WebQuest+Inquiry+-+Brian+Jacovina

Original WebQuest

Myans

Dr. Jane Jones, renowned archaeologist, from the Mayan Discoveries Department of the Museum of Natural History, needs your help to spread the news of this amazing new discovery by going to Guatemala yourself to check out the murals! However, before you start packing, your trip to the lands of the ancient Maya must be approved by a panel of judges who will decide whether or not they will sponsor your trip. Will you be able to help Dr. Jones?
 * Introduction**

**The Task**

As part of a team, you are to discover the lifestyle of the Maya people, in particular, their many accomplishments in the arts, math and sciences, government, and agriculture. Your task is to present your findings to the judges, using a Power Point presentation that should persuade them to sponsor your trip to the ancient lands of the Maya. You must show them that the rich history and the newly found murals of the Maya civilization, are worth exploring and worth their money to be spent. Once you reach your destination, you are to work independently to decipher one of the murals discovered in the underground chamber. While admiring the mural, you stumble upon a journal-like codex that seems to be dated approximately AD 900, similar to the mural. Could these findings explain the reason behind the Maya disappearance?  ﻿**The Process**

**Group Process**

Your mission here will be to persuade the panel of judges, who will decide whether or not they will sponsor your trip to Guatemala, through a PowerPoint Presentation. To accomplish this task, you will be working in a group of four members. Complete the following steps to get your tickets to the lands of the ancient Maya! However, first, each of you must choose one role to perform from the following:
 * 1) Agricultural Specialist, who will explain how the Maya used farming to establish their civilization. Agricultural Specialist's Mission
 * 2) Archeologist, who will explore the wonders left behind by the Maya. Archeologist's Mission
 * 3) Historian, who will search for important events in the Maya history. Historian's Mission
 * 4) Sociologist, who will describe the relationships of the Maya with others and within themselves. Sociologist's Mission

Once you have picked your roles, complete your missions via the links next to each role above.

Finally, put all your research together into a PowerPoint Presentation. This should include:
 * 1) An introduction slide, that states your reason for the presentation
 * 2) At least 3 slides from each group member, which present the research you all discovered through your roles' missions
 * 3) Two concluding slides; one which provides an explanation of why it is important to know more about the Maya civilization; and the second, giving a final persuading thought to the judges to consider funding your trip to Guatemala.
 * 4) Finally, include appropriate images to make your presentation colorful and pleasing to the eye! Remember, you must impress those judges!

Use your Wiki Account to stay in touch with your group members throughout this journey. Remember, it is an easy way to stay up-to-date and organized!


 * Individual Process**

Your mission is to decipher the journal you found in the underground chamber. The writing in it shows to be written by a Maya civilian. Three pages from it are still in tact and seem to be dated at different times; the first page is approximately a month prior to the date of the last Maya artifact found; the second, about a week before; and the last, a day before. This journal explains the final days of the Maya civilization! Since you are all the way in Guatemala, the fastest way to spread the news of this discovery, is through your Gaggle Blog.You will post your explanations of the three journal pages on your blog. For the 3 blog entries, you will explain what you think happened one month before, one week before, and one day before the final day of the Maya civilization. Be sure to:
 * 1) Title your blog entries: "One month prior," "One week prior," and "One day prior."
 * 2) Write your explanation as if you were a Maya citizen, living during the time of their disappearance. Include who you are, what your job is, and describe any hobbies or traditions you follow.
 * 3) Have a theory of how the Maya civilization ended. This should be developed thoroughly throughout all three time periods. There must be some sort of change you experienced within that final month of your civilization.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Finally, in the last entry, titled "One day prior," give a clear and reasonable explanation for the Maya disappearance.(Your theory for their disappearance must make sense with the accurate facts in Maya history!)
 * 5) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">You are also to provide the museum with a picture of the mural. Here, draw or paint a sensible image that relates to your explanation of the Maya disappearance.

REVISED WEBQUEST

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Dr. Brian Jacovina, renowned archaeologist, from the Eary Civilizations Department of the Museum of Natural History, needs your help to spread the news of the amazing findings of certain civilizations. Rumor has it that this class has been studying the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas. Dr. Jacovina wants to go to the place where the most successful and groundbreaking civilization excisted and he wants to bring you along for the ride! He wants to tour the land and see if he can find more evidence of their findings and even see if there are any more discoveries to be found. However, before you start packing, your trip to the civilizations homeland must be approved by a panel of judges who will decide whether or not they will sponsor your trip.
 * Introduction**

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Will you be able to help Dr. Jacovina?

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">**The Task**

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">As part of a team, you are to discover the lifestyle of the civilization that you feel is the most successful and has contributed the most to current day society. In particular, you must find their many accomplishments in the arts, math and sciences, government, and agriculture. You are not limited to these findings though. Your task is to present your findings to the judges, using a Power Point presentation that should persuade them to sponsor your trip to the ancient land of your choice. After your presentation to the judges, groups will have a debate stating why the civilization they picked is the most succesful and why there group deserves to go on the trip.

