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A
NetSplore on NetSplores
Curricular
Fit: Teaching with Technology
Resource For: Teachers
Prepared By: Anita Parker
School/Organization: UofA
This page was built with the help of: Norma
Nocente
Curriculum
Outcomes
Teachers in Alberta are expected to integrate information
and communications technologies into their core subject classrooms.
Alberta Learning ICT Program of Studies Rationale and Philosophy
explains that for students to survive and flourish in this
information-age, they should learn technology within the context
of applications. The NetSplore Activity Pages at Telus 2Learn
are an opportunity for Alberta Teachers to create and utilize
classroom Internet activities that fulfill the expectations
of the ICT outcomes. Check out: NetSplore
Activity Pages at Telus 2Learn This is a NetSplore that
has you evaluating other NetSplores from a variety of perspectives.
This analysis will help you determine the important characteristics
that define a quality NetSplore, therefore helping you create
your own
quality assignments. The purpose of this 'NetSplore on NetSplores'
is to help teachers: become aquainted with this technology-integration
tool; and to realize certain characteristics that contribute
to a quality NetSplore. This activity will take approximately
1 - 2 classes, depending on the length of each class period.
Technology Outcomes:
C5: Students will use technology to aid collaboration during
inquiry.
- share
information collected from electronic sources to add to
a group task
- record
group brainstorming, planning and sharing of ideas by using
technology
Activity Resources
Below
are the sites you will be analyzing. They are all NetSplores
that have been created by Alberta teachers and posted to the
2Learn site.
Pre-Web
Activity
TASK
ONE: HOME GROUPS
Assemble into groups of four. Each person in the group assumes
the role of one of the following authorities.
Authority:
Time Effectiveness
Authority: Use of Technology
Authority: Higher Level Thinking
Authority: Team-Work
Descriptions
of Authority Groups and Links to Help You:
I. Authority:
Time-Effectiveness - Your task
is to rate the four NetSplores based on their tendency to
make the best use of time. You prefer NetSplores that consist
of valuable, goal-oriented activities. Time is not wasted
on items that do not lead to meeting curricular objectives.
II. Authority:
Use of Technology - While you
advocate technology integration into classrooms, you are critical
of assignments that use technology just for the sake of using
it. When evaluating NetSplores, you ask yourself, "Could
this task have been done just as easily, or even easier without
a computer?" or, "Did the students have an experience
that otherwise would not have been possible without technology?"
You are also concerned about the quality of the links contained
in each NetSplore. 2Learn:
Evaluating Internet Sites
III.
Authority: Higher Level Thinking
- How do these NetSplores rate in terms of having the students
engage in higher order thinking? Are the students critically
analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information, or are
they involved only in factual regurgitation? Bloom's
Taxonomy
IV. Authority:
Team-Work - You believe that
discussion and cooperation amongst peers is a superior learning
environment, especially when integrating technology into the
classroom. You give thumbs-up to NetSplores that incorporate
effective groupwork. Rationale
and Tips for Small Group Learning
Web Activity
TASK
TWO: AUTHORITY GROUPS
Leave your home group and find all the other people who share
your authority.
1.
Visit the following links to learn more about this exciting
educational resource.
2.
With your new group, create a list of criteria that your authority
group would use to evaluate a NetSplore. Base your criteria
on the above descriptions.
3.
Individually, examine each of the sites on the above list
and write down some notes about your opinions of each from
the perspective of your role. (You'll need to examine each
site fairly quickly. Don't spend more than 10 minutes on any
one site.) Use both your group-decided criteria AND the following
checklist to evaluate the NetSplores:
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ATTRIBUTES
OF A QUALITY NETSPLORE
(For
each item, use a rating scale of 0-5: 0 = absent; 1
= poor; 2 = satisfactory; 3 = good; 4 = very good; 5
= excellent)
a.
The Netsplore draws the learners into the lesson by
relating to the learners' interests or goals. The tasks
are compelling and socially relevant.
b.
The Pre-Web Activity builds on the learners' prior knowledge
by explicitly mentioning important concepts or principles,
and effectively prepares the learner for the lesson
by foreshadowing new concepts and principles.
c.
The NetSplore is well-written for the target audience.
Each step is clearly stated and easy to follow.
d.
The NetSplore provides variety and richness in the activities
performed. Students work collaboratively toward a definite
purpose/goal.
e.
The Assessment section clearly describes criteria for
gradations of success, perhaps in the form of a rubric.
Both the product and the process are evaluated.
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4.
When everyone in your authority group has seen all the sites,
come back together. Poll each team for the best and worst
sample NetSplore, according to the decided criteria.
5.
There will probably not be unanimous agreement, so the next
step is to talk together to hammer out a compromise consensus
about your team's nominations for the best and worst NetSplores.
Post Web Activity
TASK
THREE: BACK TO HOME GROUPS
6.
Now back in your home groups, integrate the four authority
perspectives in a discussion leading toward a final decision
about the best and worst NetSplores.
7.
Using Inspiration
software, create a concept map that visually maps the progress
of your home group discussion.
TASK FOUR: PRESENTATIONS BY HOME GROUPS
8.
Present your 'Inspiration' concept map to the rest of the
class. Verbally summarize the progression of your home group
discussion toward your final decision about the best and worst
NetSplores.
Assessment
Students
may be assessed for performance on this NetSplore using the
following criteria. Each item can be give a value of:
- 1 =
poor
- 2 =
satisfactory
- 3 =
good
- 4 =
excellent
i. Student
demonstrated a positive contribution to both home and authority
groups with thoughtful comments and suggestions.
ii. Student
was respectful and considerate of others' ideas and feelings.
iii. Student
thoroughly analyzed each sample NetSplore using both the group-decided
criteria and the 'Attributes of a quality NetSplore' checklist.
iv. Student
demonstrated an ability to differentiate between various levels
of quality within NetSplores.
v. Student
demonstrated an understanding of concept mapping and competence
with 'Inspiration' software.
vi. Student
exhibited impressive presentation skills when speaking to
the class: voice was clear and concise; and body language
was open, confident and consistent with message.
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