Webquest Discoveries

Jonathan P. Craun

 

1) Robot Arm Project http://questgarden.com/47/97/7/070317155016/ by Justin Carvalho. For: Grade: 6-8 Technology.

 

This Webquest has two main activities.  The first is a research of the history and science behind robotics form that a company brochure will be produced.  The brochure will display the groupsÕ findings and their predictions about robot technology.  The second phase is to make an actual robot arm.

 

The thing that excites me the most about this is how it involves the students into a creative process that has significance.  They could actually be adding to the field of robotics.  This is real, hands on, and invites students to act as scientists.   This also covers a multitude of skills that students will have to learn and use to complete tasks.  To the students it will all be about their robot when in fact they are learning to problem solve, research, predict, work cooperatively, and present their findings.  This does not take into account all of the computer skills that they will learn.

 

The quest does well as far as the rubric goes.   My only complaint is that this would work better in a High School setting.  Much of the reading skills and so on are more suited for higher-grade levels.  So, I guess that as far as the Scaffolding of Process it gets a zero.

 

 

2) Digital Poetry (Thoughts In Motion) by Michael O'Neill, For: Grade: 6-8 9-12

English/Language Arts Technology http://www.elco.k12.pa.us/online_homework/O%27Neill/Digital/Entrypage.html

 

This is a wonderful activity for teaching writing and technology, and art skills.  Students are asked to create an iMovie that incorporates digital photography, music and effects that all work together to enhance the poem that they write.

 

IÕm afraid that this does not follow the WebQuest design, but it works well.  I love that it has examples and tutorials built in.  A lot of the more traditions WebQuests miss this element.  This also allows for a lot of student driven and inspired work.  As far as the rubric goes it gets a C but I would give it an A from my rubric.

 

 

3) Computer History Time Capsule by, Travis True, for: Grade: 6-8 Technology http://questgarden.com/46/59/7/070212100846/process.htm

 

In this WebQuest student are asked to complete a PowerPoint that tracks the changes in technology up to today, which happens to be an AZ state standard.  They are preparing their findings with the idea that they will be opened and view in 100 years: a time capsule.

 

As far as the rubric goes, this one gets an A.  It is well organized and developed much in the spirit of Bernie Dodge.  It also includes tutorials as part of its resources, which I like.  I wish though that this one and WebQuests in general had for examples.

 

 

4) In Defense of Rap by, Jan von Harz, Rebecca West, Lesa Minnick, David Valley

For: Grade: 6-8 English/Language Arts Social Studies Technology http://ht.psdr3.org/commarts/webquest/TeachersPage.htm#top

 

This is about getting students into poetry and thinking about culture.  The students have to defend Rap as a viable art form.  Students will also analyze the lyrics of songs and answer questions about their meaning and how poetry was used.

 

This does not exactly follow the model.  It has a lot of reading and details.  I could see studentsÕ eyes glazing over as soon as they opened the WebQuest.  I like the idea though, and with a little bit of help it could work.  Students love poetry and they especially love Hip Hop music.  This has maybe a C+ as far as the rubric goes, but I like it.

 

5) Zero Tolerance, by Rodd Lucier, Mike Taylor, for: Grade: 6-8

Art/Music English/Language Arts Health/PE Life Skills/Careers Professional Technology http://www.ldcsb.on.ca/schools/cfe/rpt/RPT_Zero_Tolerance/student.html

 

I like this one.  Students are very concerned about bullying and how to prevent it.  This activity helps empower students to combat bullying in a tangible way.  Students research the history and types of bullying that includes cyber-bullying.  Students then conduct a survey and finally create a public service announcement based on their findings.  This incorporates a variety of technology in conducting the research and producing the media to communicate findings.

 

This is a great WebQuest.  It has PodCasts throughout it that read the content, great for ELL students.  It is laid out, and organized well.  Students will defiantly need assistance from the teacher, but in a good way.  This put the teacher into the consulting business.  It passes the rubric with an A.

 

 

6) What Color is Racism?  By, Vickie Duax, Mary Phoenix, Patricia Hernandez For: Grade: 6-8 9-12 College/Adult, Art/Music English/Language Arts Social Studies Technology http://imet.csus.edu/imet7/phoenix/284/intro.htm

 

This helps students understand and define racism.  Students research, create a storyboard and then create a video about their findings.  The idea is to inform the public about racism in the hope of preventing it.

 

This is not the best example of a WebQuest, but it is very much in the spirit of WebQuests.  It has some confusing navigation, and it is not as accessible to younger readers.  This needs to be reworked to function well with 6th graders.