Finding Opportunities for Higher Level Thinking in

the Curriculum

Bernie Dodge, PhD

San Diego State University

Webquest.org/workshops/finding

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So, how do we uncover the opportunities for higher level thinking in our content?

First….

Ask yourself, when do adults need to apply this content?

Second…

Look for (or create) disequilibrium

CreateOpen ended thinking with many possible end points. Encourages

surprisingness, originality while still working within the confines of a

genre.

Create what????

Event Transposition Narrative

Creating an Event

http://www.lubbockisd.org/Webquests/MeetImmigrants/index.htm

A meeting of minds in which students act as if they were someone else

Creating an Event

http://questgarden.com/01/66/9/070813071510/

A meeting of minds in which students act as if they were someone else

Creating an Event

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/hoover/amistad/

A re-enactment of a trial in which all sides of an issue are argued

Creating a Narrative

To go behind the book and describe the setting of a work of literature

http://questgarden.com/57/28/8/071113161036/

Creating a Narrative

To go beyond a book and extend it to new chapters or in-between scenes

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/shakespeare/

Creating a Narrative

To write a diary or journal from a particular point of view

http://teachers.eusd.k12.ca.us/mguerena/castewebquest/index.htm

Creating a Narrative

To describe a journey and the places along the way as if you were there

http://questgarden.com/63/99/1/080415075239/

Creating a Transposition

http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/madams/webquest.htm

Transpose something from one form to another

PracticeWorking in your team of four, come

up with WebQuest ideas for the topic given that will engage higher

level thinking

6 Thinking Hats

Blue Hat

is looking for higher-level thinking and fidelity to the WebQuest model.

will make sure that scaffolding and challenge are included.

Green Hat

stands for creativity. will look for unusual, surprising

ideas to build a WebQuest around.

may suggest ideas that seem a little wacky.

Red Hat

looks at problems using intuition, gut reaction, and emotion.

tries to think how other people will react emotionally to a WebQuest

wants to find a WebQuest idea that is fun for the students and the teacher

Black Hat

looks at the learning outcomes

tries to assure that the WebQuest will actually achieve measurable objectives

will remind the group about the need to master basic skills and concepts and gain higher traditional test scores.

Can you have your students create…

a trial or a party or a meeting that will engage them in learning the content

A transformation of an event to a poem, a story to a song, a painting to a play

A transposition of the setting or actors of a story

A story told from a different point of view

What did you come up with?

Design

Solving a problem or creating a change to achieve a pre-

determined end result while working within realistic constraints

Design what????

Physical object or space Distillation Event Process

Designing an object or space

http://questgarden.com/58/39/5/071125090624/

Work within given constraints to meet the desired goal

Designing an object or space

http://questgarden.com/58/68/0/071129072810/

Work within given constraints to meet the desired goal

Designing a distillation

http://questgarden.com/63/14/1/080403063542/

Choose representative items to represent a large body of content

Designing a distillation

http://questgarden.com/09/99/6/080210153854/

Choose representative items to represent a large body of content

Designing a distillation

http://questgarden.com/00/33/5/070902213117

Choose representative items to represent a large body of content

Designing a distillation

http://www.questgarden.com/59/82/3/080115195501/

Choose representative items to represent a large body of content

PracticeWorking in your team of four, come

up with WebQuest ideas for the topic given that will engage higher

level thinking

Can you have your students design…

A physical space or object A field guide An exhibit or museum A commemorative

What did you come up with?

Decide

Make an informed choice from among several alternatives while

taking competing ideas into account

Decide what????

Course of action Personal stance Ranking or rating

Deciding a Course of Action

http://questgarden.com/53/74/2/070721171535/

Recommend a change of policy or procedure

Deciding a Course of Action

http://www.questgarden.com/59/53/2/080103163228/

Recommend a change of policy or procedure

Deciding a Course of Action

http://questgarden.com/54/88/3/070910191921/index.htm

Recommend a change of policy or procedure

Deciding a Personal Stance

http://questgarden.com/56/21/0/071015183645/

Examine an issue and decide how you feel about it personally

Deciding a Ranking

http://www.questgarden.com/62/59/7/080318044044/

Look at a number of items and rank order them or pick one out based on defined criteria

Deciding a Ranking

http://www.questgarden.com/63/75/3/080411135809/

Look at a number of items and rank order them or pick one out based on defined criteria

PracticeWorking in your team of four, come

up with WebQuest ideas for the topic given that will engage higher

level thinking

Can you have your students decide…

On a recommendation to make to some group that has the power to change things?

On where they stand on a particular issue

On a ranking or rating to help choose a candidate? A purchase?

What did you come up with?

Click here for a PDF

Finding Opportunities for Higher Level Thinking in

the Curriculum

Bernie Dodge, PhD

San Diego State University

webquest.org/workshops/finding