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Once you reach your destination, you are to work independently to decipher what else may be discovered on your trip. While looking for new discoveries, you stumble upon a journal-like codex that seems to be dated right before the end of the civilization. Could these findings explain the reason behind the civilizations disappearance?

**The Process**

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">**Group Process**

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Your mission here will be to persuade the panel of judges, who will decide whether or not they will sponsor your trip to your selected civilizations homeland, through a PowerPoint Presentation and the debate. To accomplish this task, you will be working in a group of four members. Complete the following steps to get your tickets to your trip! However, first, each of you must choose one role to perform from the following:
 * 1) Agricultural Specialist, who will explain how the selected civilization used farming to establish their civilization. Agricultural Specialist's Mission
 * 2) Archeologist, who will explore the wonders left behind by the selected civilization. Archeologist's Mission
 * 3) Historian, who will search for important events in the selected civilizations history. Historian's Mission
 * 4) Sociologist, who will describe the relationships of the selected civilizations with others and within themselves. Sociologist's Mission
 * 5) Miscellaneous, who will explore any other interesting information that may not be included in the categories listed above. This is to be worked on by all four members. After you each did your research you will get together and give interesting facts you may have found that did not land other your topic. Put these facts in this category.

Once you have picked your roles, complete your missions via the links next to each role above.

Finally, put all your research together into a PowerPoint Presentation. This should include:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">An introduction slide, that states your reason for the presentation.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">At least 3 slides from each group member, which present the research you all discovered through your roles' missions.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Two concluding slides; one which provides an explanation of why it is important to know more about the civilization; and the second, giving a final persuading thought to the judges to consider funding your trip.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Finally, include appropriate images to make your presentation colorful and pleasing to the eye! Remember, you must impress those judges!

Use your Wiki Account to stay in touch with your group members throughout this journey. Remember, it is an easy way to stay up-to-date and organized!


 * Individual Process**

Your mission is to decipher the journal you found on your trip. The writing in it shows to be written by a civilian. Three pages from it are still in tact and seem to be dated at different times; the first page is approximately a month prior to the date of the last artifact found; the second, about a week before; and the last, a day before. This journal explains the final days of the civilization! Since you are outside of the United States, the fastest way to spread the news of this discovery, is through your Gaggle Blog.You will post your explanations of the three journal pages on your blog. For the 3 blog entries, you will explain what you think happened one month before, one week before, and one day before the final day of the civilization. Be sure to:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Title your blog entries: "One month prior," "One week prior," and "One day prior."
 * 2) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Write your explanation as if you were a citizen, living during the time of their disappearance. Include who you are, what your job is, and describe any hobbies or traditions you follow.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Have a theory of how the civilization ended. This should be developed thoroughly throughout all three time periods. There must be some sort of change you experienced within that final month of your civilization.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Finally, in the last entry, titled "One day prior," give a clear and reasonable explanation for the civilizations disappearance.(Your theory for their disappearance must make sense with the accurate facts in history!)


 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">Antiklia's Feedback on Brian's Revisions: **

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">As for the introduction, the task and the process, aside from changing the word "Maya" from the original WebQuest to "Civilization" in the revised WebQuest and some other word revisions, I dont see much change. We were suppose to improve the original introduction, task and process, to make it more authentic and motivating. I believe this WebQuest was authentic and motivating to begin so I would have probably chosen another WebQuest, one that ranked less than 4 on open-endedness. But since you choose this WebQuest, I believe you should up came up with another task and process instead of changing the words around.

<span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica;">As for suggestions on the activity, I would have eliminated the individual process and just have the students work in groups. If I had revised the task and process, I would have mentioned that my group won the trip and we needed to come up an itinerary of our future trip. This way this puts the students in a real life situation by taking a trip and by following an itinerary. I will also put the student in the trip setting, and they will pick either to be an Agricultural Specialist, Archeologist, Historian, and Sociologist and they each will act and take notes as one of these professionals.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sandra Jones’ feedback to Brian Jacovina ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I like the changes that you made to the WebQuest; specifically you clarified the purpose of the expedition, made students the subject matter experts and issued a clear challenge. I also like that the students have the opportunity to move beyond the areas of study that you provide (self-directed learning), my only suggestion in this portion is that you provide guidelines so that the students don’t go out of scope. The addition of the debate component, as well as collaborating to discuss interesting facts are welcome additions to the assignment.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">One area that I found unclear was the scope of research work. Are you keeping with the original focus of the Mayans, Aztecs and Inca’s or enabling the students to consider other civilizations? This may be simply a wording issue in the task section. Out of interest, why did you eliminate step five (art component) from the original webquest? Some of the students may find this creative vehicle interesting.