Webquest

Webquest

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?user=40737

 A WebQuest is an online learning activity that students do with a partner or group to discover and explore new information, analyze it, and often take part in role playing to give them a real world example of how they could use the knowledge gained here.
 * What is a WebQuest?**


 * Process:** I thought about the units that I teach in Science and Social Studies and which one students need to know the most about. Our unit on Biodiversity stood out because it encompasses so much. We teach about biomes, habitats, food chains and webs, endangered animals and plants, and being eco-friendly. Knowing this, I decided I would take the biggest piece of that unit and create a fun, engaging, and hands-on approach to teaching about biomes. It helps that my students have already studied geography this year, so they at least have an idea of where we live and some of the differences around the world. They can navigate pretty well on a map, and they know the seven different continents and four oceans. They are also familiar with some different landforms. All of these pieces make it so much easier for the students to do the WebQuest that I created, hopefully with ease.


 * WebQuest Description:** In my "Biomes Around the World " WebQuest, students are asked to work with a partner and tour a specific biome. After becoming experts, they trade information with other students in the class, and then decide which biome they would like to take a vacation to. Using the information that was collected, including the climate, animals, plants, landforms, and some activities to do there, students become travel agents and tour guides to share information about their biome.

The WebQuest has students print out a recording sheet for their facts. Then they go to the links to various websites for their specific biome to help them compile information. It also has links for students to choose their mode of transportation and their accommodations. They choose which type of transportation is the best and also where they should be staying. This is the travel agent piece of the assignment. The tour guide piece is all of the information they have gathered, including interesting places to visit and activities to do while there.

After students have all of their information, they will plan out their trip in a travel brochure, PowerPoint, or poster to present to their classmates. This presentation should prove that each student is an expert on a specific biome and that they have real life experiences in planning a trip. My hope is that eventually some of them may actually take their trip or offer to help their parents plan a vacation they have in the future.


 * Reflection:** Overall I thought this project was very beneficial. I have always wanted to create one, but I never had the time or understanding to make actually do it. My initial thoughts on creating a Biome WebQuest were to just walk the students through the different biomes to collect facts and learn about each of them. Instead of just doing the 20th Century, traditional teaching, I thought of how I could create more of a 21st Century experience. This was where I came up with the travel agent and tour guide to make more of a practical, real life trip around the world. By the end of this assignment, students will not only know about each of the major biomes, but they will also be able to help their families plan a trip. Even if they don't take the exact trip that is planned, the students will be able to use their travel agent skills to help plan a vacation. I think this is very important because so often children are just "along for the ride." Instead, they could have some input or even ideas about different places or how to get there.

As for the technology component, I really like that I now have so many different websites and links in one place for students to use. I like that I have spent so much time upfront planning this lesson so that when we the students actually do the WebQuest in the spring, it will be much less prep time for me. Of course, I am looking forward to the kids going through and using the Quest so that I can find the kinks and correct them. It doesn't even matter how many times I go through to check for glitches, there is always something missing or a weak link!

References: (2010), //Zunal.// Retrieved November, 2009 from Zunal, Chicago, IL. Website: [|www.zunal.com].