QuestGarden Exporting Disabled "For the Moment"

I have tried to save the webquest I created on Questgarden by using the "Export" feature (at the bottom of the left column when I am in "edit" mode). Unfortunately, Questgarden gives the message "Note: Exporting is disabled for the moment. It will be back soon. We're working on it". This has been the case for about two weeks. C'mon Questgarden! that doesn't sound like "for the moment" to me and I don't call two weeks "being back soon"! Has anyone else been able to export?

Webquest 1.0 (!)

Well, I did it. I created my first webquest. I used a project that I observed while student teaching which was not a webquest, and made it into one. It was fun -- sort of like a lesson plan with graphics and weblinks. Interstingly, when you put these elements together, the whole really does seem to be greater than the sum of its parts.

Take a look if you're interested. It will be available on QuestGarden until March 15. http://questgarden.com/76/68/2/090213112604/

The Power of Sharing Ideas

"The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbor's home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all." -Voltaire

This is a great point. We can bring it from the 18th to the 21st century with just two word changes: (1) Replace "in books" with "online" and (2) change our neighbor's "home" to "homepage". And Voila! We have the great 18th century philosophe Voltaire describing the transformative power of the Internet.

The technology changes, but the benefits derived from a generous sharing of instruction (ideas, knowledge, viewpoints) doesn't. What the printing press started, the internet continues.

Working on First Webquest

I'm working on my first webquest and I think the biggest challenge is to make it more than just an exercise in searching the web and compiling large quantities of facts.  I want the students to have to use judgement to decide what information is appropriate; to put context around the information they're collecting; to synthesis it; to think critically about it.  The webquest is a great tool, but I think a good webquest poses these same challenges that I face with traditional lesson plans:  How will the webquest inspire students to THINK?  If my first webquest does that, I will consider it a success. 

Blogs for Collaborative Learning

This month's edition of Educational Leadership magazine is all about collaborative learning among teachers.  In particular, the article titled "Learning with Blogs and Wikis" is useful and relevant to the work we're doing in this class.  Quoting Richard Elmore, a professor of educational leadership at Harvard, the article makes the bold assertion that "schools are hostile and inhospitable places for learning.  They are hostile to the learning of adults," the article says, "and, because of this, they are necessarily hostile to the learning of students."  That's quite an attention grabber!

The article goes on to observe two significant changes helping to counteract this unfortunate situation.  First, is a new emphasis on collaborative learning among members of close knit teams of teachers--not lip-service to the idea, but making it actually happen.  The second is that digital tools are helping to provide what Elmore calls "portals through which new knowledge about teaching and learning can enter schools."  The article goes on to talk about how blogs and wikis are valuable tools for collaborative learning in schools and among educators.

To check out the February of Educational Leadership, click here.  The whole magazine is worth a look, but if you're pressed for time (and who isn't?) check out the "Learning with Blogs and Wikis" article.  You can skip the instructional material about blogs since this class has already made us sufficiently blog-savy in this area.  If you focus on the points about teachers using blogs for collaborative learning, you might find this interesting.  Let me know.