Reflection #18

(1) Describe the Resource / Experience:
During my resource search this week, I also discovered a site sponsored by Scholastic Books entitled “Scholastic Instructor Cyberhunt Kids’ Library”. In one of my previous classes here at Webster, I incorporated a webquest into one of my final projects and my instructor suggested that since I liked to use webquests, I should investigate using Cyberhunts in my classroom. When I googled “cyberhunts”, I discovered this site. It provides a list of readymade cyberhunts that can be used for a variety of subjects in any classroom. Another site I found during my search entitled “Cyberhunts” defined cyberhunts as instructional tools similar to webquests that “guide [students] through a series of websites on a particular subject and ask [students] to find out information on the way” (ICKids, 2009, no page numbers).
(2) Lessons Learned / Applications for the Classroom / Recommendations for Yourself or Others:
After further researching cyberhunts and viewing the readymade examples on this website, I have discovered that cyberhunts would be a very effective way to integrate technology and constructivism in today’s classroom. After viewing the way these hunts are designed and used, I think they would work great in early childhood classrooms. I teach second grade and I’ve used webquests with my students before, but sometimes they struggled in completing the quests. However, I think the cyberhunts would allow them to access the same information in a more early-childhood-friendly format. The cyberhunts seem to be simpler and easier to complete than webquests. Therefore, as for classroom applications, over the next few weeks, I am going to conduct a cyberhunt with my second graders to test my hypothesis about them being simpler and easier to complete than webquests. I’ll be sure to reflect and blog about the experience once it’s over. I’ll keep all of you posted on what happens and what I learn from the experience.
(3) Links to Readings, Resources, or Discussions:
These ideas directly relate to the following resources from my resource log:

Scholastic Instructor. (2009). Cyberhunt kids’ library. Scholastic Inc. Retrieved from http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/instructor/cyberhunt_kids.htm

ICKids. (2006). Cyberhunts. ICTeachers Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.ickids.org.uk/cyberhunts.htm

Moreover, the ideas expressed above directly link to the readings, resources, and discussions I’ve encountered about using webquests in today’s classrooms.