Chapter 6: Fostering online learning with websites and apps
5 stages of WebQuests
(1) Stage-setting: Teacher introduction; (2) Task: Activities expected of students; (3) Process: Step-by-step instructions; (4) Evaluation: Have teacher and student expectations have been met?; and (5) Conclusion: Summary of key understandings.
RSS Feeds
Abbreviation of Really Simple Syndication; continually updated material sent to digital devices by news organizations, blogs, and other media
Hybrid Learning
Combines "clicks and bricks" (ie traditional and online learning). Same as blended learning
Archival and Primary Source Websites
Educational websites providing original historical documents and source materials for students to access and analyze
Social Bookmarking
Information management process where teachers and students store and share weblinks digitally in an open public web space. It expands the concept of bookmarking to many users on many computers. It is used to collect and use web resources related to different topics (e.g., different periods of history).
WebQuests
Instructional approach where students visit teacher-selected websites to gather academic information and engage in inquiry-based learning activities. They are online student inquiries designed/guided by teachers. They allow multiple options for learning, usually in five stages. .
High-quality educational websites offer :
Interactivity, Exploration and Engagement
Information Alert
Nice received by email when new info on a topic becomes available online
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Online courses open to hundreds of participants
Exploration and Discovery Websites
Online materials that involve students enabling them to engage in interactive in-depth exploration of topics
Real-time and Recorded Data websites
Online materials that present scientific or mathematical data for students to access and analyze, making students involved observers
Online Educational Resources (OER)
Online teaching and learning materials freely available for use by teachers and students
Cloud Computing
Storing and managing info using web-based servers. Consists of files stored on the internet rather than a personal computer
Information management
System for collecting, organizing, and using information for teaching and learning
Folksonomy
Teacher or student created system for categorizing social bookmarking tags; derived from the words folk and taxonomy. Also known as a community of users. it can create sets of resources about curriculum; think also social bookmarking
Tag Cloud
Visual display of keywords where the frequently accessed terms appear in large font sizes and in bolded colours
Standards Connector
online collection of teaching materials linked to required curriculum frameworks or educational standards. Allows easy access to web resources matched to curriculum frameworks.
Types of educational websites
§ lesson plan § student-to-expert communication § real-time and recorded data § archival and primary source § skills/practice § exploration and discovery