Student Samples

In my WebQuest, students were required to create two graphic organizers and write a blog posting. I've attached links for the two graphic organizers that I created through Kidspiration (they can be uploaded as images) and the sample blog posting that I created.
[All were uploaded into Google Docs so they could be linked to in this blog post.]

Click on the following links to see my student samples:

Graphic Organizers

Sample Blog Posting

Thanks!

--Kristin.

WebQuest: The Grand Finale!

Here it is, folks! My WebQuest is completed, only to be updated if, when I'm making my student sample, I realize that my instructions aren't very thorough or that more instructions need to be included, etc. (Hopefully, that won't happen!)

Please click here to see my completed WebQuest!

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend!
--Kristin.

"What Would Socrates Say?"

After reading "What Would Socrates Say?" by Peter W. Cookson Jr., it's clear to me that Socrates would only approve of WebQuests if the following occurred:

1. Students had to discuss and work together to find an answer;
2. Some moral/ethical question is being answered; and
3. The answer that is found leads to a deeper question to be answered.

Cookson makes a good point in the introduction to this article by saying, "Google has given us the world at our fingertips, but speed and ubiquity are not the same as actually "knowing" something." If students are surfing through WebQuests individually without really answering any helpful question or fulfilling some important goal, then the focus is on internet navigation and ease of finding information instead of digging deeper for an answer. According to this article, Socrates believed that honest debate and discussion was the best way to learn; and, if we don't approach learning in this same way in this technological era, we may "drown in a sea of trivia" instead of rising on a "tide of possibility and promise." Even though many people think of education as a personal experience, Socrates would argue that our collective intelligence and what we all can bring to the table is more important for everyone's learning than each of us learning on our own. Everyone brings different experiences and different ideas to the table; why not use all of those experiences and ideas to teach an important lesson, examine an important problem, find a useful solution, etc.? If WebQuests do these things in a COLLECTIVE fashion, then Socrates would approve of them. Otherwise, he might not be so thrilled about the idea.
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I reviewed the WebQuest taxonomy and couldn't exactly pinpoint one particular task that my WebQuest falls under. I did, however, narrow my WebQuest into two categories: a "Retelling" task and a "Persuasion" task, since, in my WebQuest, students will be summarizing and describing their independent reading book to other students and try to either persuade or dissuade them from reading that same book.

WebQuest: Rough Draft

Here's the rough draft for my WebQuest. Before you, my peers, give me feedback, here's two things you need to know:

1. I didn't put any graphics on my WebQuest yet, because I was having trouble making things look right on the site. Graphics are in the works, though.
2. The "Kidspiration" software referenced in the "Process" section for the story webs is something new that I haven't tried yet. The original WebQuest used the software, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. So, once I do my student sample and figure out how the software works, I'll add more detailed instructions for using "Kidspiration" to make the webs.

I think that's all for now. Click here to view my WebQuest and please provide me with your questions, comments, and concerns. Thanks!

Happy WebQuesting!
--Kristin.

WebQuest Editing

I found a WebQuest entitled "Independent Reading Workshop" in which each student creates two graphic organizers (one about a character in their book and one about the plot) about a book they read on their own. Students will also use Microsoft Word to write a reflection and summary about the book they read; then, a class blog will be created for students to post about their books (whether or not they'd recommend it to other students, how they felt about the book, etc.).

The content of this WebQuest is great because it gets students to read and discuss books with their fellow classmates. However, it isn't visually appealing and the Introduction certainly wouldn't grab a second grader's attention. Also, since this WebQuest was created in 2005, some of the information could probably use an update, as well. I'd like to edit this WebQuest!

Please click here for the link to "Independent Reading Workshop."

Traditional Literacy vs. Digital Literacy

In this digital age, it seems like it's becoming increasingly difficult to motivate students to take an interest in writing, especially if it involves pen-to-paper. After viewing "The Power of One" and reading "Orchestrating the Media Collage" by Jason Ohler, the appropriate question doesn't seem to be, "How do we get students to understand the importance of writing," but rather, "How do we integrate technology into our classroom to make writing applicable and important to students?"

Technology/media literacy is quickly playing a significant role in society for students and teachers alike. Since so much of our lives are online now, it is important that students learn how to use social media, videos, blogging, etc. to express themselves effectively. In some cases, videos like "The Power of One" are very effective in expressing a certain idea to viewers of the video. But, as future teachers, we must be sure to not place more emphasis on media usage than we do essay writing, reading comprehension, etc. Multimedia photo collages, videos, etc. should not replace writing assignments for students; both skillsets are important to have, so we should be practicing both with students, not replacing one with the other.

As Ohler points out in his article, engaging students in activities that promote digital literacy shouldn't disengage them from activities that promote traditional literacy. One of his eight guidelines for teachers, in fact, is "value reading and writing now more than ever." My favorite statement in Ohler's article was in the section titled "Teachers as Guides." He said, "Teachers don't have to be advanced technicians...now more than ever, students...need the clear voice of a teacher who can help them develop literacies that will be important to them for a lifetime." This makes me feel more comfortable entering the media game as an educator, because I don't have to completely understand every type of media, networking, or other type of site out there; I just have to be able to guide students in their development of digital literacy.
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The NETS-T standards that go along with blog posting include:
3c: Teachers communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.
4b: Teachers address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.

Investigating WebQuests - In-Class Activity

Our group chose "Poetry of War" as the best WebQuest because it allowed students to be creative. The site was very well-organized and the dark color scheme, along with powerful multimedia, created a learning atmosphere that fit the subject matter being presented.

The WebQuest we liked the least was "John Wilkes Booth" because so much information was presented to students that it would be hard to take in everything at once. Although this was our favorite WebQuest as far as content was concerned, it lacked appeal in organization and affiliation between students.

My PhotoStory

Let's Try This Again..

Okay. Now that I've learned how to properly link my resume so it's clickable, here we go again..

Please click here to view my resume.

Heeeere's My Resume!

I've added a link to my resume in my Favorite Links list, but just in case someone can't find it there, I'm adding it here, too.

The link is: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfb3nx3z_3dvfcm7f3.

I hope everyone's had a wonderful labor day weekend!

--Kristin.

The Usefulness of Blogs in Schools

As I read the article "The Joy of Blogging" from Educational Leadership, one thing became increasingly clear to me: blogs, when used safely and effectively, are a wonderful classroom tool for enhancing learning! The example blog posts from students and the responses that were included in this article proved how great an experience blogging can be for both students and teachers alike.

After reading "The Joy of Blogging," I checked out some of the example classroom blogs on the escrapbooking website. One particular blog, "A Duck with a Blog," caught my eye; the entries were written by a teacher at this particular school where Daisy, a mallard, decided to build her nest on their K-8 playground. Several of the blog postings included drawings that different grade levels had made on Kid Pix to formulate and answer questions about ducks, to make duck-oriented drawings, to show progress on ducks that they're hatching in their own classrooms, etc. The teacher posted updates quite frequently relaying the progress of duck hatching in the kindergarten classrooms and to inform readers of what Daisy was up to. The blog included several links to information about ducks as well as links to other blogs from their school. [I love this idea! Natural phenomenon, especially animals, are always intriguing for children. Using a blog to foster student learning about this particular subject and to teach children how to use new technologies is so cool! I wish I had a better descriptor to use, but all I can think of is "cool."]

The two NETS-T standards that would be met if I used a blog in my future classroom are:
1c. Teachers promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
AND
2a. Teachers design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Link to "A Duck with a Blog": http://duckdiaries.edublogs.org/