Tappedin

Holiday WebQuests: Festive or Futile?
December 12, 1999

Is it possible to put together a WebQuest to enliven those weird, unproductive days around the holidays? We'll take a look at several existing attempts, and then brainstorm the possibilities for creating tasks that engage higher level thinking around a holiday theme
 

BJB says, "looks like we are ready to begin, Bernie and June..."

BernieD asks, "Ok.. you kick it off?"

BJB says, "I'd like to welcome you all to the Holiday WebQuest ASO"

BJB says, "We usually start off by doing introductions..."

BJB says, "I'm an art teacher and associate educator of TAPPED IN"

BernieD projects AboutB.
---------------
I'm a professor at San Diego State University in the Department of
Educational Technology. I've been working with teachers since the days
of Apple II's, and I love my job more than ever now that the Web is
available to us as a resource.

The the last three years I've been involved with San Diego Unified
School District's two Challenge Grants (which are heavily about
WebQuests). More recently I've started work on a Preparing Tomorrow's
Teachers to Use Technology grant in which we'll be reinventing the way
student teachers learn about computers.

---------------
JuneAD projects AboutJune.
---------------
I'm June Dodge.  I have been teaching an online course about WebQuests
for about a year.  In a previous life I was a classroom teacher, reading
specialist, and gave many workshops on using the computer in the writing
process and integrating the computer into the existing curriculum.
---------------
BJB asks, "Sue?  Cindy?  Debbie?"

Cindy [guest] says, "I'm a technology instructional specialist for the emints program in Missouri"

BJB exclaims, "welcome, Cindy!"

SueMR says, "I too was a classroom teacher but am now involved in
helping students and staff integrate computers into the
curriculum."

BJB says, "nice to see you again, Sue"

BernieD asks, "And Debbie?"

SueMR says, "Thanks been on holiday in Orlando, Florida."

DebbieB says, "Debbie Brittenham. 7-8th grade Social Studies teacher, Diamond Bar.""

BJB says, "great to have you here, Debbie"

BJB says, "Bernie, I think we're ready to start"

BernieD says, "Great. A small but worthy crowd. Welcome."

BernieD projects X1.
---------------
The theme tonight is Holiday WebQuests: Festive or Futile?

This is a strange time of year. Energy (for some things) is low, yet
there's a lot of enthusiasm and zeal in the air. We're all tired, and
sense that the kids and we need a break. Yet there's this long list of
things to be covered by the end of the year and we're running out of
days!

So... is there a way to do something instructionally worthwhile while
hitching a ride on the spirit of the holidays and doing something fun?

That's the question I asked myself when we were pressed to come up with
a theme for this month's chat.

What I'd like to do is to show a couple of holiday-related WebQuests and
non-WebQuests, dissect them, and then brainstorm some holiday WebQuests that no one has written yet.

---------------
BJB asks, "do I need to tell anyone about URL projections?"

DebbieB says, "Thanks. I'm a real Newbie in this environment.""

Cindy [guest] says, "no"

DebbieB says, "Yes-what are URL projections""

SueMR says, "I am fine with projections."

BernieD says, "BJB... better tell them... the next screen is a
projection."

BJB nods to Bernie

BJB projects Projections.
---------------
I am going to project a URL.  When a URL is projected a new web window
will open for everyone in the same room (don't be surprised!).  You can
look at the site, bookmark it, and close it...as long as you DO NOT
CLOSE the TAPestry window (the one with the room map (you will lose your link to TI if you do).
---------------
BJB . o O ( actually, Bernie is going to be doing the projections.  You
will only get the projections if you are on TAPestry...check the top of
your text window )

BernieD says, "OK... thanks, BJB."

BJB says, "if it says TAPestry 2.1 you are on TAPestry"

BernieD says, "Well... with a larger group the brainstorming would be easier, but let's start by looking at some existing"

BJB . o O ( just remember to not close your text or web window..you'll
lose your connection )

BernieD says, "WebQuests that are in keeping with tonight's theme. I'm going to project a web page. Get ready."

