Week 5: WebQuests & Internet Projects
This week you will learn about and preview two types of technology-related instructional models: Internet Projects and WebQuests. Maybe you will contemplate how the "new literacies" come into play with using these types of learning models.
This week we read about two similar topics, Internet Projects and WebQuests. Both are tools classrooms use to build internet literacy while teaching other lessons. However, an Internet Project involves other classrooms around the world (Leu,D. 2001) and a WebQuest does not (thirteen.org, 2004).
ReplyDeleteInternet Projects are also known to involve classrooms with scientists on real life projects. (Dawson, M. 1999). WebQuests are used to enhance a teachers lesson. (thirteen.org, 2004).
Regardless of which of the two you choose to use, both help support new literacy. New literacy is the understanding need to use new technology. (Leu,D. ND). Leu suggests organizing the new literacy into 5 categories: identify important questions, locate information, critically evaluate information, synthesize information, and communicate (nd). I agree that it is important to identify technology as a new type of literacy and introduce it into classrooms even if it is not a standard yet.
We can easily see the increase of technology in the last 10 years. It is apparent that it is here to stay, more accurately it is here to grow. Teaching children how to handle technology will be a necessity before we know it. We might as well get ahead of the curve!
Kassandra-
DeleteI agree, technology has definitely changed in the past several years but more importantly it is continuing to change and grow. I guess I have not realized how much and often technology is used in the classrooms. Even the preschool classroom I sub at uses the smart board. Since preschoolers can not read, the WebQuest and Internet Projects would not be something they could do, but the teacher could pull up one of the websites and talk about the topic on that particular site. Good information.
Jensen
Kassandra,
DeleteI agree that technology in the classroom in here to stay and will only increase over time. Teaching children using the internet and technology is a necessity as you said. WebQuests and internet projects already are being used and I can see them becoming more popular as technology in the classroom expands.
Hi Kassandra,
DeleteI agree with you that technology in the classroom isn't going away. It is only increasing and intergrading into other subjects that are being taught. I feel that it doesn't matter what you pick either because both Webquest and Internet project are bringing in literacy with it. I think it depends on what you prefer or even what can the students handle and understand while using it.
Hi Kassandra,
DeleteI like the statement you made regarding technology and how it's here to stay. It has greatly improved in the last couple of years and I'm sure it will only continue to grow. It's important to know how to use it in different ways. Internet projects and Webquests are a good way to do so. These can also promote literacy skills. Which one do you prefer, internet projects or Webquests?
Lili
Kassandra,
DeleteThank you for this week's thoughts on our readings. I agree with a lot of the points you made and felt like you truly understood what the bigger picture of the reading were. Technology is totally here to stay so I believe many nee to learn how to change with the times. Do you believe these two examples of models are positive internet interactions? Thanks again!
Kassandra,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your blog this week. I enjoyed reading what you had to say about WebQuests and Internet Projects. The internet is something that is every growing and that means that more needs to be learned about it. I agree that both of these thing work to build internet literacy while teaching the children about other lessons. They both get them to learn how to navigate the internet, but it is also teaching them about a certain topic. I agree that identifying technology as a new form of literacy is a good thing. I say this because everything is run by technology and there are so many words that go along with it. Everyone is going to have to start knowing these words. Technology has its own language so to speak. Would you agree? I agree that technology is here to stay and grow. We have become so dependent on it that if we lost it, we would be crippled. Everything is based of technology now. I agree that teaching children how to use technology is a must because of how it is growing. What happens if we don’t teach them? Great post this week.
Kortney
Kassandra,
DeleteThe more that we learn in this class, the more i realize how important technology is becoming in the classroom. I agree, it is definitely here to stay, but its really becoming an important aspect of our everyday lives. This class has me wondering about how this may even impact us as educators one day. Will teachers be teaching from a screen in the future? It's quite interesting to even think about it, actually.
Laura
There are six critical components in a WebQuest that Educational Broadcasting Corporation talk about. First of all, a WebQuest is a "classroom-based lesson" where most or all of the information is found on the "World Wide Web" (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). The six essential parts are the introduction, the task, the process, the resources, the evaluation, and the conclusion. Each component is a separate section that is needed for children to get the most out of the WebQuest. The benefits of a WebQuest are about the children building a foundation to aid them for the future (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). WebQuests help children learn how to go into the working world prepared.
ReplyDeleteInternet Projects are made of a team of teachers, scientists, and other professionals. Internet projects basically are field trips on the internet. The electronic field trips are about real science investigations in real time (Dawson, 1999). These projects consist of videos, hands on labs, printed and online resources, and other interactive opportunities (Dawson, 1999). These projects are great for children to learn about science investigations through real life observations. They learn about how and what what goes into the investigations. Internet projects brings children and teachers across the world together. This experience helps build communication skills between children from different countries and cultures. Children are also learning problem-solving skills through internet projects. While learning from those around them they are also developing new literacies of internet technology (Dawson, 1999).Some benefits of internet projects are that students learn how to collaborate and work together with not only their classmates but other children around the world. Children also learn how to thoroughly research which is a skill they need for the future. Children start to learn about the importance of science and technology how their learning will be applied in the future (Dawson, 1999).
Cierra,
DeleteI really like how you referred to Internet Projects as field trips on the internet as the article did as well. I think for students Internet Projects would almost seem like virtual field trips and I find that to be very cool. I think it will really get the students motivated and eager to learn. I'm all about student desire to learn and think Internet Projects would be beneficial in that aspect.
Laura
I wasn't familiar with what WebQuests were until reading the articles this week. For this week's readings we had to read about WebQuests and internet projects. The way I understand it, is that Webquests are like online schooling. It's not the usual online classes. This is more oriented towards the student and when or how they do it. In the article it stated that it can take a class session or it can take a month to complete. Something that I read in this article about Webquests was that "Students spend their time USING information, not LOOKING for it". I think this can really benefit students because they are using the information they know to learn more things. Also a benefit of this is that it helps students work together. Webquests can also address different types of questions. As for internet projects, this can include both teachers and scientists. To me this sounds really interesting. Everyone can work on this over time and it would be interesting to see the interaction between teachers, students, and professionals. Some of the benefits of internet projects are that students become more aware of science and technology. Parents can see what the children are learning, and students can research whatever they want. Students have different interests, so being able to have a choice in what they want to learn can be very good for them. With internet projects it would be important to have good internet skills. Younger age children probably wouldn’t be able to do this since they don’t have a lot of internet practice. As for students who are older, they might have more skills so it would be easier for them to use this. I think both of these sound very interesting. There are many benefits to both, it would just be a matter of what everyone is interested in.
