught my eye because it is absolutely true.  No one 'learns' how to text, it just happens.  If there is a new abbreviation for something in a text message that I receive, I just use 'context clues' and normally figure it out.  However, I am still reading.

I am a Web Evangelist - I feel that Digital Media has changed the way we read and write - however, I don't think that it is a problem.  I feel that as long as comprehension is gained - it does not matter how it was read.  I don't enjoy reading a long drawn out passage - I would rather have it short, sweet, and to the point - with a visual! I am a visual learner, so pictures and images help me to better understand what I read.  However, as long as the students know how to use Digital Media correctly, I do not see the big deal in using it as a means of literacy.

This website is about a man who decided to teach Digital Media to his students.  He feels that even though people use social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace, they may not know how to find or use anything else on the internet.  They need taught how to use Digital Media.

6809 - Introductory

My name is Emily Crow, and I am from Glen Dale, WV - a small town south of Wheeling, WV.  I have attended FSU since Fall of 2008 - graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education specialized in Mathematics grades 5-9 in December of 2012 - and started my Master's in Digital Media in the Spring of 2013.  At the beginning of the 2013/2014 school year this August, I will start my first full-time (big girl!) job as a sixth grade/mathematics teacher at Sherrard Middle School near Wheeling, WV.  This just happens to be where I attended middle school, and my classroom is the same classroom I had homeroom the entire time I was there!  I am very excited to start this next chapter in my life.  I hope to get a lot of technology-based ideas for my classroom next year, as well as, a better understanding of the digital media we deal with today.

from: http://www.alldayjokes.com/2012/07/before-b-e-f-o-r-e-and-not-b4-we-speak.html