Teaching my WebQuest

           Paper-based lesson plans are becoming a teaching tool of the past as technology continues to engulf our society.  One technological method of presenting, researching, and developing skills of various topics in the classroom involves using a WebQuest.  I had the unique opportunity to create a WebQuest of my own and present it to a third grade technology class for an honors project.  The WebQuest that I created introduced the students to the various aspect of scuba diving and all types of sharks and their habitats.  The day that I taught my WebQuest was full of fear and uneasiness because this was my first experience teaching children in a classroom setting. Despite my fears, however, the presentation was a success.  The students grasped right onto the assignment and became engaged immediately.

           There were some challenges, however, that occurred while teaching my WebQuest.  The first challenge that erupted involved the various academic levels of the students.  Leading the third grade classroom to the website where the WebQuest was located was extremely difficult.  Many of the children got lost during their search making their peers who arrived at the site immediately wait while others caught up.  Once each of the children found the WebQuest, however, I presented the information necessary and the students began their scuba diving adventure. During this time I assisted the students who were having struggles individually, a much more efficient way to work with third grade students.  Through teaching my WebQuest, I discovered that next time I use the Internet to teach a lesson, I will provide detailed written steps for each of the students.  In doing this, the children who are technologically advanced will not be held back by their peers while I assist the struggling students. 

           Another challenge that I faced was classroom management based.  My mentor teacher had not created an effective method of classroom management in her classroom.  The students often talked while she was talking and showed her little respect.  I was worried about this same dilemma occurring during my presentation.  As I suspected, the students did get noisy at one point, but I discovered an extremely successful classroom management technique.  When it got noisy, I told the students to first put their hands on their head, then on their knees, then on their shoulders, and then to clap twice.  Unlike my mentor teacher’s method of raising her voice when students became disruptive, my technique worked.  I gained the students’ attention through this simple exercise.  I learned that classroom management does not have to involve the typical discipline method of yelling and screaming to get children’s attention.  Creative ways of getting students on task is much more effective.  After witnessing how effective this approach was, I decided that I will create and use various methods of creative classroom management strategies in my future classroom. 

           Teaching my WebQuest was a frightening and challenging task, but I learned a great deal from the assignment.  The students enjoyed completeing the WebQuest and were actively involved in the assignment for the time allotted.   Even though aspects of this assignment were challenging, I felt comfortable in front of the students.  Teaching was not as intimidating as I thought it would be, making me even more excited for my future career.  Through this experience, I am more prepared to teach technology to the children of the future.  

Graphic:  http://www.marmarisinfo.com/sightseeing/resim/diving/scuba.jpg