Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

 

 

Introduction

Communication is a process in which ideas, information or feelings are exchanged to the maximum benefit of all parties.

 

We communicate every day. 

We speak, write and draw to let people know what we are thinking and feeling. 

When those people respond, our communication becomes interactive or two-way. 

All communication involves a sender, a medium (such as voice, image or print), and a receiver.

Communication Technologies make it easy to talk to a friend next door or around the world.  We can call them on the phone, e-mail them or put up information on our web pages.

We also receive information daily through a variety of sources. 

We listen to the radio, watch television, and read magazines for both information and entertainment. 

Businesses use communication technologies when they advertise to sell us products and services. 

 In fact, Communication Technology is a big business in itself.  Our basic need to communicate for fun and profit drives these industries.

This WebQuest will challenge you to learn more about 6 popular Communication Technologies:

 Radio

 Telephone

 Television

Computer

 Printing. 

 You will discover not only their origins and inventors, but also how they work and how they help people communicate today.  In the end, you will evaluate their effectiveness as communication mediums.

 

Your Task

You are employed by a well-known advertising agency. 

 Your company has been hired by one of the six Communication Technology Industries to create an educational/promotion piece that will tell the public all about them. 

Your clients want you to include something about the history and development of their product/industry, explain how their technology works and show their strengths in the area of communication.

First you will need to research that one area of Communication Technology, answering the questions provided on that page. 

Then it is up to your team to choose a medium to communicate the information that you have found. 

Put your findings in an appropriate format and present this to your client (class).

Read the Process section and then choose your area from the list below.

 

 

 

Process
  1. Divide your research among members of the group.  Set deadlines so that you will have all work completed on time.
  2. Answer all the questions on your page.  You are to use the resources provided on the appropriate page.  Keep track of which site you use to answer individual questions.  You will need to turn in a copy of your answers with your final product.
  3. Decide what format you will use to communicate the information you have found.  Be creative in your approach.  Note: You will get more credit for using a medium that simulates your area of technology.  For example, you might create an audio tape of a radio broadcast that might be aired to educate the public about radio and promote the radio industry.  You might create a videotape of a television segment to promote the television industry.  A brochure would be a suitable product for the printing industry.
  4. Be sure that all the answers from the questions are answered in your product.
  5. Divide your duties as evenly as you can when you plan and produce your promotional product for your industry.
  6. Your group's work will be evaluated and your individual work will also be assessed.  See Evaluation section and Rubric page.
  7. Your team will make a formal presentation of your product to the client/class who will then evaluate the effectiveness of your communication.  A professional presentation will have a positive effect on the audience's impression of your work.

 

Go Back and Choose your Communications Industry Now

 

 

Evaluation

Part 1

You will be paid (graded) based on your individual contributions to the team effort.  You will be expected to make significant contributions to the group in the research, product development, and presentation aspects of the project.

Part 2

You will be paid (graded) based on the work produced by the entire team.  Your team will be expected to

  1. Conduct thorough research.
  2. Answer all the questions associated with your chosen industry in depth.
  3. Produce a creative, well-structured, appropriate product & presentation that communicates the information presented in the Task in a manner that represents the industry in a positive manner.

See the Rubrics for more specific information.

Conclusion

Thank you for your help in creating a terrific educational and promotional product for one of the six Communications Technologies we have studied.  We have seen that the technology supporting these industries has changed greatly over the years, adding new dimensions that have improved communication; while presenting new challenges.

 

WebQuest prepared by B. Quick and C. Casey , James Wood High School

Re-organized and adapted by Joćo Jardim Fernandes

 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion