Thursday 29 November 2007

Writing the Web Quest

Well I decided to use Powerpoint as my software to start working on my web quest. (What is the "correct" spelling? I have seen them often as one one WebQuest!) The reason for this is I don't have Frontpage yet and PP is perfectly set up to arrange a website and create the structure. I believe you can put in hyperlinks, buttons, forms ect. in PP but I haven't got that far yet. I created templates for all the pages I want and have started getting content down. I am already very pleased with how it is looking.
The web quest is called "Oh Rats!" and is a Technology and English based web quest around rats. As I have rats I will take them into school as a real context! Cool.

Wednesday 28 November 2007

My updated Website URL

http://shaunwood.bravehost.com/
I moved to this server as they are much faster and the ads are configured to run horizontal. For a few hours I struggled with the second layer of ads displaying after my headings! I eventually figured out that the ad code attaches itself to "body" &and "bg color" tags. So a bit of rearrangement and bingo! This really showed how having a a good basic understanding of HTML makes all the difference when you get stuck. Another trick is, if your web page is not displaying in the browser as you intended, click View on the browser, then Page Source. That will show you the HTML of the page and you can troubleshoot from there.
It has been so much fun figuring this all out!

Tuesday 27 November 2007

HTML

I created my first web site written in HTML in Notepad. Unfortunately the free site I use to host it uses ads that mess up my hard work, still here it is. http://www.stormloader.com/users/shaunwood/
I loved learning all the tricks and spent hours trying different HTML I found on some really helpful sites. I even put on a poll! Getting a good understanding of HTML is going to be a huge help when I start using Frontpage. Still I am really impressed with my creation so far and I am finding it incredibly satisfying writing it in HTML.

Some lessons I learnt: Save, save and backup! HTML is very logical, like a puzzle, have fun and close your tags.
HTML coding and tutorial sites I recommend.
http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp - This is very clearly laid out and easy to use HTML.
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/getting_started/index.php

Researching Resources

I have spent the last week researching web quests and other internet resources, of which I'll share some of my favorites. I have looked through many web quests and found some brilliant examples that will really capture students interest, with tasks that are well scaffolded (another great feature of web quests!). Although a small percentage I found some web quests with processes that are clear and simple, sharing the work imaginatively with roles, creating exciting and equal participation roles can be difficult.

I still find most resources to be at adult level reading although many have shown me that there are great children resources out there. The trick is to find them and create well organized bookmarks. One particular site aimed at lower primary (not many web quests for them?) who got around this by creating her own resource pages, great idea. (An Insect's Perspective. Ginger Tyson. http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/insects/index.htm)

For web quest information and examples there is no better place to start than. http://webquest.org
And don't even start your Task planning till you read: A Taxonomy of WebQuest Tasks by Bernie Dodge, 2002. (http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html)

I'm going to get stuck into basic HTML and create a teacher profile of myself for future class introductions. This should be interesting, I have bookmarked lots of HTML and java sites on my searches.

Wednesday 21 November 2007

My First Post

I have just finished my second year of Bachelor of Teaching & Learning (Primary) and now already during my holidays looking forward to my optional course "Using Telecommunications in the Classroom". This involves creating Web Quests, learning HTML, creating webpages in Frontpage and generally so many exciting teaching opportunities.

It has been about 8 years since I played with HTML & Frontpage, no doubt I will have to learn from scratch but I think things will start coming back.

So I'm starting this journey earlier than the course but lets see where it goes.