Web 2.0 Resources

Honestly, I felt like this was a tough assignment.  After completing the first concept map, I was a little more familiar with using it, but I still wasn't sure about how thorough I should be.  I tend to use a lot of details, so condensing everything down into a few little boxes was a struggle.  The glogster activity was by far the most time consuming.  I am sure I spent over two hours trying to figure it out.  I used a template that was provided by the website, but it would not let me edit, so I had to start all over again (twice).  I found the animoto assignment to be very interesting, and I could actually see myself using that in the future.  For my free choice, I chose to create Fake Book accounts for Romeo and Juliet, which I know my students would love to do themselves!  Although this assignment was very time consuming, I did learn about a few new programs that I had never heard of previously. 

Concept Map:

Glogster:
http://mcculab.edu.glogster.com/shakespeare/

Animoto:
http://animoto.com/play/a3etalEBxKvjs0NadkLSww

Free Choice: Fake Book Page
http://www.classtools.net/fb/81/ACkicK- Romeo
http://www.classtools.net/fb/46/QMYBRP- Juliet

Week 2- Hot Topic Debate

Should Wikipedia be forbidden in students' social studies research?

 

 As a high school English teacher, I feel as though I am constantly fighting the Wikipedia vs. No Wikipedia battle.  At the beginning of my career, I did not have much of a personal stance on the topic.  No teacher had ever taught me the difference between Wikipedia and any other online encyclopedia, so I thought, "Why not let my students use it?"  It wasn't until I began a summer writing and research institute at Auburn University circa 2006 that I learned the faulty information that may be and usually is on Wikipedia. 

 

This informative session made me better understand the utter importance of being able to ensure that the information that my students are citing in their research is valid.  At the beginning, there was definitely some reservations from my students regarding my staunch apposition to the use of this beloved online encyclopedia; however, over time I have come to see that this my position has become the norm among my colleagues and others in the educational field. 

 

I think that it would especially important that Wikipedia be banned from use in a social studies classroom.  Research conducted in those types of classes are based off of fact, which Wikipedia cannot be expected to provide.  I think it is our job as educators to teach our students the difference in fact and opinion.  They will need this vital piece in knowledge in college and as they enter into the professional world.  

Week 1- Introduction

Hello everyone!  My name is Ashley Meadows. I am originally from the small North Alabama town of Moulton, Alabama. After graduating high school, I moved south to Auburn, Alabama, and recieved my Bachelor's of Science degree in Secondary Education and English Language Arts from Auburn University in 2007. My first teaching experience was at Opelika High School, where I taught ninth and tenth grade English, and was a sponsor and coach of various organizations and sporting events. While teaching at OHS, I married my husband, Steven, who had just finished up his Master's degree at Auburn. After my third year of teaching at Opelika High, my husband and I moved to New Bern, North Carolina for his new job. While living in North Carolina, I taught tenth and eleventh grade English at West Craven High School, and was also blessed to have my first child, a boy named Sawyer. During my second year of teaching, my husband was granted a transfer to Thomasville, Alabama, which is where we currently reside. I am a Christian and am an involved member at Thomasville Baptist Church.  I am currently teaching ninth and twelfth grade English at Clarke County High School in Grove Hill, Alabama. I have always loved teaching as well as working with other educators. I am enrolled in the Instructional Leadership Master's program at UWA and hope to graduate next May.