ReplyDeleteLili,
DeleteI, also, was not really sure with what a WebQuest or Internet Project was. I am still a little confused on what the difference exactly is. One difference I noted, that I saw you noted as well, is that Internet Projects involve the teacher, scientists, and other professionals, while WebQuests seem to be developed more by teachers. I am not sure I would say that WebQuests are like online schooling, only because it doesn't necessarily last very long like online classes do. However, I do sort of see where you are coming from with that comment. My understanding is that a WebQuest is developed based off of a certain topic, usually based on the students' interests. I like how you discussed the fact that students spend time using the information rather than looking for it. I think this is also something that makes a WebQuest different. Children can easily navigate through the websites and the information and are using it rather than figuring out how they are suppose to find the information in the first place. It seems that Internet Projects might be a combination of looking and using the information. However, I could be wrong. I do agree with you that there are benefits to both of these types of lessons.
Hi Lili,
DeleteI think that children enjoy when they can be scientist. With having a safe place that teacher and parents can view as well. I enjoy when I can view things from my own children while they are in school so I understand your part on that. I haven't meant any teachers that really use these two types. I am also not sure if I would use it in my classroom but it is nice to know about them just in case.
Hello Lili,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your Blog summary this week with your description of Internet projects and Web quest. I think that you organize your ideas with precise details to understand your point of view on the technology tools for the classroom environment. I agree with you that Internet projects and WebQuest are helpful tools for children at various age levels. I feel the material provides opportunities for children to learn and enhance their skills on how to navigate a computer and the internet new content to develop critical thinking skills in a classroom. I also like the fact that both provide an opportunity for collaboration of children and educators and professionals. To build relationships while developing in different areas like science concepts, language skills, communication, and cultural aspects with these learning experiences. Great Blog, thank you for sharing.
Felisha,
Lili,
DeleteThank you for this weeks thoughts on the blog posts topic of discussion. I agree with your thoughts on both WebQuests and Internet projects. I believe they are a wonderful outlet for children and great learning source. I find internet projects very interesting because of their ability to teach around the world in a positive manner. Do you believe one model is better than the other for students learning through technology? Thanks so much!
Lilli,
DeleteIt also stood out to me that with WebQuests students are spending their time using information, not looking for it. I think this component is important and beneficial. With some assignments, it is easy to lose the purpose and meaning behind it when you have to spend so much time searching. I think that teachers sometimes do this unintentionally. It is great that we have this information so that with our students we know to provide the information they need so they are not wasting time searching for it. Using WebQuests will also help to build a solid foundation that will prepare our students for the future.
Brandy
Hello Lili,
DeleteWhen you stated that younger children might not be capable to completing a project that requires them to conduct research on the internet, I agree with you. Young students do require steps to guide their learning as how to properly conduct researches or projects. WebQuest would be the correct guide for them to learn. It is structured to follow directions and document results as they learn how subjects operate while creating or designing an object. Then as the students grow and progress in computer knowledge, I would think the next steps to learn would be the Internet project phase. Here they would continue to use the format of the WebQuest but within a safer direct format confined to specific sites as guidance to search and learn for results of a research paper. If a school’s curriculum followed that level of path, schools, parents and students could be proud to know they are guiding them in the right direction of becoming good digital citizens.
Tammi
It took me a little bit to understand WebQuests and Internet Projects and what their purposes are. I still am unsure if I completely understand. What I do understand is that both WebQuests and Internet Projects are learning tools used by teachers. One thing I learned about WebQuests from Workshop: WebQuests (2004) is that there are six essential components including the introduction, task, process, resources, evaluation, and conclusion. WebQuests take on a certain topic, and it is best to have a topic that would be interesting to the students. The students will do an activity on the web in which they have to research, or some sort of activity involving searching the world wide web, that has to do with the topic. The teacher will provide a list of steps in which the students need to follow in order to complete the task. After the assignment is over, the children will have time to reflect on what they learned. WebQuests can be short or they can last as long as a month, according to Workshop: WebQuests (2004). WebQuests sound somewhat similar to an internet workshop, however, they are definitely directed towards children who can already read. I do not think
ReplyDeletethat WebQuests would be directed towards children in Kindergarten or younger. Students would need to have a decent foundation of reading, being able to follow directions, and
navigate the internet.
Internet Projects seem to be fairly similar to WebQuests, but are “predesigned by a team of teachers and scientists” (Dawson, 1999), while WebQuests are designed by teachers. Furthermore, Internet Projects last over a longer period of time than most WebQuests do and are investigations of natural phenomena, according to Dawson (1999). It sounds like Internet Projects are much more scientific, while WebQuests can be geared towards basically any
subject. Dialogue is a huge part of Internet Projects. WebQuests usually don’t contain too much dialogue until the conclusion portion, in which, then, the students and teachers will discuss what was learned. Furthermore, the dialogue in an Internet Project is among students, teachers, and scientists. Both Internet Projects and WebQuests seem to be very interesting forms of education. They both help children to learn to navigate a computer/the internet,
learn new content, develop critical thinking skills, and so much more. I feel that Internet Projects are also geared towards older children, as they would also need to be able to read well in order to complete the tasks.
References
Workshop: WebQuests. (2004). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html.
Dawson, M. (1999). Retrieved from https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet%20Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=xm1Nnwcq1mGqPlNGqHCOz5jSf.
I apologize for the format of my post. I am not sure how it wound up that way. It did not look like that when I copy and pasted it.
DeleteHi Kaylee,
DeleteYou are not alone in feeling a bit confused about Internet Projects. I believe that the only way to really understand one is to actually conduct or work through one 'slowly.' I mentioned that I would probably conduct one that has already been created so that I can 'get my feet wet' and see what the pros and cons are as well as what my skills and abilities are.
Jocelyn
Hello Kaylee,
DeleteThank you for reading my Blog this week with my summary of an Internet project and Web quest. I also enjoyed reading your Blog with your thoughts this week too. I think that you organize your ideas with precise details to understand your point of view on the technology tools for the classroom environment. I agree with you that Internet projects and WebQuest are helpful tools. That support and enhance children’s skills in different areas such as science concepts, language skills, communication, cultural aspects. As you mention, “They both help children to learn to navigate a computer/the internet, learn new content, develop critical thinking skills, and so much more.” I also feel that both provide lessons and opportunities for children to share in the learning experience at various age levels. Great Blog, thank you for sharing.
Felisha,
Kaylee,
DeleteI can agree with you and say with reading about WebQuests and Internet Projects, it was quite confusing exactly what they were. Hopefully, it gave you a better understanding upon completing the VoiceThread Assignment. I know that I learn by doing, so it was helpful to review the three WebQuests and Internet Projects. Being exposed to these new concepts will definitely benefit us in the long run. We will be able to introduce our students to various modes of technology with a positive attitude.
Brandy
Kaylee-
DeleteI too am still not 100% sure if I am completely sure what the WebQuest and Internet Projects are but have a better understanding. The VoiceThread assignment was actually surprisngly easy once I got it figured out. Technology has never been my first (or second) language but am taking it week by week and doing better. Good information.
