Filamentality and WebQuest

This week in class we learned about how to use Filamentality and the advantages that it can provide for both teachers and students. I think that it is interesting that some teachers have weeks of lessons on the Internet through this program. This seems like it would be a lot of work to put together at first, but then again it would also save a teacher a lot of time later on, because the lesson is already set up for future use. It is also a good way to keep students interacting with a lesson, not to mention that they would get to use their computer skills as well through this method of teaching. Unfortunately, the Filamentality site was not loading the last couple times that I tried it, so I will be putting up my URL in a later post here…it will be soon though.
As for the readings on WebQuests, I really liked the five items (or FOCUS) to make a great WebQuest site. I particularly thought that what was said about trying to challenge students to really think was important. “We’re passing through a period in which standardized test performance drives much of what happens in schools. At the same time, everything around us tells us that tomorrow’s adults will need to analyze and synthesize information to succeed in most professions and to participate fully as citizens…[a WebQuest] can provide an engaging and complex backdrop on which to hang bits of knowledge that would otherwise seem static and inert.” Due to this, I believe that WebQuest could be a very useful tool in schools today.