Journal Entry #6

Journal Entry #6

Chapter 6

 

Focus Question: What are WebQuests and virtual fieldtrips?

 

A WebQuest is online inquires by students that are guided by teachers. WebQuests allow students to search from web resource to web resource through an electronic tour of a specific subject. Teachers pre-identify specific resources and the students can explore and investigate to learn materials. Steps to designing a WebQuest:

·         Set the stage: Introduction to topic

·         Task: What is the expectation of the WebQuest

·         Process: Step by step instructions to follow

·         Evaluation: How the materials will be assessed

·         Conclusion: What is the summary or key understandings of the quest.

Considerations must also be taken to assure the proper learning elements are being met.

·         Who is the audience and will they be able to successfully do the quest?

·         What is the goal lesson to teach?

·         How will different skill levels adapt?

·         Is technology integrated seamlessly into assignment.

 

A virtual fieldtrip is exactly that. Children can visit places without even leaving their classroom. Some destinations have set up interactive web based virtual tours of their locations. This allows students to have a memorable experience to connect learning. They are able to explore the building and findings just as if they were there. Students receive a face to face conversation via the computer on these trips. It has been proven that children who experienced virtual fieldtrips performed better and understood the content better than traditional teaching.

Tech Tool 6.3

An interactive online fieldtrip: The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-D’Arc

I found this tech tool very interesting. I think that virtual fieldtrips are very innovative and are a great idea for teaching about our history and learning about cultures around the world. It is unrealistic to be able to physically take trips regularly, but with virtual fieldtrips students get “out of the box” teaching and are able to relate to what they are learning on a completely different level versus traditional classroom teaching. I love the idea of having options too. The class can take the “trip” together or individually depending on computer portals available.

I visited this cave on a trip and found it to be very interesting the only thing I think that would have made it more exciting was if it had sound to follow with the pictures.

 

Summary:

This chapter discussed information management and describes many different electronic resources to utilize to stay organized. Online tools for bookmarking, setting alerts etc.. were explained and listed as resources. WebQuests, WebGardens, and virtual tours are really innovative ways to get students to be engaged. I particularly liked this section and have already thought about how to incorporate these ideas into our school-age program. I learned that there are 6 major types of educational websites and enjoyed reviewing the many examples of lesson plans that were posted.

This chapter was full of resources for lesson planning!

 

Resources:
Franklin, T., Duran, M. & Kariuki, M. (2001). Mentoring Overcomes Barriers to Technology Integration. In J. Price et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2001 (pp. 848-849). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Maloy, R. W., Verock-O, R. E., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2010). Transforming learning with new technologies. Allyn & Bacon.