Blackboard is a course-management system (or CMS) that is web based and password protected. Similar to Moodle, this online program allows staff and students to engage in online or offline classes. It also allows staff and students to utilize online activities and resources (for both online and offline classes).

In Saskatchewan, the Ministry of Learning hosts some of its materials on Blackboard so that all educators across the province can access them. It is used to house password protected resources and materials.

WHAT ARE ONLINE DATABASES?

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Education has developed an online database that allows students and teachers to access hundreds of informational resources such as magazine articles, newspapers, encyclopedias and even journal articles online free of charge. Under a provincial licensing agreement, the Ministry is able to provide free access to Saskatchewan schools. For students conducting online research, the resources in the databases can be a more effective way to ensure that information is from a reliable source. Different reading levels are also available!

Materials scanned into the Sun West library on Kurzweil can be accessed and used throughout the Division. This means that materials scanned in one school can be saved and accessed by staff in other schools in Sun West. This is a huge time-saving feature for many schools where time to scan may be limited. The copyright understanding is that materials used provided that the school has a “hard copy” of the resource being used. So, if a school is using the Kurzweil scanned version of Underground to Canada, a copy of the book must also be available in the school.

Introduction

If you were asked to draw the structure of an atom, what would you draw? Throughout history scientists have accepted five atomic models. Our perception of the atom has changed from the early Greek model because of clues or evidences that have been gathered through scientific experiments. As more evidence was gathered old models were discarded or improved upon. Your goal is to trace the atomic theory through history.

Powerpoint presentation on what you need to know about blogging
What is a blog, why do people use a blogs, what are some "rules" for blogging

December 2012 Issue
January 2013 Issue
February 2013 Issue
March 2013 Issue
April 2013 Issue
May 2013 Issue

Your blog project is intended to serve several purposes and fill many objectives:

Purposes:

To express your personal responses to projects and learning that occurs throughout the course
To make connections between classroom learning and your own experiences
To reflect on learning opportunities in the classroom
To share your ideas and thoughts an audience – peers, parents, community (local/global)
To share your voice about issues and topics related to this course
To link to websites and sources with related materials
Objectives:

Share and present ideas
Make connections
Reflect on learning
Demonstrate respectful communication in an online environment

Cyber ethics is a code when using the Internet. Because of the nature of the Internet, however, there is no standard code of conduct. The individual user can choose what kind of websites to create, what comments they post, how they treat other users, and what files or information to download.

Research shows that there is a perceived anonymity on the Internet. This anonymity sometimes encourages young people to initiate or participate in negative behaviour when they normally would not. This behaviour includes: sending threating messages, posting rumors, posting fake or offensive profile, or submitting a negative image of someone. However, we are not as anonymous as we believe we are. Our "Digital Footprint" proves this.

Cyberbullying: Broken Friendships 1
Cyberbullying Assignment

Remember to check for accuracy, objectivity, currency, content, and authority when using Internet sites as resources. The following list can help you to evaluate the internet sites you visit.

Author’s name ( last name, first name):______________________________________________
Title of document on the site ( put in quotation marks):_________________________________
Date of document or last date updated on the site:____________________________________
URL address of the site:___________________________________________________________
Date you visited the site:__________________________________________________________

The Sun West Student Email system is a valuable tool for communication for students, parents and teachers. Students can use this system to send assignments back and forth between school and home. It is a safe, controlled communication environment.

Learning Activity 1: Watch the 45 minute video Facebook Obsession. During viewing, record benefits and potential concerns raised during the documentary.

Learning Activity 2: Is Facebook beneficial or harmful in the school setting? … in the work world?

1. Don’t divulge private information – there is no reason to ever give out your personal information in an online forum.

2. Read the Rules – Forums typically have rules of what is allowed and what is not. Make sure you read and understand the rules. Those who break the rules may be blocked.

3. Post in the Proper Forum – Make sure you are on topic when you post in a forum.

4. Avoid making too many new threads; use the search function before asking questions - Many people before you likely had the same question, and therefore there is likely a topic on it already.
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Image of the Inquiry Model discussing Planning, Retrieving, Processing, Creating, Sharing & Evaluating

How web pages are setup

Have you ever wondered what all of the mumbo jumbo in websites stands for? Why is it that with only one changed letter we are unable to access the site we want?

This lesson will turn you into internet detectives - you will have a series of tasks to perform.

Effective Internet Research Skills Overview

Step 1: Create a list of key words and phrases on the topic being researched
Step 2: Choose an internet tool:
· Subject Directories
· Search Engines and Meta-Search Engines
· Subject Guides
· Specialized Databases
· Site Search Engines
.....

How safe are you on the internet? The following Scavenger Hunt will guide you through some basic rules of internet safety. This assignment is designed to take three computer class periods. We will share presentations in class in period four.

Part 1 – Introducing Google as a Search Engine
When looking for a very specific piece of information, it can be helpful to be able to write very specific searches, and Google provides operators to make that possible.
Learning Activity 1: Check out the video link to learn more about using Google effectively!

Search tools are not independently intelligent. They cannot understand what you type in, only match it. Sometimes, there are multiple types of meanings that match a query, so a savvy searcher uses special symbols or words, designated by the particular search tool in use at the time. These special symbols are called operators, and Google as a number of them.