Webquests

A Curious WebQuest

Curious Research

Name: Whitney Lawson	Date: November 15, 2010
WebQuest Title: Researching and Learning Disabilities	Grade/Level: English 9
TN State Learning Accomplishments: http://www.state.tn.us/education/curriculum.shtml 3001.2.7 Listen actively in group discussions by posing relevant questions and by eliminating barriers to communication. 3001.2.16 Participate productively in self-directed work teams for a particular purpose (e.g., to interpret literature, solve a problem, make a decision) by adhering to the list below. Behavior of Individuals within the Group • Paraphrase all points of essential information from the input of others, emphasizing points of agreement and points of disagreement. • Contribute relevant and appropriate information and ideas that move the team towards its goal. • Ask relevant, focused questions. • Gain the floor in orderly, respectful ways and listen with civility to the ideas of others. Goals and Aims of the Group • Understand the purpose for working as a team and work according to that purpose. • Articulate the goals for the team work, based on general task assigned. • Identify the needs of the team and share various resources to respond to those needs. Group Dynamics and Roles • Assign roles and responsibilities for team members based on an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and the dynamics of the team, identify task(s) needed to meet goal and purpose, distinguish between tasks that are best completed as a team vs. tasks best completed individually, and set deadlines for completing each task. • Establish clear group agreements and ensure appropriate individual contributions are respected by the team. • Set the ground rules for decision making, either by reaching consensus, following the majority, or some other method. 3001.4.2 Take and organize notes on information relevant to the topic and identify areas for research. 3001.4.4 Use relevant data to support the research topic. 3001.4.8 Summarize, paraphrase, and report research information supporting or refuting the thesis, as appropriate.
NETS-S Performance Indicators:  http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/2007Standards/NETS_for_Students_2007.htm c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. D. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problem B. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
NETS-T Performance Indicators:  http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm 1.a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. 1.c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes 2.d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
TN State Computer Technology Learning Accomplishments: http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/computer/index.shtml 1.2. Students are proficient in the use of technology. 3.2 Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technologyenhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works. 4.2 Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Essential Question: What is the desired/expected outcome for the students after completing this WebQuest? For students to better understand disabilities and ideas about how each person individually has a different idea of normal. Students should better understand how people with disabilities successfully live and have a framework of autism and asperger’s before reading a novel whose main character has asperger’s.
Description of the ‘relative advantage’ of any and all technology being used in this lesson: Describe how technology is more helpful than time consuming in completing this WebQuest; why use technology in the ways in which you have planned? Technology in the webquest is necessary because it provides a vast variety of information that students can use to research for their project and creates more opportunities for students to better understand the lesson, activity, and collaborate with others to successfully understand disabilities. Using the internet and additional technological sources lets students access information they would have never had otherwise and also lets them be more inventive, creative in order to create a successful project on their topic.