Jensen
Kaylee,
DeleteIt took me a little bit to understand what webquests and internet projects are and what they entail as well. For me, I learn better hands on so until I put together a webquest or internet project I will not completely understand them. I do understand internet projects better than I understand webquest because the facility I work at has done the Flat Stanley project where the children send their Flat Stanley to a certain person/place of their choice. It seemed to be a very fun project and the children loved getting replies and items back from the person who received their Flat Stanley. It will just take more learning about webquests and internet projects to fully understand them. Great post. Thank you for sharing.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInitial
ReplyDelete“A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning. It is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the world wide web. There are six critical parts or components in a WebQuest: Introduction, Task, Process, Resources, Evaluation, and Conclusion.” (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004)
“An Internet Project is an interaction between professionals, students, teachers, and scientists to participate in the investigations of natural phenomena over a period of time.” (Dawson, 1995) An Internet Project engages students in project-based learning activities.
I had not heard of either of these and am still not sure I completely and fully understand them. WebQuests and Internet Projects are two similar yet different learning tools. Internet Projects seem to be based more on science topics, while WebQuests can be about any topic or subject. Both Internet Projects and WebQuests seem to be an interesting way of learning for students. Both help students learn their way around the internet. They will also learn new content, use classroom tools to build on internet literacy, and have to use critical thinking. Internet Projects and WebQuests are most likely geared toward older students such as 3rd or 4th grade and up because there seems like there might be quite a bit of reading involved. WebQuests and Internet Projects allow you to effectively integrate the Internet into your curriculum. They can be a powerful tool for shaping ‘real world’ lessons and developing critical thinking skills.
https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html
https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet%20Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=o75durBH2bL7fdsqv6baVcuaf
Jensen,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your blog this week. I enjoyed reading what you had to say about WebQuests and Internet Projects. The internet is something that is every growing and that means that more needs to be learned about it. I am like you and have not heard of these two things before either. I feel like there is a lot to them and that makes it hard for them to understand. I feel like I do not fully understand them either, but I have an idea now. I am also sure that I have done one before in school and never realized it. I agree that the two things are the same, but different. They have the same concept, but they operate different. They also include different things and characteristics. I agree that they both help students lean their way around the internet and teach them new words. It also gets them thinking about things. I agree that they would be for the older sages because it seems like a lot goes into it. Do you think that children should be learning about the internet now? What happens if we don’t start teaching it now? This was a great post.
Kortney
A WebQuest is a classroom based learning tool. Most of the information will be found on the internet. WebQuests in the classroom help build a foundation for the student's future. The six components of a WebQuest are, intro, task, process, resources, evaluation, and conclusion. The into is the background information to create interest, task is what will or should be accomplished, process are the steps to complete the task, resources are a list of sources that you will need to complete the task, evaluation is the rubric used to evaluate the work completed, and conclusion is to discuss what was done and learned through the WebQuest.
ReplyDeleteAn internet project is an interaction between teachers, students, and professionals. It is like an online field trip. Internet projects are more geared towards science.
Both of these tools help connect the classroom to the internet and widen the expectations of teaching and learning.
After I reviewed the required material for this week’s Blog. I have learned that Internet Projects and WebQuests are similar tools to help enhance students to build a solid foundation that prepares them for the future. Frist, the Internet Projects are made of a team of teachers, scientists, and other professionals. Internet projects basically are field trips on the internet available for student to learn from. For example, the electronic field trips are about real science investigations in real time (Dawson, 1999). These projects consist of videos, hands on labs, printed and online resources, and other interactive opportunities (Dawson, 1999). These projects are great for children to learn about science investigations through real life observations. They can also learn about how to conduct investigations from the project. A as result, the Internet projects brings children and teachers across the world together. From this experience provides an opportunity to helps build communication skills between children from different countries and cultures. Furthermore, Children are learning how to use problem-solving skills through the internet projects. While learning from those around them they are also developing new literacies of internet technology (Dawson, 1999). In addition, there are other benefits from the internet projects, students learn how to collaborate and work together with their classmates, and other students around the world. More skills that students learned from the internet projects is how to conduct research skills which they will need for their future. Children start to learn about the importance of science and technology how their learning will be applied in the future (Dawson, 1999).
ReplyDeleteNext is the WebQuest which is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web. (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). The lessons can be as short as a single class period or if a month-long unit. Most of the time the activity involves group work, with division of labor among students who take on specific roles or perspectives. The lesson is built around resources that are preselected by the teacher. Students spend their time USING information, not LOOKING for it. For example, there are six critical components in a WebQuest that Educational Broadcasting Corporation talk about. The six essential parts are the introduction, the task, the process, the resources, the evaluation, and the conclusion. Each component is a separate section that is needed for children to get the most out of the WebQuest. The benefits of a WebQuest are about the children building a foundation to aid them for the future (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). WebQuests help children learn how to go into the working world prepared. According to Internet Project: Preparing students for new literacies in a global village, Leu explains, “ In order to operate more efficiently and compete successfully within a global economy, everyone within an organization now must be able to rapidly and effectively accomplish four important activities: identify important problems central to their own unit, gather relevant information and critically evaluate it, use the appropriate information to solve central problems, and then clearly communicate the solution throughout the organization. Literacy is at the heart of each of these four tasks. (Leu,D. 2004).
Reference
Retrieve https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/PreparingStudents21stCentury.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=qhCeAkvnLrpI7xkTY3WjhNBeh
Retrieve https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html
Retrieve https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet%20Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=szHatQSSIjDvXU2R3LVnff6IZ
Felisha,
DeleteI like the description of Internet Projects being like field trips on the internet. I think that is a great way to explain what they are. They seem like a lot of work, but I feel that children could definitely get a lot out of them. Internet Projects seem like a great way to get children to meet people across the world and learn about other cultures, while also exploring different science concepts. I also think a cool part of these lessons is that teachers, scientists, and other professionals are involved, rather than just the teacher.
You discussed through both your descriptions on Internet Projects and WebQuests how they can provide a foundation for their future. I think this is definitely true. Both of these lessons teach children skills in navigating a computer and the internet, which is an essential skill in today's society. However, they also teach so many more skills such as science concepts, language skills, communication, cultural aspects, and so much more. Both of these lessons are very different from most lessons conducted within the classroom, but I feel that they could be very beneficial. I could see possibly using a WebQuest, that is already created, with students. I am sure developing these projects would take a lot of time and resources, so it is nice that there are some out there that are already fully developed and ready to use.
Kaylee
I work with younger students and I have never heard of internet project or webquest until last year. However, I found both to be very interesting for students. They are both beneficial for students learning and teachers who always needs resources. Webquest is for students to be able to learn many different topics and to gain the knowledge of valuable information from the World Wide Web that is preparing them for the future. Webquest provides great information for students without them having to actually go and search for it. It is a valuable resource that is secure and easy for students and teachers to gain access. As Bernie Dodge stated (the creator of Webquest) “A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning, this means it is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web” (2004).
