QuestGarden: Teacher Education Classic Award Winner Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University

Outline  Definitions  What problem does QuestGarden solve?  Demonstration  Future plans  Q & A  Definitions  What problem does QuestGarden solve?  Demonstration  Future plans  Q & A

What is QuestGarden?  QuestGarden is an online authoring tool and hosting service for the creation of WebQuests.  It’s a learning object that creates learning objects  QuestGarden is an online authoring tool and hosting service for the creation of WebQuests.  It’s a learning object that creates learning objects

OK, What’s a WebQuest?  A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which the information that learners use comes mostly from the web.  A WebQuest is wrapped around a doable, interesting (ideally authentic) task that requires higher level thinking.  A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which the information that learners use comes mostly from the web.  A WebQuest is wrapped around a doable, interesting (ideally authentic) task that requires higher level thinking.

What ISN’T a WebQuest?  Online scavenger hunts  Research reports  Procedural activities like labs, calculations  Awareness activities that just involve looking at a set of web sites  Online scavenger hunts  Research reports  Procedural activities like labs, calculations  Awareness activities that just involve looking at a set of web sites

They’re Out There! 3,200,000!

Some Examples

Why is this so hard to do?

The Problem I can’t seem to locate the saved WebQuests that I’ve started…Everytime I try to import an image, the whole program just locks.

The Problem …then when I was finished, I was scared to death to “publish” it because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to fix the mistakes I had not seen.

The Problem …I’d like to develop another WebQuest but I don’t know if I’d have the patience or time to be be able to create one during the school year.

The Problem …the typical uploading doesn’t seem to be working for me, I will be saving my files to disk and and uploading it from school.

Survey of WebQuest Authors  Solicited from the WebQuest list, classes & organizations that use WebQuests  N = 110  Solicited from the WebQuest list, classes & organizations that use WebQuests  N = 110

Hours Spent

What Was Hard / Tedious?  Finding good web sites  Mechanics of making the pages  Creating navigation buttons  Making it pretty  Process steps  Scaffolding  Aligning the evaluation with task, standards  Finding good web sites  Mechanics of making the pages  Creating navigation buttons  Making it pretty  Process steps  Scaffolding  Aligning the evaluation with task, standards

What Was Hard / Tedious  Uploading from home  Not losing pieces  Higher-order thinking  Uploading from home  Not losing pieces  Higher-order thinking

Technical Knowledge WebQuest Creation

Technical Knowledge Pedagogical Knowledge WebQuest Creation

Technical Knowledge Pedagogical Knowledge Searching FTP WebQuest Creation Aesthetics Web Editing

Technical Knowledge Pedagogical Knowledge Searching FTP Higher Level Thinking Constructivism Cooperative Learning Scaffolding WebQuest Creation Aesthetics Web Editing

Solution: QuestGarden

Early Development  Debut at TCEA 2005  Tested in workshops throughout the Spring and Summer  Announced at NECC, July, 2005  Opened to anyone September 1,  Debut at TCEA 2005  Tested in workshops throughout the Spring and Summer  Announced at NECC, July, 2005  Opened to anyone September 1, 2005.

QuestGarden: Present  Over 54,000 users in 120 countries  Over 22,000 WebQuests created  Over 54,000 users in 120 countries  Over 22,000 WebQuests created

Demonstration

Features of QuestGarden  Step-by-step prompted guidance on creating a WebQuest  Browser-based… no software needed  Emphasis on sharing resources and advice  Ability for WebQuest workshop leaders to monitor progress  Step-by-step prompted guidance on creating a WebQuest  Browser-based… no software needed  Emphasis on sharing resources and advice  Ability for WebQuest workshop leaders to monitor progress

Features of QuestGarden  WYSIWYG text formatting  Ability to upload pictures and supplementary files  Based on design patterns  WYSIWYG text formatting  Ability to upload pictures and supplementary files  Based on design patterns

QuestGarden: Future  Free until September 1, 2007  $20 for a 2 year subscription after that  30 day free trial, so you can use in your own courses without cost  Free until September 1, 2007  $20 for a 2 year subscription after that  30 day free trial, so you can use in your own courses without cost

Features Coming Soon Will be translated into Mandarin, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and Catalan (so far)  Peer Ratings and Feedback  Scaffolding extras built in  Integrated Quiz/Drill/Game Will be translated into Mandarin, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and Catalan (so far)  Peer Ratings and Feedback  Scaffolding extras built in  Integrated Quiz/Drill/Game

Q & A

QuestGarden: Teacher Education Classic Award Winner Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University