Project Reflection - this is what we together with
our teacher learned in creating our website.
Problems We Had To Overcome
Our greatest challenge in
working on this project was learning how to work as a team and running into lots
of technical problems. The major technical problem happened when
the server after having major hiccups for a number of weeks finally
died.....that was not a joke. we were upset but with the help of many people we
managed to get the stuff fixed, well almost everything. Also the fact that we
only go to St. Elizabeth's one day per week made it hard to sometimes to
remember what was done the week before.
What information tools and
technologies did you use to create your web site?
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Telecommunications: we
used e-mail to contact websites, authors and people for permissions to use their
resources.
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Internet Search Tools: we used the
World Wide Web to find links, do research and evaluate resources
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HTML: At the beginning
we were newbies in using HTML. By the end of the project we were using
Claris Homepage with no problems whatsoever.
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Graphics Utilities: we
used Corel Photo Paint, Ulead Photo Impact, Ulead Animator
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Scanners and Digital camera: we took pictures using a digital camera,
but were not able to put the pictures on our website because of privacy stuff.
What has been the impact of the project on the
students?
Our Project Sound Bite
Canadian books for kids rule!
Reading is cool!
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We learned tons about Canadian authors for kids.
Most of us did not know that there were so many Canadian authors who just wrote
for kids. We learned about their lives and why they started writing. And of
course we started READING all those great books they wrote.
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Creating the web pages was very demanding not
only because we had to learn HTML and new graphic programs, but also because of
the decisions we had to make as a group as to the design, structure and layout
of the site. We hope that the resulting web pages created, written and
illustrated by students for students will prove to be a resource for other kids.
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Throughout the project we learned many
skills. Since our research was being published for a "real audience", revisions
and constructive criticism were accepted more willingly. We learned what
teamwork was all about. Since this was a group project, we all had to rely on
each other and everyone was expected to pull their own weight. We learned to
work collaboratively and effectively with others on a common task
What recommendations would you give other
students and teachers wanting to to run a project like this?
When you start a project
of this magnitude, you have to be brave and be prepared for things
to go wrong. Here's our advice:
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make a plan of the project and
stick to it
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make a storyboard of jobs, teams,
activities, responsibilities
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involve all students in discussions
and decision making for the website design, content and look
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use a big wall calendar to map
out timeline
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use the "techie" knowledge of
your students
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use the talents of all students
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and LAST but not LEAST remember
to have fun !!!
Comments of students:
"Researching using google was
fun but sometimes we wasted time looking everywhere."
"Always double save your stuff, on
the H drive and on the L shared drive. Things disappear!!!!!!
"At the beginning we knew
nothing about HTML, but now it's pretty easy, well using Claris Homepage is!"
"This was an easy project for me
to get interested in because I just LOVE reading."
"We had to talk lots
about plagiarism. It's so easy to copy stuff from the Internet."
"I found it hard to have all
those sources and then I had to put it into my words and not copy."
"This project just made me want to read more and keep
on reading."
"It was frustrating when we sent an e-mail and the
author did not reply."
"Editing stuff was no fun, but we
knew the world would see this and we wanted to do a really good job."
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How did the project goals relate
to your curriculum?
The specific curriculum outcomes that
were achieved in this project focused on the Ontario Curriculum expectations for grades
4/5/6 listed below. The indicators of these expectations are: the high
quality of the writing, use of vocabulary, formatting of pages and the
consistent reporting throughout the website and the creation of an online
resource on Canadian authors for kids that other students can use.
These are the SPECIFIC expectations that are evident
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Develop Inquiry/Research Skills:
an inquiry-based WebQuest on Canadian Authors resident on the site will
provide students with opportunities locate/analyze/categorize/evaluate
relevant information and significance of Canadian contributions to the
literature through the use of a variety of primary sources (e.g.,
interviews, speakers) & secondary sources (e.g. print materials, videos,
Internet, CD-ROMs)
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Applying Concepts and Skills in Various Contexts:
"The Gallery" through text and graphics will showcase Canadian men and
women who have made outstanding contributions to the global community
through literature and illustrative art
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Communication Skills:
students will use computer programs to compile, organize, and store the
data they gather; to write reports electronically in which they present
their findings through the creation of a multi-media website celebrating
Canadian authors for kid.
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Group Skills:
use constructive strategies in small-group discussion to negotiate
agreement in
decision making and problem-solving activities (eg:
collaboratively planning, designing; building a website)- this
expectation will be showcased on the website through the project
narrative in which students will reflect on how they learned, cooperated
and worked as a team in creating the website.
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Language -Writing
revise and
edit their work in collaboration with others, seeking and evaluating
feedback, and focusing on content, organization, and appropriateness of
vocabulary for audience;
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