ReplyDeleteTeachers are able to share lessons and many different activities for students learning. Bernie Dodge invented this teaching school in the spring of 1995 while teaching a class to teachers. His whole concept is to provide students and teachers with online lessons that would help students learning and allowing students to develop higher-leaving thinking skills. As a teacher, I think it is valuable to know that webquest is not a site where it is teaching students things like multiplication but it used for topics that are well-less defined, where students are provided with tasks that creates creativity and problems and students gaining the skills that require to finding the solutions to the problems. Overall, I found this site to be very useful for students and teachers.
I find the Internet Project to be a very useful online tool as well. Thinking back how I learned science, it wasn’t as always fun to learn because some teachers didn’t make it fun to want to learn. I didn’t always have a bad experience as a student. It was always reading from a book. I remember certain teachers who did make learning science fun however, I’ve never had the experiment to learn science from online. I believe that many different content such as science can be useful to learn and to gain information and be provided with resources online. The Internet Project gives students the opportunity to collaborate and conduct experiments and collect data. They are provided with live video games, hands-on lab activities in the classroom, printed resources and online resources and interactive opportunities on computer network. I like the fact that teachers and students learn to use the internet as an important scientific tool. This just all goes back to how teachers have to always find ways to introduce new technology to students to be able to keep up as well as learning many different online resources that is very beneficial to use and not always have to learn things just from a book. Learning new technology also allows students to build their literacy skills.
Overall, the site webquest and creating internet projects are very beneficial for students learning. However, technology is rapidly growing everyday and both tools shares updated information for both teachers and students as well as scientists.
(2004). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html
Hello Betty,
DeleteInteresting that you were able to work with students who have used internet project or webquest. Working with High School students, the closest that I can compare their projects to would be the Webquest Project style. Students recently had to search 3 careers that interest them on the “Bureau of Labor Statistics” site within one of our computer labs. It was the only site eligible to research on at each workstation and the students had to work as a collaborated unit. It was interesting to see what career paths each team had as a future goal along with information about what college they would attend to earn their degree. Although it was a great project to complete, I would had included for the students to interview someone of the chosen positions just to get an idea of how the jobs really function. Then it would had been an Internet Project. Good Post.
WebQuests were developed and named by Dr. Bernie Dodge, a professor of educational technology at San Diego State University, while teaching a class for preservice teachers in the Spring of 1995. According to Concept to Classroom, he wanted “give his students a format for online lessons that would make the best use of student time while fostering higher-level thinking skills”. A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented tool for learning. As mentioned by Concept to Classroom, it is a “classroom-based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web”. WebQuests: can be as shorts as a single-class period or as long as a month-long unit, usually involve group work, with division of labor among students who take on specific roles or perspectives, and are built around resources that are preselected by the student. According to Concept to Classroom, students spend their time using information, not looking for it. The six critical components of a WebQuest are: introduction, task, process, resources, evaluation, and conclusion. As mentioned by Concept to Classroom, the benefit of using WebQuests in the classroom is that it helps build a solid foundation that prepares students for the future. A Web editor is the only specialized equipment needed to get started and to create a WebQuest. WebQuests are tools based on the ideas of inquiry and constructivism, and incorporate cooperative and collaborative learning.
ReplyDeleteAn Internet Project is predesigned by a team teachers and scientists. According to Marcella Dawson (1995) Internet Projects are “an interaction between professionals, students, teachers, and scientists to participate in the investigations of natural phenomena over a period of time. They allow teachers and students to work with scientists and other professionals on real science investigations in real time. Students are introduced to the scientific workforce and possible future career choices. Teachers are participants in school and curriculum reform. These electronic field trips consist of live video programs, hands-on lab activities in the classroom, printed resources, and online resources and interactive opportunities on computer networks’ (p. 1). As mentioned by Marcella Dawson (1995) characteristics of a good Internet Project include: dialogue among students, students and scientists, teachers and scientists, and teachers is an integral part of the project, the time required for the entire project is manageable, current resources are incorporated into labs and texts, curriculum objectives are well written, participation is free, materials list is provided, and pages are interesting and load rapidly (pp. 2-4). An Internet Project includes: computer skills, Internet navigation skills, classroom computers, modem, server connection, and adapter and large screen TV. There are benefits to participating in an Internet Project. According to Marcella Dawson (1995) these benefits include: student s and teachers learn to use the Internet as an important scientific tool, students learn the meaning of collaboration, students can draw connection between what they are learning and how it will be applied in the future, and students see learning as a process of lifelong discovery and adventure (p. 5).
References
Retrieve https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/PreparingStudents21stCentury.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=qhCeAkvnLrpI7xkTY3WjhNBeh
Retrieve https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html
Retrieve https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet%20Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=szHatQSSIjDvXU2R3LVnff6IZ
Final Reflection:
DeleteThis class challenges me in so many different ways. Another week and I have yet to be let down. It is humorous that I considered myself to be tech-savvy before taking this course. I am learning and being exposed to concepts and technological tools that I previously was unaware of. It was difficult understanding what a WebQuest and Internet Project was from just reading about it. I know that I learn by doing, so it became so much more helpful to actually get three examples of both WebQuests and Internet Projects. As I was creating my VoiceThread, I was excited about the different WebQuests and Internet Projects. It brought me back to my elementary learning days and filled my ideas with so many ways I could implement these in my own classroom. It reminded me why I decided to be an educator in the first place. I enjoyed creating the VoiceThread. To much of my surprise, I did not encounter any technological difficulties. In creating my collages, I did not get very creative with the fonts and designs out of fear of messing up. This week, I took away four new tools that I can use in my classroom: WebQuests, Internet Projects, collages, and VoiceThread. I know that having these tools under my belt will assist me in ensuring that I am giving my students a strong foundation, preparing them for the future, giving them flexible ways to demonstrate learning, and promoting collaborative and cooperative learning.
In today's society, everything from technology to the way lessons are taught in school is so advanced that sometimes I have trouble recognizing it. The internet and "smart" items have changed the way we teach. Bringing in Webquest and Inquiry-based learning doesn't surprise me too much. It's just another way for a teacher to grab her student's attention to a lesson. When using a Webquest, they're using a search engine. You're discovering thousands of online lessons that are created by teachers and not just in your town but from all around the world ( Bernie Dodge). To me, that is very impressive because you don't realize how many teachers use this. Teachers give their students an opportunity when using Webquest to have a classroom-based lesson that the students can explore and evaluate all from the web. It's a one-stop lesson plan that students can't become confused with. There will always be a constant change in this world, so preparing students will benefit them and using Webquest will help them start a good foundation that can help in their future.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading about Inquiry-based learning, it made more sense when I came across the part talking about how we start. As a baby grows, they get to a point where they want to explore everything they can get their hands on. Every room is something new and different. Even sounds and colors are new. Exploring is how we learn in life. It's a shame that as children grow, we put a stop to it. Teachers only want to hear generic answers the further their agenda. Some teachers want students to think and use their minds, however for some, they been told not to for so long that they forget how to ask their own questions or have trouble expressing themselves. ' No one can ever learn everything, but everyone can better develop their skills and nurture the inquiring attitudes necessary to continue the generation and examination of knowledge throughout their lives'. The benefit of teachers starting early in teaching this lesson to their students can have a huge impact when they leave school because they will have learned to questions things and ' Students who actively make observations, collect, analyze, and synthesize information, and draw conclusions are developing useful problem-solving skills. These skills can be applied to future "need to know" situations that students will encounter both at school and at work'.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index_sub3.html.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index_sub1.html.
