yolink in the_classroom

yolink in the_classroom

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  in the classroom INTRODUCTION Thankyou for your interest in using yolink in the classroom. At yolink, we believe that online research is an active skill, not a passive service. Successful research requires the right search strategy, and the ability to execute it. yol ink is a valuable new tool to add to your online search toolbox. It is not an improvement to an existing search function. It is an entirely new capability. For this reason, there may be a learning curve when it comes to understanding how to best incorporate yolink into your online search strategies. Search engines like Google and Bing do a great job indexing and presenting search results for you in the form of an organized haystack. yolink helps locate the needle in this haystack by allowing users to preview the information hidden behind links. It helps you make informed decisions about which pages are worth further investiga- tion, and which are not. As you begin introducing yolink to your students, you may want to leverage some of the resources available on our education website: www.yolinkeducation.com. This website is a companion for using yolink in the classroom, and has content and resources for developing web literacy skills. The site is continually updated with new materials and helpful information that support education and help to improve online literacy skills. Our future plans include offering an online web literacy curriculum, as well as additional resources and educational materials available for download. The attached information will provide an overview of using yolink in the classroom. As your students begin using yolink, we would greatly value any comments or feedback that you might have. Please feel free to contact us through our website or speak directly with your yolink evangelist.
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  TA B LE O F C O N T E N T S > Download & install yolink > Pre-installation technical questionnaire > yolink in the classroom > yolink education website > Curriculum outline > Introducing yolink to the rest of your school > Additional resources from yolink
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  DOWNLOAD & INSTALLYOLINK Downloading and installing yolink is actually quite simple. If you need additional assistance, please contact our support team at info@yolink.com. yolink is available for download at www.yolink.com or www.yolinkeducation.com. There are three main options for broad-scale yolink installation: 1. Download and install yolink individually on each computer terminal. This can be time consuming if you’re working with more than a few computers. 2. Complete the “Pre-Installation Technical Questionnaire” below and email it to info@yolink.com or your yolink evangelist. You can also email it to info@yolink.com. We will then be able to send you the appropriate installer file for your operating environment. 3. For schools with large number of computers, we recommend an MSI file download go to www.yolink.com/msi, fill in the required information, and download the Microsoft Installer (MSI) file directly.* The checklist below denotes a few additional steps you may want to consider before you begin. O Show the product to colleagues and/or set up a group demonstration via the Web. O Understand your school’s protocol for downloading and using software on school computers. O Inform your school’s IT Staff that you will be installing yolink. O Ask for any necessary permission to install new software. O Involve your IT staff by putting them in touch with your support contact at yolink. O Decide where yolink would be most useful in your school. O Determine which grade levels would be using yolink O Where are the computers located? For example, in the classroom, library, and/or computer lab * Note: MSI files may only be used in Windows operating environments. For broad-scale Macintosh installations, please use option 1 or 2 above.
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  PRE-INSTALLATION TECHNICAL QUESTIONNAIRE Thefollowing questions are similar to those found on the yolink MSI download site (www.yolink.com/msi). Please communicate your answers to these questions to your yolink evangelist or support team member. If you don’t know the answers, or if you need clarification about any of these questions, please ask your IT staff and/or put them directly in touch with your yolink evangelist or support team member. 1. Do you use Macs or PCs? 2. For either Mac or Windows, which version of the Operating System do you use? 3. Do you run Firefox (2.0 and 3.0) or Internet Explorer (6, 7, or 8)? 4. Which browser and version do you use? 5 .Do you have administrative rights to download and install applications? 6. Do you want to deploy school-wide to a group of PCs using Microsoft Installer (MSI) files? 7. Do you have Java (1.5 or greater) and .NET (2.0 and greater)? (yolink requires each be installed) 8. Do you use firewall software? If so, which one? 9. Do you have a program that wipes out User Profiles on specific computers, such as Deep Freeze? (This is mainly an issue with Firefox). 10. Do you use a proxy server? If so, would you like yolink to be utilized with that proxy server? 11. Please list the Online Academic Databases (e.g. JSTOR, EBSCO, Grolier’s, etc.) that are available to your students. After installation, test each of your computers and make sure that yolink is working properly. Should you have any issues, please contact the yolink support team at info@yolink.com or your yolink evangelist.
