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National Australian WebQuest Competition 2009

Open to ALL Australian Teachers and Student Teachers

Due: 30th November 2009

Announcement of Prizes: February 2010.

competition prizes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact for further information:
Frances Moore
Info@webquestdirect.com.au

Mob: 0410 540 608
Ph: 02 6292 3211

DETAILS


This competition is open to all Australian teachers and student-teachers who have developed a WebQuest this year.

It is recommended that as teachers, you concentrate on the content of your WebQuest and use a Web 2.0 Template that can be
found at the following sites: (This does not preclude Teachers using Editors like Microsoft’s Expression Web, or Macromedia
Dreamweaver or straight HTML if they have the technological skills. You can also use Moodle but you have to allow access for teachers to use them. If you use these editors, please contact WebQuest Direct
for free hosting – info@webquestdirect.com.au ).

  1. Short-Cut WebQuest Authoring Tool (SWAT) http://www.webquestdirect.com.au/swat - free - all you need do is register.

    Our Graphic Designing Team will create templates for you on a particular theme for free. Please contact us,
    on     info@webquestdirect.com.au and state what you need for a theme.

  2. Quest Garden  (http://webquest.org/questgarden/index.php )  - Cost: $US20
  3. Zunal: http://www.zunal.com (free)
  4. Filamentality (http:// www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/ )
  5. Web-and-flow (http://www.web-and-flow.com/ Cost $ - provides 30 day free subscriptions

    Both Filamentality and Web-and-Flow     delete work after a certain period of non-activity.

 

SUBMISSION:
You are asked to write a 200 Word submission indicating the following details:  

  1. Full Name of Teacher and Contact Details including email
  2. Full Name of School and Contact Details including email and address
  3. The URL of the WebQuest
  4. What you are trying to achieve with your WebQuest.

  

PRIZES

We are able to offer some sensational prizes for teachers including:   

Primary:

 

Secondary:

 

School:

Prize 1 Teacher Prize: $200 

Prize 2 Teacher Prize: $100

Prize 3 Teacher Prize: $50

 

Prize 1 Teacher Prize: $200 

Prize 2 Teacher Prize: $100

Prize 3 Teacher Prize: $50

 

A 12 month subscription to our Vertical Search Engine, valued at $495 for all winning schools.
NB. Student Teachers can nominate the school which is to receive this prize.

Only WebQuests that have reached the required 110 points (see the criteria below) will be considered for these Prizes

JUDGES 

To be announced.

What is a Great WebQuest?

It needs to follow the format of a WebQuest (Introduction, Task, Process (+ Resources) Evaluation, Conclusion, Teacher’s Guide)
but more importantly, it has to present the students with a real authentic messy problem to solve; and, has to use collaborative
group processes to solve this problem with students taking on different perspectives or roles.  

A Great WebQuest needs:  

  • An Engaging Opening - containing a hook!

  • “Background for Everyone”  - information within the Introduction but not necessarily this heading.

  • The Problem or Issue to be solved in the form of an open ended Question within the Task

  • The Use of Roles or Perspectives to engage students Emotional Intelligence and to give authenticity to solving the problem.
    Many roles with have antagonistic views to other perspectives.

  • Uses Higher Order Thinking Skills (analysis, creativity [synthesis], and, evaluation),  within the Process’ tasks to solve the problem - 
    “Transformative Thinking”  is to occur

  • Uses the Internet mainly for resources. These resources which need to challenge the students’ thinking and current bias within
    their perspective and their own thinking to date.

  • to get the students to use technology - Voki, Venn Diagrams, Wikis, Forums, Blogs, Videos, iAnimation, podcasts,

  • Real World Feedback within the Conclusion or at the end of the Process. This means that students are given the
    opportunity to interact with experts in the field.

  • A Conclusion where they are challenged again to investigate the problem at a local more concrete level.
    Eg. If they had been looking at bullying as an issue, they would then investigate their own classroom rules and
    school’s bullying policy.

  • Teacher’s Guide which includes details about: Target Students and their age; Curriculum Standards,
    Process including Duration and if possible Lesson Planning; any other prerequisites.

sitting at desk 

CRITERIA CHECKLIST
  
Only WebQuests that have reached the required 110 points (see the criteria below) will be considered for these Prizes

Section Content Score/135
Home Page This is to be like a book cover – intriguing and interesting.

There should be a hook here to introduce the students to the big question (has to be an open ended question).

Images are important here and throughout the WebQuest to enhance visual literacy.		 /10
Introduction Catchy Title

Scenario

Real, Authentic Problem to be solved		 /10
Task Point Form summarising the tasks that the students have to achieve

Background for Everyone

Higher Order Thinking Skill Activities present
 /10
Process Perspectives or Roles present using Higher Order Thinking and Emotional Intelligence. These roles are NOT to be "Duties".

Team work

Interesting and complex (messy) Problem to solve

Steps showing students what they have to do – clear, concise, sequential,

Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOTS) Activities present:
o One
o Two
o Three
o More		 /35 (of which 30
will be assigned
to HOTS)
Resources Relevant to student age, readability, and, role

Extensive

Quirky – giving students different perspectives		 /10
Evaluation Rubric showing all the tasks that the students are to undertake for assessment

Optional: peer assessment
Optional: self assessment		 /10
Conclusion Encourages local and/or further action

Real World Feedback

Reflection of Learning

Is NOT a motherhood statement or platitude		 /10
Teacher's Guide Learners – Age, State, Country

Curriculum Standards Addressed – listed and linked

Duration – number of lessons (if below 4 lessons, this will be considered a research assignment only – as not enough time has been given to Higher Order Thinking Skills).

Process – Lesson Plans (or, any ideas for other teachers to consider)

Resources – any resources that could be used by the teacher in preparation for this unit of work

Pre-requisites		 /20
Visual Impact Appropriate Template/Design used on Home Page and subsequent pages

Images or graphics used to aid students

Layout and Design – font size appropriate to target audience; colour of font; navigation; placement of images 		/10
Use of Technology Technology Skills developed or Technology used eg. Kids Pix; iMovie; Zoomerang; Kahootz; animation; PowerPoint; Wiki; podcast; Inspiration; Mind Mapping; Venn Diagrams /10
  Total Score /135