This web-quest http://sites.google.com/site/pestretsovawebquestthames/ is addressed to10th formers as it requires quite good level of language skills and some basic knowledge of British culture, art and history. Moreover, the students are expected to work out a final project which is a web-site and written and analytical skills are necessary.
Introduction
Over the centuries the Thames has been central to the growth and prosperity of London and many of the City's famous buildings and attractions are located along its banks.
You will be a guide on a River Thames boat trip and you will show London from a completely different perspective.
Task
The purpose of this web-quest is to issue a web-site “River Thames boat trip”, consisting of five pages:
- Westminster Palace
- London Eye
- Tower of London
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
- London Dungeon
Using the resources provided you will work in five separate groups of four. Each group will go on page 95 in your student’s book (Virginia Evans, Jenny Dooley, Bob Obee, Olga Afanasyeva, Irina Mikheeva “Spotlight-10”) and choose one London attraction listed on this page. Your task will be to find out information about the location, history, opening times and prices of admission of this attraction.
Each person in your group will have an important role in the success of your project.
Role 1 – Historian – This member of your group will be responsible for researching and reporting on the history of chosen attraction.
Role 2 – Photographer – This member of your group will be responsible for collecting photographs. Of course, your web-page will be much more attractive with photos, so collect as many as possible to make your web-page the most interesting one.
Role 3 – Web-masters – This member of your group will be responsible for designing, generating and revising your web-page.
Role 4 – Editor – This member of your group will be responsible for choosing, arranging and checking the information that other students have found.
The final result of your cooperation should be a completed web-page.
Process
Step 1
You will be placed into groups of four. The first thing you will need to decide is who will take on what roles within your group. Each group will need one person to fill each of the following positions.
- Historian
- Photographer
- Web-master
- Editor
Step 2
Now that you are in your groups and the responsibilities have been divided up, it is time to begin your web-research.
Group 1: Go to http://www.parliament.uk/about/livingheritage/building.cfm
http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/
Gather information about The Palace of Westminster
Tell about:
- History
- Exterior. Towers
- Interior
3.1 Royal Gallery
3.2 Lords Chamber
3.3 Commons Chamber
3.4. Westminster Hall
Give practical information about visiting the Palace of Westminster (admission prices, summer opening ...)
Group 2: Go to http://www.londoneye.com/
Gather information about the London Eye.
Tell about:
- Design and construction
- History
- Financial controversy
- Critical reception
- Predecessor
Give practical information about visiting the London Eye (admission prices, opening times ...)
Group 3: Go to http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/
Gather information about the Tower of London.
Tell about:
- History
- Royal Armouries
- Ravens
- Prisoners
- Yeomen Warders
- Crown Jewels
Give practical information about visiting the Tower (admission prices, opening times ...)
Group 4: Go to http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/
Gather information about the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Tell about:
- Original Globe
- Second Globe
- New Globe
- Interior
- Workshops and Exhibitions
Give practical information about visiting the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (admission prices, opening times ...)
Group 5: Go to http://www.the-dungeons.co.uk/london/en/index.htm
Gather information about the London Dungeon.
- History
- Scenes
2.1. Labyrinth of the Lost
2.2. The Great Plague
2.3. The Great Fire of London
Give practical information about visiting the London Dungeon (admission prices, opening times ...)
To get more information about London attractions, visit web-sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.britainexpress.com/London/index.htm
http://www.britannia.com/travel/
http://www.capital-calling.com/
http://www.freefoto.com/pictures/uklondon/police/index.asp?i=11
http://www.museum-london.org.uk/
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xGlobe.html#Globe
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-globe-theatre.htm
http://www.uktravel.com/london.asp
http://www.virtual-london.com/
Step 3:
Now that you have done the research on London attraction, you must create a web-page persuading tourists to visit it.
Evaluation
Beginning 2 |
Developing 3 |
Accomplished 4 |
Exemplary 5 |
Score |
|
| Demonstrates effective and efficient use of the Internet for locating appropriate information to complete the web-page | Reflects not satisfied amount of effort to find appropriate information and create an effective and interesting web-page. | Reflects a limited amount of effort to find appropriate information and create an effective and interesting web-page. | Information relates to the process of creating an effective web-page. The use of both text and graphics is incorporated appropriately. | Excellent choice of materials which provides excellent information appropriate to the task. | |
| Demonstrates the ability to write clearly, following the rules of standard of English so to effectively communicate information, ideas, and conclusion | The descriptions of places are difficult to understand. Sentences are incomplete and contain many grammatical and spelling (mistakes)errors. | The descriptions of places lack clarity and include many grammatical and spelling errors. The writing is not well organized. | The descriptions of places are clear and usually well written without many grammatical and spelling errors. | The descriptions are written in clear, well constructed paragraphs. The information is presented in descriptive language with few if any grammatical and spelling errors. The writing demonstrates excellent preparation and execution. | |
| Demonstrates the ability to create a well-organized, graphically rich web-page which effectively integrates images and text. | Little or no use of pictures or graphics. Selection of information is not relevant to the web-page. Demonstrates few design strategies. | Some use of graphics but not effectively presented. Graphics and text are not used together. Limited selection of images. | Uses a variety of graphics. Good use of combining text and graphics. Organized and appropriate selection of graphics and pictures. | Excellent use of graphics of many types. Creative and interesting use of text with graphics. High quality graphics used effectively to illustrate the web-page. | |
| Demonstrates the ability to work cooperatively, sharing information and skills necessary for effective collaborative learning. | Demonstrates very little cooperation. Group members do not assume responsibilities. Very little effort to work as a team. | The group demonstrates some cooperation but members do not communicate information efficiently. One or two members do most of the work. | Good team effort. All members of the group collect and select the information. All members of the team perform tasks. | The entire group works as an effective unit to share information. Excellent communication with well organized activities. Everyone on the team is actively involved during the entire process. |
Conclusion
You have an opportunity to take a virtual trip along the Thames. This task has enabled you to combine your skills with the tools and information available on the Internet in order to create a web-page.
You have learned how to collect and choose suitable information for such projects and combine them so that it makes a reasonable work as a whole.
I hope you have enjoyed working together and sharing your knowledge and experience.