BernieD projects X2.
---------------
Let's begin simply. This is not a WebQuest, but it has some of the
ingredients of a WebQuest and it might inspire some creative thinking
later on as we brainstorm further.

It's Pleasant Grove's Christmas Around the World Scavenger Hunt.
---------------
BernieD projects the URL:
  http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/pges/around.htm

BernieD says, "Spend a minute poking around on this page."

BJB asks, "did everyone get the site?"

BernieD asks, "What do y'all think of this one?"

JuneAD says, "what an interesting activity - would be great reading practice for students."

SueMR exclaims, "Yes, kids usually enjoy Treasure Hunts; at this time of year teachers will welcome this!"

BernieD asks, "Everyone clear on why this isn't a WebQuest?"

SueMR says, "consolidates many skills"

Cindy [guest] says, "yes"

BJB asks, "No critical thinking skills?"

SueMR says, "Yes"

BernieD says, "No transformation of information also."

SueMR says, "no synthesis of knowledge"

BernieD says, "So let's see one that goes further and is an actual WebQuest."

DebbieB has lost her link.

JuneAD says, "Information does not build on other information - even in
the other hunts they prepared.  But good reading practice."

BernieD projects X3.
---------------
Here's the Christmas Around the World written for 2nd graders by Barb
Poole. It goes well beyond the scavenger hunt and involves gathering
data from real people as well as from the Web.
---------------
BernieD projects the URL:
  http://www.stanleybluejay.com/elmfac/pohl/my_webquest.htm
BJB nods to June

BernieD says, "Again.. take a minute to explore this one."

DebbieB has connected.

BJB shows DebbieB the URL:
  http://www.stanleybluejay.com/elmfac/pohl/my_webquest.htm

BernieD asks, "Any comments?"

BJB says, "still looking, Bernie"

SueMR says, "page is still loading"

BernieD says, "oooh... it's moments like this when I want to kiss my
cable modem."

SueMR says, "I am on cable-slooow night"

BernieD says, "It's all those hits on Amazon.com gumming up the works."

BJB grins.

BJB asks, "how is this site different from the scavenger hunt...other
than the slide show?"

DebbieB has lost her link.

SueMR says, "I taught grade two and I would welcome this webquest at
this time of year. Looks good."

SueMR says, "would like like links to the curriculum and some rubrics."

DebbieB has connected.

BernieD says, "One difference is the creation of a tradition story,
which is a notch above answering questions."

BernieD asks, "Any other comments?"

DebbieB says, "Will a transcript of this be available after I get back
on my Mac?""

BernieD says, "Yup. BJB can send you one."

JuneAD has lost her link.
BernieD says, "I'll have a cleaned up transcript in which I appear far wittier posted on the WebQuest site also."

BJB says, "Yes, Debbie.  I'll put a transcript in the emailer folder
here"

BJB laughs...

DebbieB says, "Thanks""

BernieD asks, "Shall we move on to a richer WebQuest?"

BJB says, "Yes, I would like to see the next step"

Cindy [guest] says, "let's go"

SueMR says, "I am ready"

BernieD projects X4.
---------------
Here's the What is a Christmas WebQuest, designed by Susan Webre and
Julie Denton for the upper elementary grades.

Notice the "a" before Christmas. It's there because the idea is to
abstract the general essence of Christmas to the point where you can
create your own set of Christmas-like customs and activities.
---------------
BernieD projects the URL:
  http://asterix.ednet.lsu.edu/~webre/xmas/index.htm
DebbieB says, "ok""

BernieD says, "Again... spend two minutes looking this one over."

JuneAD has connected.

SueMR says, "I like the use of the five senses"

BJB says, "Me too."

BernieD says, "A little nod towards multiple intelligences perhaps."

BJB says, "definitely...lots of possibilities"

SueMR asks, "Is there any way the TEACHER NOTES can be hidden from the students?"

BernieD says, "Sure... just don't link them. It makes it harder for
other teachers to bump into them, though."

