Implementation Plan for the Zoo Curriculum Web
I am a computer lab manager at Wadsworth School for the primary grades (k-3). I do not have a lab assistant. I plan to implement this project with my 2nd and 3rd grade classes. Each student has access to his/her own computer, but for several parts of the project I will have them work in pairs. In the past, some students resisted working collaboratively, but this time I will simply shut down half of the computer stations. The collaborative working will be beneficial to the struggling readers. It will also benefit the better readers. They will have to communicate effectively and strengthen their understanding of what is being learned in order to share it with their partners.
I plan to implement this Curriculum Web during the same time frame that classroom teachers are planning a trip to the zoo. Not a year goes by without some of the classrooms going to Brookfield or Lincoln Park Zoo. Both of these zoos have a web site that can be used for my purposes. The first WebQuest is to be completed before the trip and the second WebQuest should be completed after the trip. In the event that I am unable to find a 2nd or 3rd grade classroom that is planning a trip, I will proceed with the WebQuests, though it is preferable to take a physical trip to see the animals and their zoo environments. If possible, I will request permission to attend the trip with the class and schedule a tour with a zoo docent. By that point, students should have some good questions to ask about zoos.
Some of the required products may be done offline instead of online. I hope that the classroom teacher and the art teacher will work with me to help students get the time and resources needed for successful completion. I will also be teaching reading during the morning reading block at Wadsworth. It would be optimal if the students in my reading group are from the class that will complete this WebQuest. I will use books with an animal or zoo theme. Our reading coordinator has many books that would suit my purposes. If I do not have this particular group of students I will ask the classroom teacher to teach collaboratively with me around this theme. If this does not work, I may just rely on online books and stories during their lab time.
The fact that my students come to the computer lab daily, makes it more realistic for me to imagine that I can complete the Curriculum Web even if the classroom and art teacher do not want to collaborate. However, in my experience at Wadsworth, if I come to them with the plan, they are usually happy to join with me. My biggest obstacle is the students reading abilities. If pairing them does not work, we may do some of the online activities together as a big group. I can use the LCD projector in my lab to go over directions and WebQuest steps. Then, students could be freed to go back to their own computers to create the products described in the WebQuest and discussed as a group.