More Amazing Americans: A WebQuest
Review Publish Date: 2021-02-24 05:31:51
Reviewer: INFOhio Reviewer
Rubric Version: Reviews Review Rubric Version 0.92
Summary: This American History-based Webquest for K-5 has "good bones" but needs a revamp for the resources used. The ideas in the lesson plan lend themselves to investigatory work, both as individuals and groups in a PBL and IBL fashion. Regardless of the customization and cultural awareness that can be levied by this resource, it is outdated, fails contrast, and has too great of an extraneous load on the target audience of learners (K-5). A teacher may view these resources as a jumping-off point to design their own Webquest, but it has many usability and accessibility issues.
Usability
Does not Meet
Expectations
Flexibility and Adaptability
Meets
Expectations
Inclusive Teaching
Meets
Expectations
Research-Based Strategies
Exceeds
Expectations
Usability : 2/6 Top
a. Materials follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Reviewer Notes: (a.2) the EDSITEment! lesson plan site passes the AA standard, but the "Meet Amazing Americans" website that is used and the National Archives resource website do not (not met). b. Material(s) are not overly resource intense that would require consistent high-speed internet access, such as large video files and multiple high-resolution photos.
Reviewer Notes: This Webquest does not require streaming video (b.2) - this criteria has been marked as "not applicable." c. The visual design of materials is clean and coherent, lending itself to ease of learning.
Reviewer Notes: (c.4) there is much extraneous information, colors, and design within the "Meet Amazing Americans" website that is used for this Webquest. An updated Webquest, with less extraneous features, would be more accessible and easier to navigate for current students K-5 (not met).
(c.5) The "Meet Amazing Americans" website failed to meet the AA standard of contrast, does not have proper alignment or proximity to aid the learner in navigation, and while an older learner may be able to cut down on the extraneous load, the K-5 target audience is too overloaded to use this site effectively (not met). Teachers may elect to augment the lesson to tailor to a different website or websites which may be more easily navigatable for K-5 students. Flexibility and Adaptability: 3/6 Top
d. Materials are flexible to allow students to access and complete work online or offline as needed.
Reviewer Notes: (d.1) this Webquest is heavily reliant on online resources to complete and streamline this activity (not met). It may be possible to print off certain sections, but the result is a truncated library of biographies as well as taking students out of the skill development of a Webquest (not met).
(d.2) this Webquest is specifically designed for online learning and does not afford the same flexibility for offline learning (not met). e. Materials can support and/or facilitate learning in hybrid and/or online delivery methods.
Reviewer Notes: (e.2) EDSITEment has stated in their conditions of use page (https://edsitement.neh.gov/conditions-use) that unless noted, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) holds the copyright of lesson plans and materials, but licenses them with a CC-BY 4.0 international license (met).
(e.3) this Webquest is designed to use and follow the available resources on the "Meet Amazing Americans" website and would need to be tailored by the teacher to be viable for use of other websites (not met). f. Teacher supports, documentation, and/or guides for effective use are present.
Reviewer Notes: (f.6) does not provide guides and examples, but the biographies provided by the "Meet Amazing Americans" website does include a multitude of biographies and media (not met). Inclusive Teaching: 4/6 Top
g. Content is presented with an objective view on topic and is free of bias.
Reviewer Notes: (g.5) does not provide a standard and only presents biographies in a limited fashion (not met). h. Content creates student experiences that enable all children to reach empowering and rigorous learning outcomes regardless of their race or income.
i. Content cultivates an awareness and acceptance of a variety of ages, cultures, races, religions, and gender roles and identities.
Reviewer Notes: (i.4) is not explicitly included, but could possibly be incorporated by the teacher (not met). Research-Based Strategies: 13/14 Top
j. Content builds on prior learning
k. Content leads to further learning by gradually removing supports and requiring advanced skills and concepts.
Reviewer Notes: (k.4) does not showcase an opportunity for the teacher to model for students, although individual teachers could take it upon themselves to model the Webquest navigation and creation of biographies (not met). l. Content provides for authentic learning, application of literacy skills, student-directed inquiry, analysis, evaluation and/or reflection.
Reviewer Notes: Has a variety of suggestions in tailoring this WebQuest to broad/general topics, or specific topics such as Black History Month. m. Content engages students through discussion questions and other supports that build toward independence.
Reviewer Notes: This Webquest encourages students to persist with peer motivation and work as well as applying critical thinking in the search and biography building. n. Uses technology and media to deepen learning and engage students.
Reviewer Notes: This Webquest can be monitored and shared, especially if tracked on an LMS or software Suite (i.e. Google). o. Content includes options for differentiation to meet needs of all learners.
p. Instructional approaches used are reflective of best practices and research on what works in education.
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Usability
Flexibility and Adaptability
Inclusive Teaching
Research-Based Strategies
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The Accelerating Learning endorsement indicates that the material meets or exceeds expectations for both the Standards Alignment and Research-Based Strategies indicators.