Leveraging the Latest in Learning Technologies*
by Tom March
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction
Something's going on with the Web these days. Have you noticed?
- Wikis
- Wikipedia
- Blogs
- Boing Boing
- Podcasts
- Podcast Alley
- RSS Feeds
- Scripting News
- Virality
- YouTube
Let's work a little WebQuest action to see if we can get our heads around it...*- 'Our heads' refers to adult educators for whom this WebQuest was designed as a professional development activity
The Question
The main question you will be asked to find an answer for is:
What's up with these new technologies and are they any good for learning?
Background Information
Before becoming an expert on one aspect of this topic, we'd better make sure that everyone on your WebQuest team knows the basics. Use the links above in the introduction to brainstorm as a group what everyone already knows about these things.
Individual Roles
Now that you have some overall background knowledge, it's time to return to the main question for this WebQuest. Questions this big and important are better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. This way team members can become experts on different aspects of the question and then come together to pool their learning. This is where team work really pays off. So are you ready to divide and conquer this question?
Blogs
Blogs and social networking sites have become the hotlist properties in the next iteration of the Web. Your job is to:
1) Get familiar with some of the most popular Blogs
2) Be able to define a Blog in your own words
3) Describe how you might use one.
4) Explore the Administrative aspects of setting up a blog.
- Technorati
- Boing Boing - A Directory of Wonderful Things
- TechCrunch Blog
- Tom's MySpace
- Floating Signifier
- State of the Blogosphere
Wikis
Led by Wikipedia, these quickly edited Web sites have made it into the mainstream in just a few short years. Wikis seem to be loved or loathed. Your job is to:
1) Explore some populat wikis
2) Be able to define what a wiki is in your own words.
3) Add content to a wiki page
4) Justify an opinion on their educational worth and describe how you might use one.
- Simple English Wikipedia
- WordPress Codex
- Australia Page - FluWiki
- The Hive - Atlantic Article on Wikipedia
- Internet encyclopaedias go head to head ...
- Britannica's Corporate Response
RSS Feeds
RSS is generally agreed to stand for “Really Simple Syndication.” As if that means anything! This simple technology is at the heart of some of today’s most buzzed about new things on the Web. Your job is to:
1) Explore some RSS feeds
2) Be able to define what RSS is and enables in your own words.
3) Register for an RSS Feed Reader and subscribe to several feeds.
4) Suggest how teachers could use RSS in the classroom.
- bloglines for Feed Reading
- New York Times RSS Feed Subscription Page
- Making an RSS Feed
- Top 100 Most-Subscribed-To RSS Feeds
Podcasts
Fifty million iPods have made it into circulation, but as soon as Apple’s iTunes Music store began listing podcasts, it all went crazy. Just what is a podcast? Your job is to:
1) Explore some online podcasts and maybe the iTunes Music Store
2) Be able to explain what a podcast is and generally how the process works.
3) Download or subscribe to several podcasts.
4) Suggest how teachers or students could use podcasts for learning.
- Coverville Podcast
- Colonial Williamsburg - Podcasts
- Radio WillowWeb
- Mabry Online - Podcast Central
- Imagine - George Bush on the Wild Side
AJAX / Web 2.0
Asynchronous Javascript enabled by XML dramatically changes the interface presented on Web pages. You might be familiar with Google Maps and the way they automatically re-draw the content without having to re-load the page. Your job is to:
1) Explore some AJAX applications
2) Be able to describe how this experience is different from what you’re used to.
3) Get familiar with at least two AJAX sites.
4) Suggest how teachers or students could use these applications for learning.
- Gliffy - Online Drawing Tool
- ProtoPage - ajax in action
- Simile | Timeline
- Google Maps
- Frappr
Virality
Computer viruses are bad. But if something “goes viral,” that’s cool. Some very ordinary people have claimed their 15 minutes of fame and others are competing for theirs every second. Your job is to:
1) Explore some examples of sites that have gone viral.
2) Analyse what you think makes them popular.
3) How does “virality” link into the other new aspects of the Web highlighted in the sections above?
4) Recommend whether virality has anything to offer teaching and learning.
- You'll Run My Life
- Mentos & Coke extreme experiment
- You Tube
- Alexa's Movers & Shakers
- The End of the World
- The Numa Numa Dance Collection
- Dylan Verdi - The world's youngest Vlogger
Group Synthesis
Congratulations! Your team is now full of expertise. So with your team members gathered together, carefully read and try answering the main question for this WebQuest. See where you all agree and where differences arise.
Use what you've learned as a group to begin your own ClassAct Portal. You might take inspiration from the Child Slave Labor News site. Your WebQuest team should now draft a REAL ClassAct Portal that can contribute to the lives of your students.
You can use this Tutorial for setting up a WordPress blog. Your challenge is to create a Real, Rich and Relevant learning site for you and your students.
WordPress.com - Online Blogs
Child Slave Labor News
Classctportal
Why ClassAct Portals?
ClassAct Portal Idea Pool - Curriculum
A non-example
Real World Feedback:
Submit your ClassAct Portal
Conclusion
At the beginning of this activity, we wondered about some of these new Web buzz words. Now you a lot more about them so you can engage students in more Real, Rich and Relevant learning. The New WWW makes this not just a nice idea, but a necessity for all with a calling to help children. Why don't you read the 2nd10 Manfesto and join up!
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created by Tom March email: tom@ozline.com http://web-and-flow.com/members/tmarch/classactportal/webquest.htm |