2010.07.09

A large part of our discussion had to do with webquest and included a number of sites to look into. One of the bullets we wer given is in answer to 'What is WebQuest?" "An inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet." What it comes down to is that students need to be guided through their searches of the internet. One is easily bogged down in the minutia while trying to look for some specific information (that may lead you to more information that is perhaps peripheral, that then leads you to more information, and can lead to great confusion instead of clarity and crispness). If the teacher provides the links and connections that students can utilize the learning experience is clearer. Good webquests will include the major principals we are trying to implement in the 21st Century style of teaching/learning. It has to do with getting the students to apply their knowledge and using the tools of today to fully use their language skills. Though there are many details to it, the gist of the process is keeping the students focused on doable smaller bits of a larger puzzle/plan (that may be part of a thematic unit). I am going to list some Web Quest Tasks as bullet points for my later perusal. Retelling Compilation Mystery Journalistic Design Creative Product Conference Building Persuasion Self-knowledge Analytical Judgment Scientific I suspect the process of actually doing this will make it clearer. It is somewhat like my electronic dictionary. Until I needed to use it, it sat on a shelf. When I needed to finally look up a Japanese word I had to pull out the direction book and say 'Now where do I go." Then I had to look up a kanji. Out came the book. There is still a lot about that dictionary that is a puzzle. I will still have to pull out those directions. I like the idea. I will mention that when I put websucker.com in the address area of the internet window it did lead me to a more graphic site than I was expecting, and the teaching tools at the site I found seemed to more on an interpersonal nature that was not what I was searching for. So I will try that again going first through megalodon.jp (the computer gave an error message response when I tried it in the computer lab). Again, an important point to this process is the need to be specific. Very much so. That requires a rubric which is a list of the requirements in order to gain a particular grade. I have used some rubrics in my biology class, and it is now time to move it into my Japanese class. Of course use of rubrics is not limited to webquest utilization, but it has been emphasized with this material. RubiStar is a site that will help generate such a thing. Scaffolding was also mentioned which allows through collaborative effort more information to be learned than could be done individually. I won't kid you. I will have to spend some time looking over this. I feel exhausted. I think I will start reviewing what wikispaces is all about. Anyone ever heard about the last piece of straw that broke the camel's back? Thank kamisama I go to a chiropractor. I will say that the examples that come from the Daraemon book that I looked through earlier before class (the section on class room schedules) as well as those that were presented in class do offer excellent examples of what and how to procede on many levels. I do sometimes think without me being a native speaker, and or without me being way more glib with my language and cultural knowledge I may have a difficult time applying some of material. Naruhodo, ne? In the afternoon a Mr. Koji Fox presented a most illuminating talk about his side of the video gaming industry, and that for the foreigner interested in doing something beyond the regular teaching or service industry work in Japan, there are some doors opening. However, translation and or localization work is not a simple thing to jump into. Like all things worth doing it requires serious study and constant application. For a student interested in video games this could be a perfect match, but did I mention the serious study and constant application? Interestingly, the amount of time that some students (adults!) put into video games is about the amount of time required to master some of the skills for this kind of work. He was inspirational and I found his talk clear cut, informative and he presented well the difficulties of a foreigner working in a Japanese company. thank you for this presentation.