Recap of Goal Actions:
The action for my first goal was to find "real-world" resources that I could use in my study of "water systems" for Grade 8 science, in order to engage my students better.
The action required for my second goal was to create a WebQuest for the study of Ancient Rome or Greece.
I have already begun to implement some of the ideas that I've discovered in my classroom. My goal actions are still a "work-in-progress". I have learned that there are far more available resources that I thought before. This is a pretty incredible discovery for me, since I spend a lot of time looking for usable tools. The CAST website contains a wealth of information and resources for teachers to use in the classroom. I was amazed at the practical tools available.
Honestly, the biggest obstacle to me meeting these two goals is time. The curricular outcomes associated with each goal only come up later in the school year, so I haven't been as motivated to actually create the WebQuest yet. I am a little intimidated by the amount of time that it will take to create the site, and while I do look forward to it, I know that there is still a fair amount of research that I need to do in deciding which parts of existing WebQuests I would like to draw from. I am still working through ideas on how to assess the learning. I love the ideas shared by my colleagues through the comments. Thank you! I think that a booklet that accompanies the WebQuest might be a good place to start. That provides a tangible, and logical way for students to manage their learning.
I am trying to implement some of these same "real-world" issues of my second goal into more of my teaching. It is these connections that draw students in, and I want to make use of that as often as I can.
References:
http://www.cast.org/
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards Based Approach. (Laurete Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cenage Learning.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWebQuests take time. I remember taking a week long class on how to make a WebQuest. My WebQuest dealt with 4th grade curriculum, ad it was on Native Americans. However, this was ten years ago, and I never stayed on top of this tool. I am hands on and need to keep working with technology to make it part of me. Making a WebQuest would be of interest to me, but it is about time these days. I am fortunate that there are so many quests for students to access online that were created by others. Good luck with the quest when you have the time.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you have looked at Brainpop or UnitedStreaming when trying to locate "real world" resources. Both sites offer informational videos and activities. I know we don't always want to plop our students down in from of a video but they can be helpful. These videos are fairly short and to the point. I thought of the sites when you said real-world because they can watch people working, see different places around the world, etc. A video might have power to get some of your students engaged who may not have been otherwise. Hope this helps!