I chose to go into a test for middle school students. As one of our low areas is informational text, I chose to take a test on informational text. I found the test to be great! The questions were great practice that I plan to implement in my daily classroom! The only feature that I did not like on the test was the skip this question for now option because I could see some of my students thinking it was an easy out to not have to answer the questions. They would then soon realize that they will have to come back to the question before they can finish the test. I like that they don't have to answer all questions at once but maybe not wording it that way would help (especially with middle schoolers).
I chose to explore the option for teaching. I was impressed to see the on the job requirements and what it takes to be a teacher. The outlook of what the career field looks like would also be helpful to know if their will be openings in the field once they have pursued their degree. I also found it helpful that they included the links to the required tests to become a teacher.
I found an e-book on culinary arts that was a self-paced learning guide. I think this would be a good introduction for someone to decide if this was a life course that they were truly interested in without having to go through paying for college courses to find that out. I really liked that it offered the practice test and how to pursue a job in that field.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Lesson 2- Mango Languages
1. I chose the German language as it is a major part of my heritage. Before clicking launch, I was able to learn that 105 million speak German as their native language. Also, another 80 million speak the language as a non-native language. I also found out the language is primarily spoken in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
2. When I launched it, I thought it was very helpful that you could take a placement test. Especially as an educator, it is nice to see the option to see where I am at before I get started (hopefully all the German classes in high school and college stuck with me :))! I thought the placement test was great because you were able to listen to the language being spoken instead of trying to read an unfamiliar language. I also like that the lessons are broken down into different sections such as speaking, shopping, and in use of emergencies. I could see this being very helpful if you are planning to visit an new country. I also like that it provides the opportunity for review at the end of each section. I also liked that the sections are then broken down into multiple mini lessons. I guess I didn't find any options I didn't like. Everything I found seemed to be very helpful and very user friendly!
2. When I launched it, I thought it was very helpful that you could take a placement test. Especially as an educator, it is nice to see the option to see where I am at before I get started (hopefully all the German classes in high school and college stuck with me :))! I thought the placement test was great because you were able to listen to the language being spoken instead of trying to read an unfamiliar language. I also like that the lessons are broken down into different sections such as speaking, shopping, and in use of emergencies. I could see this being very helpful if you are planning to visit an new country. I also like that it provides the opportunity for review at the end of each section. I also liked that the sections are then broken down into multiple mini lessons. I guess I didn't find any options I didn't like. Everything I found seemed to be very helpful and very user friendly!
Lesson 2- Chilton Library
1. At 30,000 miles, the cooling system hoses and clamps should be serviced and inspected. The exhaust system and heat shields should be serviced and inspected. The fuel system should also be inspected.
2. The most recent technical service bulletin was an automatic transmission product update on May 1, 2007.
3. For the antilock brake system on my vehicle, I was able to find the fastener tightening specifications for all different areas of the vehicle in both metric and english measurements.
2. The most recent technical service bulletin was an automatic transmission product update on May 1, 2007.
3. For the antilock brake system on my vehicle, I was able to find the fastener tightening specifications for all different areas of the vehicle in both metric and english measurements.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Lesson 1c- World Book Foreign Language Edition
After searching through the visual dictionary in both the Spanish and French version, I think this would be a great tool for foreign language teachers. I could see this being used as a tool to help students make a connection between the worlds they are learning and a visual aid. I could also see this being useful for students who are ELL and are unfamiliar with many things around the classroom. This tool could be used to aid in a stronger understanding when those students are immersed in the classroom. I think this tool would be a great way to teach students problem solving skills as well. Many students would easily become frustrated because they could not read the words. It would be interesting to see them use other critical thinking skills to find what they were looking for even if they were unable to read and comprehend the words.
In the Spanish version, I also liked the link to have the passage read aloud in Spanish. I think this again would be very useful in foreign language courses. I think too many times students can learn the words but never correctly learn how to pronounce them and use them in the correct context. I feel the more students are exposed to the information the more successful they will be. I also think this feature would be useful for ELL students who are making the transition into the classroom. They could learn the information in their native language and then create the rest of their project. I could see this being a great bridge for many ELL students.
