Week 5 - UO Winter 2014 Developing webskills - Project-based Learning, WebQuests, and rubrics

Dear all,

Hi.

I need to confess there has been three moments during the course so far when I felt a bit overwhelmed.

First, during week 1 when I was still figuring out the different tools to be used during the course and to me it was time consuming. 

Second, during websearching practice. Despite the fact it's quite useful and rewarding - the more I read the more I noticed that it's a skill that still can be improved to a great extent, as according to the readings,  the more refined the search the more valid the results. 

Third, this week while reading the depth of PBL (Project Based Learning) and alternative assessment there was the will to dedicate more time to such topics. Before I actually visited "rubistar.4teachers.org" I started planning a lot in order to optimize the task which led me to tiredness. Then, when I checked the site itself I noticed how friendly, practical and easy to use. It reminded me that when we face reality (the task) instead of the ghosts of our imagination, things seem much easier.

Back to the week´s readings, as I´ve already mentioned on my post in nicenet, Susan Gaer's experience with PBL "http://www.ncsall.net/?id=385 "   is really  inspiring. The study cases she shared helped me face PBL as a reachable goal.  Next step was webquest - which I refer to as a form of PBL which follows a specific pattern. I went through many samples on the site "www.guestgarden.com" and noticed among users there's a huge variety of expertise and usage which motivates us to give it a try.  Finally, alternative assessment which was illustrated by the use of rubrics. I was also motivated by the link "www.cal.org/resources/digest/tannen01.html" whose conclusion  "Alternative assessment holds great promise. Although the challenge to modify existing methods and develop new approaches is not an easy one" is pretty realistic and at the same time motivating. 

As I've already mentioned, working with "rubistar.4teachers.org"  has been a great surprise and why not to say  a real treat as one of the benefits of technology during teacher practice is to optimize time by using resourceful tools like this one. I feel determined to come up with more rubrics for the upcoming school term which starts next February 18.

Last but not least, regarding the project task, my feeling is that as I dedicated quality time for the previous steps, which  I regard as fundamental, I was pretty at easy and comfortable to suggest some solutions. Although I'm aware I need to refine it - specially the use of delicious.com which I have suggested not as a means of motivation but as a resource for extra vocab and grammar practice. Still - I realized it may not be the best tool. I'll take of care of that the following week.

Unfortunately I was not able to cover the extra task whithin this week's time. But I still have the aim to accomplish such task. I feel it might even become a motivational tool for the course project I´m working with. 

Wow. Time for a pause.

Best,

Juliana.