The Octopus Odyssey:
Literature-Rich WebQuests, PowerQuests, and Inquiry-based Learning

Do you feel like an octopus trying to manage multiple classroom books or reading projects at once? You don't need eight arms to be effective. Instead, you need eight strategies for engaging your students and promoting a love of reading and inquiry. This article explores practical, technology rich projects that will engage students in reading.

This web page is a companion to a conference presentation.

 

 

eduscapes

 

Harness the Power of Technology!

  • Information Communication
  • Collaboration Audio & Video
  • Take Control!

Are you controlling technology…or is technology controlling you?

Swim with All the Fish!

  • Books
  • Pictures
  • Video
  • Internet
  • Real Object, People, Experiences

Literature Focus

  • Single Book
  • Multiple Books
  • Online Literature
  • Online Resources
  • Theme, Thinking Focus
  • Critical & Creative Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Learning Styles
  • Inquiry-Based Learning

Focus on Essential Questions

  • Motivation
  • Meaningfulness
  • How & Why?
  • Human Dimensions

Technology Tools

  • PowerQuests
  • WebQuests
  • Tools for Information, Communication

Orphan Trains
A Family Apart & Orphan Train Series by Joan Lowery Nixon
Orphan at My Door by Jean Little
Orphan Train Rider by Andrea Warren
Rodzina by Karen Cushman
Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting

http://eduscapes.com/42explore/orphan.htm
http://www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~orphantrain/
http://eduscapes.com/42explore

Quest - Inquiry-based Learning

WebQuests, PowerQuests

PowerQuest

  • Inquiry-based
  • Large group with PowerPoint
  • Resource-rich readings, visuals, diagrams
  • Thinking-rich discuss, critique, debate

http://www.scholastic.ca/dearcanada/books/orphanexcerpt.htm
http://kuhttp.cc.ukans.edu/carrie/kancoll/articles/orphans/or_news4.htm

What Else?…

  • Introduction
  • Questions
  • Vocabulary
  • Story Starters
  • Roles & Directions
  • Guidelines

Try It!

  • Brainstorm questions
  • Characters
  • Plot
  • Setting
  • Time period
  • Objects

Remember…
Presentations are guides, not substitutes for good teaching

What’s a WebQuest?

  • Bernie Dodge, SDSU
  • More than a hunt, More than lists
  • Extends… uses power of Internet

http://teacherexchange.mde.k12.ms.us/teachnett/byrd.htm

Why WebQuest?

  • Problem Solving
  • Information Processing
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Authenticity
  • Real-World Problems

http://www.community.k12.mo.us/school/staff/fuller/quest/quest2.htm
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquest.html
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/matrix.html

WebQuests

  • Bernie Dodge’s Approach
  • Inquiry-based
  • Introduction
  • Task
  • Process, Advice, Resources
  • Evaluation & Conclusion

Find WebQuests
orphan train webquest
Train to Somewhere webquest
Andrea Warren webquest
Google Yahoo
http://php.indiana.edu/~kridge/orphan.html
http://php.indiana.edu/~kridge/introduction.html

Explore the Options - WebQuests

  • Use
  • Adapt
  • Create
  • Co-produce

http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/dcronin/hatchet/index.htm
http://eduscapes.com/ladders
http://eduscapes.com/ladders/themes/webquest.htm

Evaluate WebQuests

  • Is it a quality project?
  • Does it fit my needs?
  • Is it a good use of time?
  • Is it a good use of technology?

Introduction

  • Large Group Overview
    discussion, demonstration
  • Background Info
  • Guides assignments, guide sheets

http://www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/admin/tlapages/melsul_quest.htm

Manage the Activity

  • Timesavers
  • Technology needs
  • Student teams
  • Project headquarters

Timesavers

  • Print: key project elements
    text-based web pages
  • Reserve the web for:
    web pages that change
    interactive web pages
    interaction with others

Technology Needs

  • Organization
  • Large group w/ lg monitor
  • Small group clusters
  • Individuals in lab setting
  • Technology Requirements
  • Word vs PowerPoint vs Net

Student Teams

  • Group goal or mission
  • Roles within group
    single or rotating roles
  • Sharing among groups
    jigsaws or presentations
  • Assessment: individual & team

Project Headquarters

  • Notebook
  • Clipboard
  • Bulletin Board
  • Inspiration
  • Document

Assess Student Projects

  • What will be assessed?
    process, product
  • Who will be assessed?
    individually, groups

http://www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/admin/tlapages/civilrightswebquest.htm

