Bio and works

e-portfolio by Linda Ferguson

 

Welcome to our Virtual Yosemite.  This years curriculum will include a  one week trip to Yosemite.  One reason we have chosen Yosemite is because at this time Yosemite does not have a wolf population.  One of our inquiries this year will be to explore the idea of the reintroduction of a currently missing native population to it's natural habitat.  Our goals will be to:

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bond as a group

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learn to work within teams to solve problems and explore our surroundings.

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learn more about Yosemite's history.

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learn about the impact of visitors in the area.

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explore the environment to later incorporate our experiences into a webquest about wolves.

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Use the Houghton Mifflin series about endangered species to tie to California Standards.

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Later explore the pro's, con's and results of the re-introduction of the wolf population to Yellowstone, another National park.  Our investigations will be presented in documentary video presentations to our community.

Join us at Yosemite

Purpose

bulletWe began with the Virtual Yosemite assignment which was a beginning step into the world of creating web pages. This first assignment had several criteria, including multiple pages with links, the use of tables, imbedded images, and other basic Web formatting.

 
bulletThis project was presented online and was reviewed by MaryAnn Pomerleau and Bruce McVicker and two IMET3 cohorts.
bulletThis project is still in its original form.
bulletThe site is being used in class and may be modified in the future to include environmental preservation issues.

Peer Review:

Professional colleagues to reviewed API online.  Their comments are below.

Kathryn O"Dell said Beautiful design. It's a pleasure to look at. How did you do the 3d  looking table where you put the links?

 

All in all an amazing site!  Some comments:  In step 2 in the wolf reintroduction webquest where students gather facts on the program, I like the instruction "Concentrate on not reaching any conclusion about the wolf reintroduction program. . Just the facts!" That is so important in science. It is extremely difficult for people to not make a conclusion before they gather all of the information. Usually they gather information that only support their preconceived ideas.  Your links to resources are very extensive.  I love how the students will have to write a letter to various real people to persuade their side. That is brilliant!  I can't think of anything to change in this site. Any suggestion would be petty. I think I will steal some ideas from this. Again, you do amazing work.   Darren

Heather said, "Yosemite - I like the way you have incorporated the wolves web quest into this site. Incorporating Howard Gardner gives the teacher an explanation as to why this unit is rewarding. It also ties in some theory and may get a teacher to do a little research themselves. The site is pleasing to the eye and creates an atmosphere the viewer would like to visit. Wonderful job."
 

 

Faculty Review:

The site has been reviewed by Jan Hartman, Technology Curriculum Director, at San Juan Unified School District and has been recommended as a best practices site.  Jan has added modifications.

Our instructors reviewed Virtual Yosemite.  Their comments are below.

Bruce McVicker said, Good for you.  The site is terrific!  FrontPage?  I thought you were a Dreamweaver. :^

MaryAnn Pomerleau said,

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Beautiful motif consistent throughout.

According to the text, links, navigation, graphic, and general design checklist on p. 154 of Williams and Tollett (1998), this site fares quite well!

Following are a few items RE: text and design.

 

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Text on the two following pages could be improved with hierarchy defined.

 

On the first page, all the text except the box bulleted items are at the same level.

The reader could be immediately enlightened as to the purpose, if there were a hierarchy of information.

This could be achieved through

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delineation of text

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positioning of delineated text

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use of varying font

 

Modifications

Modifications of the original site included delineating text, repositioning text, bulleted items were added.  Information about the real trip was added.  Additional web links on journals were added.

 

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