Digital Blog Post #D

The first concept that I wanted to reflect on is the three ways to search the internet. The first one is free-text search also known as full-text search which allows you to search for the title, keyword, and the description of each resource for the word or phrase that is typed. The second search is called keyword/exact match search which retrieves only the resources that contain the word or exact phrase that is typed. The third one is the Boolean search which uses the terms AND, OR, and NOT to create more of a broad search. I believe all three ways are important to know and use. Knowing the difference between each search will help us chose the correct words/phrases or topics to search for. We all know that some searches may be time consuming but beneficial overall.

The second concept that I learned a lot about in this chapter is the criteria for evaluating web resources. The criteria consist of Accuracy, Authority, Objectivity, Currency, and Coverage. Accuracy is where you want to make sure the website provides a clear description of the site and the purposes. Authority is where you want to make sure that the author has credibility and to see if it's commercial or non-profit. Objectivity tests if the website is fair and nonbiased as well as free of advertising. Currency is where you want to make sure the website you are using is updated and date is clearly visible. Coverage is where you want to make sure the website has information on the site that is viewed without any difficulties or commercial messages. We all know that today anyone can make a website and for us to know whether these websites are reliable or relevant, we must know and use the five criteria. These criteria really stood out to me, many people do not actually take the time to see if the sources they use are reliable for their studies or reports.

The third concept that is familiar to most educators is standing up against cyberbullying.  Cyberbullying is the willful and repeated harm using technology. This topic is important for teachers and students to be aware of because it is a very common threat today with technology. Cyberbullying can be just as harmful as a face-to-face- verbal and physical threat. Teachers should positively implement rules in the classroom against cyberbullying. I have seen many cases of students get bullied and this would cause depression, poor grades, suicidal thoughts, and etc. Teachers should always be alert and make it their goal to make students feel safe and protected against that. 

In conclusion, this chapter had some very important concepts that are very vital to our academic system today. When researching, it is important to know which sources are reliable and relevant. Technology in education today has become an enormous factor. How we teach our students today to use technology, will benefit them in a positive way. We must also teach them to use technology to help others and motivate them to always move forward. 

References:

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.