An iGuide is a web activity that requires students to gather information, organize it, and create something new. It answers an essential question or sheds light on a specific topic. It is relatively short and usually can be completed in 1-3 class periods.

iGuide Objectives

• To direct students to information-rich websites
• To challenge student thinking by posing high level questions
• To guide students in analyzing and manipulating data to create an original product
  

The iGuide GAME Plan

• Gather Information - Students are usually directed to specific Web sites.
• Analyze and Organize - Scaffolding may provide support.
• Make Something New - Students create a project, presentation, etc.
• Evaluate the Product - A rubric is often used for assessment.
  

Complete an iGuide Example
Work through the iGuide example with a partner or in small groups to compare an iGuide to other types of Web activities.

• Use the Web Model Scaffold to gather and analyze data.
• Use the AppleWorks Slide Show Scaffold to plan a slide presentation.
• Examine an on-line rubric for evaluating the slide show.
  

Work with the iGuide Template
Examine the template to become more familiar with the characteristics of an iGuide. You will begin with this template when you create an iGuide of your own. You will also learn to make links to Websites by using the handout on Creating Internet Links in AppleWorks 5.0.

Plan an iGuide

• Think about topics you already teach that could be enhanced by Web resources.
• Select one of these topics for your iGuide.
• Consider what students already know about the topic and decide what they need to learn.
• Draft an essential or prime question and think about potential supporting questions.
• Use a search engine like altavista or Google, or a list of teacher resource sites to find quality resources on your topic.
• Bookmark these resources as you find them.
• Decide what kind of product students will create.
• Plan for evaluation.
  
  

Create an iGuide

• Copy/paste URL's for your resources directly into the template. Choose resources at an appropriate reading level to allow your students to successfully gather information.
• As you locate good resources, draft some high level questions to guide students as they examine the sites. Use Question Cues from the higher levels of Bloom's when possible.
• Design scaffolding as a separate AppleWorks document if students will need support as they analyze, organize, and create.
• Create links in your template to your Web resources and to supporting AppleWorks documents.
  

Create an Assessment Tool

• Write a rubric of your own to evaluate the student product.
• Link to a rubric on-line at The Staff Room or the Region 20 Education Service Center where extensive collections of rubrics have been created.
• Create a rubric on-line at the Rubistar Website. Record your URL for viewing the rubric on-line. Print the rubric to share with students.
• Create a checklist on-line at the Project Based Learning Checklists Website. They can be printed and accessed later with the specific URL.
  

Resources

• Jamie McKenzie - Prime Questions ~ http://questioning.org/module/module2.html
• Learning Skills Program - Bloom's Taxonomy ~ http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/bloom.html
• Welcome to WebQuests ~ http://www.thirteen.org/wnetschool/concept2class/month8/index.html
• Covington Connections - Question Cues ~ http://www.covington.k12.tn.us/resources/word/hots1.htm
• RubiStar ~ http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.shtml
• The Staff Room rubrics ~ http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~elaine.coxon/rubrics.htm
• Region 20 Education Service Center rubrics ~ http://www.esc20.net/etprojects/rubrics/Default.htm
• Project Based Learning Checklists ~ http://4teachers.org/projectbased/checklist.shtml