Personal Reflections on EDU 441

            I found that this class was very useful in helping me become a better researcher. My favorite assignment was the lesson plan on homeschooling. Creating lesson plans are going to be an essential part of my teaching career, so it was helpful to see what areas I needed to improve. I now know I need to learn how to properly list my objectives.

            I did learn a lot about research from this class. One thing I did not know, prior to this class, is what tertiary sources are and how they are used. I usually use secondary sources, preferring peer-reviewed scholarly sources, and I have used primary sources in the past. But, tertiary sources were completely unknown to me.

     I really enjoyed the discussion questions. They made me think a great deal more than most. Journal writings are the hardest for me, because I prefer to present factual information over opinion. I definitely need to work on my time management. For some reason, Mondays and Thursdays were my busiest days outside of school. This really was a hindrance to my time management.

       

Can Social Media be considered a Primary Source just like letters and diaries?

You can use Social Media and Blogs as primary sources just like letters and diaries, however, you need to be very careful when verifying the information before you use it, and you may not find anything worth using. 

We used letters and diaries written during significant historical events as primary sources. Most of these sources were written to give the reader a view into what was happening to the writer at the time. They give insight and a first-hand account of the historical events. Not all letters written during that time period are useful as sources.  

There are some things posted to social media that can be primary sources, however, most of the things posted are trivial and have no real bearing on important research topics. For example, people are posting images of what they are eating for dinner. There is no real use for this information. It does not give any real insight into anything that you would be researching. You will need to sift through a great deal of this trivial information in order to find something of value. 

Many people do not verify what they see before re-posting, and are spreading around hoaxes and false information. I have read post about famous people dying, who in fact they are alive and well. I have read post about horrible things the government has done, that were false, and meant to turn you against that political party. It has gotten so bad,  check everything out before I will accept anything post as fact. I can not see these types of posts being useful in any type of research, except as an example of false information or propaganda.  

Blogs can be very good sources for researchers. Most bloggers will research their topic before writing their piece. Others will give a detailed opinion on a given topic that works just as well as a diary would. Blogs are full of useful information, and links to other pages that you could use for your research. I have used blogs for research when I am writing, and they have been very useful. You do still need to verify their accuracy, and you will have bias in these pieces.  

Social Media can be a valuable look into the digital culture of today. The posts show you how people think and feel about the world around them. You just need to be careful what you use, because these sources can be tainted by bias and inaccuracy. However, so can letters, diaries, and other personal writings from people of the past.  

Will the web replace the librarian or ensure the profession?

Thanks to technology, information is easier to find and use. This has led to the debate over whether libraries are even necessary.  Some feel that librarians are becoming obsolete, while others believe that librarians are needed more now than ever before. I believe the later. Librarians have secured a place in this new technological age. 

Libraries have become a safe haven where researchers can go to receive guidance in locating the little bits of data necessary to complete their research projects. Libraries not only provide books and other physical forms of research material, but also, access to the internet, and databases filled with the accurate information they need. People can access a great deal of this information from the comfort of their own home, but, the problem that many people face is the difficulty of sorting through the vast amount of information to get exactly what they need. The library has an answer to that problem, the librarian.

Think of the librarian as a tour guide. The internet has become a jungle with false data creating a canopy over the accurate information, and hiding it deep in the shadows. Then there is the overgrowth of accurate data that looks like it might help with the research, but following it leads you down a completely different path, and makes it difficult to find your way back Much of what you find online is inaccurate, unverified, and opinion. Someone is needed to help those who are overwhelmed by this new found wealth of information.. The information overload has given a new security to the librarian as they are now becoming media specialists, trained to guide their patrons through the information jungle that is overpowering them.

 

Pitfalls researchers Face!

There are many challenges that students must face when conducting research. One major problem is over abundance of information. Students have to sift through more information today, than ever before. It is very difficult to narrow a topic when there are so many resources available. Which leads to the next challenge, sticking topic. So many students fill their research paper with so many elements, the papers lack consistency. Finding credible resources in the midst of all the questionable resources can also lead students astray.

The information overload is not the only thing that causes pitfalls for researchers, sometimes the researcher is their own worst enemy. There are many things that students do themselves that hinder their performance. Some researchers will wait until the last minute, and then they do not have enough time to complete their work. Also, students can suffer from anxiety, which can hinder their cognitive functions. Anxiety can come from a fear of failure, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I used to be overcome with performance anxiety, and it made my work suffer. Procrastination can also cause me some struggles. For example, I put off working on my assignments until the last few days, and sudden illness caused me to fail completing the work on time. For me, procrastination is part of the anxiety issues. I fear messing up my paper, and so I put it off until the last minute. Information overload is not a major issue for me, however, my son has many issues with this.

My Research Process

When I conduct research, I usually start with too broad of a topic. I recently did a report on the effects of cyberbullying on students, and how we can help the students cope. When I started my research, I went to the library and entered Cyberbullying into the catalogue. Our library system has several libraries throughout the city. There were not any books on Cyberbullying at that library, but there were several at other libraries within the system. I put as many books on the topic on hold, and then went to the computer.

The internet has an overload of information, so I was expecting the vast amount of information available. First, I opened up Google Scholar, and typed in Cyberbullying. For several hours, I went through the articles until I found some that were interesting. At that point, I started cutting my topic down to one more specific. With all the information I found on the effects of cyberbullying, I chose to discuss the effects, and how to help students suffering from cyberbullying.

