Project-based learning and WebQuests

Hello everybody,

I read great PBL examples on:
http://susangaer.com/studentprojects
I drew out a project that may work well with my students.
Target audience: Level 11 students.
Topic: Bird Flu
I think it would work well as it is a global problem that. There is a lot of information about in different media. This would make students feel the topic is familiar; they would be encouraged to work. It relates to a real life problem as well. Students recycle information and learn new knowledge, skills and attitudes.

The project objectives:
By the end of the project student will be able to:
1- Identify the bird flu and its causes with 100% accuracy
2. use the internet to get and exchange data, videos, images, research and reports about bird flu with 80% accuracy
3- show a positive attitude towards protection, hygiene and sanitation

This project is to be carried out in six days (six periods, 50 minutes a period = 300 minutes).
Place: Multi-media room with a learning station, computers connected to the internet, data-show and stationary.

Students will be divided into five heterogeneous groups.

Each group will choose only one idea:
1. What is “bird flu”? What is its cure?
2. How it spreads
3- How to avoid it
4. How to deal with healthy and infected birds (and humans)
5. How can we enhance the mutual cooperation between the school and the society in this respect?

Each group will cover the area chosen in different ways:
1. Chatting and exchanging e-mails over the net
2. Using the search engines to search for reports, images, projects, videos, sayings…etc
3. Writing or summarizing reports
4. Drawing, designing and writing newsletters, brochures, slideshows, PPT Presentations

Each period will start with 5 minute warm up activity. Students work for 35 minutes (they can do tasks at home and get them ready. So, they can help slower ones in class).
The last ten minutes is for the presentations of the groups’ products and assessment/evaluation.

The last period will be for the overall presentation.
There will be a standardized assessment form for individual and group work.
The project(s) will be kept in binder for the upcoming class as examples.

All the best

Ahmed Khattab