Reflective Searching

I see myself as an avid searcher. I'd estimate I Google around 30 things a day, minimum. Recipes, addresses to places, and random questions to settle disagreements with my husband :) For example, a portion of my search history shows that I Googled the following today:

1. "Closest Barnes & Noble to [my school's address]"
2. "Quinoa, kale, & white bean soup"
3. "How old is Betty White?"

By the way, I want everyone to know that I was closer to guessing Betty White's age than he was! :)

I enjoy having access to limitless knowledge at my fingertips. I can't remember what I did before the internet and smartphones! Even though the articles defines the "Google generation" as people born after 1993, I definitely believe we are all part of the "Google generation"! I don't know of anyone who hasn't integrated the internet into their everyday lives. While I think some people are certainly addicted, I think for the most part that the internet can make everyone's lives easier and more productive!

Based on the Information Behavior of the Researcher of the Future article, I'd say that I am a "horizontal information seeker". I tend to "bounce" around from site to site, and I rarely stay on one site very long, unless it's for class. I also have a tendency to search for things using my natural language, instead of keywords, like the article says their subjects did. Sometimes I'll search for something, then quickly realize that my stream of though makes little to no sense, and I'll have to pause to think of how to word it for a better search.

I've been interested in the "filter bubble", though I didn't know the concept had an actual name. It's always seemed to me that once some people are set in their views, they surround themselves with information that only supports those views. I think a good way to avoid a personal "filter bubble" would be to simply search for the opposite of what I've already taken as my opinion. For example, I recently watched the controversial documentary Blackfish. I definitely felt strongly about the allegations made against SeaWorld. Later, I randomly came across an article a friend posted on Facebook that was in support of SeaWorld, even after the information in the documentary came to light. It was interesting to read the opposing view, and it made me think more deeply about the movie. Was it entirely truthful? Were some truths stretched? While it ultimately did not fully change my opinion, it changed how extremely passionate I was about my opinion.

Post #2

I really enjoyed the Creating Classrooms We Need article. I think sometimes we, as teachers, can get so bogged down in paperwork and conferences and learning objectives that we can forget to enjoy our jobs. I particularly liked the bulletin point about being flexible and letting students guide their own learning. Everyone produces better and more meaningful work when it's tied to something that interests them. I think that introducing more technology and Web 2.0 tools into the classroom or media center only fosters that kind of meaningful learning. With resources like Twitter and other social media, students can easily be drawn in to new topics. From there, they can use other resources such as podcasts (like the My daily info-wrangling routine article suggested) to learn more and become more passionate about what interests them. I can truly see the significance of keeping a PLN as a media center specialist, and even as a teacher. Keeping up-to-date and in touch with new technology will lead to digital fluency, which will in turn lead to reaching more students and helping them find their passions. And isn't that the most important thing a teacher can do?

Post #1

My name is Morgan, and I currently work as a GA Pre-K assistant teacher in Sugar Hill, Georgia. I'm using this blog as part of my graduate school coursework in Instructional Technology - School Library Media Concentration. Below are some of my goals for this particular course this semester.

• Goal #1 - To learn even more Web 2.0 tools to add to my professional repertoire. I learned of several last semester, and I'm always looking to find more! I'm also hoping that now I'm more comfortable with them, I'll be able to use them more efficiently and with more confidence. 
• Goal #2 - To find more ways to incorporate technology with Pre-K age students. A lot of the Web 2.0 tools I've discovered on my own have been more geared towards much older students. I think it's important to start them young! They're already pretty advanced with their parents smartphones and tablets by the age of 4, why not incorporate more technology into their school lives, too?