Web Awareness and Web Quests

This week we focused on web awareness in class and as a result there are some pretty concrete and important items that both students and teachers need to be aware of. As a result I have created concept map to break down and clarify these issues. (Which is pictured above)

For our last assignment in creating a lesson plan using web searches to find internet resources to support the lesson I had originally planned on doing a web quest. However not knowing where to start quickly got overwhelming. I was quite excited to find out that this was one of our topics this week and to have some great examples to provide clarity and inspiration for constructing and using web quests of my own. I love that it creates an activity that is inquiry and analyzing based. Web quests are for when instead of students spending lots of time searching and sifting through websites they are provided with sites and are able to focus in on analyzing the information that is there. I think using web quests are especially beneficial for younger grades as you are able to guide and direct them to sites that are trustworthy. I think it is important though that students are not left in the dark. Web quests could be a good starting ground for discussion on how to critically evaluate and decide what is a good online source by going through the process you took as a teacher to construct the quest. Another idea could be to have the students analyze the websites you chose for indications of it being a reliable source.

First Nations of Alberta web search Activity

First Nations of Alberta

Gr. 4 Social Studies

Brief Description of the activity:

Working with a partner, each student will complete a worksheet, specific to one First Nations groups (eg. Blackfoot, Blood, Peigan, Cree, and Chipewan), which will answer where in the province they originate (by marking it on a map of the province) and the basics of their culture (food, housing, etc)

Resources used:

**Goldi Productions Ltd. (2007). The Plains People. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2010, from http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_plains1.html

Government of Alberta. (2010). History. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2010, from http://alberta.ca/home/182.cfm (First Nations section)

Heritage Community Foundation. (n.d.). People of Alberta. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2010, from http://www.abheritage.ca/albertans/people/index.html

Rice, Brian. (2006). Plains Cree. Retrieved Oct. 10, 2010, from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/settlement/kids/021013-2161-e.html

GLO: 4.2 Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the role of stories, history and culture in strengthening communities and contributing to identity and a sense of belonging.

SLO: 4.2.1

4.2.2 Students will assess, critically, how the cultural and linguistic heritage and diversity of Alberta has evolved over time by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:

-Which First Nations originally inhabited the different areas of the province?

ICT outcomes:

C.1 - Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.

2.1access and retrieve appropriate information from the Internet by using a specific search path or from given uniform resource locations (URLs)

C.2 - Students will seek alternative viewpoints, using information technologies.

2.1seek responses to inquiries from various authorities through electronic media

Rationale: Through this activity students will take an active approach to their learning as they search and explore to find their own answers. By providing the web sites it allows the students to focus on using information rather than spending a long time finding it if I just did requested that they use the internet to find the information for the assignment on the internet. It is also a way of making learning more interactive while students discover how to navigate through websites.