Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Teachers Page
Introduction
In this WebQuest, designed specifically for Year 9 students, the age-old issue of whether it makes more financial sense to RENT a house over your lifetime or to BUY a house is investigated. This is a complex issue as no two people are the same. It depends on every student's personal circumstances. In this task students investigate and research various factors that can help them with their decision. The pros and cons of each option will be compared and in the process students will learn about real-life concepts like finding a house to buy or rent, budgeting and calculating loan repayments!
One of the main purposes of the task is to get students to make use of Information and Communication Technologies to enhance their learning and to encourage high-order thinking. Students are encouraged to conduct their RESEARCH on the Internet, access Instructional VIDEOS on the Internet, to access the Blog page to encourage discussion and information sharing, and to create a PowerPoint presentation to summarise their findings.
Implementation of the WebQuest
It is recommended that students be allowed to complete this WebQuest over a period of 3 weeks. During this period at least 2 Mathematics lessons per week should be allocated to work on this task.
During the FIRST lesson students must be presented with all the Tasks. Students are expected to complete the WebQuest individually, but DISCUSSION and collaboration with other students are encouraged. The Task requirements and Process should be clearly explained to students during the first lesson. It is recommended that Task 1 and 2 is completed during Week 1, Tasks 3 and 4 in Week 2, and Task 5 together with the PowerPoint presentation completed in Week 3.
Each Task should be started off in class so that students can have the opportunity to ask questions. Discussion about each topic should also be encouraged during these lessons. A Dicussion Points document is attached to provide ideas for these discussions.
Cross Curricular work
This task has the advantage of linking to the Curriculum Framework Learning Outcomes from several Learning Areas, namely Mathematics, Society and Environment as well as English. To get the maximum value out of this WebQuest it is suggested that the teachers of all of these areas collaborate and implement this WebQuest together.
Students' Prior Knowledge and Experience
It is possible that students might be unfamiliar with some of the concepts that they will encounter in this WebQuest, like Spreadsheets, the use of WebQuests and Blogs, PowerPoint, Research on the Internet etc. It is suggested that the gaps in knowledge be determined during the first lesson. These concepts can then be explained and demonstrated to students. However, the main purpose of this task is to encourage students to experiment with new technologies and to learn through INQUIRY. This also links to Overarching Learning Outcome 12, stating "Students are self-motivated and confident in their approach to learning and are able to work individually and collaboratively" (Curriculum Framework, 1998, p. 26).
Click here to download the TASK description.
Click here to download a description of the PROCESS to be followed.
Click here to download the Marking Guide.
Click here to download the Discussion Points.
Click here to download an Overview of each Lesson
Click here to see the links to the Curriculum Framework Learning Outcomes.
Feel free to post any comments on this WebQuest on the Blog page.
In this WebQuest, designed specifically for Year 9 students, the age-old issue of whether it makes more financial sense to RENT a house over your lifetime or to BUY a house is investigated. This is a complex issue as no two people are the same. It depends on every student's personal circumstances. In this task students investigate and research various factors that can help them with their decision. The pros and cons of each option will be compared and in the process students will learn about real-life concepts like finding a house to buy or rent, budgeting and calculating loan repayments!
One of the main purposes of the task is to get students to make use of Information and Communication Technologies to enhance their learning and to encourage high-order thinking. Students are encouraged to conduct their RESEARCH on the Internet, access Instructional VIDEOS on the Internet, to access the Blog page to encourage discussion and information sharing, and to create a PowerPoint presentation to summarise their findings.
Implementation of the WebQuest
It is recommended that students be allowed to complete this WebQuest over a period of 3 weeks. During this period at least 2 Mathematics lessons per week should be allocated to work on this task.
During the FIRST lesson students must be presented with all the Tasks. Students are expected to complete the WebQuest individually, but DISCUSSION and collaboration with other students are encouraged. The Task requirements and Process should be clearly explained to students during the first lesson. It is recommended that Task 1 and 2 is completed during Week 1, Tasks 3 and 4 in Week 2, and Task 5 together with the PowerPoint presentation completed in Week 3.
Each Task should be started off in class so that students can have the opportunity to ask questions. Discussion about each topic should also be encouraged during these lessons. A Dicussion Points document is attached to provide ideas for these discussions.
Cross Curricular work
This task has the advantage of linking to the Curriculum Framework Learning Outcomes from several Learning Areas, namely Mathematics, Society and Environment as well as English. To get the maximum value out of this WebQuest it is suggested that the teachers of all of these areas collaborate and implement this WebQuest together.
Students' Prior Knowledge and Experience
It is possible that students might be unfamiliar with some of the concepts that they will encounter in this WebQuest, like Spreadsheets, the use of WebQuests and Blogs, PowerPoint, Research on the Internet etc. It is suggested that the gaps in knowledge be determined during the first lesson. These concepts can then be explained and demonstrated to students. However, the main purpose of this task is to encourage students to experiment with new technologies and to learn through INQUIRY. This also links to Overarching Learning Outcome 12, stating "Students are self-motivated and confident in their approach to learning and are able to work individually and collaboratively" (Curriculum Framework, 1998, p. 26).
Click here to download the TASK description.
Click here to download a description of the PROCESS to be followed.
Click here to download the Marking Guide.
Click here to download the Discussion Points.
Click here to download an Overview of each Lesson
Click here to see the links to the Curriculum Framework Learning Outcomes.
Feel free to post any comments on this WebQuest on the Blog page.
RentorBuy WebQuest by Larey van der Walt is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
