Teacher Process

Teachers, this webquest is relatively easy to execute. This webquest will take about a week for the students to complete. Many of the materials you may need are already accessible in the webquest; such as the data sheets and the four columned chart. The only materials you need are books that relate to the topic of Thomas Edison and large data disks for your class. This quest is quite simple to use and can be used with a variety of students at a various levels. Since there is a lot of collaborative action in this quest, students will have constant peer support. This is important for students who many need this extra help. The worksheets are very understandable and accommodating to diverse learners.

Summarized Process of Webquest: 

 

Assign students into groups of four. 

Allow groups to review their possible roles of the webquest: Life Learner, Invention Investigator, Contribution Collector and Fact Finder.

 

Members of each group will need to decide on their roles.

 

Students will print their data sheets according to their roles.

 

Once the groups have their data sheets printed, each member of each group will research the provided websites and books to look for information about Edison according to their specific group role. They will use their data sheets to record the information that they find during the research portion of the webquest.

 

After group members research the information about Thomas Edison according to their group role, the groups will reconvene.

 

The groups will share their findings with their members.

 

The groups will then analyze the information on all of the data sheets and decide which information is important. The important information will be recorded on the four columned information chart that is provided in the webquest. The chart is to be completely filled in with information. Students may use simple phrases instead of full sentences to record the information on the chart.

 

After the groups have recorded the important Edison-related information onto the four columned chart, you must give each group a large data disk.

 

*How to Make a Data Disk*

 Cut the data disk out of poster board to ensure that the data disk is made from heavier paper. Since the students will be writing and gluing pictures on it, the heavier paper will hold up better. The size of the data disk is up to you. However, I prefer to make my data disks to the size of a large pizza. This gives the students plenty of room to record information as well as plenty of room to provide pictures on the back.

 

 

 

 

Once you have cut the data disks out, use the below pictures to help you format the front and back of the data disk.

Front of Data Disk

 

Back of Data Disk

 

After the students have the data disk, they must utilize the information on their chart to record information on the front of the data disk. Students are to utilize complete and thorough sentences on the data disk. Emphasize the fact that the students should use extremely neat handwriting and must completely fill in the data disk with information.

 

Once the students have completed the front of the data disk, have the students flip the disk over to complete the picture side. Students will utilize the computer to print pictures and draw pictures in each section on the back of the data disk. For example, if students are working on the section of the data disk called “Pictures of Edison ’s Inventions”, the students will print or draw pictures of Edison ’s inventions on that section of the data disk. For each picture that is placed on the data disk, a caption that describes it must be provided underneath the picture. Encourage students to fill the back part of the data disk with pictures.

 

After the groups are completed with their data disks, they will present their disks to the class. The groups will present the information that is on the disk to the class and also discuss the pictures that they placed on the back of the data disk. They will discuss their reasoning for utilizing those pictures.

  

 

Please see the Evaluation section of the webquest to see the rubric for this project.