I hope no one will miss the presentation (in Romanian, unfortunately) posted below. It will stay there for a while. The reason for keeping it on my blog is that it shows one of the most important things I've been doing lately: putting to good use what I learnt in Spain in April, and I must tell you about what I've been trying in class so far, namely: WebQuests. Ok... So... I've done two of those, involving four classes: Vth B and C, and VIth A and B.
Despite the fact that the end of the school year was approaching fast, my students were unexpectedly enthusiastic about doing the tasks they were given. Which certainly encourages me to try again - next year.
But you are going to ask me: what is a WebQuest?
According to Webquest.org a WebQuest is:"• wrapped around a doable and interesting task that is ideally a scaled
down version of things that adults do as citizens or workers.
• requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing. This includes
synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity and judgment.
• makes good use of the web. A WebQuest that isn't based on real
resources from the web is probably just a traditional lesson in disguise.
(Of course, books and other media can be used within a WebQuest, but if
the web isn't at the heart of the lesson, it's not a WebQuest.)
• isn't a research report or a step-by-step science or math procedure.
Having learners simply distilling web sites and making a presentation
about them isn't enough.
• isn't just a series of web-based experiences. Having learners go look at
this page, then go play this game, then go here and turn your name into
hieroglyphs doesn't require higher level thinking skills and so, by
definition, isn't a WebQuest".
I'll give you an example - the WebQuest done by my VIth-graders:
You may spot my colleague Maria Sofroni in a couple of pictures, as she was helping me. I'm not in the pictures because I was taking them.
I'd like to thank all my dear students who helped me in this endeavour and I hope they'll leave comments, just to tell everybody what they think of this experience.
(Pictures from Personal Archives)
Seems like a very interesting project - practical and creative at the same time, and challenging the students (in a good sense) without submitting them to the extra load of stress and pressure that usually comes along with challenges. They obviously enjoy it!
RăspundețiȘtergereThank you! :D In other countries children start getting such assignments much earlier and they love them. The only problem we encounter is the fact that we don't have enough laptops and that the internet doesn't work very well. I hope we'll find solutions - in time.
ȘtergereThis project was awesome. I have learnt many things by working at this.I was the ''travel agent''. I had to do a promoting campaign for a less known zone in Europe. I picked HIGHLAND SCOTLAND and I thought it was going to be hard , but it wasn't ...and I also had fun doing this.
RăspundețiȘtergerea campaign promoting a...
ȘtergereAnyway... It's very late. I'm glad you had a great time. :)
And everybody can actually see you in the pictures. ;)