BernieD says, "I like the fact that there's a little bit of analysis
here in breaking down different aspects of the holiday."

BernieD says, "There's also an invitation to ones creativity when you
try to invent your own set of customs."

SueMR says, "I agree"

BernieD says, "So... with those three as preparation, I thought we'd try
to think of other"

BernieD says, "ways to deal with the holidays in WebQuest form."

BernieD asks, "Is everyone a little familiar with the taskonomy of
WebQuest tasks?"

SueMR says, "yes"

DebbieB says, "yes""

JuneAD nods yes.

Cindy [guest] says, "yes"

BernieD says, "Great. Let's use that as a framework for thinking about creating a new WebQuest."

BernieD projects X5.
---------------
Perhaps one type of task that might lend itself most readily to a
holiday theme is a creative product task.

In this category, learners have to work within a given genre (e.g. poem,
short story, play, painting) and create something that fits the
assignment.

Can anyone think of some web-resources that we might have kids study
with the end task being the creation of some kind of expressive product?

---------------
BernieD projects the URL:
  http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html#creative

BernieD asks, "Any thoughts?"

BJB asks, "as an art teacher, I would want the kids to take a look at
art images...maybe how the image of Santa was developed?"

BernieD says, "Cool! Someone told me (actually it was our son) that our present version of Santa started as a Coke ad in the 20s."

BernieD says, "Those ads are probably available online... maybe under collectibles on E-Bay."

SueMR says, "How Christmas has evolved over time"

BernieD asks, "So.. maybe a mural showing that?"

SueMR says, "from Victorian Christmas to the present"

BernieD says, "Or how about a Christmas haiku, just to scramble a couple
of cultures together."

JuneAD says, "going to old diaries and seeing how/if kids wrote to Santa
in the past - a la Little House series."

Cindy [guest] says, "how about going to a site such as TheCase.com and researching elements of mysteries, then writing a Christmas mystery"

BernieD exclaims, "That's a site I didn't know about. I'll look at it!"

BernieD projects the URL:
  http://www.thecase.com

JuneAD asks, "I just heard about this site last week - I wonder if it's new?"

BJB says, "another primary source would be the Library of Congress American Memory Page...."

Cindy [guest] says, "It's been around for a while.  I use it often with
my English students"

BernieD says, "Yes... I'll bet there's a category called Christmas at
the LOC."

Cindy [guest] says, "For younger students, you would want to look at TheCase for kids"

Judi rushes in ready and eager to help
j'srecorder follows Judi to here.

BernieD projects the URL:
  http://www.TheCase.com/kids/

Judi sits quietly.

BernieD says, "Here's TheCase for kids... looks very cool."

JohnRi arrives from nowhere.
Linda Tripp tape recorder (borrowed by JohnRi) follows JohnRi to here.
Cindy [guest] says, "I like it"

BernieD says, "One general strategy for thinking up WebQuests is to
start with a book that the kids are reading and then go behind
the pages by"

DebbieB says, "middle school kids will love it.""

BJB says, "the American Memory site could be a resource to link music
and art images"

BernieD says, "investigating the time and place in the book, or extrapolating what happened to the characters after the
book.  I suppose one could imagine a post-Dickens Christmas
Carol."

JuneAD says, "BJB that's a great idea: authentic documents"

SueMR says, "great idea"

JuneAD says, "Ah move the time line and other things have to follow -
neat Bernie"

BernieD says, "Ok... let's take a different tack."

BernieD projects X6.
---------------
In a Design task, students work within given constraints to solve a
problem or achieve some specific end result.  The key is that there are
constraints, just like in the real world.

Can anyone think of a task that might involve the holidays and a design
problem?
---------------
BernieD projects the URL:
  http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html#design

JuneAD says, "The O'Henry story about the young couple - the hair and
watch story - somehow that came to mind."

JuneAD says, "They could use some design help..."

SueMR . o O ( Thinking )

BernieD says, "Or a workshop in communication."

