Google Thinking Assignment

I do not really believe that the Internet is making a difference in the way we think. There was a section where the guy said that when he was reading on the Internet he was having to drag his brain back to what he was doing, but when reading a book he was focused.......well duh....your going to have more trouble reading something on a computer as opposed to a book because there are a ton of other headlines, banners, links, and advertisements around what you are reading on a computer....in books, its just words!!! I think people have become lazy because of the Internet. Instead of going to the library to look up information that they need, they are using the Internet and search engines, which in my opinion are just as good, and faster. I would much rather spend hours on the computer finding something I need, instead of hours in the library trying to find the same information. I do think that because of text messages and instant messengers that people are not practicing their grammar rules (punctuation, capitalization, etc) because the computer does most of that stuff for you. People are typing the same way they speak. I guess in some ways I agree with some things that were said, but for the most part, I think the Internet has just made life easier. Another thing......I think if I was interested in something and wanted to do research on it, but I had to go spend hours at a library, I probably wouldn't do it......but now we have the Internet at our fingertips so we are free to research anything from the comfort of home, so I would definitely be more likely to look it up.......so basically the whole point of that is that we have enough stuff to do without having to drive to the library and spend hours looking through books, so having the Internet might actually be making us smarter, because we know we can look up something we don't know in just a few minutes. Also, many people wont put forth the effort to do any extra work.....and to be honest...I'm one of them!! Thank goodness for the Internet! If it is making me stupid......so be it! :)

Google Presentation

Comments about my google presentation :)

ALEX

ALEX or the Alabama Learning Exchange is a great tool for teachers. This website has many different features that help teachers with lesson plans, course of study, web links, distance learning, etc. This website allows teachers to post their lesson plans online, on this website so that they can be discussed and shared between other teachers. This is a great feature for teachers who may be stuck on ways to teach a lesson. Also, it has a feature called "personal workspace" which allows you to keep up with your lesson plans and web pages that you found useful. The course of study feature is also great because it lists out everything you are required to teach by grade level and subject, and it is listed in an easy list.
I think the Alabama Learning Exchange is a huge help for new teachers. When you first begin teaching, you are thrown into something brand new and expected to perform as if you have been there for years. The features on this website list out the course of study in an easy to read list, and also there are lesson plans available. The lesson plan feature allows new teachers and experienced teachers to come up with their own creative lesson plans, or use the ones provided by other teachers. There are just so many great features about this website that its hard to list them all. I really believe that this website is going to be a life saver for new teachers.

ACCESS

ACCESS (Alabama Connecting Classroom, Educators and Students Statewide) is a new program offered in many schools to give equal opportunity to all schools. Many rural or low income schools cannot afford to provide students with advanced courses. ACCESS is here to solve this problem. With this program students and teachers from different schools can take the same classes, but from two different places. This program can be web based, for example, a website portal, or through video conferencing, example, two way audio and video. This program would provide access to advanced diploma courses, additional course offerings, advanced placement/dual enrollment courses, supplemental resources, distance learning, and provides teachers with technology to improve instructions.
I think that the ACCESS program sounds great. It gives each student an equal opportunity to a great education. I believe that students of all ages would benefit from this program. The program also allows you to be at your own school, but still be able to sit in on classes that are taking place at another school, which is wonderful, because some people just dont have the ability to get to another place to get the extra help or classes that they need, and also, being at your own school makes you feel more comfortable. I think if it were necessary for people to have to travel out of their comfort zones, they would probably be less likely to put forth the effort.