My thoughts on webquests...

After I found out how to create a webquest, I went to several sites to see various webquests that have already been created.  I can see the value in using them in the classroom, and not just for older students.  They can be very beneficial in the younger grades as well.  Allowing younger students to follow a webquest gives them confidence in their computer skills and the student may or may not realize they are learning while they are following links.  To me, this is very important because it is a way to reach students that may be too shy to participate in class, they can work at their own pace, and students are more willing to study subjects they may not be fond of just because it is on the internet.

I was talking with my niece who is in the 7th grade this year and hates science and math, but excels at other subjects.  She has used webquests in school in previous years, and I could tell when she was explaining what they studied that even though she says she hates science, she still remembers what she learned on the webquest several years later.  Teachers at my kids' school use them in the first grade.  I know my own children run straight to the computer when they get home from school if their assignment requires them to use the computer.  Seeing their excitement when they discover something new is enough to make me question why more teachers do not use them to teach many subjects.  I know they will take time to create from scratch, but there are already webquests created that cover a variety of subjects and can easily be modified to fit anyone's curriculum.  Maybe as technology is rolled out into schools more teachers will find the value in them, but I know I will definitely be using them in my future classroom!

A webquest is...

After reviewing several sites about webquests, I found that Education World and Bernie Dodge's Taskonomy site explained webquests the best with easy to understand information. Bernie Dodge is considered the originator of the webquest concept and according to him, "A WebQuest,is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than on looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation."

Many times students feel that they are looking up information and writing it on paper for no other reason than to get a good grade. WebQuests give students a task that allows them to use their imagination and problem-solving skills. The answers are not given word for word, so the student must discover or create an answer based on information they find. Students use their own creative-thinking and problem-solving skills to find solutions to problems.

WebQuests are a great way to capture students' imagination and allows them to explore a subject through guided research chosen by the teacher. In order for our students to be prepared for 21st century jobs, we need to develop students' skills in communication, group work, problem solving, critical and creative thinking skills. Using this type of learning in my classroom will allow students to explore issues and find their own answers. A well designed webquest will allows students to process the information in meaningful ways and reach moral and ethical decisions guided by the facts they find. Because the webquest can be easily modified, it is easy for teachers to alter the tasks to the learner's level. For example, a student with special needs can be given  roles that are important and make them feel part of the group, while advanced students can explore further and do more than is required.

According to Bernie Dodge, there are six building blocks of a webquest:

• The Introduction orients students and captures their interest.
• The Task describes the activity's end product, and is the most important aspect of a webquest.
• The Process explains strategies students should use to complete the task.
• The Resources are the Web sites students will use to complete the task.
• The Evaluation measures the results of the activity.
• The Conclusion sums up the activity and encourages students to reflect on its process and results. To get started, you will need an outline of your content area, and there are several websites that have templates set up for you to create your own from scratch or modify someone else's.

The task is the single most important part of a WebQuest. It provides a goal and focus for student energies and reinforces the curricular intentions of the designer. A well designed task is doable and engaging, and requires thinking in learners that is beyond rote comprehension.

Resources identify the online resources available on the topic by brainstorming a list of related words and using the list to search for relevant sites. As the teacher is searching for sites, a hotlist of current, accurate, and age-appropriate sites is created that will engage students' interest and get them excited about learning.

I now have a pretty good understanding of what a webquest is. I definitely plan to use them in my class someday. Why not make learning fun and engage the students with tools they want to use?

What are webquests?

I have been running into webquests all over the web while gathering education information and I have a vague idea of what they are all about, but I would really like to explore that option in further detail.  What little I know about them seems to be very beneficial and the students seem to really enjoy them, so I guess I just don't understand why some teachers are hesitant to use them.  I think I will go surfing to find out more info...looks like it will be a late night for me, but at least I will have my webquest questions answered!

Website project

This project was fun, but stressful.  After I thought I was nearly finished, I found out that the content on my page should be for a fictitious class and include real lessons and examples.  There was so many websites to look at to see what to include and decide if it was "website worthy", in other words, would I want my students, their parents, or other teachers to take their time to view the site. While it took a lot of time to make my way through the sites out there, I did run across several sites that I bookmarked on my portaportal (which has become my new BFF).  Although I was glad it was due quickly at first, I think I would have liked to have had the semester, so that we could add things we learned and wanted to be sure to include.  I feel like there are so many things I still want to add, so when the class is finished I plan to continue to add to it so that when I do have my own class and have to design a page of my own I will have everything I need.  The only thing that frustrated me about the project was the inability to move pictures, text, and gadgets around the page.  Since this was my first webiste, I am hoping that it was just  Google Sites that was the reason.

Overall, I really enjoyed working on this, but I am one of those people that could do this type of thing for days on end!  This excites me for the future of the classroom, because technology is crucial to our kids education if we want them to be successful in the 21st century, and the number of websites out there dedicated to teaching and learning shows that the trend is moving quickly in that direction.

Created my first Class website

I 'launched' from my comfort zone again and worked all weekend adding stuff to my class website, Set Sail in 2nd Grade.  I'm afraid I could be addicted.  It was fun for me because I like designing stuff like that, but it became much more involved because I am an obsessed "Picky Pants".

