Bryan's+Local+History+Project

WebQuest through Franklin County, PA's History



 * Objective:**
 * To allow my audience to use a [|webquest] to draw informative and interesting aspects of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania's history.
 * Develop an increased ability to accept the differing viewpoints of classmates.
 * Understand the connection between history and the present by linking specific events of over time.
 * Develop a greater appreciation for the area we live through meaningful events past, present, and future.

Franklin County Quest is a learning experience designed to engage students in the growth and change of Franklin County, Pennsylvania through role-play and discussion.
 * Overview:**

The final product of this Quest will be a group wiki collaboration reflecting the question, "Form an opinion of the major events that contributed to the shaping of modern day Franklin County, PA."


 * Activity Goals**:
 * Use the Internet to explore the primary resources of Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
 * Determine at least **five** major events that shaped Franklin County culture.
 * Formulate and support an argument from one of the provided perspectives.
 * Collaborate (through a wiki) with your group to solve a problem from the provided plan.
 * Question the nature of society's ability or likelihood to change with shifts in changing economical and job market conditions.


 * Activities**

Summary: Franklin County Quest is a WebQuest. Student will form teams to answer: //"Form an opinion of the major events that contributed to the shaping of modern day Franklin County, PA."//

After teams are formed, each of the members take one of the roles listed in the Quest. Each member first uses Internet primary sources to find more information that will help members understand their role. Then the teams will work together to create a wiki page for the community (both classmates and the world). This wiki will present the team's combined answer to the quest.


 * Resources:**

[|About WebQuests] by Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University [|Using WebQuests] strategies for your classroom


 * Background:** WebQuest Steps


 * 1) **Introduction** - This part is to provide the students the opportunity to learn some general history of Franklin County, PA. This will set the stage for the students by giving a preview to the region.
 * 2) **Background** - This part helps the team better understand the county facts, history, and current trends and events.
 * 3) **Role-playing** - Student take on different roles for their next level of research. Team member then begin their research using their sources.
 * 4) **Group Process** - Students then compare their perspectives and attempt to agree upon an answer by compiling their information on their wiki to answer - //Form an opinion of the major events that contributed to the shaping of modern day Franklin County, PA.//
 * 5) **Report Submission** - Students may want to make their report public by posting their completed assignment on the web.


 * Introduction**
 * **Description** - This part is to provide the students the opportunity to learn some general history of Franklin County, PA. This will set the stage for the students by giving a preview to the region.
 * **Rationale** - This area of the assignment allows students to explore their own interests in the area. The purpose is to increase motivation in learning about the county on a level of the student's choosing. By beginning here, students can explore their interests in the county (culture, beauty of the landscape, famous people, etc.) before entering the focus of the WebQuest.
 * **Resources -** Student may chose [|primary sources] of their choosing in order to investigate their own particular interests.


 * Background**
 * **Description** - This part helps the team better understand the county facts, history, and current trends and events.
 * **Rationale** - This portion of the project has the purposes of preparing the learners for the coming activity and raises their interests in the subject. The whole class will participate as a group in order to have a common staring point to begin the inquiry.
 * **Resources** -[|Explore Franklin County PA Site]


 * Role-playing**
 * **Description** - Student take on different roles for their next level of research. Team member then begin their research using their sources.
 * **Rationale** - Role-playing is a motivational means of allowing students to explore various perspectives to answering questions. By students answering questions in a role, it encourages them to view the world in a manner that another may see. As a result students are more likely to obtain a greater level of empathy and appreciation for others.
 * **Resources** - Each brief case contains guided instructions that aids in the members gaining a clear understanding of the issues involved in their roles and helps the student understand the perspective of their role. Be sure to explain why you chose the artifact that you did in your (quest)ions. Not all sources are as good as others for your specific role.

Click on the Link for Instructions
 * 1) Franklin County Museum Curator
 * 2) A German Baptist Farmer
 * 3) President James Buchanan's Ghost
 * 4) Present Pennsylvania Governor
 * 5) Walmart Developer

When choosing your resources, the most difficult task is determining their quality and reliability. Factors to think about: Resource: Duke University Library
 * Using the following site as a means of **Evaluating Primary Source Materials** - [|Student Guide]
 * Quality and Reliability
 * 1) What is the tone?
 * 2) Who is the intended audience?
 * 3) What is the purpose of the publication?
 * 4) What assumptions does the author make?
 * 5) What are the bases of the author's conclusions?
 * 6) Does the author agree or disagree with other authors of the subject?
 * 7) Does the content agree with what you know or have learned about the issue?

Group Wiki - [|Instruction for Students] Group Consensus -  [|Ways to Build Consensus] How to Persuade - [|Guide for Students]
 * Group Process**
 * **Description** - Students then compare their perspectives and attempt to agree upon an answer by compiling their information on their wiki to answer - //Form an opinion of the major events that contributed to the shaping of modern day Franklin County, PA.//
 * **Rationale** - The group wiki is a defined goal for the students to obtain and reach a deeper understanding of the topic. A deep understanding can be defined as the ability to understand the materials and concepts well enough to explain them within their group discussion as well as through their group wiki. Through taking part in a team project, the hope is that students will be more motivated to do quality work and invest the necessary time to succeed.
 * **Resources** -


 * Wiki Submission**
 * **Description** - Students may want to make their report public by posting their completed assignment on the web.
 * **Rationale** - A wiki posting allows the possibility of getting feedback from local and distant audience (editting as well if allowed).
 * **Resources** - //post wiki page location here//


 * Assessment**
 * **Description** - The following are suggested methods by which this project could be evaluated and feedback provided.
 * 1) Self-Assessment
 * 2) Peer-Assessment
 * 3) Teacher-Assessment (a rubric)
 * 4) Team Assessment (collaboration rubric)
 * 5) [|Student Created Rubric] (students create there own criteria for evaluation)

I hope taking part in the Franklin County Quest has been a positive and educational endeavor. Additionally, I hope you have gained an appreciation and rationale for how the area we live has come about. Through role-playing, your various perspectives will provide your audience with a new and exciting view of Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
 * Conclusion**