Computer
skills needed:
At least
some of the teachers (and of course the trainer) need to have basic
internet and Word skills. These are the ones I have identified that
would be useful for this activity:
Open
Word
Select text
Scroll up and down a page
Right click
Copy and paste into a different document
Toggle between open pages/documents
Save document as a webpage
Find and insert clipart
Go to a webpage when you have the address (URL)
Use
basic features of a search engine
Use
advanced features of a search engine
Follow a hyperlink
Return to the webpage you were looking at before
Close
pop-ups
It works well if the participants are paired so
those with strong computer skills are paired with those less confident.
Grouping
If there are 10 teachers taking part the
instructions in the WebQuest can be followed as they are. If there are between
5 and 10, it can be done with only one person in some of the
groups. A larger group can duplicate tasks (ie you could have two
groups working on some tasks). If you have less than 5, or even an
individual, it may be easier to use the page with all
the tasks on and to chose from that.
Resources
Needed
-The WebQuest has been designed to be used with 10
teachers, two per computer, but this can easily be adapted, according to
the number of teachers present and the number of computers
available.
-The Bell English website which is used as the example
requires Shockwave and students need to be registered to explore the site
fully (although it it is more useful for all the teachers to
register, it is also possible for you to register and they can all use
the same username and password simultaneously.)
- Students must have Internet access and
Word or similar word processing program.
- Preferably you should be able to put the completed tasksheet up on the
web, either on webspace from your institution or perhaps Geocities or
similar. (For an example of completed results see www.bellstudents.com/norwich/project11)
If this isn't possible, the results could be printed out.
-A data projector is useful for running
this session, but not essential.
Preparation
As in any activity of this kind you will
need to check the links. I have tried to use websites that seem
fairly permanent, but activities and items may change within these
sites.
I give my trainees a questionnaire
to assess their computer skills, based on the above list.
From this I pair them up, those with weaker computer skills with
those who are stronger or at least with different skills.
Then I give each group a number 1-5.
Print out the 5 Group tasksheets.
To do this copy them into Word and with some minor adjustments
they should each fit on two sides of A4 paper.
Session Plan
This is the plan I follow for a 90
minute session with 10 pre-experience trainee teachers with one
computer between two and a data projector linked to a computer
with internet access.
Stage
|
Procedure
|
Minutes
(approx)
|
| Seating |
Trainees
to sit with partners, initially facing front, later at
computers. |
|
|
Intro
to Webquest
|
What
is a WebQuest?
I
go to the WebQuest for Teachers on the data projector
(hereafter DP). They read the introduction: Are they
convinced?
|
2 |
|
Task
|
They
read Task on DP carefully – I’ll ask what they have to
do. When they've finished, I minimise screen and ask
questions to check.
|
3
|
|
Sample
task
|
First
I talk through the parts of it all.
Then
we do the task together on DP, answering questions then
exploring and assessing site.
We
look at sample answer and sample comments on DP.
|
15 |
|
Other
procedure
|
They
read the rest of the procedure notes on DP.
I
give demo of copying tasksheet into Word on DP. |
5
|
|
Copy
worksheet
|
On
their computers, they go to their group's tasksheet and
copy it into Word
I
give
out paper version.
I
monitor closely to help with technical problems.
|
5 |
|
They
do tasks
|
I
monitor closely
-
for
technical problems,
-
to
guide them where necessary
-
to
ensure co=operation
-
to
encourage them to explore sites fully,
-
to
make sure they spend about 15 minutes on each
site,
-
to
suggest they look at other sites if finished,
-
to
check that they are saving their work regularly as
instructed
|
45 |
|
Feedback
|
Each
group tells the class briefly about one site they explored.
What
did they get out of the WebQuest?
Look
at Conclusion on DP to see if their answers are mentioned.
Tell
them if/when their work will be on the net and how they
can access it.
|
15 |
Feedback
This WebQuest was developed as an assignment for a module in
Multimedia and the New Technology in ELT which is part of my MA in
Professional Development for Language Teachers at Norwich Institute for
Language Education/Leeds Metropolitan University. If you have any
comments or suggestions or you find links that are not working please let
me know.
Credits & References
Many thanks to Sharon Whittaker, Phil Brabbs (
http://www.volny.cz/brabbs/
),
Andy ( www.ugvm.org.uk ), Mike Motteram and Craig
( www.hadleigh.org.uk
) for their
assistance in creating this WebQuest.
It was designed with the help of The
WebQuest Page.
WebQuests are created to be shared.
I'd be delighted for you to use this in
your courses and to modify if necessary for your situation. If you
decide to make changes, please leave 'Created by Johanna Stirling'
and add 'Modified by____'and your name. Please be
sure to leave a link to my website on it. And finally do
send me the link to your modified version.
Back to A WebQuest for Teachers
Last updated Setember
2003. Based
on a template from The
WebQuest Page