3 social media sites for educators

[Mike Taras]

Social Media Classroom Resources for Lesson 3

 1-

ADF&G Website Species Pages:

At some point, all Alaska students must learn about Alaska wildlife.  Students often get misinformation by referencing sites through a google search. Information about fish and wildlife found on a google search may have inaccurate information, especially as it relates to the species in Alaska. For example, the Canada lynx is an endangered animal in many locations in the lower 48, but it is not in AK. Populations in AK are very healthy and lynx are trapped (and eaten) by many people.

The AK Department of Fish and Game has a great fish and wildlife species page with loads of accurate information about many Alaska animals. It also includes range maps, images, videos, sounds, and much more. Highly recommended for any school research activities and projects.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=animals.main

Here is an example page about coyotes. Lots of people don't realize there are coyotes all over Alaska.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=coyote.main

2- 

CitSci.org

http://citsci.org/cwis438/websites/citsci/home.php?WebSiteID=7

If you want to get your students involved in science, then citizen science projects can be powerful and allow students to contribute real data to the world. I recently learned about this site called CitSci.org. Right now it has 275 projects. You may find a project that you and your students can join, or you can start your own research project. There is one project on there started by Alaska Department of Fish and Game so that teachers and students on Prince of Whales Island could participate in research about wolves.

I am going to use this site to initiate teacher/ student participation in the data collection of grouse and ptarmigan information - particularly in rural areas where small game biologists don't get much data on these birds.

 3-

Sumdog.com

https://www.sumdog.com/

I don't spend much time on/using social media education sites so I have had to spend some time browsing the internet for them. I came across this site under a search for 'best social media education sites'. I checked it out and got hooked playing some math games for about a half hours (I don't even like math). Sumdog uses educational games to motivate your students in Common Core math, reading and writing. Its adaptive learning engine monitors and guides them as they work. It seems like a great resource for teachers and [parents. Check it out and see what you think.

 

[Gary Jacobson]

Thanks, Mike

I've been a member of this Ning for about twenty minutes, and you've already lent me a great resource in the ADF&G pages.  Another point of engagement with the young folks I see every day..