1st draft of Project Description for my TechQuest Paper

The purpose of this blog post is to answer the following question:

What is the compelling problem of practice or opportunity for gain that you want to address in your project?

I am a 3rd year middle school science teacher. One of my primary focuses is to prepare students for high school. I do this by teaching content that will support their learning of more complex science, as well as soft skills such as staying organized and learning how to study effectively. I would imagine that at least 50% of my students struggle in one or both of these areas. Consequently, I believe students do not learn as much, or at least cannot demonstrate their knowledge to the highest potential, if they have not mastered these two vital skills. When I analyze quiz scores, those students who earn 90% or above are the same students who have very organized binders, complete and turn in all homework, and report that they studied "very hard".

It takes effort to stay organized and to study. My students grow up in a culture where entertainment is top priority for them and is very easy to access in multiple ways. Students have computers to play "live" video games and visit social networking sites. They have cell phones. They call and text one another frequently. They watch videos and interact with video games. It takes a lot of self-discipline to step away from their virtual world and "study their notes" or "review their study guide".

The problem of practice I will address in my TechQuest is the struggle I face with teaching and encouraging students to study effectively, given their cultural competition with entertainment. I will investigate ways I can make studying engaging for my students by using technology to make it collaborative and interesting for them.

Items I'd like feedback on:

Is my case compelling enough? Would connecting my case to class articles strengthen this?

Would it be helpful if I stated my problem of practice nearer to the beginning, rather than ending with it?

Is my problem of practice "just right" using the Goldilocks anaylogy?

Do I need to elaborate on any particular part or overall?

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback!

Good Middle School Science WebQuests

I teach 7th and 8th grade science. Below are some high-quality, engaging WebQuests I've come across that meet the National Heritage Academy (NHA) learning objectives:

1. Body Systems - "Mission: Cyborg Human"
by Caroline Hughes, Oklahoma State University
http://questgarden.com/103/17/1/100505084432/index.htm

NHA Objective: Describe the interaction between each of the human body systems, including homeostasis and the mechanisms that maintain the balance of body systems.

This WebQuest does an excellent job of engaging and motivating middle school students to learn the organs in each body system and their function through the goal of learning about them in order to help "Captain Awesome" save the planet from "Professor Terrible". The author, Caroline Hughes, does a tremendous job of weaving the storyline into the introduction, task, and process to captivate the learner and establishing a compelling, immediate purpose for learning this content.

2. Cell Parts and Function - "Cell Factory Records Presents"
by Robert DePung, Hancock Place Middle School
http://questgarden.com/83/07/7/100316131930/index.htm

NHA Objective: Describe the basic functions of cell organelles in plant and animal cells

This WebQuest is very well thought-out and will definately grab middle school student's attention. This WebQuest appeals to the dreams and aspirations of many young people with the theme of producing a hit album for a record company. The graphics are supportive and attractive. The rubric is detailed. Everything about this site is polished and engaging.