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  yolink IN THECLASSROOM At yolink, we view searching the Internet as a skill. Even though today’s students have grown up with digital media, it should not be assumed that they have achieved a high level of “tech” fluency. Many of the skills necessary for effective online research are not learned simply by immersion and repetition. Students need to develop analytical and critical thinking skills to aid them in conducting effective research online. The terminology used when discussing the topic of Internet searching skills may vary. Information literacy, web literacy, and 21st century skills are just a few examples. All of these terms refer to an underlying need for developing research and communication skills online. Using yolink in the classroom will enable teachers and students to learn more about web literacy and enhanced online search skills. Classroom application of this knowledge will be an important component of learning. We want students and teachers to develop skills that will help them to be successful and confident when using online resources. yolink is currently developing lessons, guides, and an online curriculum that will support these educational goals. The lessons and materials will be available online at yolinkeducation.com. If you have any ideas that you would like to see incorporated into our online offerings, please let us know. Simply email info@yolink.com or contact your yolink evangelist.
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  yolink EDUCATION WEBSITE www.yolinkeducation.com yolinkhas developed an educational website to facilitate online learning. The site offers additional resources that can help educators and students learn more about web literacy, search skills, and all things yolink. You will also find several short videos that demonstrate how to use yolink. Please check this site regularly for updates, teacher guides, new lesson plans, and (coming soon) access to an online web literacy curriculum.
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  CURRICULUM OUTLINE (draft) Background: The New Information Landscape Redefinition of Literacy Reading Standards Writing Standards Intro: What is a Hyperlink and Why Should I Care Defining Hyperlink Understanding Hyperlink Text Connecting the Links Module One: The Challenge of Search Where to Begin Your Search New Language of the Web Learning to “Talk to Google” Decoding the Search Result Module Two: From Search to Find Framing the Question Understanding the Context Analyzing the Result Module Three: Keeping Found Things Found Saving Tagging Organizing Module Four: Getting and Giving Sharing Citing Connecting Close: New Relationship with Content
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  INTRODUCING YOLINK TOTHE REST OF YOUR SCHOOL After familiarizing yourself with yolink in the classroom, you may wish to share certain insights with other teachers and colleagues. The following steps are easy ways for you to begin to introduce and teach your fellow colleagues about the benefits of yolink in the classroom: • Learn more by watching yolink educational and instructional videos at www.yolink.com (or www.yolinkeducation.com) and share them with your colleagues. • Have colleagues download yolink for themselves. • View the curriculum resources available on the yolink educational site. • Sign up at the yolink education website for one of our weekly scheduled web demonstrations. • Contact your yolink evangelist or info@yolink.com to schedule a personal demonstration from our staff directly to your colleagues. Depending on time and location, these demos may be in-person or online via Webex.
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  ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROMYOLINK Our yolink team is happy to assist you in any way possible. Some of the general services we routinely offer include: • Performing a live web demonstration with an unlimited number of participants (teachers and/or students) focused on instructional aspects of how to use yolink • Visiting your school for an in-person instructional session with educators and/or students • Providing installation support for non-MSI environments • Providing additional lesson plans In addition, yolink will provide (upon request) the following types of collateral to support the usage and understanding of yolink in the classroom: • 3x5 inch yolink note card guide for placement on computer monitors • yolink bookmarks for each student • Additional information/support packets for administrators • Other student giveaways (pens, novelties, etc.) Finally, the yolink education website is your go-to resource for all things yolink. Find technical support, get ideas from other teachers, read about best practices, and view helpful videos that you can share with colleagues and students. Also available online are additional lesson plans developed by yolink. Check the site periodically for new lesson plans and feel free to recommend a lesson plan. Each one will incorporate ideas for utilizing the power of yolink in your classroom. And they’re FREE. We are always glad to hear from you. You can contact us by email at info@yolink.com or by contacting your yolink evangelist directly. Questions? Want to see yolink videos? Please go to http://www.yolinkeducation.com Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ a TigerLogic Company