Through this Quest, I have been able to distinguish between reliable and non-reliable internet resources. This is extremely useful knowledge for educators since we are constantly trying to find new technology to incorporate in our classroom. It is important that the technology is safe, reputable, and provide current information for our students. After exploring several of the websites through the walkabout, I think there are 3 main ideas to focus on when evaluating the credibility of a site.
1. Accuracy - It is critical that the website provides reliable information to users. By researching the author of the site, as well as their qualifications, teachers can have a better understanding of the source of the information. We can also look at the domain of the website. Trusted domains are .gov, .mil, .edu, .net, etc.
2. Currency - Another important aspect of online resources is that the information is current and all website links are up-to-date. The user can check the website to view when it was last updated.
3. Objectivity - This is also important when researching and gathering material. The user can check ads and informational content that is being supported on the website. Are these all by the same person or organization? If so, the user needs to examine if there is any bias information.
Below is a link to the list of the websites I bookmarked during my walkabout:
https://www.diigo.com/user/estewart1
After viewing several websites, I found three engaging websites that I thought would benefit both teachers and students in online learning in mathematics.
1. Mathwarehouse - I thought this resource would be especially beneficial to students because it provides them with interactive software to practice concepts in mathematics at the high school level. Students can click on the subject area and topic to begin practicing concepts. Teachers can also print worksheets for students who need additional help. Although there are other mathematics website ads, I have used both of the websites provided and they have also proven to be beneficial and reliable to students.
2. Desmos - This is a free online calculator. This calculator can provide graphs of many different functions. I think this is a great, engaging resource for students to have visual representation of functions and graphs they are studying. They can see how the graph can change due to a change in variables. Teachers can now also build their own activities for their students using the Desmos website.
3. Mathalicious - Although this resource is not free, I think it would be a very useful tool for students and teachers involved in online learning. Many students complain that math is a boring subject, but the mathalicious website is the perfect place to put those rumors to rest. They have intriguing questions that can help engage students, all while strengthening their problem solving skills. The teacher can choose the subject, topic and standard, and the website provides real-life questions for students to work through. Students in a traditional classroom or online learning could all benefit from this resource.
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