USING THE INTERNET TO CREATE WEB-BASED

LESSONSIASL CONFERENCE

MALMO, SWEDEN

August, 2000

Dr. Sheila Offman Gersh

City College of New York

sogcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu

http://www.schoollink.org/twin

Schools are using the Net to... Post information for the world to see,

including artwork, essays, sounds, etc. Take virtual tours of museums, cities, and

foreign countries

Schools are using the Net to... Give students access to the latest

information around the planet Allow students to participate in global

projects of all kinds

Schools are using the Net to...

Bring experts from numerous fields right into the classroom (Ask A Scientist)

Interact with people from around the world, via live video and audio -- for free!

That all sounds great, but...How do you use the Internet: ...in existing curriculum? ...to excite students? ...for professional development?

What students do with the Web

85 % of K-12 schools in US have Web access

The Web allows for an interactive learning experiences (GlobaLearn)

Easy to navigate via the World Wide Web’s CD ROM-like interface

Quickly search for appropriate materials for school assignments of all kinds

Why use the Web at school? Easy for students at all levels

(Kindergarten and up) to use the Net The Web makes learning fun! Online information is moving to the Web,

making it simple to track things down

Why use the Web at school? Thousands of school Web sites are tieing the online world to the

classroomhttp://web66.coled.umn.edu/schools.html

Netscape: Olmed School

What Are the Benefits to Using the Internet?

Better understanding of your student’s world Access to instructional tools/ resources Access to curricular/research resources Promotes anytime, anywhere learning Improves communication Provides exposure to places, simulations, etc.

normally unattainable Provides real world experiences and skills Provides FUN!

What Are Some of These Offerings?

Tutorials/Online LessonsTutorials/Online Lessons Teacher resourcesTeacher resources Online activitiesOnline activities Online projectsOnline projects WebQuestsWebQuests

What’s an Internet lesson plan?

Most Internet plans require students to do: Do research via online sites Communicate with others globally (SMEs) Partner with classes Exchange information Synthesize and publish collected material back

onto the Internet

Value of Internet lessonsStudent benefits: Do collaborative problem solving Learn and work in teams Work in student “learning circles” Exercise high-level thinking skills Increases information literacy

Net lesson raw materials Use your current lessons Locate and collect traditional lesson plans

via the Internet (ex. ERIC) Adapt Internet lesson plans posted online

by other educators for your personal use List your favorite sites

“Internet Way” Use these ideas to get into the “Internet

mindset” before creating your own plan Use the Internet to reach your learning

goals, not just as an excuse to use the Net Much more than just “online”

encyclopedias and dictionaries

“Internet Way”Objectives Access information unavailable through

traditional sources

Up-to-the minute news Collaborate with people around the world

Exchange information with another class (or expert) in another country

“Internet Way”Procedures Give students meaningful reasons to use

the Internet Demonstrate the power of technology by

requiring students to search for, retrieve, synthesize, share information

“Internet Way”Extensions Stretch the limits of available technology Customize, localize, specialize your

Internet lesson plan Build Web sites with student work Have students audio/videoconference Create Tele-field trips that go beyond your

basic lesson objectives

“Internet Way”Assessment Were your students able to find information and

people on the Internet they couldn’t access in any other way?

Did they stretch their technology skills? Did the Internet increase their ability to sort out

good information from the bad? Constructivism?--Are students creating

knowledge?

Building your own Internet Lesson What do you want your students to

accomplish? Infuse traditional resources into your plan,

as well as Internet materials Use printed materials and on-line search

tools to locate relevant online sites Let’s look at some lesson examples!