Adapt WebQuests

  • Modify an existing webquest

http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq121/

Deal with Linkrot

  • Is the link vital? If not, find new:
    New Information
    Multiple Perspectives
    Many Channels

Adapt for Best

  • Mix/Match webquest elements
    scenarios links
    processes products
    assessments

http://www.nevada.edu/~marna/msaweb.htm

Adapt for Level

  • Level: grade, ability, interest
  • Enhance scenario
  • Different resources: novel
  • Varied outcomes
  • Rewrite for readability
  • Alternative products

http://kathyschrock.net/webquest/GILL/index.htm

Adapt for Region

  • Local History & Natural Areas
  • Weather & Geographic Feature
    tornadoes vs hurricanes
  • Country Variation
    states vs provinces
  • Authors & Literature

http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq143/index.htm

Extend the WebQuest

  • Finish an incomplete webquest
  • Add breadth and depth
  • Expand the project options
  • Enhance the assessment
  • Update the resources
  • Add a book to a topic webquest

http://www.plainfield.K12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq165/index.htm

Create a WebQuest

  • Brainstorm Topics
    What do you teach?
    What needs outside info?
    What needs shared?
    What needs thought?
    What’s difficult?

Create a’WebQuest!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/chavez/batquest/navigator.html

Outcome

  • What do you want your students to be able to do or talk about?
    Standards, Proficiencies, competencies

The Introduction

  • Get them interested!
  • Motivating, relevant, timely
  • Set the stage
  • Provide background, information

http://education.nmsu.edu/webquest/wq/dino/dinosaur.htm

Introductions

  • Book description - summary
  • Definitions - folktale
  • Quote, poem, song
  • Picture or photo - book, setting
  • Take to place or time
  • Use the characters

http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/sniewold/webquest.html
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/outsiders/intro.html
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/stennille/ST3/poetrywq.htm
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/brooklyn/chocolate/
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/cimpullitti/webquest.html
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/ibickman/door/doorindex.htm
http://php.indiana.edu/~chuffer/wq.html
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/annefrank/

Task

  • Something doable & interesting
    series of questions
    summary to be created
    problem to be solved
    position to be debated
    creative work require thinking!

Project vs Activities

  • Build a time capsule
  • Design a society
  • Hold a mock trial
  • Persuade to build museum
  • Design a theme park

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/anthem/
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/chavez/fairy/
http://www.plainfield.K12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq162/index.htm

Types of Tasks

  • Retelling Tasks
  • Compilation Tasks
  • Mystery Tasks
  • Journalistic Tasks
  • Design Tasks
  • Analytical Tasks
  • Creative Product Tasks
  • Judgment Tasks
  • Persuasion Tasks
  • Consensus Building Tasks
  • Self-Knowledge Tasks
  • Scientific Tasks

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/taskonomy.html

Information Resources

  • Specific, appropriate resources
    web documents
    experts available via Internet
    searchable net databases
    books and other documents
    real objects
    original content

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/genre/
http://php.indiana.edu/~sjmeyer/introduction.html

Process

  • List of activities
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Timeline
  • Be specific:
    Assignments, Questions, Websites, Requirements

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/marston/dragonwings/
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/mitten/

Learning Advice

  • Describe how to organize info
  • Guiding questions
  • Directions to complete
    checklists, timelines, concept maps
    cause-effect diagrams, action plan

Provide Guidelines

  • Choices & Links
  • Concept Map
  • Template
  • Examples
  • Step-by-Step Directions

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/king/authorexpert/

Evaluation

  • Assess student work
    contracts, checklists, rubrics

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/valencia/puppetplay/

Conclusion

  • Bring project to closure.
  • Remind learners about what they’ve learned
  • Encourage learners to extend the experience

Other Elements

  • Roles to play
  • Group collaboration guidelines
  • Motivating scenario
  • Teacher Resources

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/king/insects/index.htm

Create a WebQuest
See if your idea will fly…
Bounce ideas off another teacher, a student

Co-Produce
Two heads are better than one.
seek out ideas, seek out collaborators

Teacher + Teacher
Compatible teaching areas
Complimentary skills - tech, content
Things to share - region, resources

Teacher + Community
Local historical site
natural area business
nonprofit

Teacher + Student Teams
Content area course project
Computer class students + content area teacher

Student + Student Teams
Building for
same class different school
different course different age


 

Promoting Understanding

  • Critical Thinking
  • Creative Thinking

Six Facets of Understanding

  • Explanation
  • Interpretation
  • Application
  • Perspective
  • Empathy
  • Self-Knowledge

