Participate 2.1.1 Collecting Reputable Digital Resources Quest

Collecting Reputable Digital Resources:

I do strongly believe that the benefits far outweigh the consequences of using digital resources as an integral part of our teaching and learning. In our current era, it is crucial, however, that as educators were are vigilant as we work with students to ensure that the exposure and level of access remains in the acceptable range with reliable resources to the best of our ability. Our young people literally have the world at their fingertips! I know that I am constantly learning new ways to reach my students with the use of digital resources.

• What were the three most useful tools or resources resulting from the web walkabout? 
• Wikiversity (https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page):  I love that this site has a variety of timely options/posts to grab the attention of students as they may be visiting this site for a variety of needs/reasons
• Open Education Consortium ( http://www.oeconsortium.org/about-oec/) I am attracted to the variety of resources here that are open and free to all.
• Cengage Learning (http://www.cengage.com/us/) This seems to be a great resource to help students supplement and support their learning!
• How can students be taught to safely collect tools and resources that can help them maximize their learning? 
• Informed about what negative viruses, etc... can be on their devices if appropriate steps are not taken - this is no different than teaching our students to care for their school supplies or personal property
• Informed of what the acceptable sites/resources are - we must make sure as educators that we are structuring our lessons and expectations in a fashion so that students are clear on how to access appropriate resources - this does not necessarily come natural to our students
• Informed (even though this is very difficult in my experience for students to grasp) about the potential negative impact of posts/shares/etc... that are always then accessible by future colleges, jobs, etc... In other words, things don't just "go away" and potential employers, coaches, or college admissions counselors do care!
• What policies or procedures might need to be in place to make this possible?
• Pro-active structure on the part of the school to block or limit specific websites/resources that students may be able to use/access in a negative way
• Pro-active steps by teachers to ensure that we are first vetting any potential resource/website that we will be asking students to potentially access in their learning