Ashley,
DeleteI wasn’t familiar with Webquests until this week. I think this is a great way to change the way children learn things. It’s also a way for them to get familiarized with using technology. This can also motivate students to work together and interact with each other. First it would be important for us to be well educated and be confident in using technology. Like you said, it’s always changing and becoming more advanced. I use technology on a daily basis but I feel like there’s still a lot that I don’t know. I want to be able to feel confident and to be able to help children use technology in different ways. After viewing both internet projects and webquests, do you prefer one over the other?
Lili
Ashley,
DeleteDo you think online teaching mechanisms such as webquests and internet projects are just as educational as just using textbooks in the classroom? How do you feel like technology is benefiting the children? You made some great points in your post about how technology is only going to grow and we have to help prepare our students for the future. I love the idea of both the webquest and the internet projects as they give so many learning opportunities that goes further than just the classroom. Great post. Thank you for sharing.
This week we are introduced to two very similar topics, which include the following: WebQuests and Internet Projects. These practices allow students to understand and work through their internet literacy understanding. The major difference within these two types of technology related instructional models is the fact that Internet Project includes classrooms from around the world (Lou, D 2001) while WebQuests are solely based on the classroom within its own four walls.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, we will take a more complex look at WebQuests. This instructional model is a “classroom-based lesson.” We are informed of the six essential components that make up a successful WebQuest. These include the introduction, the task, the process, the resources the evaluation, and the conclusion. Each component within the WebQuest falls into its own separate section. Each individual section is needed in order for a student to receive the most knowledge in terms of the WebQuest as a whole. Students must gain an understanding for each part held in a WebQuest in order to move gracefully through each component from beginning to end. They will develop the importance of what exactly is being asked of them when they refer to each component listed, not skipping the order which it entails. WebQuests truly allow students best prepare themselves as they develop through their life skills.
Secondly, taking a deeper dive into Internet Projects, we are told they are made up of several different elements. Internet Projects include a team of different individuals in order for it to be a successful model. Teachers, scientists, mathematics, and other professionals are brought into the creation of internet projects. Since Internet Projects include classrooms from around the world, there are different methods used in order to teach children in a proactive manner. These include, videos, hands on labs, printed and online resources, and other interactive opportunities in a scientific method (Dawson, 1999.) Children are able to obtain knowledge and information which is occurring in real time, even if they may not physically be present. In moments like this, children are learning how to proactively gain skills in order to problem solve. As these children interact with investigations, they are able to interact and perceive different cultures, responsibilities, and direction.
In summary, both these technology related instructional models are helpful and resourceful methods for children to use. Both methods allow children to learn new literacy skills and tools in order to be successful. I agree with the readings in terms of organizing new literacy. Technology methods are a form of new literacy and need to be organized in order for children to create an understanding from one form to the next. Overall, I believe the technology is certainly on the rise and will only continue to advance. Therefore, teachers need to change with the time and determine ways to teach literacy through technology in a productive manner. Both WebQuests and Internet Projects have their pros and cons, it is just determining which is best for your classroom and your students.
Workshop: WebQuests. (2004). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html.
Dawson, M. (1999). Retrieved from https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet%20Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=xm1Nnwcq1mGqPlNGqHCOz5jSf.
Hi Sarah,
DeleteYou mentioned that "Technology methods are a form of new literacy and need to be organized in order for children to create an understanding from one form to the next." Donald J. Leu, Jr. (2010) says "Locating information on the Internet requires very different reading skills from locating information in a book" (p. 2). Do you think that using either an Internet Project or a WebQuest, both of which provide the information or links to approved sites for students to use, actually prepares students for locating information on the Internet? Or are we taking 'baby-steps' in the way we introduce Internet use, hand-holding for the time being? Let me know.
Jocelyn
WebQuest vs Internet Projects
ReplyDeleteAn Internet Project (I.P.) is an interactive internet activity project in collaboration with other classrooms around the world that can be Web site projects or spontaneous projects (Preparing Students 21st Century, p. 5). Basically, your classroom will work with another classroom that can be next door or across the globe while navigating through the internet. However, both classes are exchanging research ideas about their topic, while following an outline arranged between the teachers that will allow each “class to communicate through the internet”. There are 5 skills the Internet Project provides to guide each classroom during the project which are: identifying a question; locate information; critically evaluate information; synthesize information; and communicate (P. S. 21st Cntry, p. 3). Identifying a question allows the students to seek an answer by using the internet. Such I.P.’s to use or follow can be the “Flat Stanley”, the “My Hero Project” or the teachers can create a specific topic from their curriculum that will help explain a subject in more detail (Exploring Literacy, p. 568-570). Once a topic is chosen the classrooms will search for Web sites that are related to the project. Next the students must thoroughly evaluate if the sites are providing sustainable evidence that can verify authenticity of information relation by asking the 5 w’s questions: who, what, when, how and where was the site created. Also, to see if the site has other links to websites that can support the information we’re seeking. Next the classrooms need to collaborate their reviews to into a research paper. In exchange each classroom can publish their information on a blog, via e-mail or instant messaging (P. P. 21st Cntry, p. 4).
WebQuest is very similar to I.P., but it’s more of an “inquiry-orientated” tool that is a “classroom-based” lesson plan that allows students to collect information to explore and evaluate from the World Wide Web (WQ Explanation). Well to my understanding, the classroom will conduct research using the internet, “but” they will be directed to use specific websites that the teacher(s) has pre-chosen pertaining to the lesson plan. After conducting the research on the internet, the classroom can discuss their results amongst themselves. WebQuest also has 6 guided sections to follow: an introduction, a task, a description of process, information resources, evaluation and concluding the activity (WQ Ex). These steps are in the same format as the I. P. but remember the specific websites have already been chosen for the lesson plan, therefore the students do not have to research the internet for sites of information pertaining to the project.
Although both tactics teaches the students how to navigate the internet but in two different environments. The use for either of these projects within my classroom would give the students a learning experience of introducing and connecting students with other parts of the world of ideas. For the Internet Project it opens internet communication with other classrooms or globally with other countries through school related topics. Whereas the WebQuest has the same concept, question / answer through internet research, ‘but’ it limits the internet research and the communication to classroom discussions only.
Reference:
WNET Education. (2004). Workshop: WebQuests. Education Broadcast Corp.
https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquest/index.html.
Leu, D. J. Jr. (2001). Exploring literacy on the internet, pdf. The Reading Teacher. (Vol.54, 6). https://www.jstor.org/stable/20204956.
