Spring,
1995 Professors Bernie Dodge and Tom March
San
Diego State University
In the spring of 1995, professors Bernie Dodge and Tom March designed an inquiry-orientated activity in which most of the learners information comes from researching and learning off the web. It supports learners’ thinking at the levels of synthesis, evaluation, and analysis by having the students complete different tasks with real – word applications. A company called Classroom Connect offers educational WebQuests for classrooms all over the world. Their latest WebQuestis called AsiaQuest and takes learners all throughout Asia with other explorers.There are six critical attributes to WebQuests:
An
introduction that sets up background information
A
task that is doable and interesting
Information
sources, such as expert testimony, books, etc.
A
process that learners can break down into steps
Organization
of the information acquired this includes mapping, timelines, etc.
A
conclusion that brings closure to the project. What have the students learned
Interested in making your own WebQuest?Try out Bernie’s Template at http://www.ozline.com/templates/webquest.html
Interactive
Museum Experience
Fall
of 2001
Let’s say that you are an art teacher and would love to be able to take your students to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. However, this is one field trip that is not feasible. Currently the museum does feature a small portion of its artwork on line, however it does not even cover enough of the 8,000 pieces of artwork that are displayed there. I propose that by the year 2001, every museum, and historical place such as Mount Vernon sponsor their own online field trip. This field trip would provide more than a virtual look around. At specific times throughout the year, the students could set up field trips. Then a museum docent or curator would lead the students through the museum using a camera that both the students and the museum could interact with.While the students are touring the museum, they could ask questions – that is the point that is not being seen now.The students could get information all over the world without leaving their classrooms. They wouldn’t be limited to just a few special collections online….every educational place in the world could enter their classroom to provide for some educational dialogue between professionals and students!