Computer-Based Instructional Objects

In having students work independently with computer-based instructional objects (such as StAIR projects and WebQuests) teachers must consider many variables. For one, there may be a limited number of computers available for use in the school, meaning that some students may have to partner up or the teacher may have to plan far in advance to have access to a computer lab. Also, there is always the chance that the school servers could go down, keeping students from accessing the information at all. There is always a need for flexibility and open-mindedness when these kinds of issues arise. There may be a need to have a "plan B" ready, as well, to provide instruction until the resources are available.

In considering the students directly, there may be accessibility issues that need to be addressed, such as a hearing-impaired student's inability to listen to an audio portion. The teacher must make sure to include workable options (like text versions) to meet student needs. Also, some students will be more comfortable with the technology than others. This can be helped through introductory tutorials, partnering with a more tech-savvy classmate, or through added guidance built-in to the instructional object itself.

In general, teachers must carefully pre-plan the incorporation of these activities and expect that some issues may arise. A readiness to deal with whatever pops up as well as a solid plan with student needs in mind will help prepare teachers for success in utilizing computer-based instructional objects with their students.

Exemplary WebQuest
http://www.personal.psu.edu/jxz8/Student_Webquests/Bradley_Knudsen/WEBQUEST.HTML

I chose this WebQuest because the introduction catches your attention (you found Antonio Banderas' wallet!) and presents the traditional "trip planning" idea in a fun and thorough way. Also, I like that the team member roles are very clear, with extra details & hints for each person, and the rubrics for each part of the evaluation are linked to their descriptions and provide clear requirements to achieve each possible score.

Another WebQuest of Note
http://www.allenschool.org/spanishfoodwebquest.htm

This website is for elementary students and explores Spanish food, having individual students create their own menus. I like that it has students explore traditional SPANISH foods, as many people think that Spanish food is the same as "Mexican" food--yet they are vastly different! Designwise, I like that the WebQuest is very basic and seems to be easy for elementary-level students to work with and understand. I also think this WebQuest could easily be modifed for use with middle or high school students in their first year of Spanish as a quicker, short term WebQuest.