Artifact #3: North Carolina Webquest This artifact contains a Web Quest which was designed for 4th graders to use as a means to learn more about North Carolina while integrating technology.
Context: The North Carolina Web Quest was created in FDN 5220 Computers in the Educational Setting. One of the overall objectives of this course was to become more comfortable integrating technology into the curriculum. Throughout the course, we read current articles and research about the impact of technology in the classroom. As part of a group project, my team felt that a Web Quest would be an effective way to incorporate technology into a content area subject. While many of the resources were available online, there were print resources available for student use. This Web Quest was a good way to extend my newly acquired knowledge of technology into my classroom.
Alignment:
Standard A: Instructional Expertise
The candidate demonstrates instructional expertise by applying the theoretical, philosophical, and research bases for educational practice in P-12 settings to improve student learning.
This was an effective way to incorporate technology into the classroom, which created a learning environment that was supportive of student learning. Also, this activity exemplifies my ability to create and link subject matter while attending to the developmental abilities of my students. In addition, literacy was linked across the curriculum as students read in content areas.
Standard B: Knowledge of Learners
The candidate incorporates knowledge of the nature of the learner, learning processes, variations in learning abilities and learning styles, and strategies for evaluating learning into the planning, delivery, and evaluation of instruction.
By allowing students to work in small groups and in a computer-based setting, the Web Quest displays my responsiveness to differences among learners. By utilizing a wide range of instructional practices, my students are more likely to experience success. Students are also given a choice of how to present the information acquired through this activity, thus allowing them to make choices based on their learning styles.