Using web quests projects to help students learn is a new tool that many teachers have started using. With technology on the rise and students learning and processing information at a higher rate each and every day, new tools must be considered for the new learner. Students of today have grown up in a vast society of highly technologically advanced individuals. With this being said the new idea of web quest usage has been very popular with teachers and students alike.
The web quest that I have designed is over the idea of natural selection. The activity starts out by giving students a scenario. The students are put in place of a wildlife biologist that has a question about the ecosystem around him. He has discovered a change in a population of rabbits in a specific area. The students are given basic information to help them discover the true reason that the change has occurred but not given the answer. The students get involved in meaningful learning to discover the answer to the problem that has been presented to them. The students begin the search for a reason this change has occurred through a Google search on the topic. The students are asked to look at three web sites that are about natural selection and how it can effect a population over an extended period of time. The students are asked to do research about the topic and begin to form a hypothesis.
After the students have some idea about the idea of natural selection and what could possibly be happening to the rabbit population they are studying they are asked to create a power point presentation about a possible reasoning behind the occurrence. The students are given a specific rubric of how the assignment will be graded and what to expect when presenting the project to the class. The students understand the task at this point and it is up to them to utilize the tools given to them for completion.
The key to this whole project is to gain interest in the topic by allowing the students to use the computers for primarily free range search of the topic at hand. The activity must be closely monitored to prevent straying from the topic while students are online doing research. The reason that this particular assignment fits into the characteristics of meaningful learning is apparent in many ways. The students have been given a scenario and are assigned a job. This will allow the students to relate this work to real life situations. The students are also gaining the ability to research information on their own. The major points of this assignment will allow students future tools for success on other assignments in the future.
It is easy to see how using and designing online assignments for the students of today will allow for a better understating of the material. In return students will be more concentrated on the activity and have a reason to want to do the work provided. Students should respond to this activity by wanting to know the answer and how things work around them in a natural setting while learning key points of biology.
Web Quest over natural selection.
Using web quests projects to help students learn is a new tool that many teachers have started using. With technology on the rise and students learning and processing information at a higher rate each and every day, new tools must be considered for the new learner. Students of today have grown up in a vast society of highly technologically advanced individuals. With this being said the new idea of web quest usage has been very popular with teachers and students alike.
The web quest that I have designed is over the idea of natural selection. The activity starts out by giving students a scenario. The students are put in place of a wildlife biologist that has a question about the ecosystem around him. He has discovered a change in a population of rabbits in a specific area. The students are given basic information to help them discover the true reason that the change has occurred but not given the answer. The students get involved in meaningful learning to discover the answer to the problem that has been presented to them. The students begin the search for a reason this change has occurred through a Google search on the topic. The students are asked to look at three web sites that are about natural selection and how it can effect a population over an extended period of time. The students are asked to do research about the topic and begin to form a hypothesis.
After the students have some idea about the idea of natural selection and what could possibly be happening to the rabbit population they are studying they are asked to create a power point presentation about a possible reasoning behind the occurrence. The students are given a specific rubric of how the assignment will be graded and what to expect when presenting the project to the class. The students understand the task at this point and it is up to them to utilize the tools given to them for completion.
The key to this whole project is to gain interest in the topic by allowing the students to use the computers for primarily free range search of the topic at hand. The activity must be closely monitored to prevent straying from the topic while students are online doing research. The reason that this particular assignment fits into the characteristics of meaningful learning is apparent in many ways. The students have been given a scenario and are assigned a job. This will allow the students to relate this work to real life situations. The students are also gaining the ability to research information on their own. The major points of this assignment will allow students future tools for success on other assignments in the future.
It is easy to see how using and designing online assignments for the students of today will allow for a better understating of the material. In return students will be more concentrated on the activity and have a reason to want to do the work provided. Students should respond to this activity by wanting to know the answer and how things work around them in a natural setting while learning key points of biology.