July
2009
Constructionist Learning through Web Resources3
Constructionist learning theory implies that students are to be actively involved in constructing their own learning. The strategies in this week’s learning resources correlate with well with students constructing or building their own learning. By using the spreadsheet software, students are able to interact with variables to see different outcomes. By interacting with the variables students are able to form hypotheses and test them. They will also be able to graph the different outcomes.
In my English class, the resources we use most often that allow students to construct their own learning are web resources. We do several webquests each school year that allow my students to choose a role to research. They are then tasked to learn as much as they can about that specific role and in different ways they are asked to share what they learn with their classmates. Often this involves role playing, but sometimes it is just presenting information in an interesting manner such as in a PowerPoint with a note-taking resources for their classmates to use. My students’ favorite webquest is the Shakespeare webquest where they are required to choose a role in life (such as student, nobleman, actor, etc.) and research what it was like to live during Shakespeare’s lifetime. They then have options of either role playing to show their classmates the information or keeping a blog over the week of research that classmates can follow and respond to. I find that many students like to keep the blog because gives them a place to easily log the information they found while still applying it to daily life.
Your webquests sound like a fantastic constructivist lesson plans that engage students and allow them to apply the knowledge to something new and unique, helping the student to better retain the information. As an English teacher myself, I too rely upon web resources to engage my 8th grade students. I find that using the technology in a way that allows students to create something is much more effective than even given them the technology to research a topic. Great ideas!
The webquests that you describe are definitely a great example of constructionist theory. The students are able to create something that is their own and they are able to share it with many others at the same time. This in turn will allow the students to make more of a connection with their information. The students also tend to take off with it, and go deeper into the material as well. .
Webquests are gerat tools to use in a classroom. Everytime I hve used them, they have been a huge success. It gives the students more freedom and a different approach to completing the task. Webquests give the students the ability to use many resources and technology in the classroom. Sounds like fun in your classroom!!