I have just organised for my student teachers a Learning Activity involving Learning Styles and ICTs. In researching for this lecture, I came across this wonderful material about Bloom's Taxonomy and ICT Tools. This same material was reported in Tech&Learning in a simplified manner as "Bloom's Taxonomy Blooms Digitally" - it is set out in a very tidy manner.

I love the fact that so many of the Web 2.0 Tools are Free or Open Source Software [FOSS] - this is great news for teachers!

The ICT Tool Category within "Bloom's Taxonomy and ICT Tools" article includes Word Processing, Presentation Tools, Desktop Publishing, Geographical Information Systems, Instant Messaging, Audio Tools, Video Tools, Mind Mapping Tools, Graphics tools, Project Tools, and, Modelling Tools. Although this article was reported in 2008 it still has relevant "possible tools" for each category.

As teachers, you can make this listing of relevant ICT Tools up to date by using Jane Hart's Directory (2009 & currently being updated daily the 2010 Tools).

Jane's 12 categories are: Instructional tools; Live tools; Document and presentation tools; Blogging, web & wiki tools; Image, audio & video tools; Communication tools; Micro-blogging tools & Twitter Apps; More collaborative tools; Social networking and collaboration spaces; Personal productivity tools; Browsers, Players & Readers; and, Mobile Tools.

Jane has listed hundreds of Web 2.0 Tools to use within the classroom and for training purposes! It really is any exciting place to be as a teacher.

As far as WebQuests go, as a teacher you need to make sure that you have more of the Higher Order Thinking Skills [HOTS] Web 2.0 tools present.

Here are some videos that I think you will find useful in understanding but also the ramifications of being aware of SEL within the classroom.

Attending to SEL within the classroom also means that projects like WebQuests can be worked on effectively and so Higher Order Thinking and Learning can occur.

Both videos are developed by Edutopia

Here are some resources on SEL that I recently gave to my University student teachers that you also might find useful:

Queensland DET - Social and Emotional Learning  
  

Kids Matter: SEL

SEL: What is it?     

Using WebQuests involves tapping into students' Social and Emotional Intelligence especially when students take on Perspectives or Roles within a WebQuest!

This can be a very powerful thing! Students taking on a different perspective to solve the problems or issues presented in a WebQuest can get them to look at the problem in a way they have never considered before.

For example, I was team teaching in a NSW country school - a Year 6 (or Stage 3) class. We were getting the students to work with a WebQuest on Rainforests. I asked a particular boy (a rather big boy) to be a Logger as a perspective. He didn't want to take on this perspective as he pointed out to me that his family were "Greenies" (in a very strong Australian accent). I persuaded him to take on this role. After the lesson, he came up to me and said "I'm going to tell my Dad about you and this work!".

I was pretty taken back (and concerned about the size of the father!) but bravely said "What will you tell him?" And he replied, and blew my mind away... "Loggers they need jobs too!" He had emotionally connected with the perspective he was given and this had a great influence on his ideas and thoughts!

Remember the image of IQ and EQ:

When you are creating or using a WebQuest, be sure to take your student's EQ into account when allocating perspectives or roles!

Here is another excellent video on Howard Gardner - he especially looks at testing in school (SAT). Produced by CNBC.

Worth thinking about especially in the light of the Australian My Schools website which is based around testing at a national level.

To create an excellent WebQuest for your students you also need to consider the Learning Theory on Multiple Intelligences (MI).

I was terribly excited years ago now when Prof. Howard Gardner was going to address us about his Theory on MI. I had implemented his theory into my teaching practice especially when teaching senior Chemistry. It was so successful that ex-students still come up to me in the streets and shopping malls saying ... "Do you remember when you got us to....?" They still remember these lessons because I implemented this theory into practice.

However, at this conference I attended, Prof. Gardner was such a disappointment - he simply READ from his notes (and these were on the big screen anyway!).

All I can say is that MI is great when it is applied!!!

Here are some resources you might find useful:

MI - this site gives the theory behind the eight Intelligences (although there is a belief that more Intelligences exist): 

• Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
• Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart") 
• Spatial intelligence ("picture smart") 
• Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart") 
• Musical intelligence ("music smart") 
• Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart") 
• Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart") 
• Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")
   

Birmingham Grid for Learning: MI Test -

this test is great fun for yourself and your students! It also gives you as the teacher some food for thought as to how you are presenting material in class!

Concept to Classroom: Tapping into MI - this contains numerous articles and links about this subject

Here is another videos on Cooperative Learning by Dr. Larry Richards.

Introduction to Cooperative Learning by Dr. Larry Richards Experiences with Cooperative Learning (2008)

Another pedagogy behind WebQuests is Cooperative Learning!

Here are some resources I gave my student teachers the other day on Cooperative Learning

• Why use Cooperative Learning?
• Elements of Cooperative Learning
• Class Activities that use Cooperative Learning

New Horizons for Learning: Cooperative Learning - This small site covers Articles, Recommended Reading, and Related Links.   

Teach-nology: Cooperative Learning - this is a large collection of websites that you can browse through to learn more about Cooperative Learning Theory.

Here are two more YouTube short videos about Constructivism!

The first one is a professionally developed video:

VYGOTSKY'S DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY: AN INTRODUCTION ( DAVIDSON FILMS )

The second video is about two great minds in Education:

PIAGET & VYGOTSKY IN 90 SECONDS

We have been looking at resources on Constructivism!

Here is an excellent, simple video about Constructivist Theory that you might enjoy. It is only just over 2mins.

Title: Building knowledge: constructivism in learning