1. ThinkQuest

2. ThinkQuest
What is it?
What can I do with it?
How do I get started?

3. What is ThinkQuest? Protected online learning platform
Integration of learning projects
Develop 21st century skills

4. What is Project Learning?
Systematic learning and teaching model
Engages students in learning knowledge and skills
Series of complex tasks

5. Project Learning Tasks
Design and Planning
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Product and Artifact Creation
Commun- ication of Results

6. More Than Learning Projects
Competition space
Award-winning ThinkQuest Library
Professional development program for educators

7. ThinkQuest can also be used for …
Writing assignments
Peer review
Student collaboration
Student expression
Web Quests
Homework assistance

8. 21st Century Skills Critical thinking Teamwork Communications
Creativity
Technology
Self direction
Cross cultural understanding

9. Add your own autobiography
Learn the Tools
Add your own autobiography
Add text
Upload a picture
Add a message board
Teachers
Show this

10. How Students Learn the Tools
Personalize their page
Assign a one day activity and have them share their information on ThinkQuest
Pose a cliff hanger or scavenger hunts

11. The Project Learning Cycle
Manage
Define
Plan Do
Review
The Project Learning Cycle

12. The ThinkPlan The ThinkPlan is your key to a successful project.
It guides you through the steps of the project learning cycle.
It can be time consuming and extensive, but it is well worth the effort.
Show them my ThinkPlan.

13. Getting Started Pick two or three curricular unit as candidates
Pick two or three standards to focus on during the project
Pick two or three 21st century learning skills to focus on during the learning project

14. My First Project How this unit used to look
How ThinkQuest changed the project
The results

15. In the Old Days Teacher Students
Paper and pencil tests to assess understanding
Set up a lab
Assigned worksheets and/or section reviews
Lectured
Some did well on the test
Completed the lab
Completed the worksheet
Copied down the notes

16. The Problems Low student engagement
Students merely memorized information
Knowledge for knowledge’s sake

17. Giving Up Control Individual Students
Phase One
Individual Students
Teacher determines product criteria
Phase Two
Small Groups (3-4)
Class agrees on product format and criteria
Phase Three
Large Groups (5-6)
Each group chooses their own product

18. The New and Improved Teacher Student Provide resources
Provide feedback
Facilitate processes
Provide resources
Present learning in a meaningful manner
Discover key concepts
Gather, analyze, and synthesize information

19. Lets look at the results

20. Other ways I use ThinkQuest
Pose a question about an upcoming topic.
Upload notes, pictures, and/or videos.
Ask a question about what was taught.

21. Tips for Success Start small Plan, plan, plan
Begin with the end in mind
Build on something you already use
Be flexible

22. How do I get started?
your area technology integrator to get your user name and password.