After I reviewed the National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (International Society for Technology in Education, 2011), I found I was fairly comfortable with many of the indicators. However, several stood out to me as areas that I either want or need to explore further.
While I frequently incorporate technology into my lessons, I want to focus on using technology as a means to reach and engage all students, regardless of their learning style or ability. The Web quest is a strategy that I have considered using on several occasions, but, because I am not familiar with the technology, have shied away from it in favor of other, more comfortable practices.
I realize that a Web quest will present my students with a more flexible means of accessing information in the computer lab, especially in more diverse classes where a “one size fits all” approach is likely to fit none well. The Web quest will provide a way to “scaffold or support…students’ use of the web as a tutor” (Cennamo, Ross, &, Ertmer, 2009, p. 55).
The second area is one that has been particularly troublesome for me: determining what digital information can be used in the classroom and how it should be cited. There is an attitude among many students (and some teachers as well) that if something is on the Web, it is appropriate for anyone’s use in any way. Intellectual property and fair use are issues we need to actively discuss with our students; while it is unlikely that anyone will bring legal action against a middle schooler for the unauthorized use of an image, such actions can and certainly do result in copyright infringement charges out in “the real world.”
Because my own grasp of fair use is fuzzy, I need to clarify it before I can discuss it with my students in terms they can understand. Providing opportunities to locate appropriate sources and cite them correctly will help students understand that these are choices that must be made deliberately.
The GAME plans for these two indicators follow.
2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
c: customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
Goals: master the design, adaptation, and implementation of Web quests, both to promote student learning and to model my willingness to broaden my own skill set
Take Action: seek out other teachers who have used Web quests successfully; research sites that provide assistance in creating Web quests, take online tutorials; develop a timeline for implementation
Monitor: determine which sites/applications best suit my needs; decide whether additional resources are needed; adhere to timeline, making modifications if necessary
Evaluate and Extend: reflect on successes and challenges of the undertaking; revise Web quest as needed; share Web quest with eighth grade team and reading specialist; share Web quest online
Standard 4: Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
Goals: develop a better understanding of the acceptable use of digital information in a school setting in order to clearly relay it to students
Take Action: consult media specialist/technology department to clarify what constitutes appropriate use in a school setting; collaborate with media specialist to design lesson on citations for electronic resources; locate appropriate online resources for images, music, and animations
Monitor: reflect on whether resources are clarifying the goal; determine whether there are individuals in the school community that could provide additional information; consider whether I feel capable of clearly conveying the information I have learned to others
Evaluate and Extend: convey sufficient information to my students that they can make informed decisions about digital information use; share appropriate online resources with the school community
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2011). NETS for teachers 2008. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx
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Kelly,
ReplyDeleteCurrantly my school has set aside days where we go to cohorts and learn a new skill. The cohort I joined this year was one that was supposed to teach me how to creat web quest. The concept of the cohort was good but I have learned more by searching the web during the time that I am supposed to be learning from this cohort. My point is that there are many web quest available online and I have found a site that allows me to create a web quest for free. All the links and pages are there and it has made developing a web quest easier then I ever dreamed. I guess the point I am trying to make is that there are places on the internet that you can use to help you further develop your skills when it comes to this activity. All you have to do is take the time and search for it. I wish you luck and it sounds like you have a great plan set up for yourself.
Sadie
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteWebQuest's are great and fun to do. I have created one for my Spanish students (http://sites.google.com/site/perutony/) and they enjoyed it throughly. I gave this as the end of semester exam instead of a traditional paper and pencil exam and the students appreciated it. They worked on this WebQuest and did a good job presenting it to for their exam grade for the first semester. This spring break I am going to create another WebQuest that they are going to complete for their final exam. It is a unique alternative to a traditional test that reaches many modalities and utilizes the strengths of our students that were born in this new digital age.
As Sadie said, there are a lot of places to make your own WebQuest, and the site that she found makes it seem like an easier task then what I had to go through. I remember it taking me three hours or so to make the WebQuest because I had to remember the URL's for the different pages to make sure the links went to the right place and so forth. I wonder if Sadie has a link to the page that she used to make this page because it sounds like it is a lot easier than what I did. If you need any help getting started or working through the WebQuest let me know and I will be more than glad to help.
Anthony
Setting up cohorts for learning a new skill sounds like a great idea; I was surprised it didn’t work out the way it was meant to. Why did you find that learning it on your own was a more effective use of time?
ReplyDeleteI have done some searching for information on Web quests already. What’s bothering me is the fact that a few months ago, I came across a great resource for creating Web quests; the structure was very clear and it had lots of samples that could be used as is or modified to suit my needs. I could have sworn I bookmarked it…but, now that I’m ready to use it, I can’t find it! I’m sure I will turn up sites that are equally good if I can’t locate that original one, but it was a little frustrating. Are there any in particular that you would recommend?
Thanks for your input.
Kelly- (I'm trying again, you and I haven't had much posting luck!)
ReplyDeleteA few courses back, we used some resources generated by Alan November to learn more about information literacy, fair use, etc. I have continued to find his resources to be useful, and have exposed my students to a number of assignments and activities of his. If you go to http://novemberlearning.com/resources/information-literacy-resources/ you will find some activities that may build your knowledge of information literacy as well as inform your students of the correct way to approach the internet and how to use a keen eye when determining what information to use.
I hope this helps (and I hope you can see this!)
Have a good week,
Amanda
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteLast year the cohort that I was in worked. Maybe it was because I was the cohort leader. The cohort I lead was about technology and I had a speaker come talk and work with my group everytime we met. I was expecting the same thing. This year it pretty much has been a free for all and no guidance so I have had to work by myself. The site that I found is http://zunal.com/ and it is free and there are other WebQuest available for teachers to use. I hope this helps.
Sadie
Thanks, Sadie. I'll take a look at the site you recommended.
ReplyDelete