This week our assignment is to evaluate a webquest from several aspects. I am going to evaluate ''
Poetry Presentation Project '' from
zunal.com . The purpose of the project is to attain deeper understanding of poetry. The students are supposed to analyse a poem and evaluate it from different aspects. This is a gorup work. Let's have a look at this project from a closer perspective :
1.Overall Aesthetics :
Visual appeal : There are some graphic elements making easy to understand the directions about the project. In each segment, relevant pictures are added to the top of the page. Generally, the type of size, color aren't changed. But, 2 quotes are written different type of sizein the introduction part
Navigation : There is no way to get lost and get confused in this webquest. It is well designed and each category is divided systematically.
Mechanical Aspects : All of the attached links service smoothly and there are no missing images. However, there are some spelling mistakes such as ''alwaystalking'' and '' aboutthis''.
2. Introduction :
Motivational Effectiveness of Introduction : In the introduction part, the teacher tries to motivate students and tries to get them calm about the project. I can give really motivating and sincere examples from the introduction part. Firstly, there is a picture saying ''Keep calm and get a 5 on the AP exam ''. Beside sharing some positive quotes from S.Rushdie and W.H. Auden, the teacher says '' Get your c.mates involved and watch how easy '' All of these examples show that the teacher triggers the students to do the task eagerly.
Cognitive Effectiveness of the Introduction : The teacher exactly refers to the stdents' prior knowledge about the topic and makes clear explanations about how the task relates to their previous knowledge.
3.Task :
Connection of Task to Standards : The task is connected openly to what openly to what are responsibilities of the students. Directions are clearly stated such as '' You will be expected to utilize time wisely, create a compelling choral reading '' etc.
Cognitive Level of the Task : The task isnot so challenging, it's doable. To me, it facilitates the students' critical thinking ability. Apart from these, the task requires multiple sources of information and creative activities. E.g. Poetry, the poet's background, figurative devices... It is asked to integrate them in this task.
4. Process :
Clarity of Process : Steps are divided into 4 parts. Directions are explained clearly in each step such as sharing the list of poems they will examine. Websites and links are shared for the research and even the duration of one step is stated.
Scaffolding Process : Organizational tools are embedded in the process. Different and sufficient resources, which are appropriate for the students' level, are shared.
Richness of Process : The process is not included only few and one-way steps. In contrast, there are discussion part, and activities by which the students think creatively ( e.g. Preparing a presentation including visual, spatial materials).
5. Resources :
Relevance & Quantity of Resources : There is a meaningful connection between the shared resources and the information which is important for students ( e.g.
http://www.poets.org/ and
http://www.famouspoemsandpoets.com/ ) .
Quality of Resources : Shared links and websites have colourful, lively aesthetics. Also, they have excellent information about the subject which is no way to reach them in the classroom setting.
6.Evaluation :
Clarity of Evaluation Criteria : The form of the rubric is divided into 4 parts. Each part has 25 points. The aim of the project and the evaluation questions are matched. There is no irrelevancy between them. Criteria includes qualitative as well as quantitative descriptors. For instance, using time wisely is one of the quantitative descriptors. On the other hand the presentation's entertaining side is measured too, there is no need to say but is a qualitative one. Finally, there is a 'comments' part in which teacher write about the performance of the group.
To see the webquest page I've evaluated :
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=230790
I have another assessment page for this project. I want to share it with you, too. You can
click here to see the page.
THE END ...
