Web Resources and WebQuests

PART ONE: POWERPOINT GAMES

1. What questions do you have about your game?
2. Games are due Wednesday, June 28 at the beginning of class. If they are not handed in by the beginning of class, you will have to use a late pass to submit them. Review the project description to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements.

PART TWO: WEB-BASED RESOURCES
What is it that gets students interested in your content area? What is the hook that draws them in? Sometimes it's a story, a "what if?" question, or a model of something really large or really small. In other instances, it's a controversial issue that directly impacts the lives of your students. How can technology help you to find that hook? Internet resources and WebQuests can help a teacher to create a learning environment that makes students want to know more.

Let's look at an interactive website and brainstorm how it can be used for teaching: Name Voyager

For the first part of today's class, we'll be looking at exemplary web resources for your content area. MarcoPolo is called a gateway site -- since it is acts as a "gateway" to 7 nationally recognized educational sites. We'll spend some time surveying the MarcoPolo partner sites and discussing how resources can enhance your curriculum.

PART THREE: INTRODUCTION TO WEBQUESTS
Although most educators are aware of the wealth of resources available via the Internet, they are not sure how to use them appropriately in teaching their content area. In the mid-90s, Bernie Dodge, a professor of educational technology at San Diego State University, developed the notion of WebQuests. What is a WebQuest, you ask? Let Dr. Dodge tell you himself. Why would you teach using a WebQuest? One of Bernie Dodge's former graduate students, Tom March will tell you why.

After you have a general idea of what a WebQuest should entail -- take some time to preview a few examples. Go to the main WebQuest page and click the word "Top" on the left navigation bar. Spend a few minutes viewing 2 or 3 WebQuests in your content area.

Hopefully, you're beginning to formulate an idea for a "hook" for your own WebQuest. It may be related to your Inspiration project, your group's iMovie, or your PowerPoint game. It could even be something completely new in your content area. After you have some ideas together, review the WebQuest assignment so that you are clear on what is expected. Tonight, you'll want to identify your WebQuest topic. Use this website to help you in the selection process.

Generally, a good WebQuest topic should have some inherent complexity, such as controversial issues, multiple perspectives, unknowns, etc. The topic needs to have your students take information in and transform it, using their own judgement and creative problem-solving techniques -- a LoTi level 4 or higher -- the learning should be authentic.


FOR WEDNESDAY:
1. PowerPoint Games are due at the beginning of class.
2. Get a start on your WebQuest before Wednesday's class. We'll be sharing ideas at the beginning of class tomorrow.