Today we began learning about an online learning tool called WebQuest. We started by reading on a website called "A WebQuest about WebQuests" developed by Bernie Dodge. WebQuest provides a format for learning websites: there is a page for the introduction, a page describing the task, a page for the process, and a conclusion page. The activity was to rate the five examples of WebQuests on the site: Saving the Gorillas, World of Shakespeare, Anti-Earthquake Designer Foreign Country, and Waves and Sound. I evaluated the WebQuests keeping the four group roles in mind: The Efficiency Expert, the Affiliator, the Altitudinist, and the Technophile.
Here are the WebQuests ranked from most effective to least effective according to my opinion and from the information on the "A WebQuest about WebQuests" site.
I ranked World of Shakespeare first because it is the most professional looking and best organized. It also has a clearly defined task and process in which the group roles are defined. The students who complete the activity don’t just answer questions and gather facts; they create a skit, sonnet, scrapbook, or PowerPoint. They would get practice with technology and higher level thinking skills in a fun activity.
I ranked Foreign Country Presentation second because it is a little less impressive looking, but it includes clear task, process, and conclusion pages, although group roles are not designated in the process page. The activity would please the Technophile, because it is a research activity and the Altitudinist also because the activity encourages the students to not just gather facts about a country, but to find out which country would be the best to visit, which makes it personal. They are gathering information they might directly use some day. The Affiliator would also be pleased because since the groups are competing against each other, students are encouraged to collaborate and the competition motivates them.
I ranked Saving the Gorillas third because it is a good activity with an interesting topic. However, it isn’t a group activity, and it could be a little boring answering dozens of questions about gorillas. I think a more fun activity could be included also.
I ranked Anti-Earthquake Designer fourth because I thought the topic was a little narrow. It might be good for an architecture class though. I also thought the work between the group members was distributed very unevenly. For example, the “scientist” is given the task of explaining the phenomena of earthquakes and creating a fact sheet for the class. The “Design artist”, however, must use the research gathered and employ the linear design process to select the best idea and draw dimensioned sketches, and create a power point presentation to present the design to the class. If I were in that group, I would much rather be the scientist!
I ranked Waves and Sound last because the directions are very unclear and poorly written in parts. For example, the task is to” go through the program and identify key concepts of waves and sound using logic and high level thinking.” The WebQuest is supposed to provide them a way to use logic and higher level thinking, not just tell them that is what they need to do. The pictures included in the process are good, but there are way too many questions and there is no activity that promotes the higher level thinking that they are supposed to be using.
ISTE NETS for Teachers
I think this activity will help me meet standard 2a. because this will help me make my own WebQuest, and using WebQuest in an assignment would be incorporating a digital tool or resource to promote student learning and creativity. It would also likely make the activity more fun and interesting, which would help the students retain more of what they learn. It would aslo use less paper than worksheets!
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