Webquest Video

I find the stats they gave very interesting in the video about the daily live of today's students. I like the video shows you need to teach thinking skills because material is always changing. At the same time find it scary about today's student that they are not writing or reading at all. I fear that texting will become so prevalent that students will no longer know how to write. I guess that is why we have to create webquests that require reading and writing, but at the same time make use of technology.

Sources: School Safety

This webquest was a little too much for my liking. I feel that something of this nature should be quick and easily completed in one or two class periods. The more words you use the harder and more frustrating it becomes for a student. This would not work in the classes that I teach and would be a setup for failure. If I were to use this webquest it would need to be split into two or three separate assignments with guided work during class to make sure and check that each part was completed.

Webquest Video

This video brought up some good points and helped me to decide on websites that the students can start their research. Many times I notice they will automatically go to Ask.com or Google and perhaps they will explore a different resource if a few are provided to them.

School Safety WebQuest

The School Safety WebQuest is well written & organized, but I almost feel as if there is too much information scattered throughout the pages. If I was a student assigned to completing this WebQuest, I would get bored/annoyed reading all of the assigned material. I think WebQuests need to be detailed enough so students can follow directions without becoming confused, however they should not be too flooded with information.

WebQuest Video

This video reiterated the definition of a WebQuest & provided some helpful hints for guiding students through internet-based research. It's always important to remind students of appropriate versus inappropriate websites, especially for research. My class rule- no Wikipedia!

The Task

I agree with Kristin that "The Task" is easily accomplished and written before the other aspects fall into place. I find it difficult though while creating a Biodiversity WebQuest for my class to figure out if I am truly going to be "engaging" and able to "elicit the students thinking that goes beyond rote comprehension." I believe creating jobs for each member of a group is very helpful but do not know if they will work to their full potential. With that in mind I feel that "The Process" will be the most influential part in the WebQuest since it will guide the student in understanding meaningful techniques to use when working on research projects or papers on their own.

The Task

Although believed to be the 'most difficult part' of creating a WebQuest, I feel the task section was the easiest to develop. Before even thinking about sources, a description, or the process of the WebQuest, I knew what I wanted my students to accomplish upon completion of my WebQuest.