Starting Over

So after reading some insights on my webquest idea, I started thinking. I think, given the age level of my class (4th and 5th), and the fact that they have had virtually no technology experience, a webquest about technology might be a bit over their heads. I was re-examining a webquest I had done previously for 7th and 8th graders about re-designing their bedroom, and I think a more effective webquest for me to create is a spin off of that lesson that mixes in a lesson I had done this past year involving area and perimeter of a club house.

The cover story would be:
The students are entering a contest to win their very own club house (tree house). In order to be eligible to win, students must submit a detailed floorplan, a budget plan, and a 3D model of their house and a brief statement of why they should win.

This webquest will be based off of my own "My Room" plan (not currently online) and an NCTM Illuminations Lesson: Junior Architects


I think this will lend me more to designing an instructional website on area, perimeter, and volume.

A little side-tracked

This week I have been a bit sidetracked by the development of my OTHER website, a website about my family heritage. In the process of working on the other webpage, I have learned more about web designing than I ever have before.
I've been reading some books on the side about HTML and CSS. I've done HTML before and I thought I knew the basics but something is different this time. I get it. It's all clicking. I've also begun reading up on PHP and more details about blogging. I'm trying to integrate a blog into the homepage of my Family website.
In addition to the websites being created within this course, I have 3 sites I am planning on creating or re-doing this summer.

Pages to Update:
Little Fox Photography - This page was designed by my ex-boyfriend. I love the way it looks, but as it is, I cannot update it. I would like to mimic the look in a way that I can update and maintain. I am also interested in growing this site to include a blog, image gallery, and possibly more.
Flynn Hanley Reunion - This is the page I have already begun re-doing. We have a reunion in July, so I needed to get the essential pages up and functioning. I'm working on this page in conjunction with another Summer Workshop. I have many more ideas that I want to incorporate into this site.
Mespo Elementary - My school, well, we don't have an actual "elementary page." So I will be creating it. Unfortunately, our main page needs some work, too, however I'm not sure that I would be allowed to work on that as well. I'm hoping that what they see on the "new Mespo" page will inspire a change on the main page. I'm still brainstorming on what should be on the page and what the overall look should be. Anyone who has some ideas of things you like or don't like about your school's web page I would greatly appreciate them.
What I would like to include:

• Current Events, Special Events
• Staff pages (I'm trying to find a way that teachers can edit their own pages)
• Important Documents: Handbook, registration forms, emergency medical forms
• Contact information
• Image gallery (with proper permissions from parents)
• Principal's page
• Tech page (Mine!)- with acceptable use policy, other web safety issues and sources

I'm still brainstorming. If you know of any good school websites, please send them my way!

Professional Portfolio- I would also like to develop a professional online portfolio for myself. I have read up on them and believe they will soon be required for most new job positions.

So today, my goal is to get back on track and figure out what I need to do for this course. Come up with a design for my webquest as well as figure out what my main site will be all about.

Webquest Topic

I think I finally found a topic for my webquest. I wanted to find something that I know I could have the kids do next year, that would benefit them in the long term but still had to do with technology. I will have them explain proper internet/email etiquette and safety rules.
As previously mentioned our school is rather lacking in technology experiences in the lower grades and this would help teach students the important skills they need.
A much more indepth explanation of my webquest can be found on our Instructional Design site.

It's late on a Friday night and I'm exhausted. I'll write more tomorrow ;-)

Standards

I just found a great website by Geneva Schools. They list all the ODE Content Standards by Subject and Grade, already broke down!! It's great.
http://www.genevaschools.org/standards/

A little research of my own

I have decided that I want to learn Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for webpages this summer. Tonight I began reading my book, which I checked out of the library - a much cheaper route. I came across an interesting article that I thought was interesting that might be good information for any web page creators out there.

Don't use CLICK HERE for your links, here is an entire article about Why "Click Here" is Bad Linking Practice it also includes other link "etiquette."

There are several other articles that are of great interest to read that are linked to that main article. Most of the points made, I admit, I'm guilty of, but having read his reasoning- mainly accessibility issues, I stand corrected and will forever let my links be blue and underlined.

Other Worthwhile articles:
Links Want to Be Links
Accessible Design for Users With Disabilities
Nielsen Norman Group Report- Beyond ALT Text:Making the Web Easy to Use for Users With Disabilities

**Notice I'm trying to practice good linking etiquette in this blog!**

Tech Standards

A link to the tech standards appropriate for grades 3-5.
STANDARDS

Overwhelmed

So today I began reading about the NEW webquests. I've made three webquests in the past. One was a very simple one that encouraged the students to explore cloning. It was mainly one of those "here, go to this site, answer this question" type. The two major webquests I made were about the Olympics and Redesigning a Room. In each of these webquests there were choices that the students could make but both were designed for a math class, one 7th or 8th grade level the other 5th or 6th grade level. I was quite proud with both of them. (None of them are currently online)
However, now that I've read the new direction that webquests need to go I'm at a bit of a loss. As I was reading I find that webquests tend to lend themselves more to the upper levels - 7th grade and up. The highest age level I work with at this time is 5th grade. It also seems that webquests are better aimed at Social Studies or cultural issues, possibly some science. I however, teach math and hopefully technology. I don't know how to have such an open ended discussion about Math.
The MyPlace project is great, but doesn't seem to fit into anything I could do with my kids. How do I create a webquest that will be appropriate for my 4th and 5th graders, that incorporates Math (and some Reading) or technology? Given my current position, I would most like to focus on the 4th grade level as I work well together with the 4th grade teacher and feel my project will actually be able to be utilized.
At this point, I'm flabbergasted, but I will read on.. the following articles and see if they help clear things up. The new webquest will definitely be a worthwhile challenge.

One last concern... how do I create a webquest that has not already been created? It seems like there are 1000s of them out there, how can I create a unique one?

First Day

Well, today is the first day of class. I'm excited to use Moodle as a student. I had learned about Moodle at the 2007 eTech conference and had created one for my 4th and 5th graders. I'm excited to see how it can be used in it's full usefulness. I know my students love logging in and chatting and completing assignments through it.
I hope we get a lot more SPECIFIC details about the assignments, I'm excited to get started.
I do hope we try Second Life, I had heard about that briefly at the eTech Conference but haven't had a chance to explore them.
Well, I guess that's it for now.