Websites have become too inundated with customized/tailored ads and click-bait that it has become almost impossible to use original links when sharing content with my students.
When I share a link in my classroom...you can see all the data collection at work. Each student has their own set of advertisements distracting from the content. I'm a big fan of data analytics and instructing my students on the benefits of predicting the future, I'm just trying to find ways to protect my students from direct sales during my class.
This is what I've been doing to share great content while keeping the distractions to a minimum:
I'm a heavy user of Evernote. Evernote has a web clipper feature that allows you to capture an over salesy website as a "Simplified Article" stripped of all ads. I now use this feature to produce content in a form that I can share in my classroom.
Evernote also has a new service that makes creating and updating a blog simple. If you have an Evernote account...you can post one of your notes to the web just by placing a note in a designated notebook and using a "publish" tag. Super easy way to post a to a simple blog.
I have been combining both of these Evernote features in my classroom and it has made a big difference in focused attention. To view what stripped content looks like...go to my Content In The Raw Blog. Now when I share content with my students or friends...I use this new blog while still giving full credit for all content.
If you would like to share content with others and do not wish to link to the site that is full of ads...reach out to me and I would be happy to strip and upload the content on this new raw blog for use at your convenience.
Related:
Adapt to keep up
Mind control is a real thing
The Craig Ball Website