This week I have been tasked to consider and share the web based resources I use in pursuit of my educational goals as well as for tools in my life. As I consider the task, I am somewhat overwhelmed by the number of online tools I actually use during the day. I have integrated online connectivity into virtually every facet of my life. From checking the weather, finding a recipe, to finding a peer reviewed journal article, I require network access. Therefore, to preface my list, I will say this is a partial listing as the exhaustive enumeration would be, well, exhausting.
I obviously spend a great deal of time on Liberty’s Black board page (https://www.liberty.edu/) since that is how I go to class. I also use Their Library link for some referencing as well as ERIC (http://www.eric.ed.gov/), I have found that the ERIC database is a bit more extensive which occasionally makes the difference between finding the appropriate article or spending four hours researching only to have to rewrite the section.
I have found many resources in the education field which I have found repeatedly useful. Discovery Education (http://www.discoveryeducation.com/) hosts a tremendous list of creative lesson plans that are well organized and engaging for students. I also end up at The Texas Education Agency website (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148) about once a week. It houses, among other things, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills requirements listings by grade and subject.
In my personal life, I feel like I live on Google. I am relocating my family and myself from Texas to Colorado, and have used Google every step of the way to research EVERY facet of the move from school districts (http://www.schooldigger.com/), the house (www.craigslist.org), climate (http://www.city-data.com/), movers(https://www.movinghelper.com/), utilities (http://www.gjcity.org/), and recreational prospects (http://www.visitgrandjunction.com/). School Digger provided a tremendous amount of information regarding school rankings and state rankings for subject scores and even teacher salaries. I use the Weather Channel online (www.weather.com) on my phone every day to help plan my schedule several days out. I buy virtually nothing without first checking Cnet (http://www.cnet.com/) for reviews, and every relevant online retailer first to ensure I am purchasing the correct product at the correct price.
I had forgotten about Discovery education although I've used it a bunch in the past. I like the way that the videos are broken up into segments and have other materials to go with them. I have used them extensively as reinforcement for what I covered and the kids are usually OK with them as long as you don't over do it. I need to go back and see if there is anything new since the last time i checked their website.
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