The next step I took was to go back to the library. The five books I reserved were in, and the library has several databases that I could go through for resources. Unfortunately, the databases did not have much on my topic. The most I could find there was definitions. I chose not to use those, and took the books home to go through them.

For the next few days, I went through the books, and took notes on anything I wanted to use. When I was in high school, my English teacher had us write quotes out on note cards, and their citing on the back, so we would have it available when we write the paper. I still use this old school method for researching from books. By the time I got through the books, I had two dozen note cards to use. I had quite a bit of information, but I needed more sources for the paper.

At this point, I was ready to go to the Ashford School Library. I typed in my revised topic, and got several scholarly resources I found several articles to work with, and decided I had enough information to work with. When I write a research paper, I usually create my reference page first. The reference page is the most important part because it is where I cite the work I used from other people. Finally, I write the paper.

My research process is a combination of modern and old school skills. I use it for every academic paper I have written so far, and it has always worked for me. I also feel it is important that all students should know these skills.  As a teacher and a future librarian, I plan on teaching the all of my students to use note cards and Google Scholar. Google Scholar is a great way to find reliable sources. The note cards are a great way to organize research material. This saves time when it comes to writing time.

eBooks in Schools

These days, bookstores and newspapers appear to be disappearing as actual printed text on paper is being replaced by eBooks or a quick download on one’s internet home page.  Do you think paper books are a thing of the past? 

While digital forms of media are becoming more prevalent, I do not believe paper books will disappear completely. I admit I am a huge fan of digital textbooks, online newspapers, and eBooks. Newspapers and textbooks might go completely digital, but reading books will not. Using an e-reader when traveling is extremely convenient. But, I still need to have real books when I am reading at home, I want a real book. 

Many people still prefer paper books, and I do not believe that is going to change. According to Julia Glum of the International Business Times, “For teenagers, print, amazingly, isn't dead. The generation known for staying digitally connected at all times prefers to buy and read physical books over digital ones, according to a Nielsen study released last week” (Glum, 2014). Paper books have been around for a very long time, and I do not see them leaving anytime soon.

How will the move towards online text change what we do in schools or how we select the books we read?

I believe that the move toward digital text will have a profound effect on schools. I feel textbooks will become digital. Students have always needed to tote around several big, heavy books. The switch to digital will eliminate that problem. All the students’ textbooks can go on small devices they can put in their pockets.

Libraries will need to have a larger media section. When ordering books, they will need to have a large selection of eBooks. Students need to have access to digital books that they can use for research and for fun reading. Libraries will still need to purchase physical books as well. As I stated before, students still prefer real books over digital books. They need to have access to all types of books and media in order to get the best education possible.

Another trend we are seeing in this digital age is online schools. Many colleges provide online classes, and some high schools have also gone digital. These schools need to provide all books, magazines, and news articles in digital form. Online school libraries have all of these available for their students.

References:

Glum, Julia (2014). Books vs. E-Books: Teens' Print Preferences Make Publishing Industry's Future Hard To Predict. International Business Times. Retrieve at: http://www.ibtimes.com/books-vs-e-books-teens-print-preferences-make-publishing-industrys-future-hard-1758531

Meaning in Reading Instruction

It is very important for students to have meaning in what they are learning. According to David Sousa and Carol Ann Tomlinson, two experts in educational neuroscience, “the brain’s neural networks are constantly seeking and creating patterns. They do so by analyzing new input to determine if it has some meaningful connection with information already stored in the network” (Sousa & Tomlinson, 2011, p. 48). This means that the best way for students to learn something is if it connected to something they already know. Meaning can be anything from interests to cultural connections. Finding out what the students enjoy, and giving them reading material on that topic. Also, an age appropriate book about a child’s heritage can catch their interest and make them more likely to retain what they are learning.

I think that both the analytic approach and the synthetic approach to phonics are important to prepare students for becoming readers. In the synthetic approach, students learn letters and the sounds associated with those letters (Roe & Smith, 2012). I believe students need to know the basic sounds that letters make and how they blend to create words. In the analytic approach, how letters sound in context of a word. For example, the students learn that the beginning sound in the word dog is the D sound (Roe & Smith, 2012). I feel the analytic approach can help children learn blending and rhyming. Both sets of skills are needed for students to become proficient readers.

My teaching approach is a combination of specific skill instruction and a more holistic approach. I feel it is important to start developing a child’s reading skills with teaching instruction in phonics. Students need the basics before they can start strengthening their skills through meaningful materials. Once the basics are done, then my approach becomes more holistic.  “Holistic education is concerned with connections in human experience—connections between mind and body, between linear thinking and intuitive ways of knowing, between academic disciplines, between the individual and the community” (Swaffar, N.D., p. 2). Teaching by using meaningful connections between students and the lessons helps the student retain more of what they are learning. Differentiation is very important to me, and I feel it is necessary to make sure my students will learn effectively.

   

References:

Roe, B. & Smith, S. (2012).Teaching reading in today’s elementary schools (11th ed.). Wadworth Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA.

Sousa, D. A. and Tomlinson, C. A. (2011). Differentiation and the brain: How neuroscience supports the learner-friendly classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

Swaffar, Janet (N.D.). Lesson 1: What is Reading? Retrieved at: http://coerll.utexas.edu/methods/modules/reading/01/holistic.php