The UW TRIO ThinkQuest suggested curriculum for competition is generally based on a six-week Upward Bound Summer Program. Some programs, such as Early Talent Search, do not have the recommended 6 week minimum, and have created educational web sites in as short a time as 2 weeks. This is not recommended but it has been done. A Checklist is provided.
It is strongly encouraged to break TRIO ThinkQuest into two classes: Language Arts and TTQ Technical Class. The two classes collaborate together, the research and writing in LA and the design building in Tech work together in order to synchronize with due dates, etc. These are intense classes to say the least but the students, who most often do not have these skills when beginning, embrace the challenge and finish with amazing results.
Evaluation is based on meeting the Rubric.
NOTE:
The most important thing for instructors is to act more as a coach than as an instructor; a "guide on the side" is essential to allow the students to learn and develop on their own. It is also essential to guide the writing process within BOTH classes; the Tech class must not pay attention to tech issues only as an educational web site would be nothing without content.
And finally, it isn't necessary to know the web building software - REALLY - it is enough to introduce the students to it and they TAKE OFF. I am a writing instructor, not even close to being a "techy" but I have still been able to teach a Tech class simply by presenting a structured opportunity to the students. It is a good idea, however, to have one person know enough about FTP to help the students submit their sites at the end of the program. |
