Support educators and students to critically examine the sources of online media and identify underlying assumptions.
WebQuest Assignment
LLT 521
One of the things I feel I struggle with in my art room is finding ways to have students brainstorm about ideas before beginning a project. When I present a new unit, I always use the same structure. I introduce the lesson to students, have them brainstorm about the information they have been given, plan out their own design, and complete the work. I often feel like the brainstorming I have them do isn't sufficient to have them grasp the concepts that I really want them to understand. When I ask students to do online research to help develop ideas, they often aren’t sure where to look, or they just go right to Google images to find projects they’d like to copy.
During my coursework in LLT 521, I was introduced to the concept of a WebQuest. A WebQuest is basically a series of activities where you send students to predetermined websites on a fact-finding mission. You can have them read the material, watch videos, etc., and then reflect on what they have learned. A WebQuest can contain a lot of different activities and allow students to become active participants in seeking their own answers. It is also a fantastic way to expose students to a series of appropriate websites and gather ideas relatively quickly.
In the art room, it provides a way to expose students to a broader spectrum of ideas much better than if I was to present a series of ideas in a PowerPoint or a simple lesson plan. By participating in a WebQuest, students actively find answers to questions rather than just being presented information.
I designed a WebQuest for my Digital Design students for my assignment in LLT 521 that I built into my existing blog site. I have not had the opportunity to use it this year since I have had to modify my curriculum due to Covid; however, I did create a WebQuest for my Ceramics students called the "Great Donut Challenge." I used it to prepare my students for photorealistic donut sculptures. I wanted to inundate my students with colorful images and many ideas before they began their projects.
I have been writing all the lessons for all the ninth grade ceramics classes this year since we have had to change and adapt to the fact that half of the students are working from home. I designed this lesson and then shared it with the other ceramics teacher at my school. This would be a great resource to share with my Art colleagues and perhaps a good activity to present for Professional Development.
LLT 521
One of the things I feel I struggle with in my art room is finding ways to have students brainstorm about ideas before beginning a project. When I present a new unit, I always use the same structure. I introduce the lesson to students, have them brainstorm about the information they have been given, plan out their own design, and complete the work. I often feel like the brainstorming I have them do isn't sufficient to have them grasp the concepts that I really want them to understand. When I ask students to do online research to help develop ideas, they often aren’t sure where to look, or they just go right to Google images to find projects they’d like to copy.
During my coursework in LLT 521, I was introduced to the concept of a WebQuest. A WebQuest is basically a series of activities where you send students to predetermined websites on a fact-finding mission. You can have them read the material, watch videos, etc., and then reflect on what they have learned. A WebQuest can contain a lot of different activities and allow students to become active participants in seeking their own answers. It is also a fantastic way to expose students to a series of appropriate websites and gather ideas relatively quickly.
In the art room, it provides a way to expose students to a broader spectrum of ideas much better than if I was to present a series of ideas in a PowerPoint or a simple lesson plan. By participating in a WebQuest, students actively find answers to questions rather than just being presented information.
I designed a WebQuest for my Digital Design students for my assignment in LLT 521 that I built into my existing blog site. I have not had the opportunity to use it this year since I have had to modify my curriculum due to Covid; however, I did create a WebQuest for my Ceramics students called the "Great Donut Challenge." I used it to prepare my students for photorealistic donut sculptures. I wanted to inundate my students with colorful images and many ideas before they began their projects.
I have been writing all the lessons for all the ninth grade ceramics classes this year since we have had to change and adapt to the fact that half of the students are working from home. I designed this lesson and then shared it with the other ceramics teacher at my school. This would be a great resource to share with my Art colleagues and perhaps a good activity to present for Professional Development.