RATIONALE:
This webquest is designed to develop student’s skills in inquiry- based learning through the use of ICT. It has been developed for year 9 humanities unit World War 1. Students use ICT in processes of inquiry and research. They identify information and data needs and plan actions to locate, access and retrieve information and data. Students organise, manipulate, structure and refine information to improve their interpretations and construct new understandings. They acknowledge and use information and data from a variety of sources and critically assess their quality.
Inquiry-based learning encourages a student centred approach to their learning by supporting underlying educational pedagogy such as Piaget’s constructivist theory. Humanities requires students show knowledge and understanding and historical skills. The advantages of using ICT’s in humanities are that it develops a student centred approach to their learning. Using ICT’s enhances students opportunities to research and show their knowledge and understanding in a range of engaging ways by encouraging a higher level of thinking when analysing primary and secondary sources. This webquest will allow students to develop their historical skills through the analysis of a range of primary and secondary sources. They will show their understanding by using ICT’s to create a prezi to educate and inform the class, further developing their higher level of thinking.
It is critical that we create an environment that facilitates abstract thinking at a higher level. The most effective way of achieving this is through the integration of ICT’s into the classroom. Students need the opportunity to take control of their own learning and use their questioning skills to guide them through this process. This webquest gives students an opportunity to engage with the three parts of ICT from the curriculum, which include: investigating with ICT, communicating with ICT and creating with ICT. The aspects of this webquest allow students to successfully engage in all 3 of these areas.