Response to Readings for June 29

Response to Tom March's Article: I'm going to be straight-forward and blunt about his ideas about webquests when there are computer limitations. March suggests that if there is not a computer, then print out the webpages. Okay, that is not a webquest then. Like students want to go through printed papers to find information. Not nearly as exciting or engaging as actually using a computer and exploring the websites.

I do agree, however, with March that webquests do lend themselves to cooperative learning. Within each group students can have different tasks and be responsible for finding certain information, or designing solutions. Then each group can share their solutions and students can learn from one another, see different approaches, and evaluate one another's solutions.

Response to Computers as Mindtools...: The article mentioned Inspiration. While some teachers rave about this program, I believe it is an over glorified graphic organizer maker. And in my opinion, graphic organizers are vastly overrated themselves.

I'd like to learn more about the Experts System. That sounded promising. I wonder what are some examples used in classrooms today, especially in social studies classrooms.

The Systems Modeling Tool example thoroughly confused the hell out of me. All that the demonstrate the theme of The Lord of the Flies? I would never use anything like that.

The best argument the article makes is that computers should not be used to "disseminate" information. The computer should not act as a TV and give out information as students passively absorb it. The computer is a tool for students to demonstrate their skills, understanding, and present their solutions/findings.