BP2_SweetSearch Web 2.0

One of the biggest problems in students’ research assignments is their dependence on Wikipedia.  Then there’s the cutting and pasting and expecting the teacher to not recognize the plagiarism.  Yeah right!

Well SweetSearch (http://www.go2web20.net/site/?a=Sweetsearch), a fantastic Web 2.0 tool, helps to alleviate many of the violations students commit plus serves as a valued source of information that has been culled just for students.  Thousands of websites have been highly ranked for easy accessibility by researchers and librarians who continuously examine them to determine their suitability on the SweetSearch search engine. 

To test how well the site worked, my kids and I searched topics that they are researching in school.  I even searched for material that I am covering in class with my students.  In every case, not only did we find information that was extremely helpful, but the resources were student friendly.  My son is researching the freezing points of liquids for a science fair project.  For a week, we have searched Google and could only get basic information on the topic, college level research or Wikipedia Answers.  Well on SweetSearch, not only were we able to find what we needed fast, but the text was kid friendly and I didn’t have to translate dense language to a 10-year-old.  How sweet is that?  Especially when I have my own homework to do at Full Sail.

The “sweetest” thing about this search engine is the number of specialized searches it has for its users from daily searches, to “sweet sites” for teachers, students and librarians, to searches for social studies and biographies.  Just a spoonful of SweetSearch will make the medicine of research most students scorn go down a whole lot easier.

W-E-L-C-O-M-E to My Space!

So these are the initial musings of first time blogger.  I am nervous and excited at the same time.  But I am hopeful that this experience will pose a “break-through” for the reluctant readers and writers in my classes. 

I am a wife, mom, teacher and Full Sail University student pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Media and Design Technology.  I have never been so engrossed in technology as I have been in the last four months.  In fact, I speak to my laptop before my husband. 

I am excited about this program and need your feedback on my CBR Challenge Question:  “What is the result of using technology to improve literacy skills?”  Already, the hard work at Full Sail has paid off in my classes as I was recently nominated “Teacher of the Year” at my high school.  Yay for me, well almost, I didn’t win but I was flattered and thankful for the nod from my colleagues.  Next year, I‘ll get it. 

As for me personally, I am a busy mom of six children.  (Two have moved on, but there are still four at home!)  As the entire household is in student mode – husband included – we are finding that the family that studies together often fights for the laptop, dictionary, printer, kitchen table and all other things that help to become better, stronger students.  It’s a challenge, but we’re getting through it. 

Well I hope to hear from you bloggers, neophytes and experienced, alike.  I will value any comments, advice, observations you are willing to share. WELCOME