Internet projectsWhat is an Internet project? A structured learning activity that requires

students to use the Internet

Types of Internet projects: Interpersonal exchanges Information gathering and sharing Collaborative problem solving

Internet projectsInterpersonal exchanges Keypals (online pen pals) Electronic appearances by experts Electronic mentoring

Internet projectsInformation gathering and sharing Sharing data between participants Electronic publishing Database creation Tele-field trips Pooled data analysis Surveys

Internet projectsCollaborative problem solving Information searches - “Scavenger Hunts” Writing projects in tandem Contests and student Internet challenges Pooled data analysis to reach shared

conclusions

Existing Internet projects

Global Grocery List

Global data collection and sharing Galapagos

Electronic appearances, keypals Newsday Project

Writing project in tandem

When seeking projects...Keep in mind: When does it start? Length? Deadlines? Is there enough lead time to properly

integrate it into your instructional timetable?

Will you have the right tools to participate? Are your students Net-literate enough to

participate?

Sources of projects Project Proposals

Project Center - Listservs

IECC - Companies Globalearn -

Fees, include professional instructional materials, access to special databases, direct student contact with project team

Creating your own projectSeven steps: 1. Think about your curriculum goals and

what you want your students to learn 2. Choose which kind of project you’d like

to create... Interpersonal exchanges

Information gathering and sharing Collaborative problem solving

Creating your own project 3. Choose the topic and content for the

project 4. Design your project with specific goals,

tasks, and outcomes in mind 5. Set specific beginning and ending dates

for the project, and specific deadlines for participants

Creating your own project 6. Use the upcoming template for

designing your call for participation, then post your call at least five weeks in advance of the starting time.

7. Let your project run its course! When the project is over, share the results/student work with all participants

Where to post your call IECC-Projects and HILITES mailing lists

as mentioned earlier... Electronic Schoolhouse Projects

America Online keyword: ESH

What is a WebQuest?

A WebQuest is defined, by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University, as "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet."

Why Use A WebQuest?

Increases Student Motivation Provides Real World Experiences

real resources real tools

Develops Higher Level Thinking Skills Promotes Cooperative Learning For more information

http://www.ozline.com/webquests/intro.html

What are the components of a WebQuest?

Inquiry-oriented Based on doable, engaging tasks Uses pre-defined resources from the

Web Can be short or long term Most likely to be group activities Should include role playing for learners

What are the components of a WebQuest?

There are six building blocks to a WebQuest. Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion

Web page: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest

/buildingblocks.html

INTRODUCTION

Should orient the learner to what is coming

Should raise interest in the learner through a variety of means

TASK

A description of what the learner will have done at the end of the exercise

Could be a product or a verbal presentation

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS Clearly describes steps

strategies for dividing the task into subtasks

descriptions of roles to be played perspectives to be taken by each

learner Lets the learners know the process

to go through to accomplish the task

Can also provide learning advice

SET OF INFORMATION SOURCES (RESOURCES)

A list of Web pages located and pre-selected by the teacher helps the learner accomplish the task

Allows the learners to focus their attention on the topic rather than surfing

May include resources not on the Web All resources may not be used by all

students

EVALUATION

Needs to be able to measure results An evaluation rubric is recommended

designed by teachers vary depending on the kind of task given to

the student

Sample rubric: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquestrubric.html

ADVANTAGES OF USING RUBRICS

Allows assessment to be more objective and consistent

Shows the student how their work will be evaluated and what is expected

Promotes student awareness of about the criteria to used in assessing peer performance

Provides useful feedback regarding the effectiveness of the instruction

CONCLUSION To summarize the experience To encourage reflection about the

process To extend the experience into other

domains To bring closure to the WebQuest

Let’s Look at a Sample Lesson

Sample lesson: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/EdWeb_Folder/courses/EDTEC596/WebQuest_Template1.html

•Become familiar with resources online in your content area•Organize the resources into categories•Identify topics that fit in with the curriculum!

What are some examples of WebQuests?

Great Immigration WebQuest http://students.itec.sfsu.edu/EDT628/shovanes/index.HTM

WebQuest: The 1960’s Museum http://discoveryschool.com/schrockguide/museum/

webquest.html

Submarines: Where Are They Now? http://memorial.sdcs.k12.ca.us/LESSONS/WWII/Sub/

Sub.html

Gold Rush Players http://students.itec.sfsu.edu/edt628/ouray/index.html

Thank You!Thank You!

Any Questions??