I found so many cool things to add, it was hard to narrow it down.  I still have a few questions, and need to add more content on a couple of pages, but it is getting close! I know what I want to add to the remaining pages, just have to upload it and make it look pretty :)

I am actually pleased that it is due next week, because I will definitely use this site after the project is over.  It cant be a valuable "notebook" that is accessible any place you have the internet, and would be cool to show to potential employers as sort of a preview of talents.  I think I will find my lesson plans I have written for other classes and upload them to the site.  I will also add a few pages for different grade levels, my portaportal, and even this blog that can easily be adapted to whatever class I eventually teach.  I can hide the pages I don't want anyone to see...I could go on and on but I have to get up for an 8:00 class ;)

The wheels are turning...

The last few days have been very busy for me.  In addition to my full load at school, I also volunteer at my sons school.  Again this year, I am a room mom and chair of our Spirit Wear sales.  I have spent the last few days trying to think of ways I can use what I am learning in ELED 3300 to simplify my life.  I am thinking I might try to create a webpage with our items.  I can include pictures of the items we sell and include an online order form.  I can use the blog feature to post updates for new items, bulk order/delivery status. I know there are other things I would like to include, but am still mulling the logistics.  Although it sounds like a great idea, realistically I have to find the time to put it into action.  Time...one thing technology can't give you more of!

Why use a portaportal?

In the beginning, I found it hard to imagine why in the world I would ever use a portaportal.  I have been utilizing Google Bookmarks the last few years, and can access them anywhere.  The problem with Google bookmarks is that unless the computer you are using has the Google Toolbar installed, you have to go through several steps to get to them.  After I started the portaportal assignment, I realized the value the very next day.  Google Toolbar is not installed on the computers on campus, and I needed something I had bookmarked.  I realized I could go right to my portaportal and quickly get exactly what I need.  Later, while searching for information for an assignment in my Creating Learning Environments class, I stumbled on several websites I thought would be good resources for other projects. I added all of them to my portaportal, and can go back and browse them if I ever have any spare time.

So I've been thinking...

I've been trying to think of ways that blogging could be used in the classroom, and while doing research on learning logs for another class, I ran across many articles on weblogs. Learning logs on the web is how they described them, but the possibilities are endless.

I just had a second to sit down and go through today's mail. On the front page of our Catholic Newspaper was an article featuring my children's school's former principal. Mr. Knoop left our school as principal to go back to his passion, teaching science. How amazed I was to see that he not only had traveled to Anarctica for a week in early September to collect data to study the effects of climate change with a team of international scientists and volunteers, Mr. Knoop used a blog to ask and answer questions for his students, posting pictures and his research, and even broadcast via skype into the classroom. An article was also included in The Tennessean. I am happy that the technology I read about on the internet is already being embraced right here in our own backyard. I am looking forward to asking him questions about other ways he uses technology in his classroom. While I was sorry to see him go, I understand the need to teach. Fortunately his predecessor thinks along the same lines and is very technology driven.

While we are on the subject of his predecessor, Dr. B. is always looking for ways to make life easier for her teachers and staff. They are currently struggling to produce a 15+ page weekly newsletter for every family in the school. In an effort to go green this year, they decided it would only go out electronically. While searching for useful tools and websites to add to my portaportal, I found and suggested a site to Dr. B. Since I am a parent that would be receiving this information, I really looked for all the 'glitches' per say, that they would be sure to look for, cost being #1, and found none. While the School secretary/nurse was skeptical, after I explained the concept of it being a blog she updated as needed, when she had time, as opposed to trying to make all the articles fit into Publisher and rush to get it out every week, she was very receptive. The Tech Director is looking into it further, so hopefully we will stay green and Dr. B. and her staff won't go gray!

I am really excited about the use of technology in the classroom. This class and the assignments make you think about how you can use the technology you use everyday in a learning environment in an entirely new way.

My first blog

Well, I must say I never thought I would blog. But I enrolled in this class, Instructional Design & Technology in the Elementary School, and when I found out one of the assignments was to create a blog, I went white. Don't get me wrong, I love technology and am very excited about learning how I can incorporate technology into my future classroom, I just have learned over the years to keep my personal feelings to myself, therefore my reluctance to post them on a blog for all to see. I knew this class would quickly became my favorite, (because of my love of technology), but wasn't sure what to expect from my instructor.

I have already learned many things, and not necessarily all of them were technology driven. For example, to greet students in a cheerful way, capturing interest in the first few minutes of class is crucial to becoming a successful teacher, along with firm but flexible guidance.

The first few weeks of school have flown by so fast I have found myself struggling to keep it all together to get every assignment in on time. After having the summer off and relaxing with kids it has been difficult to get back in the swing of things. But I am getting there :)

One of our first assignments was to read a chapter from the book and view a video, then post our thoughts to a discussion board. Again, I would be required to post my thoughts on things for all to see, not my favorite, but I am beginning to see the need of doing things we don't like because it will help my communication with not only the students, but more importantly their parents. As usual, I waited to see what others had to say before completing my assignment. I found others posts interesting, and saw that it is possible to have a friendly, non-judgmental discussion online. I took a deep breath and dove in, and it wasn't as bad as I thought.

Our next assignment was to create this blog, and post our thoughts on class that week. I have again had a hard time juggling my time between my homework and helping my kids with theirs, but I have to admit, after typing my thoughts out here, I feel better about all that I have to do and can cross at least one item off my list for today. Because of this, I am looking forward to getting my thoughts out on our next assignment, creating a Portaportal. That was really fun, and something new I will definitely use going forward. But I'll expand on that thought next time. Now, I need to go help my Kindergartner with his family project for a while before tackling another homework project of my own this afternoon. Thankfully I still have nap/reading time in my favor!