Day 12: Web Resources and WebQuests

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?" questions, 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.

For the next three class sessions, we'll be looking at exemplary web resources for your content area and creating a WebQuest to add to your web-based portfolio. 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.

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.

After you've seen some examples, before the end of class, send an email to Gretchen (gbthomas@uga.edu) with a brief response to the following questions:

What are your first reactions to WebQuests in terms of learning and teaching?
What advantages/disadvantages did you see in the WebQuest examples you viewed?
What are the main characteristics of a WebQuest?


Hopefully, you're beginning to formulate an idea for a "hook" for your own WebQuest. It may be related to your Inspiration project, your digital camera ideas, 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. Over the weekend, 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.

By midnight on Sunday, June 26 -- please email a response to the following related to your WebQuest:

1. Briefly describe your topic
2. Why did you choose this topic?
3. How will your WebQuest be tied to Georgia or national curriculum standards?
4. How will web resources play an important role in your WebQuest?
5. How will your WebQuest require students' deep understanding or higher-level thinking (remember Bloom's?) instead of mere comprehension?


**Continue to work on your 2 Fireworks elements -- they are due on Wednesday!