Student Engagement/21 Century Skills

Judging a website

Seeing if your websites your student's are using is authentic is very important, but teaching them to catch a fraud website is even better. When they're sent on their own its best that they have their own way of judging a website to see if its authentic enough to use for a project or a sited source.
Here are some links to help students and yourself to judge a websites authenticity.

http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic32.htm

http://www.schrockguide.net/critical-evaluation.html

Global Connections

Every teacher should be able to make global connections. It's not easy to do, these connections take more than overnight to complete, but it will make you a more successful teacher.
These connection take steps to follow but are long worth the process.

Step one is developing these connections. Look around and follow online communications; such as twitter, blogs, and then follow those who are following those. These allow you to build more connections to others. And even getting involved in organizations will help you build your connections further.
Step two is exploring. Your students, as well as you, should make sure you know the responsibilities of the internet. Have students work together on a technology project. As well as letting yourself explore different technologies along the way. Such as skype, Voki, symbaloo and much, much more.
Step three is create. Discover where you can throw in these global connections into your core standards. The more you have your students using technology, as well as yourself, the easier it will be to get your students active in school activities.

For more information on global connections here's the link to the website

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-teachers-make-global-connections-lisa-dabbs