Photo Attribution:
Original Image: Quinceanera Alter
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliceomega/1358730826/sizes/l/

by: impercivibleneon87 (flickr account name)

Released under an Attribution Non-commercial No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic License.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.en

Before this week's lab in CEP 416, if a student had approached me to help her look for images online about a project we were doing in class, in this case Quinceañeras in Mexico, I would have directed her to a few different websites that I have used in the past. For example, I have used Google Images, Yahoo Images, MSN Images, or just search the internet using the keyword 'images' to see what came up. This is what I have used in the past to search for images as well as where I have used to get images from. In regards to how to cite the images, the thought would have honestly not crossed my mind. I would not have mentioned to the student to cite their image at all. If she would have been adamant about citing, I would have said to list the website where she found it on. I am sorry to say that I have never cited an image source until I realized in this lab that it was actually considered stealing to use someone's image without their permission.

However, it is a happy day now that I am able to say that my perspective has changed on searching for images on the internet and I would lead my student in a different search direction after the lab this week. Although I realize that these other websites mentioned above can still be viable sources (only if they have the correct 'some rights reserved' copyright), however, there are a plethora of other images available to the students. For example, if the students does a search at Creative Commons Search, they will be able to find images provided through many different search engines. The student can also use FlickrCC to search, as well as other websites. I will also sit down with them and go over which images they will use by showing them how the licenses work. I will also show them how to correctly cite where the image is taken from (see example above).

Since I'm leaving on June 15, 2008 to teach English as a Foreign Language in the Galapagos Islands, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, for two months, I thought it might be useful to find out the history of the islands and useful information cultural information that I could use to integrate myself into their culture and use in my teaching while I'm there. Searching on Google, I first entered: "Galapagos Islands" OR "Islas Galapagos" (as they are called in Spanish) so I could get a full listing of both English and Spanish websites available to me because I am able to read both languages fluently.

Using this search only, of course 241,000 hits came up on the web with this criteria. The first four were Wikipedia, but I didn't want to use that material, so I browsed through other websites and came across the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism, and looking further into the website even though it contained solely things for tourists (of which I will not be because I will be living there) I did find a Ecuadorian dictionary of slang words they use there, something very useful to someone in my situation!

I know Charles Darwin had a lot to do with the Galapagos Islands, but I wanted to find out more about his studies there, specifically when he was there and what he found. So, I entered "Charles Darwin" AND "Galapagos Islands" and found this video where I learned about the Charles Darwin Foundation and all they are doing to save the tortoises and other plant and animal habitats throughout the islands in the name of Charles Darwin.

Being able to use the specific operators helped me to narrow my search functions significantly and did not bring up the usual "Visit the Galapagos Islands Today on our cruise ship vacation websites", which is very comforting.

Finally, I wanted to find the famous book that Charles Darwin wrote on his experience in the Galapagos Islands on natural selection, called: On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. This book was published in 1882, but that's all I've ever known about it. When I typed in, "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" into Google, the entire book came up! You can read the entire book on Google Books. I thought this was remarkable.

Thus, my search of The Galapagos Islands is not over, but I feel confident that I am more prepared to go and teach, and search if I have to, information on the subjects that I will need to if need be!