Inquiry Based Activity

In this activity I learned how to create learning by letting students use the internet to perform research. I can foresee many instances in which inquiry based activities will come in handy in my classroom.  The internet is often forbidden in schools, so students will naturally be excited to use it in the classroom.  They will not only learn about the subject that they are researching but they will also learn how to use a new medium for education.  This will acquaint students with the internet in an unique way.  They will be able to see the educational benefits of the internet.  

History and geography both lend themselves well to inquiry based research.  In geography a student could become an expert on a particular country and create a wiki page on it.  Then other students, while studying for the test, would have all the information about all the countries on the wiki.  In history, inquiry based activities would introduce students to the notion of online research, an extremely valuable skill.  Activities like this would be an opportunity to discover what is appropriate and inappropriate for online research  

How to Recognize a Great WebQuest

A WebQuest can be a fantastic way to spark learning through technology in any classroom.  It works especially well in a Social Studies classroom, however, because it gives students an opportunity to conduct online research. This would be a great lesson to learn in high school.  When I got into college my professors expected me to be able to write a well researched paper and I did not have the skills to be able to identify appropriate online sources.  Not only do students get to intensely study a certain aspect of a lesson and learn how to utilize online sources, they also learn how to express this through various media forms.  PowerPoint, pictures, and videos are all used in a really good WebQuest.

The best WebQuests should be efficient and easy to understand.  Also WebQuests should create a collaborative environment in which students must work together.  Critical thinking skills should also be promoted throughout this process.  A WebQuest that promotes group work, uses a wide variety of technology, and inspires higher order thinking should be welcomed by all social studies teachers as an invaluable resource in the classroom.

Reflection on Website Evaluation

This assignment has given me a good foundation to be able to evaluate websites for my classroom. It is important to not only ensure safety and accessibility, but also accuracy.  If the website has inappropriate images or text, the students' exposure could lead to negative consequences for myself as the teacher or for the students themselves.  If the website is not accessible, it will be useless to students.  Accuracy, especially for a history course, is also extremely important. If the author has a bias or some agenda all the information on the website could be slanted.  Students should be given a fair chance to create their own ideas and opinions about history and government without someone telling them what to think. This activity has shown me the key areas to look for while evaluating a website.

Expectations for the Course

In this class I expect to be exposed to new technology as well as learning new and unique ways to use technology I am already familiar with.  Through this process I will become better prepared to operate a more successful classroom that embraces technology and the benefits that can derive from the smart use of technology.  The teaching of history and geography can be be made new and exciting through skillful use of computer tools.  From interactive maps to virtual field trips, each class I teach should greatly benefit from the knowledge I acquire in this class. Also, I will become completely computer literate and can pass on this ability to my future students.