Your Thoughts about WebQuests

Now that you have explored WebQuests, share what you think about using them in the classroom.

Analysis of No Child Left Behind

Discuss the pros and cons of No Child Left Behind. How has the new emphasis on "highly qualified" impacted teaching in Louisiana? Identify at least five pros and five cons with a discussion as to why each is a pro or con.

Class Assignment #1

For Assignment #1 (refer to Calendar for LEC 709-Standards-Based Instruction), you need to look at the standards identified by each major organization, and critique them for common themes/threads that are found throughout each set of standards. You can also look for areas that are unique to each organization’s standards.

Once you have reviewed the standards, then you need to create a web, using Inspiration (www.inspiration.com) , to identify what is common and what is unique to the standards. I have asked that you include at least four to five major areas of comparison along with three examples for each area that support what you have identified as a common thread as well as what is unique.


An example of one way you could set this up is included as a diagram in this posting.For the section on what is different, there are five of the major organizations that are identified (refer to graphic). You would need to identify at least three subtopics per organization that relates to what is unique to that organization's standards. For the section on "What is Common to Them All", then you would need to identify four to five areas that are common to the standards. For example, is technology an important element that is common throughout the standards? If yes, then the major area under this section would be technology, and you would need to identify three examples of how technology is represented.

Be sure to save the file you created as an Inspiration file. This way you can reopen it and make changes. Once you have completed the Inspiration map, then you save it as a jpg file, which you will send to me. I included directions that walk you through how to convert the Inspiration file to a jpg file (refer to the directions for Assignment #1 linked through the LEC 709 web pages). You would then attach that file in your email to me.

You do not need to over think this assignment. It is simply a way to help you familiarize yourself with standards identified by the professional organizations. It is also geared toward introducing you to a neat piece of software, Inspiration, and how it works.

Let me know what other questions you have about the assignment.

Dr. K-L

Welcome to LEC 709!

This class is completely web-based, so there are no face-to-face meetings. We will officially start class on December 3, Wednesday. Please note that your first weekly assignment will be due next week by December 9, Tuesday, at 12:00 midnight. Weekly assignments are due the Tuesday before the next class session. Major assignments, such as the abstracts, blog, book review, etc., are due on the actual date noted on the Calendar page. For example, the first two abstracts are due on 12/17, which would be 2 weeks from our first day of class.

You can use BlackBoard for communication with each other and to post responses for the discussion board part of assignments. All other information can be found via our class blog or the course web pages located at:

http://woodard.latech.edu/~kklopez/LEC709/index.html

This page will open to a Table of Contents page where you will be able to see links for course information. Once you open any of these pages, there will be a "Print All" link at the top right of the page. You can click on this "Print All" link, which will then allow you to print a hard copy of everything included in our LEC 709 web site. Once you leave the table of contents, then you should still see a TOC and page numbers listed that will assist you in navigating between pages.

Please feel free to turn in assignments earlier than the project date (except for postings to our class blog). I usually don't send feedback on projects until I have reviewed what everyone has submitted. This is also usually one week after you turn it in to me.

Let me know if you have any questions. It is much easier to contact me via email than by phone. As a general rule of thumb for during the week, if you do not hear from me within 24 hours of sending an email, then send the email again. On the weekend, give me at least 48 hours, then resend the email.

I look forward to working with you this quarter. If you need to meet with me, then I am on campus on Tuesdays from 1:00-5:00, Wednesdays from 1:00-5:00, and Thursdays from 1:00-3:00. Please give me advance notice to let me know that you wish to have a F2F. I am often pulled out for meetings, so I need to be sure that I will be in my office.

Lastly, please email to let me know you have reviewed the course information for LEC 709. My email is kklopez@latech.edu.

Thanks!

Dr. Kimbell-Lopez