TASK 10C: EDG 4376 & EDG 4377

http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7

          What was inherently unique about this site was the range of information it offered. With student generated reports about Noah Webster to the first formations of the NEA this site provides students one with a number of possible resources for conducting historical reports. What I found most interesting was the report on the “New Harmony” project by Robert Owen. This proved to be an awesome additional asset to the site for it gives another perspective to the traditional American school and community setting. Today’s students need to be exposed to diversity in every aspect of life. This is a site to be used in the social studies classroom also because these reports were student produced therefore the site gives an example of what an acceptable historical paper may look like!

 http://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool

          This site was simply formatted with pictures that enhanced the search. Some of the pictures covered bilingual education, women in the classroom, and depiction of the first school houses. Literally houses! What most enjoyed about the site was the black and white view of the times past photos in education. This addition to the site really took the viewer to the history of education. This feature also made the site different from many others. Another facet about this site was its list of notable faces in American education history ranging from John Dewey, to Catherine Beecher, to Linda Brown herself. Quite a library of information this site has proven to be!

http://www.education-world.com/awards/2003/r0203-27.shtml

          This site provides a wealth of information about various topics in history. What makes this site different is that it provides not only links to other sites but reviews of other sites also. Sites are given a letter grade based upon content, graphics, and organization. This is also an original feature for it is not so often found. I particularly linked “Conversation with History” that provides videos and pod casts; also a unique assets for the resources of the social studies teacher. Perhaps most interesting about this site is that it offers lesson plans, technology integration techniques, and professional development articles and assignments. Having the Berkeley Digital Library at your fingertips is not bad either!

http://www.educationindex.com/history

          Here we have another site that offers links to other sites. Keep in mind this particular site is constantly being reviewed, revamped, and resources are always being added. I would not suggest the complete use of this for long research papers. I do support it easy to use format and organization. The graphics were not as compelling. This site was chosen primarily because it welcomes other links and the reporting of down or bad links. This feature is not often found at other sites. Usually if a link is down you simply have to find another site from which to find your information. Not here! Reported downed linked are tended too with the completing of a short information gathering page. From information on the Oregon Trail to distinguished women in history the site truly has resourceful characteristics. Do not limit the possibilities for what is not found somewhere else may just be seen here!

http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html

          From links to the American Experience to the American Journal this site has a plethora of information. This format is clear and the graphics are not cluttering. The sole purpose for selecting this site was because it stemmed from the State Department of Education. Each section of the site has laws and policies regarding teaching the particular subject. The section on social studies offers links to publications, NCLB (No Child Left Behind), and other teacher resources such as videos and articles. This site is necessary for the pre-service teacher going into social studies because it prepares you for the expectations of school districts and parents. It also goes without saying that more information is never a bad quality to have!

http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/EDG4376/Study%20Notes.htm

          This page of study notes compiled by Frazee and Rudnitski (1995) help us to understand the basic of what curriculum is. It also organizes the ideas of key theorists in the development of the American educational system, its practices, and its policies. This is an ideal site for those looking to write curriculum and other educational programs.

http://www.odu.edu/%7Ejritz/oted885/ntg7.shtml

          Here is another page of study notes compiled by John Ritz of Old Dominion University. In this site curriculum development is centered on culture and other social aspects of human living. This is an important viewpoint to take when attempting to build a curriculum. Cultural theorists persist in noting that it is vital for school planners and curriculum writers to continue to take traditions, attitudes, and beliefs of the people they will service (parents, students, and community members) into account. This site helps build understanding with its simplistic outlines.

http://www.infed.org/biblio/knowledge.htm

          This site offers for the instructor an in-depth knowledge on the history of school, education, curriculum, and their purposes. Here we have factual information that helps guide the planning for curriculum writers. The purposes found on this site are to form basics for educational objectives behind every conceived thought. It may prove itself more useful for your secondary or post secondary students and instructors. It is a model tool for resources in either curriculum education courses or a social studies link to American education history.

http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/faculty/dohrer/projects/Proged.pdf

          The notion of curriculum theory in American education cannot be complete without the substantial mention of John Dewey. John Dewey is author of a number of principles put into place for the democratic development of the American public school system. This site offers a brief history of influential figures of the Progressive Movement Period of the 1900s. Some of those mentioned along with Dewey are Ralph W. Tyler, George Counts, and L. Thomas Hopkins. An important experiment known as the “Eighth Year Study” which all educators should have if even brief knowledge about is also covered in this site.

http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/EDG4376/Study%20Notes%20Dan%20Kennedy.htm

          Here is a site featuring an article of compiled notes by Dan Kennedy. His primary focus here is on the history of American education. The central piece is the formation of tribal models or units. These existed solely to pass on traditions, beliefs, and attitudes of the families. From this beginning we move to add to the foundation the influx of those in secondary schools, the need for discipline, as well as the need for social efficiency all vital for the understanding of the need for education in this country.

 http://oregonstate.edu/instruction/ed555/zone3/tenways.htm

         I selected this site because it shows a variety of ways to integrate the disciplines (subjects). It is my belief that integration is necessary in the building up of prior knowledge and forming connections from one concept to the next. The site goes into detail concerning each method of integration from fragmented in one discipline to networked integration across various learning styles.

http://www.smallschoolsproject.org/PDFS/9.5_icHTH_Planning.pdf

         This is also a good site for the thematic units. Some schools work on themes throughout the year this site would serve to be a valuable resource. It is necessary to capture the fundamentals of the thematic units and its purpose this helps us with that. It also guides instructors in how to facilitate a successful integrated unit. This comes through cooperation, tolerance, and teamwork!

http://www.indiana.edu/%7Ereading/ieo/digests/d120.html

          The ERIC website is a major site for educational information ranging from articles to worksheets, to an assortment of recommended books.

http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmcnair/EDG4376/Definitions%20of%20Social%20Studies.htm

          This site summarizes several definitions for social studies taken from the textbook Teaching Elementary Social Studies" James J. Zarrillo (2004). Social studies is necessary for not only is it the study of people but it also combines the language structures of peoples. With this in mind, the summary of this site helps keep the social studies instructor focused not only on the people but on the language. What is acceptable about this site for this file is that it is quite brief but to the point. Therefore it is a keeper!

http://www.socialstudies.org/positions/elementary/

          This is an essential site for the development of any social studies curriculum. The format is a bit meticulous with its fine print void of graphics and color. Nevertheless, this site offers a great deal of information on the politics of social studies education. Topics range from bridging social studies and the elementary school child to categorizing developmental characteristics that need to be evident in a child soon to enter a social studies course.