QuestGarden: Teacher Education Classic Award Winner Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University

QuestGarden:Teacher Education Classic

Award Winner


Award Winner

Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University


OutlineOutline

Definitions What problem does QuestGarden

solve? Demonstration Future plans Q & A

Definitions What problem does QuestGarden

solve? Demonstration Future plans Q & A

What is QuestGarden?What is QuestGarden?

QuestGarden is an online authoring tool and hosting service for the creation of WebQuests.

It’s a learning object that creates learning objects

QuestGarden is an online authoring tool and hosting service for the creation of WebQuests.

It’s a learning object that creates learning objects

OK, What’s a WebQuest?OK, What’s a WebQuest?

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which the information that learners use comes mostly from the web.

A WebQuest is wrapped around a doable, interesting (ideally authentic) task that requires higher level thinking.

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which the information that learners use comes mostly from the web.

A WebQuest is wrapped around a doable, interesting (ideally authentic) task that requires higher level thinking.

What ISN’T a WebQuest?What ISN’T a WebQuest?

Online scavenger hunts Research reports Procedural activities like labs,

calculations Awareness activities that just

involve looking at a set of web sites

Online scavenger hunts Research reports Procedural activities like labs,

calculations Awareness activities that just

involve looking at a set of web sites

They’re Out There!They’re Out There!

3,200,000!

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Why is this so hard to do?Why is this so hard to do?

The ProblemThe ProblemI can’t seem to locate

the saved WebQuests that I’ve started…Everytime I

try to import an image, the whole

program just locks.

The ProblemThe Problem

…then when I was finished, I was scared to death to

“publish” it because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to fix the mistakes I

had not seen.

…then when I was finished, I was scared to death to

“publish” it because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to fix the mistakes I

had not seen.

The ProblemThe Problem

…I’d like to develop another WebQuest but I don’t know if

I’d have the patience or time to be be able to create one during

the school year.

…I’d like to develop another WebQuest but I don’t know if

I’d have the patience or time to be be able to create one during

the school year.

The ProblemThe Problem…the typical uploading doesn’t seem to be working for me, I will be saving my

files to disk and and uploading it from school.

Survey of WebQuest Authors

Survey of WebQuest Authors

Solicited from the WebQuest list, classes & organizations that use WebQuests

N = 110

Solicited from the WebQuest list, classes & organizations that use WebQuests

N = 110

Hours SpentHours Spent

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

1

Getting the page uploaded to a server

Coming up with a viable topic and task

Creating the teacher page

Finding images

Making the HTML work correctly

Creating the evaluation section

Balancing learners roles and responsibilities

Making the page look attractive

Designing it to engage higher level thinking

Designing the steps in the process section

Finding good web sites to link to

What Was Hard / Tedious?What Was Hard / Tedious?

Finding good web sites Mechanics of making the pages Creating navigation buttons Making it pretty Process steps Scaffolding Aligning the evaluation with task,

standards

Finding good web sites Mechanics of making the pages Creating navigation buttons Making it pretty Process steps Scaffolding Aligning the evaluation with task,

standards

What Was Hard / TediousWhat Was Hard / Tedious

Uploading from home Not losing pieces Higher-order thinking

Uploading from home Not losing pieces Higher-order thinking

Technical KnowledgeTechnical

Knowledge

WebQuest CreationWebQuest Creation


KnowledgePedagogical Knowledge

Pedagogical Knowledge





SearchingSearching

FTPFTP


AestheticsAesthetics

Web EditingWeb Editing




SearchingSearching

FTPFTP

Higher Level ThinkingHigher Level Thinking

ConstructivismConstructivism

Cooperative LearningCooperative Learning

ScaffoldingScaffolding


AestheticsAesthetics

Web EditingWeb Editing

Solution: QuestGardenSolution: QuestGarden

Early DevelopmentEarly Development

Debut at TCEA 2005 Tested in workshops throughout

the Spring and Summer Announced at NECC, July, 2005 Opened to anyone September 1,

2005.

Debut at TCEA 2005 Tested in workshops throughout

the Spring and Summer Announced at NECC, July, 2005 Opened to anyone September 1,

2005.

QuestGarden: PresentQuestGarden: Present

Over 54,000 users in 120 countries Over 22,000 WebQuests created

Over 54,000 users in 120 countries Over 22,000 WebQuests created

DemonstrationDemonstration

Features of QuestGardenFeatures of QuestGarden

Step-by-step prompted guidance on creating a WebQuest

Browser-based… no software needed

Emphasis on sharing resources and advice

Ability for WebQuest workshop leaders to monitor progress

Step-by-step prompted guidance on creating a WebQuest

Browser-based… no software needed

Emphasis on sharing resources and advice

Ability for WebQuest workshop leaders to monitor progress

Features of QuestGardenFeatures of QuestGarden

WYSIWYG text formatting Ability to upload pictures and

supplementary files Based on design patterns

WYSIWYG text formatting Ability to upload pictures and

supplementary files Based on design patterns

QuestGarden: FutureQuestGarden: Future

Free until September 1, 2007 $20 for a 2 year subscription after

that 30 day free trial, so you can use in

your own courses without cost

Free until September 1, 2007 $20 for a 2 year subscription after

that 30 day free trial, so you can use in

your own courses without cost

Features Coming SoonFeatures Coming Soon

Will be translated into Mandarin, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and Catalan (so far)

Peer Ratings and Feedback Scaffolding extras built in Integrated Quiz/Drill/Game

Will be translated into Mandarin, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and Catalan (so far)

Peer Ratings and Feedback Scaffolding extras built in Integrated Quiz/Drill/Game

Q & AQ & A


Award Winner


Award Winner



Documents

QuestGarden: Teacher Education Classic Award Winner Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University