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This Site provides a brief summary of the Web-Enhanced Learning Environment Strategies (WELES) developed by Barbara L. Grabowski and Tiffany A. Koszalka in a joint research project between the Instructional Systems Program at The Pennsylvania State University and Marianne McCarthy from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The information on this site is intended to supplement teacher workshops dedicated to developing strategies to incorporate NASA and other web resources into science, math and technology lessons for K-12 students.
You may print copies of the reflection tool and lesson planner for educational purposes. Please contact us to let us know how you are using these materials, to provide feedback, or to let us know that you are linking to this page.
Please contact Barbara Grabowski (bgrabowski@psu.edu) or Tiffany Koszalka (tak10@psu.edu) for further information regarding WELES.
WEB ENHANCED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES REFLECTION TOOL
The Web-Enhancement Reflection Tool as represented by the diagram to the right is designed to help you strategize on how to use the web to enhance your classroom instruction. The reflection tool shows how the components of the WWW and six current methods of teaching can be merged into four Web-Enhanced Learning Environment Strategies (WELES). These strategies illustrate how you can enhance your current teaching practices using web, rather than traditional, resources. Each component of the tool is explained below.
Methods of Teaching – the "how"
| The top portion of the reflection tool lists the methods
of teaching which teachers currently use. These commonly used methods include Present,
Guide, Active Learning, Collaborative and Problem-based Learning, and Role-Play. Each
method draws from the teaching and learning foundations of Expository and Inquisitory
presentation, Generative learning, Collaborative learning, Problem-based learning, and
Anchored instruction. Web Resources – the "what" The lower portion of the reflection tool outlines two major web resources--information links through sites and human resource (other people) links through networks. The sites and networks are both composed of several elements appropriate for enhancing lesson activities. Site Elements are the raw material from which lessons can be created. These web resources can be used to present information in a lesson. Network Elements are those capabilities of the web that facilitate communication. In other words, these are the types of resources that connect people electronically to enable shared interactions. Most sites are a combination of site and network elements. These Organized Sites are resources developed with a specific purpose in mind, such as to provide entertainment, present current events, share stories, provide instruction, or encourage hands-on activities. These sites connect students to both information and other people. Web-Enhanced Learning Environment Strategies (WELES) The center of the reflection tool outlines strategies that combine "how" teachers teach and "what" resources teachers use. |
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The central Web-Enhanced Learning Environment Strategies help teachers reflect on how to "use the web" purposefully and intentionally to access information and human resources in a manner that is conducive to learning. Therefore, the WELES illustrate a union between methods of teaching and web resources. The booklet provides you with ideas on how to enhance the strategies you use everyday in your classrooms, namely to FRAME learning activities within current and meaningful realities, INFORM students about lesson content, provide opportunities for students to EXPLORE information and knowledge, and arrange occasions to TRY out new knowledge.
It is important to reemphasize that each of the Web-Enhanced Learning Environment Strategies enhances what you already do in your classroom. The enhancement comes from those Web resources you add to your preferred method of teaching. The next page shows where the methods merge with resources to create the WELES. (return to top of page)
Merging Methods and Resources to Create WELES
The matrix below identifies combinations of teaching methods and resources that make the most sense based on their purpose for instruction. A Present strategy is suited to providing students with information using a frame or inform strategy. Note also that for this method sites or other people through the network can carry this information. The Guide strategy is suited for all four lesson strategies using either sites or network Web resources. Active Learning is more suited for framing, exploring new content or trying out new ideas. Only in the framing context, does using the network make sense. For framing lessons, listservs and newsgroups can be rich with real problems to solve. Collaborative learning is suited for working with others, or networking, using the frame or explore lesson strategies. Problem-based learning can use site and network elements to frame, explore and try. The network would not be useful for a problem-based try WELES. Finally, both sites and networks provide rich resources for role-playing for a frame, exploration or try WELES.
Frame |
Inform |
Explore |
Try |
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sites |
network |
sites |
network |
sites |
network |
sites |
network |
|
| Present | X |
X |
X |
X |
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| Guide | X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| Active Learning | X |
X |
X |
X |
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| Collaboration | X |
X |
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| Problem-based | X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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| Role-Play | X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
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An example of WELES in use . . .
The example below illustrates how a teacher uses Volcano World and other volcano-related sites in a present and guide teaching strategy to frame, inform, and try WELES. Students will use NASA web resource site elements such as narratives, still images, animations or video clips to explore how volcanoes are formed and why they erupt. They will use organized sites such as information, current events, and historical events to keep track of an active volcano. In this example the students use network elements to discuss volcanoes with NASA experts and scientists. Each class will gather weekly data on the volcano from the news or other information sources and post these data on a web site.
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WELES LESSON PLANNER
NASA Web Resource Worksheet
Lesson Activity |
Resources Required |
Web Resources Found |
| Create interest by directing students to review a volcano site. | Narratives, still images, animations, and/or video clips of volcanoes, links to volcanoes, current events | http://www.expo.edu.ph/pinatubo/page4.htmlhttp://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/movies/movie.html |
| Conduct question and answer session on volcanoes, What is a volcano? Where do we find volcanoes? What is happening in this picture? (display images in session) | Still images, animations, video clips | Same as above |
| Students work in groups to develop a list of characteristics of volcanic eruptions, review volcano information resources | Volcano background information, historical events, current events | Same as above … plushttp://www.volcanoes.com/ |
| Establish contact with volcano experts | e-mail addresses | Ask a volcanist . . .
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/ask_a.html Perhaps connect with other students at: http://www.epals.com |
WELES brings together teaching strategies used to present different components of a lesson and the use of web resources to enhance instruction. In this example, a science lesson on volcanoes is being taught using present, guide and collaborative approaches. The teacher has used the NASA Web Resource Worksheet to identify NASA web resource requirements for each activity in the lesson. (return to top of page)
Below is a blank copy of the WELES Lesson Planner that you may copy into a word processing document and print for your own lesson planning use. To copy the Lesson Planner, simply right click on the graphic and copy/paste it to your word processing package. You will most likely have to adjust the size and position to print useable copies.
Or, click on this link to access a printable .pdf version of the WELES Model and Lesson Planner.
Or, here is a pdf version of the entire WELES Handbook and Reflection tool (pdf version) NEW Download of complete WELES Handbook!
(You need ACROBAT READER 3.0 to open this link. You can download acrobat for free at: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html )
WELES LESSON PLANNER
NASA Web Resource Worksheet
Lesson Activity |
Resources Required |
Web Resources Found |
Other WELES-related web sites:
Web-Based Instruction and Learning: Analysis and Needs Assessment
Lesson Plan created by K-12 teachers (of Native American Students) using WELES
Presentation Slides for 1999 WELES workshop - Part 1
Presentation Slides for 1999 WELES workshop - Part 2
Web page last updated: 08/05/01
Web curator: Tiffany A. Koszalka (email: tak10@psu.edu )
