Aim

The purpose of the Create Activities for the Web module is to prepare WIT Prep and 
WIT participants to both evaluate and develop an engaging web-based lesson.

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Rationale

Teachers create lessons and brainstorm activities regularly.  Creating activities for the Web, 
however, needs to be approached in a different way to address the different medium.  Just 
like anything else, it has to be taught, or at least modeled the first time through.

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Subject-matter

The subject for this module is creating and publishing an engaging activity.

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Audience

WIT Advanced and WIT Prep participants.

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Objectives

Participants will be able to define engaged learning;  will have seen good examples of web based, engaged learning activities;  will have a list of criteria to refer to when creating their own activities; 
and will be able to create their own web based, engaged learning activities that they can use upon 
returning to school.

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Pre-requisites

Participants should know how to navigate the Web, apply graphics, and publish on the Internet.

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Materials

Computer, internet connection, worksheet for recording answers, and chart paper or chalk board for KWL chart.

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Instructional Plan

1. In the first step of the module participants will be asked to define "engaged learning".
Begin by reading the intro to the lesson on the home page.  Participants should then be asked to 
pair up and visit at least two sites listed about engaged learning.  On the worksheet provided they 
will list 5 elements of engaged learning activities.  They should then work together to briefly 
define "engaged learning".

2. For the rest of the module, you will be using the KWL format.  In step two, participants should answer the questions given on the Home page for K and W. These stand for K- "what you know" 
and W- "what you want to learn". They may use the worksheet available to record answers. This activity can be done individually or in small groups. The mentor should give participants about five minutes to answer on their papers. Then the group will share their answers while the mentor records them on a KWL chart. A chalkboard, dry erase board, or large chart paper will do fine. 
The L- stands for "what you have learned".  This will be done at the end of the session. 

 Sample format for KWL chart:
 

When answering the K- questions, participants are asked:  "Why should I want to create
a web-based lesson?"  To help answer that question, participants can view this informative link.
Use your discretion to determine how much time to spend here, if any. 
You may just want them to read it independently as a resource.

3. In step three participants take time to visit at least three web sites listed as examples of engaging, web-based lessons.  They should use the list of criteria provided as a guide.  Then participants should choose which activities they liked best and why, based on the criteria and their own personal taste.  They should record the information on their worksheets.  Again, come together to share thoughts and compare notes on the activities.

4. At the conclusion of this lesson, step four, participants should answer the questions from the L- 
part of the KWL chart.  "What have you learned?"  "What are the components of an effective web-based lesson?"   "Why would you want to create one?"
When finished, compare the columns of the KWL chart together.  Look to see if all the questions 
were answered?  Perhaps some of the questions became irrelevant when the participants had more information.  Did other questions arise that can be answered at this time?  Allow some time for
discussion.

5. Step five is to be done independently.  Participants should now be expected to create an 
engaging, web-based activity. 

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Self-assessment

Students may assess their own learning two ways: 1) When answering the L- questions, they might ask themselves: “Do I feel I have learned quite a bit or very little?”  “Am I now able to answer my earlier questions?”  Etc...  2) After creating their own web-based activities, have participants assess them according to the criteria they used during evaluations in step three.

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Evaluation

Please ask the participants to fill out the online survey found here.

Produced by Michelle Warden with consultation from EllenDairyko, Heather Meunier, 
Christie Thomas, and Frada Boxer.
 

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