Sept 20

Delicious.com is a user friendly and useful website to operate.  After searching a few different topics with hundreds if not thousands of sites to choose from, I was very impressed with amount and content of search related topics

Searching for my own benefit for my grammar class, I found the same website I already use along with a new one, Quick and Easy Tips.  Although it seems like an online magazine, it does provide practical information that can be applied to daily life situations having such a broad range of articles.  As a die hard Google fan, Delicious has opened a whole new world of searching for me. 

Journal 1 - Responders in the classroom

The use of responders can be beneficial in the classroom setting for many reasons:  It brings a sense of a very low pressure-learning atmosphere which is believed to change attitudes of students toward learned subject; and is immediate feedback for both teacher and students that allows extra time for reinforcement instead of wasted time grading papers.

The low-pressure atmosphere created by responders change students desire to participate.  When used anonymously for practice tests, reinforcement games, and general instruction, students will begin to feel a level of comfort to participate. For example, when the answers are posted immediately, students are able to check which group they fall into. (right or wrong answer). This effects their confidence in a positive way by knowing they might not be the only one who answered incorrectly.

Using a Smart Board and Responders also creates a level of excitement and motivation to learn a new subject, but students also need to know the boundaries with the fun and games. Testing is the perfect way to reinforce this level.  Testing from their desk allows them to take the test just as seriously as if it were traditionally given (paper and pencil).

Immediate results from either the practice or graded activities allows the teacher to know exactly what material needs more emphasis.  This is without a doubt beneficial to both teacher and student due to less time grading papers and more time spent on actual reinforcement.