A Communication WebQuest

Shelby City Schools - Shelby Middle School - Communication WebQuest

A Communication WebQuest

Introduction

Have you ever stopped to think about the changes in the last 100 years in the technology you use daily?

Have you ever heard stories about phones that you had to crank to work?

How about Black and White TV?

Has the technology you are so used to using had a major effect on our culture, our leisure or even your education?

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Task

In this project you will choose a present technology and trace its history of change over the last 100-150 years.

You can go back further if you like but it isn't required.

After choosing your technology and reporting it to the teacher your group will begin your quest.

You will be expected to relate your discoveries to the class in light of the culture that caused the changes or the change the technology made on the culture.

There are four jobs to cover in this task;

Culture Expert This person will tell participants if they need more information in the area of culture. They will assist with the slide show by collecting graphics that relate the culture to the technology. Try to see if culture effected technology or technology effected culture.	Presentation Expert This person will organize slides prepared by members and add the touches required on the worksheet. This person will be responsible to run the show on the presentation day.
Techno Expert This person will determine which examples of the changing technology will be used after the research. They will also keep track of the dates connected to the technology's beginnings and assist with the slide show by providing graphics related to the chosen technology.	Team Leader This person will set deadlines and be responsible for checking up on people in the group to be sure they are completing tasks on time. This person will be responsible for assigning the research jobs to group members. This person also does all communication with the teacher for the team.

Everyone in the group will be involved in the research part of the project. Jobs will be divided as described below;

History and Events Collect information on; 1. Major history (social & political) events in each decade used. 2. People who made the news in each decade. 3. Click here for history worksheet.	Science & Technology 1. What was purpose of the new technology? 2. How did it effect American life? 3. What specific changes were made? 4. Click here for science worksheet.
Entertainment Industry 1. How did the things happening in the entertainment industry effect American life each decade? 2. Popular music, movies, radio shows, books 3. Evaluate how the entertainment effected the technology being researched? 4. Click here for entertainment worksheet.	Leisure 1. What were people doing for rest and relaxation during each decade covered? 2. What were the major fashion trends? 3. Identify the general attitude of people of the time period. 4. Did these areas have any any role in the development of the technology being research? 5. Click here for leisure worksheet.

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Process

You have 1 week, 5 days, to complete the research and develop your presentation. Day 6 will see the start of presentations.

Day One 1. Determine technology to research and report to teacher. 2. Divide jobs. 3. Fill in KWL chart . 4. If time remains begin research.	Day Two 1. Research technology and find answers to task questions. 2. Keep track of notes in journal. 3. Complete assigned worksheet.	Day Three 1. Complete research on topic. 2. Fill in journal. 3. Fill in required worksheet. 4. Work on assigned part of slides.	Day Four 1. Fill in all necessary information on slides. 2. Complete worksheets & journal.	Day Five 1. Go over slide show and practice presentation. 2. Complete worksheets and journals. 3. Complete KWL chart. 4. Evaluate team members using team evaluation page.

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Resources

You are permitted to select other technologies not found here as well as other web sites.

Ham Radio	Electrical Items	Telephone (AT&T)
Cell Phone	Internet	Computers, Media, Internet
Radio	Computers, Phones, Internet, Others	Fiber Optics
Broadcasting	Computers, Radio, Film, Telephones	Communication Technologies
Bicycles	Cameras	Skates Skating
Wooden Pencils Pencil History	Ink pens	Toasters

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Evaluation

The following rubric will be used to evaluate your reseach and presentation.

	Beginning	Developed	Accomplished	Exemplary
Focused Topic	The article's information rambles and does not pinpoint one particular aspect for comparison	Briefly mentions a topic for comparison, but gives few details	Describes the topic and gives several examples	Article clearly defines topic for comparison and goes on to give specific details
Gives Information Unique to Technology	Never mentions any unique information	Gives very little unique information	Give some information that is unique to topic	Gives a great deal of interesting and unique information
Relates Culture to Technology	Culture not clearly related to technology or not present	Some culture related to technology	Most technology and culture related	Clear relation of culture to technology
Well Organized	Lacks direction and has no logical sequence	Topic is present but sequence is very unorganized	Is somewhat sequential	Every section begins with a clear introduction and information is very well organized and orderly
Clear and Understandable	Very difficult to follow	Mostly difficult to follow and understand	Mostly easy to understand	Easy to read slides and follow information
Correct Grammar and Spelling	Frequent grammar/ or spelling errors	Few grammar/ or spelling errors	Only one or two grammar/ or spelling errors	All grammar and spelling is correct
Presentation	Presentation is incomplete or unclear in its projection of topic covered. Presenters are sloppy and distracting from presentation.	Presentation is almost complete, some parts missing. Presenters are not all involved in presentation or paying attention.	Presentation is complete but not particularly interesting. Presenters usually hold our attention.	Presentation represents topic well, easy to follow and interesting. Presenters command attention.

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Credits

Thanks to the following Cheryl Cronbaugh http://www.ncocc-k12.org/prodev

Shelby Middle School SciTech Homepage

Webmaster and organizer: João Jadrim Fernandes

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