Understanding By Design, Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe

Explanation

  • Thorough, supported, accounts of fact/data
  • Sophisticated
  • In-depth
  • Developed
  • Intuitive
  • Novice

http://comsewogue.k12.ny.us/.../conceptmaps/ tilmont/tilmont.htm

Interpretation

  • Tell meaningful stories; personalize in images, models, analogies
  • Profound
  • Revealing
  • Perceptive
  • Interpreted
  • Literal

http://www.maquoketa.k12.ia.us/orphan_train.html

Application

  • Effectively use & adapt what we know to diverse contexts
  • Masterful
  • Skilled
  • Able
  • Apprentice
  • Novice

http://www.rootsweb.com/~neadoptn/Orphan.htm

Perspective

  • See & hear points of view through critical eyes/ears; see big picture\
  • Insightful
  • Thorough
  • Considered
  • Aware
  • Uncritical

http://jjrobert.hypermart.net/patphotos.html

Empathy

  • Find value in what others find odd; be sensitive based on experience
  • Mature
  • Sensitive
  • Aware
  • Developing
  • Egocentric

http:// www.madcap.org/photos.html

Self-Knowledge

  • Perceive the personal prejudices, that impede understanding
  • Wise
  • Circumspect
  • Thoughtful
  • Unreflective
  • Innocent

http://www.texancultures.utsa.edu/memories/TEXT/stella/stella.htm

Literature-Rich Ideas

  • Characters
  • Reflection of time & place
  • Relationships
  • Experiences & frustrations
  • What would it be like to be?
  • What if? Use characters as student roles

http://php.indiana.edu/~amaking/littlewomen.html
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/ibickman/door/bickman_door_means.htm

Plot - Same plot, different characters & setting
http://php.ucs.indiana.edu/~bconnor/intro.html

Settings

  • Visualize setting - photos, drawings
  • Create settings - drawings, models
  • What if the setting…?
  • Email visuals to other classes

http://www.lfelem.lfc.edu/tech/DuBose/webquest/nylen/tuck.html

Genre: Historical Fiction

  • Fact vs Fiction of Events
  • Events at Same Time & Place
  • Build Timelines & Maps
  • Speculate on Future

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/historicalfiction/
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/valencia/factorfiction/
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lewis/realfiction/

Combine Content

  • Reading - The Lorax
  • Writing - news article
  • Science - cause & effect
  • Provide examples & scaffolds

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/chavez/loraxquest/

Author Approaches

  • Life
  • Genres
  • Compare books

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/webquest2000/student/slindadukes/home.html
http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

Multiple Books, Multiple Books,

  • Same theme, Same topic, Same author
  • Literature Circles

http://www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/admin/tlapages/cultures.html
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/lmonson/wquest.htm

Eight Strategies

Most Important - Keep It Simple!

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/balboa/bearhunt/introduction.htm

1 - The Power of Paper

  • Provide print support
  • guides word lists
  • worksheets organizers
  • rubrics web pages

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lvelem/bears/

2 - The Power of Pictures

  • Remember visual learners
    photos clip art
    graphics & drawings
    book covers & illustrations
  • Student-made photos/drawings

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/pershing/roll/

3 - The Power of Interaction

  • Collaborative projects E-pals
  • Join experiments Ask an expert
  • Posting project

4 - The Power of Differentiation

  • Match roles to ability levels
  • Provide a challenge
  • Provide choices
  • Address competencies

http://php.indiana.edu/~jaarnold/introduction.html

5 - The Power of Learner-Centered

  • Not written as lesson plan
  • Talk to the students
    reading level, motivation, specific directions
    …Not teacher focused - Avoid:
  • Students will read… After reading ...

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/hawthorne/swimmy/

6 - The Power Of Controversy

  • Higher Order Thinking
  • Multiple Perspectives, Issues, Trends

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/roosevelt/bookburning/

7 - The Power of Transformations

  • Debate
  • Present
  • Videotape
  • Build
  • Demonstrate

http://php.indiana.edu/~ldunning/wq.html

8 - The Power of Meaningfulness

  • Real-world
    • scenario experiments
    • applications sharing

Do you feel like an octopus?

Find the Right Fit - Explore, Adapt, Create

  • Keep it simple
  • Mix on and off computer

Overwhelmed?

  • Keep it simple
  • Focus on motivation, meaningfulness, thinking

Created by Annette Lamb, 4/03.