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LINGOs intends to go live with its new web site on April 15, 2008. In the weeks that lead up to the launch, we intend to facilitate a group of users through a WebQuest assessment process that will evaluate the site according to 4 assessment lenses:
- The user interface - Is navigation intuitive? Does the lay out make sense? Are resources findable? Is the site legible?
- The site content - Does the site have useful content? Is the information architecture logical? Is the information architecture complete?
- Subscribing to e-mails and RSS reeds - Was the process user-friendly? How was your experience?
- Contributing to the site - Were you able to post discussion comments, documents and interesting links to the site?
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The assessment will employ a process that evolves from the "WebQuest" methodology. See the webpart on this page to learn more about WebQuests. Rather than lead assessors through an expansive "tour" of the site, or ask them to complete a lengthly survey on the internet, the assessment is structured around a series of 4 tasks over 4 days.
Each day, assessors will receive an e-mail outlining the WebQuest for that day. The WebQuests are designed to facilitate the assessors through probing each of the 4 assessment objectives outlined above. Each task should take five to ten minutes - followed by approximately 5-10 minutes to journal the task on the tabbed page (above) that corresponds to the day's WebQuest. Of course, if assessors are feeling ambitious, they could complete more than one WebQuest in one day. Directions are posted in each tabbed page.
At the end of the 4-day process, we will have a meeting to reflect on the results of the webquests and to analyze our work. This meeting will be held using Elluminate on April 8th at 11:00 Eastern US time. Check the "meta session" tab for more information.
Are you new to Elluminate? In order to attend the meeting, simply click on the link above. If you've never used Elluminate before, prior to the meeting you'll need to download the most recent version of the Java software, which can be found here: http://www.elluminate.com/support/. This Elluminate support page will help you determine whether you have the correct version of Java.
You'll also need a headset with a microphone to participate optimally. We HIGHLY recommend logging in at least 15 minutes early to the meeting so that you can test your audio and make sure you can participate fully. |
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| | LINGOs | mikeatlingos.org | Among other responsibilities at LINGOs - I have been the lead on developing the website. Leslie Sherriff and I are working together to conduct the assessment prior to launch on April 15. | | | LINGOs | Leslieatlingos.org | Leslie works with LINGOs as the Volunteer Program Coordinator and also supports the NGO Project Management Initiative. Prior to LINGOs, Leslie spent 8 years in a variety of roles with Catholic Relief Services, primarily in the Balkans. | | | LINGOs | linda@lingos.org | |
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A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented learning format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. The model was developed by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University in February, 1995.
A real WebQuest....
- is wrapped around a doable and interesting task that is ideally a scaled down version of things that adults do as citizens or workers.
- requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing. This includes synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity and judgment.
- makes good use of the web. A WebQuest that isn't based on real resources from the web is probably just a traditional lesson in disguise. (Of course, books and other media can be used within a WebQuest, but if the web isn't at the heart of the lesson, it's not a WebQuest.)
- isn't a research report or a step-by-step science or math procedure. Having learners simply distilling web sites and making a presentation about them isn't enough.
- isn't just a series of web-based experiences. Having learners go look at this page, then go play this game, then go here and turn your name into hieroglyphs doesn't require higher level thinking skills and so, by definition, isn't a WebQuest.
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