Scaffolding within WebQuests

Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University

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Overview

A graphical model for thinking about WebQuests and any constructivist activity

Examples of three points at which scaffolding helps

A taxonomy of scaffolding typesA visual way to plan and analyze

WebQuests

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The Egyptologist Story

Does magic happen when you give children access to an adult expert?

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WebQuest Definitions

Inquiry-orientedBased on a doable, engaging task Uses pre-defined resources from the Web

(and elsewhere)Can be short or long term

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What is Scaffolding?

Scaffolding is a temporary structure which provides help at specific points in the learning process.

It allows learners to complete a challenging task which they would not be able to accomplish without help.

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Why Scaffold?

Because some learners are being left behind

Because you can’t be everywhere at once, so it’s useful to capture some of the help you’d give and make it available for just-in-time learning.

Traditional

Teacher Student

Traditional

Teacher Student

Transmission

Inputs

Constructivist

Inputs

Transformation

Constructivist

Inputs

Transformation

OutputsConstructivist

Inputs

Transformation

OutputsConstructivist

ReceptionScaffolds

Inputs

Transformation

OutputsConstructivist

ReceptionScaffolds

TransformationScaffolds

Inputs

Transformation

OutputsConstructivist

ReceptionScaffolds

TransformationScaffolds

ProductionScaffolds

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How Do We Scaffold?

by… Providing

outlines, guides and templates

Guiding thinking through visual and other means

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Key attributes of good scaffolding

Available for Just-in-time learningSkippable by those who don’t need itBlends content and structure to an

appropriate degreeFades like the Cheshire Cat smile as

students become more adept

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Process Guides

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Reception Scaffolds

Guidance on how to interview an expert

Reading guides Dictionaries and

glossaries Observation guides

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Reception Scaffold Example

http://www-ma.beth.k12.pa.us/jhoke/jhwebquest/jhwebquest.htm

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Back to the Egyptologist Story

Does magic happen when you give children access to an adult expert?

Some visual scaffolding would have helped!

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Students would have been better prepared if they helped generate a diagram like this:

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Transformation Scaffolds

Guidance on applying specific transformations

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Transformation Scaffold Example Chinese

immigrants were treated differently than other groups. Why? How?

Comparing and contrasting with a partially completed Venn Diagram would help.

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Transformation Scaffold Example

Solving a mystery involves building up to a conclusion through a foundation of inferences based on data.

This calls for an Inductive Tower!

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Transformation Scaffold Examples

Edward deBono’s PMI technique can held organize making a judgment about the pros and cons of an issue.

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Transformation Scaffolding Example

The Web Page Design WebQuest uses a graphical organizer to help students compare and contrast different sites.

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Production Scaffolds

Guidance on organizing information in particular formats

Prompted writing templates Multimedia templates

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Production Scaffold Example

In What Would Dewey Do? students are given a template with images in place and asked to recreate a dialog among 4 educational theorists.

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Production Scaffold Example

In Scottsboro Boys’ Trial, students are prompted to create the closing arguments of the prosecuting attorney.

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Time to Explore the Examples

http://webquest.org/

workshops/

scaffolding/

examples.html

Inputs

Transformation

OutputsConstructivist

ReceptionScaffolds

TransformationScaffolds

ProductionScaffolds

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Scaffolding Your Own WebQuest

For every Input, ask yourself…

Do all of my students know how to make sense of this source of information?

Inputs

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Scaffolding Your Own WebQuest

For every Transformation, ask yourself…

Do all of my students know how to manipulate information in this way?

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Scaffolding Your Own WebQuest

For every Output, ask yourself…

Do all of my students know how to produce information in this format?

Outputs

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Where Do Scaffolds Go?

PROCESS

1. Sfk fjdkjf slkjf slkjf s jdfjkdfjlskjf slkjf

2. Gjks gjgls hhslkje sjdk a ghj dh

3. A ngk l wulejk a fkd lkj s fjigl

4. Sjfkll su sljna nms f alkd ffhja

5. Sjf a kj a lblkijb jjkkla bjk

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Degrees of Scaffolding

There’s an appropriate balance point. It depends on your learners.

Spoon Feeding

Sink or Swim

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Degrees of Scaffolding

Don’t scaffold everything… there isn’t time. Pick the 20% that solves 80% of your problems.

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Degrees of Scaffolding

Encourage those who can skip or go beyond the scaffolds to do so. If all student products look the same, something’s wrong.

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Degrees of Scaffolding

Over time, as your learners internalize the structures and skills you want them to have, scaffold less.

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How Do You Make Graphical Organizers?Inspiration GliffyOthers?

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Good Site to Bookmark

http://www.graphic.org/

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Thinking Visually ABOUT WebQuestsWhat we need: a way to visualize a

WebQuest all in one pictureSolution: Lesson Information Diagram

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Lesson Information Diagram

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Uses of the LID

Analyzing existing WebQuestsPlanning new onesExample: here’s the LID for Radio Days

48http://www.thematzats.com/radio/

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Radio Days LID

Scaffolding within WebQuests

Bernie Dodge, PhDSan Diego State University