In the Spanish version, I also liked the link to have the passage read aloud in Spanish. I think this again would be very useful in foreign language courses. I think too many times students can learn the words but never correctly learn how to pronounce them and use them in the correct context. I feel the more students are exposed to the information the more successful they will be. I also think this feature would be useful for ELL students who are making the transition into the classroom. They could learn the information in their native language and then create the rest of their project. I could see this being a great bridge for many ELL students.
Lesson 1b- World Book Public Library Edition
World Book Online for Kids offers very grade appropriate information (K-5). The information is put in simple terms for elementary students to understand and make use of. The page also offers to read the text aloud if the students are not capable of reading the text themselves, this would be especially helpful for students in the primary grade levels. The page also includes pictures and links to a video about the specific mammal. The site offers citations for those in higher grade levels who are required to cite their sources. I also found the extra links at the bottom to be especially helpful because they are selected by the World Book Online for Kids which ensures students are not going to sites with inappropriate information.
World Book Online Info Finder is geared toward students in grades 5-9. The information is much more detailed than that found on the World Book Online for Kids. I particularly like how the information is divided into headings to help students sort through what they need and do not need for various projects. The Online Info Finder offers many more pictures but does contain a link to the same video I found on the Kids version. The Info Finder also offers the citation for the source. I was disappointed to see it did not have links to other information that would be helpful to students like I found in the Kids version. I was happy to see it would read the text out loud to the students just as the Kids version did.
When a country is first searched in World Book Online Reference Center, it contains links on the left hand side which would be useful if students are required to include certain types of material in their research, such as maps or primary sources. I would compare the information found to the information found in the World Book Discover. Very in-depth and detailed. Students could use this in situations where the headings would be useful to determine what is and what is not relevant to their research. I really like the option for the text to be read to the students. I also like the video connections and the link to translate the text for students, this would be especially helpful for students who are ELL. I also thought this particular search engine would be useful in my own personal life (I was curious when I saw the age level said through adult).
World Book Online Info Finder is geared toward students in grades 5-9. The information is much more detailed than that found on the World Book Online for Kids. I particularly like how the information is divided into headings to help students sort through what they need and do not need for various projects. The Online Info Finder offers many more pictures but does contain a link to the same video I found on the Kids version. The Info Finder also offers the citation for the source. I was disappointed to see it did not have links to other information that would be helpful to students like I found in the Kids version. I was happy to see it would read the text out loud to the students just as the Kids version did.
When a country is first searched in World Book Online Reference Center, it contains links on the left hand side which would be useful if students are required to include certain types of material in their research, such as maps or primary sources. I would compare the information found to the information found in the World Book Discover. Very in-depth and detailed. Students could use this in situations where the headings would be useful to determine what is and what is not relevant to their research. I really like the option for the text to be read to the students. I also like the video connections and the link to translate the text for students, this would be especially helpful for students who are ELL. I also thought this particular search engine would be useful in my own personal life (I was curious when I saw the age level said through adult).
Lesson 1a- World Book School Edition
World Book Kids is definitely well created for elementary type projects. I have done subbing in the elementary and have found the information I have found on World Book kids very age appropriate (K-5).
World Book Student would be geared more toward my students (middle school). I have had students use World Book Student before and have found it to be very useful in our research paper we create! I like that the material in World Book student is divided well into useful headings. This would make it very easy for students to find exactly what they are looking for!
World Book Advanced could also be well adapted into my middle school classroom. I teach middle school science and this would be very useful for the multiple research projects my students complete. As a reading teacher, I appreciate the Lexile level of the passage to ensure students are reading text they are capable of understanding. World Book Advanced also offers the option where the text can be read to them if the text is above their reading level. World Book Advanced also breaks it down into headings (similar to World Book Student but it has links this time). Students could also find useful pictures and videos to supplement understanding.
World Book Student would be geared more toward my students (middle school). I have had students use World Book Student before and have found it to be very useful in our research paper we create! I like that the material in World Book student is divided well into useful headings. This would make it very easy for students to find exactly what they are looking for!
World Book Advanced could also be well adapted into my middle school classroom. I teach middle school science and this would be very useful for the multiple research projects my students complete. As a reading teacher, I appreciate the Lexile level of the passage to ensure students are reading text they are capable of understanding. World Book Advanced also offers the option where the text can be read to them if the text is above their reading level. World Book Advanced also breaks it down into headings (similar to World Book Student but it has links this time). Students could also find useful pictures and videos to supplement understanding.
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