Hi Everyone !
Our new task for this week is selecting and
evaluating a webquest about English /
Language Arts according to a webquest rubric given us. So, I evaluated from a webquest which is in zunal.com. Endangered Animals in Greece is my webquest
which I have selected and will evaluate.
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taken by zunal.com
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I think webquests
are good supplementation for both teachers and students. Not only teachers can
easily use it in the lesson, but also students can benefit from the technology
thank to it. Moreover, Students have many opportunities such as investigating,
evaluating and learning in webquests. But, the pictures and the figures
match with the aim of the topic while they are inadequate for the viewers.
Using many visual post is very important to attract students. When I look the
home page of the webquest, I can easily see and say that navigation is perfect and learners don't have any
difficulties in finding pages. I didn't encounter any mechanic problems and
there is not any deficiency as to links, images and tables. However, it is
necessary to enrich webquest with graphic elements.
The webquest I chose starts with a welcome page. The author introduces the description of the title and introduces the writer and the key words. The introduction of the webquest engagingly describes a compelling problem: Endangered Animals in Greece. But the author gives a very brief explanation . He focuses on the aim of the topic. It prepares the learner by foreshadowing what the lesson is about.
The task of webquest is explained and understood
briefly and clearly. it is connected
to what students must know and will do. The teacher asks the students to make research.
So, the students' prior knowledge is ignored. The task requires retelling of information found on web pages. The
task requires synthesis of multiple sources of information.
In the process part, the students' tasks are explained clearly. It is
explained step by step what students are assumed to do. The teacher gives a website,( You can find from here),and wants them
to find the answers to the questions and put the together. A website
is given for every step. It goes on so. There are missing information. They
have to read them and then they have to find them. So Activities are related and designed to take students
from basic knowledge to higher level thinking. Different roles are assigned to
help students understand the topic from different perspectives.
Resources used are relevant to the
topic. Connection between all the sources and the information is very obvious.
Links carry information not
ordinarily found in a classroom. More complex activities are needed the students to understand the topic
than entertaining activities. Links are to the point and they make
excellent use of the timeliness. Varied sources provide enough meaningful
information for students.
At the evaluation part, criteria for success are stated in the form of a
rubric. it clearly measures what students
must know and be able to do to accomplish the task.
In my opinion, webquests
are a beneficial sources for us. Everybody should benefit from them. There are
many information. So, for a teacher, it is a good guide. I will use the
webquest in my classes. I will integrate the technology in my classes by
using webquests. While I was evaluating this webquest, I didn't have any
difficulties. Because there is a rubric for our using. But it takes much time.
I enjoyed from my task. Hopefully, It developed my critical thinking. I hope you will enjoy it.
Goodbye.
Gülden DELEN
