Major Term Project

OK...So after much deliberation I have decided to create a web quest and in typical home ec fashion..From scratch!

I have not yet created a website, nor have I ever dreamed of it!! This project will be a challenge for me...And I am up for it! I'm ready to push my knowledge to the next level!

Even as I'm writing this I am conflicted with the inner battle of e-portfolio vs. webquest. I have been doing some extensive thinking and there are pros and cons to each.

e-portfolio pro: very beneficial for employers and also to chart my own professional progress.
con: why create something that I want to delete after?

webquest pro: beneficial for me in terms of constructing one and also to potentially use it when teaching.
con: what if I'm not teaching this subject area in the near future?

I am going through the motions and choosing to blog my proposal for a webquest and hope after I submit it, that I will settle into my decision and really get the ball rolling on it!

The positive thing here is that I will gain knowledge and experience creating a website...and in the future I can make more (e-portfolio and more webquests)!!!

OK...The first thing to mention in looking at the assignment vision statement is that I will be constructing a Long Term Webquest in that it will take more than a week and closer to a month for the students to complete.

1) Select a student group or grade level at which you are or anticipate teaching.

I am specialized in elementary/middle years Home Economics. I completed my internship in the area of Home Economics at the secondary level. For the purpose of this project and my vision of what the students will do, I will target grades 10 through 12. My reasoning for this would be that those are the grade levels I taught during internship and these students would have realistically been able to complete a webquest such as the one I am about to create. I am unsure if Middle years would be as successful in completing a project such as this, based on maturity level, sewing ability, etc.

2) Go to SaskEd. Evergreen Curriculum site and read or retrieve the curriculum guide for that area.

There are many subject areas that are found in the area of Practical and Applied Arts. The subject area that will be the focus of my webquest is that of Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion 10,30: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/paa/clothing/index.html
The following statements are taken from the curriculum guide to give you an idea of what these courses entail.

Philosophy and Rationale
The renewed Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion curriculum guide is designed to create awareness of the role of clothing, textiles, and fashion in our daily lives. Modules are developed for the student who has the desire to learn to sew and/ or design clothing and textile products. Modules will provide the student with the opportunity for achievement and success through a combination of theory and practical experiences within the school and/ or workplace.

With the trend toward self-employment and small business, the knowledge and skills acquired can be transferred into the world of work.

Aim

The Clothing, Textiles, and Fashion curriculum guide focuses on developing an understanding of key theoretical concepts and on practising skills associated with the areas of clothing, textiles, and fashion. There is a balance of personal and work-based skills promoted throughout the guide. Practical application of the knowledge and skills will be demonstrated in projects reflected at both the personal and work level.

Foundational Objectives

Foundational objectives are the major, general statements that guide what each student is expected to achieve for the modules of the PAA curriculum guide. Foundational objectives indicate the most important knowledge, skills, attitudes/values, and abilities for a student to learn in a subject. Both the Foundational Objectives for Clothing, Textiles and Fashion 10, 30 and the Common Essential Learnings (CELs) Foundational Objectives to be emphasized are stated in this document. Some of these statements may be repeated or enhanced in different modules for emphasis. The Foundational Objectives of the Core Modules of the Clothing, Textiles and Fashion 10, 30 curriculum include:

-To understand, develop, and apply the major concepts related to clothing construction.
-To provide a broad foundation of clothing design fundamentals and apply them to projects to meet individual needs.
-To generate an awareness of the factors that determine the appropriateness of successful design in apparel and textile products.
-To increase awareness of the economic and environmental influences on clothing decisions.
-To provide opportunities to use the decision making process in clothing selections.
-To identify and apply principles of clothing care.
-To develop skills in designing, restoring, or recycling clothing and textile items.
-To acquire an understanding of the concepts related to fitting standards and pattern alterations in the clothing and fashion industry and apply these concepts to the fit and appearance of a garment.
-To recognize that clothing, fashion, and textile items evolved from culture and reflect the economic, political, and social conditions of the times.
-To create a broad awareness of textiles uses in apparel, home furnishings, commercial furnishings, and industry.
-To examine, create, and evaluate a variety of textile design applications suitable for clothing and textile items.
-To explore and practise the fashion design process.
-To integrate classroom learning with work-related learning.
-To create an awareness of the careers and opportunities in the fields of clothing, textiles and fashion industries that exist in Canada.


This currulum is comprised of both core and optional modules. When looking at the Module Overview and Suggested Course Configurations, it is important to understand that the courses (10, 30) are to be 100 hours. The teacher must teach all the core modules and then select other optional modules based on which projects they have chosen and also the time frame. It is common in this PAA course for teachers to combine several modules. My webquest will do exactly this as quilting does not fit neatly into one module. Students will use elements from the following modules to create their project:

Module 1: Introduction to Sewing
Module 2: The Basics
Module 3: Construction details
Module 5: Design Fundamentals
Module 7: Redesign, Restore or Recycle
Module 11: Textile Applications

3) Develop a concept map to describe content limits and establish topic relationships.

LOL..OK so I'm not even going to say how long I've been sitting here trying to link in my concept map!! Darn, I'll figure out how to get it in later...Or email it to you Jay!

4) Develop a question for your students to answer that requires higher-order thinking skills.

How does your quilt describe who you are as a person?

This question will encourage students to examine themselves by way of family, history, culture, core beliefs and values. Through the process of making the quilt, they will also be making deep, meaningful connections to themselves.

6) Other items to mention...

Rationale: I believe this topic will be important for high school students in that they will develop a deeper self knowledge, examining their core beliefs and values during a key developmental time in their lives.

Teaching Activities:

Students will be given a pattern for a baby sized quilt. Selection of another pattern needs to be approved by the teacher.

Students will apply the elements and principles of design when planning their quilt.

Students will blog the progress of their quilting journey.

Students will interview family members and other influencial people in their lives.

Students will have lab time and computer time.

Students will create a patchwork quilt.

Resources: Human and computer resources will be needed in order for me to implement my webquest. Human resources such as aids in the development of my website and computer such as sites and programs that I access to create my webquest.

Internet Sites:
Yahoo:
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/quilting/

This is the Better Homes and Gardens website. It has step by step How-To's for quilting, free downloadable patterns...etc..

Lycos:
http://quilting.about.com/od/stepbystepquilting/How_to_Make_a_Quilt.htm

Another resource with many links and How-To procedures.

AltaVista:
http://www.quilt-video.com/category/quilt-blocks/

This website lists How-To videos.

http://quiltblocklibrary.com/

This website shows videos and various quilt blocks.

Google:
http://www.kaffefassett.com/Home.html

He is my favorite quilter! This website has a gallery of his quilts.

Evaluation:
There will be a two rubrics to evaluate the quilt. One for the top of the quilt and another for the finished quilt.
There will also be an evaluation for student blogs and a presentation to the class.