Leu, D. J. Jr. (2004). Preparing students for 21st century. Research Into Practice.
https://www.journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext.
Internet Projects, pdf. What is an internet project?
https://internetprojects.pdf/114579-11126.201910/internet-projects.
Hi Tammicea,
DeleteI noticed that you've mentioned that WebQuests are only classroom-based whereas Internet Projects can be international. What do you think about young children engaging in communication with children from across the globe? Do you think parents would be receptive to this level of communication?
I only ask these questions because a friend of mine was shocked and concerned when he found out that his son was having conversations about school work with someone from another state and school AND that the teacher had not bothered to inform the parents. The teacher explained that she didn't think there was an issue since he was assigned a class assignment and the tablet was provided by the school with safety protocols in place. What do you think? Should we as educators inform parents of our plans to employ Internet-based learning tools and that communication with students outside the classroom, state, or country will be part of the learning experience? Let me know.
Jocelyn
This week we were asked to look at Webquest and internet workshops. The internet is something that is ever growing in today’s society and it is something that will continue to grow. Everything is done using the internet in one way or another. Technology and the internet have changed things in terms of all forms of learning. It has changed things when it comes to reading, math writing, and many other things (Leu, n.d.). In fact one of the articles mentions that 87 percent of all students in the United States between the ages of 12 and 17 use the internet (Leu, n.d.). The same article summarizes things down into the main point that with technology for reading, writing, and communicating, the internet requires new literacy skills (Leu, n.d.). These skills are identifying important questions to research, locating the information that is needed, critically evaluate the information that is found, synthesis information, and communicate the information that is found (Leu, n.d.). These types of skills are learned through different ways. One of these ways is internet projects. This is something that is created by teachers and scientists (What is an internet project, n.d.). This is an interaction between professionals, student, teachers, and scientists to participate in investigations over a period of time (What is an internet project, n.d.). There are many benefits to this type of project as well. Some of the benefits are that students get to use the internet, students learn the meaning of collaboration, students get to learn with new technologies, and students can draw connection between what they are learning and how it will be applied in their future (Are there benefits to participating in an internet project, n.d.). One of the articles mentions that there are two types of internet projects: Website projects and spontaneous projects (Leu, n.d.). Website projects are more permanent projects (Leu, 2001). This leads into what the articles say about Webquest. A Webquest is an inquiry-oriented online tool for learning (Workshop: Webquests, 2004). A Webquest can help build a foundation that prepares the participant for the future (Workshop: Webquests, 2004). A webquest consists of six parts. The six parts are introduction, task definition, description of the process, information resources, evaluation, and concluding activity (Leu, n.d.). This will help the participant learn how to navigate the internet (Leu, n.d.). There are things that I want the children to learn beyond the internet projects and webquests. I want them to learn how to really use the internet and see how much they can do with the internet. I want them to see how far things go beyond the internet. I want them to be able to take different angles on their own.
ReplyDeleteReferences
Leu, D. J. (n.d.). Preparing Students for the 21st Century: How can Teachers incorporate New Lietracies into Elementary Classrooms? Retrieved October 18, 2019, from https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/PreparingStudents21stCentury.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=5N47HCYnIJF5bdNUIXVhdmxh7.
Leu, D. J. (2001, March). Internet Project: Preparing students for new literacies in a global village. Retrieved October 18, 2019, from https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet Projects Preparing Students for the New Literacies in a Global Village.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=5N47HCYnIJF5bdNUIXVhdmxh7.
Workshop: Webquest. (2004). Retrieved October 18, 2019, from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html.
What is an Internet Project. (n.d.). Retrieved October 18, 2019, from https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=5N47HCYnIJF5bdNUIXVhdmxh7.
Hi Kortney,
DeleteHow would you go about helping your students "go beyond the internet?" What age are you referring to when you say you would like students "to be able to take different angles on their own?" I would think you are referring to older students, perhaps those in middle school or older. Let me know.
Jocelyn
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteJocelyn,
DeleteWhat I meant by going beyond the internet is going beyond the internet projects. I mean going and finding out things on their own. I am referring to elementary children. They can do more than what we give them credit for. It can be applied toward older children, but younger children can do things as well.
Kortney,
DeleteI agree, young children can do more than we give them credit for sometimes. I would be interested in seeing a project that allowed young students to gather information from non-internet resources, especially since they may have to use publications such as an atlas or encyclopedia. It would give them great research skills using tangible (and old fashioned) book resources. Thanks for your answering response.
Jocelyn
Internet Projects and WebQuests
ReplyDeleteThis week’s summary is on Internet Projects and WebQuests. After reading the required documents and websites I believe I have least a basic understanding of both. Both tools allow teachers to engage their students in learning by providing topics of interest. Students get to participate by using the internet to communicate information learned or what interesting things are happening in their school or community. Students also get to use the internet to locate information that they can then share via a chat or email with peers and the teacher(s). Finally, in each case, students learn to work collaboratively and to seek solutions to problems together versus as individual learners. The following is brief summary of both Internet Projects and WebQuests.
Internet Projects are pre-designed by teachers and is an exciting tool for collaboration and instruction (Dawson, 1999). Students in a class can engage in a collaborative, project-based activity, working to solve a common problem or explore a common topic with other students from around the world. They get to acquire skills in communication, information gathering, and problem-solving that will be most beneficial when they enter the world of work (Leu, Jr., 2001; Leu, Jr., 2010). There are two types of Internet Projects: Web-site Projects and Spontaneous/Temporary Projects.
Web-site Projects are long-term activities created or coordinated by one or more educators at a web-site and are a good starting point for teachers who have never directed an Internet Project before. The projects contain clear directions for completing the activities as well as a full set of instructional resources that teachers will want to review to be sure they understand the directions and can access the resources (Leu, Jr., 2010; Dawson, 1999). Donald J. Leu, Jr. (2010; 2001) offers several examples of Internet Projects in his articles that include Flat Stanley, Travel Buddies, Journey North.
Spontaneous or Temporary Projects are projects created for a specific topic and curriculum need. Educators developing a spontaneous project post a description of it at different location on the Internet to attract other educators who would like to collaborate. Teachers who agree to participate communicate via email and allow their students to share their work with one another from the different locations. This collaboration can be across states in the U.S. or across countries (Australia, Canada). An Internet Workshop can provide a supportive forum for organizing and developing and sharing the students efforts on the Project they have all participated in (Leu, Jr., 2001; Leu, Jr., 2010).
WebQuests are another Internet-based instructional tool that is inquiry-based constructivism fostering cooperation and collaboration when students are engaged in acquiring knowledge and understanding of a specific concept or topic. WebQuests are designed by educators to meet a specific curriculum need and standards focusing on critical thinking and analytical skills. Because of this, they are particularly useful when teaching science or social studies curriculum (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). WebQuests provide step-by-step instructions for students to follow and include a rubric that will be used to determine whether students have acquired understanding of the concept or topic researched and the standards that the students are working to meet (Leu, Jr., 2010). WebQuests are not good for teaching raw facts but rather to research topics that are less well-defined and invite students to solve problems together and answer open-ended questions using their acquired knowledge and understanding (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004).
