Questing of the Web

I had never participated in a webquest until the activity in class. I love them! I thought it was such a neat idea to utilize the internet in such a beneficial way, having students use their resources to learn new information in a fun, entertaining way. I thought it was great because it teaches students to work with a group and be accountable to one another through their individual responsibilities and how they are important to the success of the group. It also helps students find reliable and beneficial sources on the internet.

Music Webquest

One webquest that I found interesting and useful in the music classroom is the "Z-Box Music Co Webquest" by Jane Tummons at Truman Elementary. The purpose of the quest is for students to learn about different cultures of music and dance, specifically from Africa, Mexico, and China.

Pros:
The quest engages the students by encouraging them that they alone can help the Z-box Music Company, which gives the students a sense of importance and makes them want to engage in the webquest. It specifically identifies the elements of the task and also provides the resources the students need to complete the task. The graphics are engaging also and help relay the point of the task.

Cons:
There is no evaluation or conclusion, as the webquest is for younger students, more so for fun or a reward than for a grade.

Evaluation link

When researching different website evaluation methods, I really enjoyed the

Finding and Evaluating Websites (<click here)

page from the Houghton Mifflin Company. The page is aimed toward the primary grades, with instructions that are easy to follow for first through eighth grade. It covers everything from learning from websites to searching for websites to evaluating websites. It is a little interactive and only covers one step at a time per page, which helps organize the information for younger (and older) children.

What I Have Learned

I found the web evaluation activity to be very informative and helpful. I plan to use technology in my classroom one day, as I'm sure we all do, so evaluating educational websites will be of great importance in my career. My students will be looking to me for guidance in many things, including were to go online to gain information. Technology is one of the easiest and beneficial ways for students to learn on their own, in their own time, about subjects that they particularly enjoy. Not only is it essential for me as a teacher to monitor where my students go to obtain information, but it will also be essential for me to teach my students how to find reliable sources of information throughout their life. The tools and information I provide for my students could change their viewpoints on many subjects, so it will be my job to make sure I lead them in the correct direction.

Website Evaluation

I strongly recommend everyone to visit the New York Philharmonic Kidzone. It is not only an amazingly fun website-it is also a great educational tool for music educators or anyone else who is curious about composers, instruments, or history. The graphic design is extremely inviting and encourages exploration, which is a key tool in students' learning. Overall, it is the perfect combination of entertaining and educational, and receives my praise.

WIKI WIKI!

This week I made my first wiki. I have to say that I enjoy the blog more than the wiki, but that may be because the blogging website offers more options than the wiki. I found it difficult to "personalize" my wiki page, although it seemed more professional than the blog. I very much disliked the fact that text could not be typed on the side of a picture unless it was very large. Overall, however, I found it mildly satisfying. I was able to do what I needed to do, and my page does not look hideous.