Scaffolding within WebQuests Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University

2 Overview A graphical model for thinking about WebQuests and any constructivist activity Examples of three points at which scaffolding helps A taxonomy of scaffolding types A visual way to plan and analyze WebQuests

3 The Egyptologist Story Does magic happen when you give children access to an adult expert?

4 WebQuest Definitions Inquiry-oriented Based on a doable, engaging task Uses pre-defined resources from the Web (and elsewhere) Can be short or long term

5 What is Scaffolding? Scaffolding is a temporary structure which provides help at specific points in the learning process. It allows learners to complete a challenging task which they would not be able to accomplish without help.

6 Why Scaffold? Because some learners are being left behind Because you can’t be everywhere at once, so it’s useful to capture some of the help you’d give and make it available for just-in- time learning.

Traditional Teacher Student

Traditional Teacher Student Transmission

Inputs Constructivist

Inputs Transformation Constructivist

Inputs Transformation Outputs Constructivist

Inputs Transformation Outputs Constructivist Reception Scaffolds

Inputs Transformation Outputs Constructivist Reception Scaffolds Transformation Scaffolds

Inputs Transformation Outputs Constructivist Reception Scaffolds Transformation Scaffolds Production Scaffolds

15 How Do We Scaffold? by… Providing outlines, guides and templates Guiding thinking through visual and other means

16 Key attributes of good scaffolding Available for Just-in-time learning Skippable by those who don’t need it Blends content and structure to an appropriate degree Fades like the Cheshire Cat smile as students become more adept

17 Process Guides

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21 Reception Scaffolds Guidance on how to interview an expert Reading guides Dictionaries and glossaries Observation guides

22 Reception Scaffold Example

23 Back to the Egyptologist Story Does magic happen when you give children access to an adult expert? Some visual scaffolding would have helped!

24 Students would have been better prepared if they helped generate a diagram like this:

25 Transformation Scaffolds Guidance on applying specific transformations

26 Transformation Scaffold Example Chinese immigrants were treated differently than other groups. Why? How? Comparing and contrasting with a partially completed Venn Diagram would help.

27 Transformation Scaffold Example Solving a mystery involves building up to a conclusion through a foundation of inferences based on data. This calls for an Inductive Tower!

28 Transformation Scaffold Examples Edward deBono’s PMI technique can held organize making a judgment about the pros and cons of an issue.PMI technique

29 Transformation Scaffolding Example The Web Page Design WebQuest uses a graphical organizer to help students compare and contrast different sites.Web Page Design WebQuest

30 Production Scaffolds Guidance on organizing information in particular formats Prompted writing templates Multimedia templates

31 Production Scaffold Example In What Would Dewey Do? students are given a template with images in place and asked to recreate a dialog among 4 educational theorists.What Would Dewey Do?

32 Production Scaffold Example In Scottsboro Boys’ Trial, students are prompted to create the closing arguments of the prosecuting attorney.Scottsboro Boys’ Trial

33 Time to Explore the Examples workshops/ scaffolding/ examples.html

Inputs Transformation Outputs Constructivist Reception Scaffolds Transformation Scaffolds Production Scaffolds

35 Scaffolding Your Own WebQuest For every Input, ask yourself… Do all of my students know how to make sense of this source of information? Inputs

36 Scaffolding Your Own WebQuest For every Transformation, ask yourself… Do all of my students know how to manipulate information in this way?

37 Scaffolding Your Own WebQuest For every Output, ask yourself… Do all of my students know how to produce information in this format? Outputs

38 Where Do Scaffolds Go? PROCESS 1. Sfk fjdkjf slkjf slkjf s jdfjkdfjlskjf slkjf 2. Gjks gjgls hhslkje sjdk a ghj dh 3. A ngk l wulejk a fkd lkj s fjigl 4. Sjfkll su sljna nms f alkd ffhja 5. Sjf a kj a lblkijb jjkkla bjk

39 Degrees of Scaffolding There’s an appropriate balance point. It depends on your learners. Spoon Feeding Sink or Swim

40 Degrees of Scaffolding Don’t scaffold everything… there isn’t time. Pick the 20% that solves 80% of your problems.

41 Degrees of Scaffolding Encourage those who can skip or go beyond the scaffolds to do so. If all student products look the same, something’s wrong.

42 Degrees of Scaffolding Over time, as your learners internalize the structures and skills you want them to have, scaffold less.

43 How Do You Make Graphical Organizers? Inspiration Gliffy Others?

44 Good Site to Bookmark

45 Thinking Visually ABOUT WebQuests What we need: a way to visualize a WebQuest all in one picture Solution: Lesson Information DiagramLesson Information Diagram

46 Lesson Information Diagram

47 Uses of the LID Analyzing existing WebQuests Planning new ones Example: here’s the LID for Radio Days

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49 Radio Days LID

Scaffolding within WebQuests Bernie Dodge, PhD San Diego State University