block6

=Block 6 – Navigating Sand Traps and Quicksand (Information Literacy and Copyright) = =February 22nd – 28th =



Begin with this week's Brain Blurt
(Surprise - it is in a GLOG!)

Have you ever read a **Choose Your Own Adventure** book? Well, this week, Block 6 is a “**Choose Your own Internet Adventure**!” Read each synopsis before choosing your own adventure. I hope that you choose an area you are **less** familiar with, so that you can grow in your understanding of the Internet and the skills you need in order to navigate with ease and use resources ethically.

[[image:sandtrap.jpg align="left" caption="Flickr CC: cybertoad" link="adventure1"]]Adventure 1
Navigating the Internet is like navigating a sand trap – you have to know how to navigate properly, what to avoid and how to get out of trouble if you do end up in a sand trap. Alan November, renowned author, educator and educational technologist, states “the Internet can provide any version of the truth to support almost any belief.” He suggests that it is critical that all Internet users know “how to read the “grammar” of the Internet and how to apply strategies to validate information on a website.” [|source] Understanding the Internet and how to navigate efficiently and effectively are critical literacies for the 21st Century. This adventure will help you learn how to navigate the sand traps of the Internet.

• Use skills to navigate the Internet more effectively and knowledgably • Articulate how you can validate an online resource • Articulate the significance of information literacy in the digital age
 * At the end of Adventure #1 you should be able to:**

[[image:foot_quicksand.jpg align="left" caption="Flickr CC: themewl" link="adventure2"]]Adventure 2
I have an episodic memory of standing in a public library as a student and photocopying a page from an encyclopedia for research I was assigned in school. The stern librarian walked by me and said, “Do you know it is illegal to photocopy from an encyclopedia?” I can’t remember how old I was but I do know it was long before photocopiers made their way into schools. Fast forward to current day and students look at me as if I have four horns on my head if I tell them that the images they are using from their Google image search are not free images to use in any way they wish. They have to cite the images and respect Copyright in how and where they use them. Copyright? What’s copyright? What’s copyright in a digital age?

Well those are starter questions. A few more questions might be what is Copyleft? What is Creative Commons? What is Open Source? These terms involve legal rights and this adventure will help you explore the **quicksand** of the Internet.

• Have a deeper understanding of the ethics of Internet use • Be aware of the issues and controversies surrounding Copyright • Be able to guide learners in respecting Copyright in its different forms • Understand how resources such as Wikipedia are created and how to examine an article for its validity
 * At the end of Adventure #2 you should:**

1.) Your Adventure:
Choose your Internet adventure and dig deep to explore the sand traps or the quicksand. This week in your blog share your new insights and your “ah hah!” moments as you go along. Be thinking, how can you share this with students, teachers, family and others who use the Internet? Where will your adventure take you this week? Click on one of the images above to begin your adventure. Stay safe! Have fun!

2.) Take a Moment for Humour and a Wow!
[|Introducing the Book] - Help Desk in the day of the scroll.

[|New Table Top Tech] - Technology will continue to change and influence how we live, communicate and collaborate

Make sure you have:

 * worked through the activities in one of the above Internet adventures
 * shared your insights and "ah hah" moments in your blog
 * commented on the blog of one or more of your classmates
 * worked on your major ICT project

Your sandboxes have taken new shape and you are getting anxious to share your learning (right?). Next week - we will begin a two-week block on online PD March 15th - Your major project needs to be posted by **March 17th**. Critical friend feedback will then take place. You will have an opportunity to view other projects and see what your colleagues are doing.
 * Looking ahead:**