Personally, I am leaning toward using a WebQuest with students. I know they are probably best for students in grade 4 and higher but they offer a simplicity that would allow the students to be successful and me as an educator to be a facilitator and director instead of the primary point of information. I can help students make meaning of what they are reading about instead of telling them what information is important to learn. Regarding Internet Projects, they don’t feel concrete to me right now. The idea of them sounds good but I’m not certain about the reality of conducting one. This being said, I would probably start off with using a Project that has alreaedy been created so that I can “get my feet wet” and see what the pros and cons of conducting and Internet Project are. One thing that I think I’m seeing with the examples is that a Project may lend itself to being modified for younger students, say from grade 1 and up (Flat Stanley example in Leu, Jr., 2001). I would be more likely to attempt conducting one if this is true.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Dawson, M. (1999, 2 15). What is an Internet Project. Retrieved October 16, 2019, from Internet Projects: http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/dawsonm/projecttop.htm
Educational Broadcasting Corporation. (2004). Workshop: WebQuests - Explanation. (B. M. Matsuoka, Producer) Retrieved October 16, 2019, from Workshop: WebQuests: https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html
Leu, Jr., D. J. (2001, March). Internet Project: Preparing students for new literacies in a global village. The Reading Teacher, 54(6), 568-572. Retrieved October 16, 2019, from https://www.researchgate.net/publications/290783136_Internet_project_Preparing_students_for_new_literacies_in_a_global_village
Leu, Jr., D. J. (2010). Preparing Students for the 21st Century: How can teachers incorporate new literacies into elementary classrooms? Research into Practice, 1-11. Retrieved October 16, 2019, from https://assets.pearsonglobalschools.com/asset_mgr/current/201135/mono_leu.pdf
WebQuests and Internet Projects seem to be somewhat similar. They also seem to be similar to an internet workshop in some ways. A WebQuest is a classroom based lesson in which most or all of the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the internet (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). It consists of six main components. They are the introduction, the task, the process, the resources, the evaluation, and the conclusion. WebQuests can be one day lessons or can last up to an entire month long unit. Students usually work in groups and divide the work amongst them evenly. With WebQuests, students are not required to look for information, but instead are using the information already presented. Therefore we should not use WebQuests for teaching students facts. Instead we use it for open ended topics in order to develop creativity and exposure to problems with several solutions.
ReplyDeleteInternet Projects differ from WebQuests because they are more collaborative. It allows teachers and students to work with scientists and other professions on real science investigations and in real time. It can be compared to an electronic field trip, which I feel is pretty cool. The projects consist of live video programs, hands-on lab activities, printed resources, and online resources and interactive opportunities on computer networks (Dawson, 1999). Internet Projects are ideal for science investigations because it allows them to have real life experiences and be able to learn what goes into an investigation. It also prepares them for being able to incorporate these skills into their future career choices.
Both WebQuests and Internet projects are great for creativity and building communication skills. It also helps to teach our student’s problem solving skills all while developing new literacies of internet technology. I find internet projects to be something that I would look forward to using in the classroom. Being able to connect our students with the world around them I feel is important and plays a crucial role in learning. I would use them to connect them with scientists and others from different parts of the world. I feel that this would really engage them and make them excite to learn.
References
Workshop: WebQuests. (2004). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html.
Dawson, M. (1999). Retrieved from https://d2l.nl.edu/content/enforced/114579-11126.201910/Internet%20Projects.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=xm1Nnwcq1mGqPlNGqHCOz5jSf.
Reflection
ReplyDeleteThis week we were able to look into Webquest and Internet projects. I wasn't very familiar with these until this week. I liked the different websites that went along with these two. The one that I would like to do with my class would be the Earth day one. I really liked the idea and I think the children would enjoy this. Not only is is fairly easy but it's also for a great cause. As for the three slides we had to do on the voice thread,it was easier then I thought it would be. I read over the directions several times and I thought it was going to be harder but it wasn't that hard. Well at least I hope I did it right. It was also pretty easy to add them to the spreadsheet. I'm glad we were able to use those sources and didn't have to look for additional ones. I hope everyone else had an easy time with this week's assignment.
Lili
Final Reflection:
ReplyDeleteThis week’s assignment was interesting in that we got to use new online products (at least they were new to me) and to see how these may be beneficial as tools for use with our students. I gained a better understanding of an Internet Project and can see it as an abstract suggestion for activities that students can participate in to extend their knowledge and provide them with world experiences that they would not be able to acquire with just text materials. I think I like WebQuests more because they are familiar to a lesson plan (or at least in my head they are). There are standards, rubrics, objectives, and steps for the students to take to complete the assignment. The links are the materials and resources. Any outlet used for student expression becomes the work product. There are so many similarities and yet the students may benefit more from a WebQuest than from ‘ink and paper.’
The word cloud was interesting. I wonder if anyone else was able to get ABCya or Wordle to work? The Tagul.com link took us to Wordart.com and it looked very intimidating to me at first glance but after a few minutes of tinkering I was able to figure it out. I think this would be a nice site to share with other teachers and with students. I could see having students describe what they have learnt about a subject by just typing one and two word descriptors. It would be a very different assignment than anything they may have gotten up to that point.
And how about VoiceThread.com? Like Wordart.com, there are quite a few steps to using it but I do like the combination of PowerPoint style displays with the ability to record a verbal speech and draw or write on the slide being discussed. That the program allows others to share their thoughts right into the presentation is nice. The tutorial called VoiceThread a living conversation which make me think that it can be used live and in real time, but I may be wrong. But if that is true, it could very well be a great tool for one-on-one tutoring that teachers can employ for students who are struggling and need extra help, much the same way that we use ZOOM.
I do enjoy discovering new ways to enhance teaching and learning and I am grateful that we were guided toward these tools and allowed to discover their advantages.
Jocelyn
This week we discussed WebQuests and Internet Projects. I had a difficult time really understanding what they were until I looked over the examples of them for our assignment. I think looking over the examples gave me a much better idea of what these two lessons are and how they are different from each other. Once I really understood what they were, I found them to actually be really cool tools. They are definitely geared towards older children, not the students I teach. If I did teach older grades, I can definitely see myself using both WebQuests and Internet Projects. I really think that WebQuests are a great way to learn about a specific topic as well as to develop certain skills. I found there to be a lot of critical thinking concepts throughout the different WebQuests and so many more learning experiences. Furthermore, they all seem to be a lot of fun, which is important for young students. They tend to be more interested in learning when it is made to be fun. The Internet Project examples we looked at were also very interesting. I really like the Earth Day one the best, as I described in my VT. I feel I might have a difficult time developing my own WebQuest or Internet Project, but it is good to know that there are already so many good ones out there. Another interesting concept we learned this week was the Video Threads. I have actually never heard of this tool before, but found it to be something I could see myself using. It would take a bit more playing around with to integrate it into my classroom or even use it for presenting to the families, but I think I have a good basis of how to use it after putting together the short presentation this week.