Cindy [guest] smile

BJB says, "good idea, Bernie...although that is such a touching story...I'd hate to tinker with it"

BJB says, "but I like the idea of communication"

JuneAD says, "It could be used in the introduction of the WQ."

Judi loves that story too.

Judi says, "but it would be a good place to start a discussion..."

BJB nods

Judi is still sucked into thecase.com

SueMR asks, "O henry?"

Judi thinks she likes that site a lot.

BernieD asks, "How about designing a multicultural thing that isn't a
tree but somehow encapsulates several cultures and can fit on
a kitchen table?"

JuneAD says, "In a math class the WQ could be about planning a gathering for friends around the holidays - and planning what to buy within a budget..."

BernieD says, "Great, J."

DebbieB says, "idea""

BJB says, "also another source of similar stories is the book "Birthday Surprises""

DebbieB says, "oops-love the multicultural idea.""

DebbieB says, "Forgot how to whisper.""

BernieD asks, "Or putting togther a 12 song MP3 collection that captures the essence of Christmas but never mentions it by name?"

JuneAD says, "In Greece I read they have a little bowl with a tree sprig
on their table - that scavenger hunt had lots of good links
to be used in the WQ you dreamt up Bernie."

BJB says, "a group of 10 authors wrote stories about a box...each story uses the box in a unique way"

BernieD exclaims, "OK... we have time for one more task type... here
goes!"

BernieD projects X7.
---------------
Since Christmas (and Hannukha and Kwanzaa) are about specific moments in time, they might lend themselves to a journalistic treatment.

In a journalistic task, we ask learners to gather enough information
that they can write (or enact) a factually accurate and unbiased account
of a specific event.

Can you think of journalistic ways to approach a holiday theme?

---------------
BernieD projects the URL:
  http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html#journalistic

Judi shows JohnRi the URL:
  http://www.thecase.com/kids

BernieD says, "So.. for example, you might task the kids with writing
the Christmas edition of a paper in 1941 showing the subdued
way people were celebrating a few weeks after Pearl Harbor."

JuneAD says, "Oh I see - I was having trouble coming up with an idea..."

BernieD says, "Or you might have them create a tv newscast showing Christmas on Mars in 2099."

Judi smiles

Judi . o O ( no mars lander contact :-( )

SueMR says, "Celebrating Christmas before electricity was invented. -"

Judi . o O ( and nasa is giving up on it. )

BJB says, "cool idea, Sue"

JuneAD says, "Could interview grandparents."

Judi says, "We always wrote papers about celebrating in foreign
countries."

SueMR says, "good idea"

BernieD says, "Close up of joyful Mars colonists kicking the heck out of the rubble of the Polar Lander while swilling Glurg."

Judi grins

BJB chuckles

Judi thinks Bernie might be a sci-fi writer

BernieD says, "Tempus has fugited again."

JohnRi teleports to the reception.

BernieD asks, "Any last comments for the good of the order?"

SueMR says, "a 2001 Christmas"

JuneAD says, "This was really nice Bernie - thanks for organizing it."

BJB says, "Thanks for another enlightening experience, Bernie"

Judi appreciates it too

DebbieB says, "Thanks for your patience""

BernieD says, "Thanks to you all for coming. Have a happy new
millenium."

BJB says, "Happy holidays, everyone"

Judi enjoys the websites you share.... often new ones for me

Cindy [guest] says, "Thanks"

SueMR says, "wouldn't miss any of your sessions"

Judi . o O ( except yours...  :-) )

SueMR says, "Thanks again."

BernieD says, "Nite"

Judi [to Bernie]: "Thanks... and we'll see you next year?"

BernieD [to Judi]: "Of course!"

Judi [to June]: "thanks and you too?  :-)"

SueMR says, "Happy holidays"

JuneAD exclaims, "Oh yes!"

DebbieB says, "I'll be back more often""

Judi waves

JuneAD bye all!

JuneAD has disconnected.
BernieD has lost his link.

Stopped recording in After School Online Room (#1460) at Tue Dec  7
18:36:42 1999 PST.