As a Library Media Specialist, a big part of my responsibility is to teach my students how to do research. It is more about the process than the content matter. My goal is to use technology to create a structured way to teach research and presentation skills that will be beneficial to all of my students. Since I only see my students once per week, I spend a lot of time explaining and re-explaining directions, instead of being able to give my students a lot of time to work. I need a way to give instruction about research and presentation that will allow my students more time to work and the ability to work at their own pace. If I can create a system that allows more advanced students to move ahead while giving slower students more repetition and reminders, teaching the processes of research and presentation will be much easier for me and more beneficial to my students.
I intend to create a Webquest template that can be modified for any research project. This way, each time my students use the Webquest, time will be used efficiently and my students will be able to work at their own pace while receiving the instruction and repetition they need. Using a Webquest template will also give my students the chance to see structure to the research and presentation process. Using a Webquest template will also save me time because I will be able to quickly create new projects and also use each version of the Webquest for multiple classes over multiple years without re-creating everything.
Fortunately, creating a Webquest will not cost anything, but there are a few drawbacks- it will be challenging for my students who struggle with following written directions, and I do not have a good place to post to the web that my students can access. I hope that since most of my research assignments tend to be group work and the structure will be used regularly, it will become familiar and students who struggle with written directions will be able to catch on and keep up with their peers. By using Powerpoint to create the Webquest, instead of posting to the Web, I will be able to save the project in a place for my students to access it.
My Webquest template has the possibility of being used endlessly by all of my 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Since I am planning to begin with a template, I will be able to edit the template to create new research projects as often as I need to, but still save the old ones to be re-used or updated.
To search for resources to help me with this project, I did a Google search for ‘research webquest’
I found this link “ history.arizona.edu/tah/.../activity_research_skills_web_quest.doc “ which is a Word Document that someone created as a Webquest to teach kids about how to do research. It gives me a few good ideas about elements I should include in my research Webquest and some that I would like to add.
I also found this article, http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/03_57.pdf, which reviews the basic Webquest elements as well as gives reasons why using Webquests to teach is beneficial to students. Some reasons are: they are inquiry based, motivating, they use time well, they use authentic resources, and they have students create an end product.
I also came across this Webquest, https://sites.google.com/a/parkrose.k12.or.us/information-literacy-webquest/. This Webquest was designed to teach the research process and has a lot of good information about doing research. However, it seems to be a higher level than what I would use for elementary students and also uses ‘research’ as the topic, rather than giving a topic for students to do research about. It has links to useful resources that I can use.
This website http://bestwebquests.com/what_webquests_are.asp also reviews some Webquest basics, and makes the important statement that “A Webquest is a scaffolded learning structure…”. This is one of my main reasons for planning to use Webquests with my students.
During this course, I intend to create the Webquest template and then use part of it with my students. Since my 5th graders have already been working on a research project and are now working on the presentation and bibliography, I will provide them with the end of the Webquest tailored to their project to help them with these last parts. Even being able to observe my students using these parts of the Webquest should give me a lot of feedback about whether or not it is successful. After this course is over, I will continue to use my template to make each future research project into a Webquest for my 3rd-5th grade students. This will provide them with a regular structure to follow as well as the freedom to work at their own pace. It will also save me time by enabling me to change only the parts of the template that need to be specific for the current project.
After implementing the ending of a Webquest based on my research Webquest template, I should be able to tell quickly through observation of student work and end products whether some of my goals have been met. For example, I will know right away whether the Webquest format is benefiting my higher level students by allowing them to work more quickly and if it is supporting my lower level students by keeping directions and resources easily accessible for review. Since the end of the Webquest will contain instructions and information about creating a bibliography and presentation, it is the part that is most likely to stay the same for each future project. The first implementation will provide me with useful feedback about whether it is effective. After using my own template to create one Webquest, I will be able to see how easy or hard it is to edit and update the template to save myself time and also allow me to make improvements in the future.
After implementing the entire template to create a brand-new project later this year, I will be able to decide whether or not using a Webquest template to structure all research projects is beneficial in the way that it provides a sense of structure to the research process.
Lisa, this is a great idea that you have developed to address the problem of practice in your setting. Learning to do good research and then present it in an interesting way is very important. One of your problems, challenges of reading the instructions might be helped by providing your voice reading the critical parts. If you have been to sights that have the option to listen to the text being read, it can be very helpful and you can listen while doing other things or as you follow along. Create small podcasts for the areas you want your students who may have some reading deficiencies.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is a need for research and presentation skills. We are still using those skills in graduate level classes! I think it is practical to use a WebQuest because they can be easily altered for your needs and they are free to make. It will also save time for you since you only meet with your students once a week. I like how you plan to use the WebQuest to differentiate instruction for all learners.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your frustration with trying to teach research (or any subject) to elementary students, and, due to only seeing them once a week, having to explain directions repeatedly, taking away from work time. It makes me feel a lot better to know that I’m not alone! I think your idea of using a WebQuest template to teach research is excellent. It will provide differentiation, allowing those who need the scaffolding to have the directions and support at their fingertips, while those who don’t need it can move forward at their own pace. It’s a great application of UDL – Universal Design for Learning. You might find that once students are familiar with the format, they’ll have more confidence in their own abilities, and the projects you do might end up being more in depth and meaningful, because you’ll be able to spend less time on the how-tos and on the process, and more time on what they’ll actually be doing with the information, and the application piece. Way to go! I can’t wait to see how this turns out, because what you’re doing could really help me, too!
When you wrote that you’ll be using PowerPoint, because you “do not have a good place to post to the web that [your] students can access,” is the problem more related to internet connection, or not having a website to use? If it’s the latter, I think I can provide you with a resource I came across in the fall, for teachers to post WebQuests for their students for free. I’ll have to do a bit of digging, but I think I can find it!
Liat