ReplyDeleteFinal Reflection:
ReplyDeleteThis class has challenged me from day 1 of week one and continues to do so. I have never considered myself to be a ‘tech savvy’ person and this class is telling me that I am right. It is interesting to learn about new topics that we might use in the classrooms sometime in the future. The WebQuest and Internet Project were interesting to learn about even though I am not sure I have a 100% complete understanding of them. I do not think I would be able to make assignments using these because I would need a lot more practice before I would feel comfortable completely knowing about them. The VoiceThread assignment was making me nervous because it was another program that I had never used or heard of before. This just continues to teach us that technology is not only here to stay but going to continue to grow and expand. I had not used the collage website or the VoiceThread website before but was surprised at how easy they were to use once I got it figured out.
This week's reading and blog post attached assignment were very interesting. We were able to gain an understanding of both WebQuests and Internet Projects which are both used as methods to teach technology to children. Before reading about these methods, I personally did not know what they meant and how they were used. Therefore, all this knowledge was new information for me. I found the Internet Projects to be the most captivating. It is very neat that these projects are taught world-wide, featuring children around the world learning the same material. Although, I admit, WebQuests seem similar to daily lesson plans in a classroom--which is a friendly and comfortable feeling. I found them to both be a positive motive in means for children to learn about technology in a proactive sense. I do believe technology is here to stay and will only improve with time. Therefore, I think educators need to remain active with these trends and interact with the changes. As for VoiceThread, I found this to be a powerful tool as well. It reminded me of your average PowerPoint--with a more up to date twist. I found it easy to use and articulate from one slide to the next. I was never a fan of powerpoints growing up, but enjoyed the set-up of this display. Thank you so much for the thoughts and statements on all the information we learned this week. I found everyone to have great points, knowledge, and experiences in regards to the topics of this week. I find it very exciting to see what everyone has to say! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteReflection:
ReplyDeleteThis week involved a lot of learning new things for me about webquests and internet projects. Once I got into the assignments for this week I started understanding internet projects better as my facility I work at has done the Flat Stanley project before. I was not the teacher in the class that did this project so I not sure what all went into it but it was a great learning opportunity. I am not a huge fan of a lot of different technological projects in the classroom but both of these online instructional models there is a great deal of learning opportunities that hits all different skills. For the current age group that I work with these instructional models would not be age appropriate but I would use them with the older children. I understand and like the internet projects better than I like the webquests. There are just so many different opportunities to learn about the world and different cultures while also getting involved with the environment around the students.
Reflection
ReplyDeleteAfter I reflected on this week’s assignments, I enjoyed learning more about Web Quest and Internet Projects. I like the fact that we needed to explore with the Web Quest and internet project first to gain a better understanding of the technology tools. I felt that the process was helpful for me because I learn more from hands-on activity and projects. I learned the difference between technology tools for children. There are standards, rubrics, objectives, and steps for the students to take to complete the assignment. The links are the materials and resources. For example, Internet Projects are made of a team of teachers, scientists, and other professionals. Internet projects are field trips on the internet available for students to learn from. For example, electronic field trips are about real science investigations in real-time (Dawson, 1999). And Web quest is a classroom-based lesson in which most or all the information that students explore and evaluate comes from the World Wide Web. (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004). The lessons can be as short as a single class period or if a month-long unit. Most of the time, the activity involves group work, with the division of labor among students who take on specific roles or perspectives. My experience with the assignments was challenging at first trying to complete the task. Placing three assignments on voice thread, but with some assists, I was able to follow through with the task. I like the assignment once it was complete. I enjoyed working with ABCya Word Clouds for Kids that created the collage with the words from the Web Quest and Internet project. I also feel once I mastered how to use voice thread and ABCya word clouds. I would be able to use them for different activities with children and as a resource for other teachers and parents. I would defiantly try to implement a WebQuest with some other children in our program. To continue my learning experience too since I work with younger children under three years old, but the older children preschool could benefit from the experience.
I enjoyed the blogs for this week and doing the assignment as well. I honestly took me a little bit to get how to do, but I eventually got it. I have never used the internet tools that we used before now. I have never heard of a word collage and I have never heard of a voice thread. The first thing that came into my mind with the voice thread is that we had to record our voice. I was relieved when we did not have to. When it came to the word collage, I had no idea what to think. It made sense to me when I was in the site and doing one. After doing the word collage I would use it for other assignments. I liked the fact that it gives you options on how to put your words and it makes things fun and exciting. It makes things pop when someone looks at it. I am glad that I got to learn how to use this tool because it is one that I can use in the future. I am also glad that I got to do a voice thread and lean about what it was. It is something that I have never done before and I am glad that I got the chance to. I liked being able to put my information in a consistent spot. It was different for me because the comments were not on the slide and it made it hard to read at times because you had to scroll so much. I liked it though because it allows for group discussions and it allows for visuals during those discussions. I wish I would have learned more about WebQuests and Internet Projects. The resources were great, but they all had the same information. They all had the same thing along the same lines. I wish I would have had much more information. Everything I learned will go back with me to the classroom. I will try to introduce the children to the internet the best I can. I will use it when doing projects for other classes as well. This was a great week filled with great assignments.
ReplyDeleteFinal Reflection
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting at all the new things that we learn in this class. Many of them I have never heard of before. WebQuests and Internet Projects were pretty interesting to learn about. I definitely found Internet Projects to be very exciting. I love the connections being made with students and other students or professionals around the world. I feel that a lot of the students that I have worked with will never get to travel to other parts of the world, unfortunately. Internet projects give them exposure to visualize how people from other parts of the world may look or sound. Making the connection in learning is also a great way to motivate them to want to learn more.
I am curious as to how I would be able to incorporate these tactics into my classroom. Upon learning more, I felt these were more appropriate for older students. I am focused mostly on primary grade special education and would like to learn how I could incorporate this into my classroom. WebQuests would most likely be harder, but I feel I could guide students with Internet Projects and work together as a class in order to be able to appropriately use them.
Reflecion
ReplyDeleteThe main point I gained from learning about WebQuest, Internet Projects and Voice Threading is introducing a safe and controlled environment to explore the internet. In choosing either projects to explore with your students it introduces social skills by grouping students and through collaboration with other classes. It encourages division of responsibilities between peers while teaching how to complete a goal to share with other classmates. WebQuest and Internet project is an assignment not only for the student but also for the teacher. To structure a project that only one site will provide students the full information required takes great preparation from the teacher as well to have success from their students. Voice Threading personally will be used for my accumulated photo’s stored in my phone and computer waiting to be viewed. However, using Voice Thread to connect with the parents to view the progress of their children performance builds the communication and trust that the children are learning and the teacher cares for their class.