Here are the two links that I found would be most beneficial in my classroom. Not only are they helpful and resourceful online tools, they are also very user friendly for teachers and students. Both of the sites help to generate ideas and are extremely creative.
The first site I chose was http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html. This would be a site I would love to use my fourth graders. Here is why: This site basically explains what webquest tasks are and how to get them started with your students. A WebQuest, according to WebQuest.org, is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. These can be created using various programs, including a simple word processing document that includes links to websites.” (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebQuest on November 14, 2011) Webquests can be used in both elementary and secondary education. Teachers can design their own webquests or they can search the web to find topics related to their study area.
The site WebQuest Taskonomy provides several examples of tasks to complete. Tasks are the most essential piece to a webquest because they provide a focus and a goal for the students to accomplish during their learning process.
One neat task I found was the “Creative Product Task”:
Creative Product Tasks
Might students learn about your topic by recasting it in the form of a story or poem or painting? Like engineers and designers, creative artists work within the constraints of their particular genre. Creative WebQuest tasks lead to the production of something within a given format (e.g. painting, play, skit, poster, game, simulated diary or song) but they are much more open-ended and unpredictable than design tasks. The evaluation criteria for these tasks would emphasize creativity and self-expression, as well as criteria specific to the chosen genre.
Radio Days, for example, requires the scripting and performance of a radio play, complete with sound effects and ads. Sworn to Serve requires the creation of a historically plausible portfolio for a fictional feudal family. As with design tasks, the constraints are the key, and they will differ depending on the creative product and topic being worked on. Such constraints might include such things as requiring:
• historical accuracy;
• adherence to a particular artistic style;
• use of the conventions of a particular format;
• internal consistency;
• limitations on length, size, or scope.
Balanced against the constraints, a task of this type should invite creativity by being somewhat open-ended. There should be enough wiggle room in the assignment that a student or group of students will be able to leave a unique stamp on what you're asking them to do.
Another neat task is the “Design Task”. This task has the students to design a plan for accomplishing something, for example a plan to design a home or a trip.
I found this webquest that shows a good example of a designing task: http://www.st.cr.k12.ia.us/webquest/Dream%20House/My%20House%20WebQuest.htm
I would use this in my classroom if I were using webquests as a learning tool. This would be my way of providing a clear and fun activity for the students to develop. They also give the students a lot of creativity. Many webquests can be completed independently or in groups of two or more, which these tasks on this website work perfectly for.
The other site that I found very helpful and would love to use is the Readwritethink.org site that is created and used for teachers. This site has many resources for teachers, professional development links and parent and afterschool resources. They also have student interactive pages to help students with reading and writing. For example there is a writing and publishing press to help students in grades K-12 to write in prose. There is a breakdown of the lessons from all grades, so it is friendly to every level. http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=110&title= This is the link to the printing press that helps to make brochures, newspapers, booklets and flyers. Once the student is done, they can print off their work. It is simple, very user friendly, and fun!
Another great tool from the readwritethink website is the lessons are aligned to all state standards. They are revised on a regular basis so they are staying current.
Another great resource for upper grades (6-12) is the reading online strategy guide. This guide provides many exploring activities for students online. There are lesson plans for the teachers to follow, as well as student interactive activities. What is better than having a prepared lesson, FREE, at your finger tips?!! For the lesson about propaganda techniques in literature and online political ads, there are printouts, websites to visit, and step by step preparation in order to get ready for the activity.
http://www.readwritethink.org/ is a great site full of resources and lessons for teachers in grades k-12.
Resources:
Webquest Taxonomy: A Taxonomy of Tasks. (Retrieved on November 14, 2011).
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html
Read Write Think. International Reading Association. (Retrieved on November 14, 2011). http://www.readwritethink.org/
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