I am going to create a Webquest for my CIP. I basically choose to do a Webquest because it is forcing me into learning how to create one. I’ve created many units and lesson plans and have integrated using technology in them many times but I have never attempted anything like creating a Webquest and I really want to push myself in trying new things. I am currently having my students use a Webquest I found online to wrap up our science unit and to see if Webquest work with my students. They are really enjoying it so far and I am learning how much time they need to complete tasks and how much time they waste playing around on the website links they follow. The Webquest I am working on is a ‘Case Study of Columbus’. The kids will use both online and book resources to learn about Columbus and the impact he had on exploration. I have a true or false quiz with my lesson stuff that is great for before and after Columbus lessons that I would love to turn into an online quiz through my online grade book program Engrade. Engrade includes a bunch of cool tools like quizzes and flashcards that I see and think I try out but I never make time for them. I am hoping that through this project I will try some of these things out and see that they are not so scary and I should just use them.
I have the majority of the resources for my kids to use through the Webquest figured out. There are several nice websites with kid friendly information on Columbus that I used in my Resource Summary. There are also a couple books in my classroom I want them to use as well. What I need to do it figure out the online quiz for before and after and a fun idea for my introduction. The Webquest my kids are doing right now has them acting as TV reporters and they have to make a newscast. I’m kind of thinking about a super sleuth theme for this one. Make them detectives.
One of the things I worry about most with this class is that I will not use all the things I have learned. I can’t believe all the great tools I have learned about in this class. I don’t want to fall back into old habits of teaching and not use any of the technology have learned how to integrate into my teaching. I have already tried some things out as I have learned them and seen what works and what doesn’t and I am hoping that this project will reinforce this habit. I am trying to integrate several of the things I have learned into my Webquest. I was important to me when starting planning this project to create it on a topic I am teaching this year. That is why I choose Columbus. I should be teaching Columbus lesson at the end of the unit I am teaching in Social studies right now. I am really working on updating my teaching practices to include a better integration of technology that enhances my teaching and lessons and isn’t just adding bells and whistles.
