Online Discussion Virtual Class 5

Online Discussion Virtual Class 5

Now that you have looked at several technology-rich projects and WebQuests, and developed a vision of how technology can best be used in the classroom, think of an idea or two that you would like to develop into your final project for this class. Describe your final project idea and share it in the online discussion. Be creative—this is your chance to work through your ideas. Your final project does not have to be a WebQuest—choose a structure that is most useful to your own professional needs. Read all of the final project ideas and provide feedback for at least two people. Note: You will use the feedback you get from your colleagues in this class to develop a final project proposal that is due on December 16 via email.

Family Trip Webquest

Hi Everyone, I have been all over the place in my thoughts for this final project. Wiki...moodle...webquest??? Whatever I do, I plan to use my students as guinea pigs, as I have for most of what I have done in this course. I really wanted to create a wiki, but I think I've run into support and policy concerns. I don't really have enough technical support to ask them to install the wiki protocals that include portals for student logins and passwords. I teach at Hanscom Middle School, and I would be hesitant to enroll my students in an online environment without proper password protection. So...at the moment, I'm thinking about going a safer, yet fullfilling route. My eighth grade students have spent the fall learning about excel, and also how to create tables in Microsoft Word, and proper internet research techniques (among other things). It's time to move on to Powerpoint, but I wanted to create a project that would bring it all together. I thought I would create a webquest to guide the students through a process of planning a family vacation. They will have a budget of $8,000 for the first three family members, and an additionanl $2,000 for any siblings. The webquest will guide them through the various research needed to price out options. They will develop a short proposal to turn in before they settle on a plan. The outcomes will include three items: 1) An excel spreadsheet that contains a detailed budget for the trip. 2) A word table that contains a detailed itinerary. 3) A powerpoint presentation that describes the location and activities that the student's family will partake in. I'd love any feedback. Thanks, Marie

Hi Marie,

I really like the idea of challenging students to create a budget. There are two things that first pop out at me:

1. Have you thought about assigning roles to the students based on family income? I have seen other budget projects where teachers assign a persona to each student. Everyone has a different income and job title, and number of children. Some single parents, some married. It might make it more authentic to give them family profiles instead of everyone having the same amount of money.

2. Will they really be planning a trip on Expedia or Hotels.com? This means they will be getting information from Websites that are not stagnant, that you did not create yourself. It would be very interesting to see what the students come up with, but your workload could vary greatly depending on how you limit the sites they are visiting and the guidance you provide in your Webquest.

Just some thougts! I think it could be fabulous!

Best,

Sarah

Hi Marie

I am wondering if you read the article on "Traversing the Web up the Mississippi to Lake Itasca" in the readings this week? This is not a Webquest but a virtual trip and I thought that this was an interesting way to incorporate MANY subjects and skills into the project. It includes budgetting, planning the trip, comparing the climatic conditions, laws governing driving and traveling and more! Maybe you can use some of these ideas and somehow build those into the WebQuest? This was apparently a very successful project. It also inlcudedperformance indicators in the way it was structured. In addition, students had torespond to problems and crises which gives them the opportunity to critically analyze their options. Just more ideasto consider.

Bev.

Hi Marie! I think this could be a fun way to consolidate students’ learning about the major Microsoft office tools in a way that seems relevant to their lives. It might even get students’ families interested and involved in their work! I wonder about the final presentation – if there would be a way for students to present their work to family members so they can actually “go on a journey” together, or perhaps have them go over it together at home if they have a computer or can print out the materials. It might be nice for students to have the feeling that they are doing something that will be significant and isn’t just for themselves. I’m glad that you have taken your specific context into consideration when planning your project. Sometimes, we have great ideas, only to find it’s impossible in the “real world.” I guess your obstacle is just one of the barriers we face when trying to implement technology. I am very interested in how you will incorporate all of our readings about the scourge of PowerPoint into your lessons – will a group of middle school students actually learn how to use it well? I think the webquest may be a smart move because of your students’ age – it will be easy for them to get off track or just not know how to find the best resources. I’ll be interested to see how your concept develops. I think it’s off to a good start! -Rachel

Hello Marie,

I like your idea of a Webquest that incorporates three different software programs for the student’s final assignment. Last week, I saw various Webquests that did not challenge students to use technology in their final presentation. One item you could incorporate in your final project is to create links to templates, made by the instructor, for the Excel and Word portion of the final project. I saw this used on several Webquests last week and thought that it was helpful for the students to organize their research.