See the Student Projects!
Quia is a Web site that allows people to create home pages, games, surveys and quizzes online. You don't have to know how to make Web pages. Your job is to enter the content (information) and with a few clicks of the mouse, Quia will turn your ideas into Web pages. You can also access activities that others create with Quia.
After learning how to use Quia, you will form groups. Each group will create a "class page" (home page) with a group photo, information about yourselves, and links to Web sites. Your group will then create online activities and an online survey. All the class' activities will then be accessible from one master Web page that you can show to your classmates, friends and family.
This project will teach you how to use "click and build" Web
sites like Quia, will give you practice using the Web to find
information, help you teach others about a topic that is interesting
to you, and will give you many opportunities to use your English
language skills!
Assignments:
Look for **Task** to show you what you need to DO. Some assignments have only one task, others have many.
A. **Task** Go to Quia.
Look in the bottom left corner of the Quia home page. Click on
"About QuiaWeb." Copy these questions on a piece of paper. Answer
the questions. Then check your answers with a partner.
Questions:
1) What are seven things you can do at Quia?
2) What will you find in the Quia Directory?
3) Do you have to pay money to join Quia to use the Directory?
4) How many types of "activity creation templates" are there?
5) Try samples of each activity creation template. Which one do
you like the best? Which one do you like the least?
6) When you make a quiz using Quia, how many different types of
questions can you use?
7) What are some things you can include on "class pages" (home
pages) you make using Quia?
8) What is the starting point for creating and maintaining your
Quia activities?
9) If you want to subscribe to Quia, how much will it cost?
10) True or False - you can try Quia for 30 days for free!
A. **Task** Go to Quia.
Click on "Subject Categories." Play several games or quizzes. Try
different types. Find one activity that you would like to share
with the class. After playing your activity, click on the link at
the top right, "E-mail to a friend."
Complete the boxes:
1) Enter your name
2) Enter your email address
3) Enter your friend's email address (use
esl-382@lclark.edu)
4) Write at least five sentences explaining why you think the
class will be interested in the game/quiz you found.
5) Click the "Send email" button.
A. **Task** Go to Quia.
Click on "Get a free 30-day trial ..." Provide the requested
information and click "Create my 30 day trial account." You will
now be in the Quia "Instructor Zone." NOTE: Write down your
username and password! Don't lose it! Now click on the "Start
Trial" button.
B. **Task** In the Instructor Zone, you will see "Create a new activity." The menu will say "matching, flashcard, concentration, word search." Click "Go." Think of 10 words in your language that you would like to teach someone else. (You will use the Roman alphabet). In Section 1: Complete the Title (Ex: Ten Spanish Words for Tourists) and Description (Ex: Here are 10 words that will be very helpful to know if you visit a Spanish speaking country).
Type the vocabulary words in the boxes on the left side of the
page. Type the definitions in the boxes to the right.
Example:
gracias--thank you
de nada-- you're welcome
como esta--how are you? etc. etc.
Type all 10 of your vocabulary words and definitions in Quia. Then
go directly to the bottom of the page and click "Done."
You will see "Your activity has been created. The URL of your activity is: http://www.quia.com/jg/. . . Write down the URL of your activity. Click the link to play your activity. After playing, click on "Email to a friend." Send your activity to esl-382.
C. **Task** Create a class page
by following these steps:
1) If necessary, go to Quia
and login. At the Instructor Zone, click the "Class" tab. You will
see "Create a new class page." Click "Go".
2) Click on "View a Sample Page" to see what a class page might
look like. Click the "Back" button on your browser.
3) Fill in the text boxes with the information for your class
page. Don't worry if you are not sure of the exact information you
want on your page. You can edit it easily at any time.
4) In Section #6 "Your Quia Activities," you will see the
vocabulary activity you created in B.**Task** above by
clicking on the "Choose from list" pull down menu. Add a
description of your activity in the "Description" box. When your
Class Page is done, you'll have a link to your activity.
5) In Section #7, you can add links to any Web resources you want
by typing in the URL. Add the ESL Independent Study Lab at
www.lclark.edu/~krauss/toppicks/toppicks.html
6) When you finish, click on "Preview changes." When you are
satisfied with your class page, click on "Save changes." You will
see "your page has been created." You will see the Web address
(URL) of your Quia class page. Write it down!
7) Click on the link to see your class page. Click on "Email to a
friend." Send your class page URL to esl-382.
A. **Task** Look your best as your teacher takes a photo of the class!
B. **Task** Arrange for another student to take a photo of your group. The picture should be taken with the camera close enough to you so that your faces are easy to see. Shooting from the waist up is about right. Be creative and smile!
C. **Task** Meet with your teacher to learn how to use PhotoShop to crop, size and improve the quality of your group photo.
A. **Task** Form a group. Assign
expert roles for the group (leader, typist, computer expert,
English language expert). Your teacher will tell you more about
your roles.
B. **Task** Choose a topic for your group. All of your activities will be designed around this topic. When others play your activities, they will learn information about your topic. Get your teacher's approval of your topic. You can choose any topic you like. It could be a famous person, event, place, sport, hobby, food, invention, product, whatever! Find a topic that is interesting to you and that you would like to teach others about.
C. **Task** Go to Quia. Look at the activity formats and quizzes. Your group must create 4 activities or quizzes about your topic. Each group must create a "Rags to Riches" and a "Challenge Board" activity. Choose any other 2 activity formats or quiz formats that you like. Search the Internet (use Google) to find information you need to complete your activities. NOTE: As you search the Web, make "Favorites" of useful sites on your topic and copy them to a zip disk. You will use them later when you make Web links on your group's class page. Each group must collect at least five Favorites.
D. **Task** Log on to Quia using your teacher's username and password. NOTE: DO NOT EDIT or REMOVE any of the activities or class pages you find. Create your activities on your topic. NOTE: When you choose a title for each activity, add the initials of each member of your group. Ex: Soccer (mk, jb, mh). This is the only way I will know which group created each activity. When you complete an activity, have a student from another group check it for grammar/spelling mistakes. You will be graded for the content of your activities and for the quality of the English you use.
A. **Task** Log on to Quia using your teacher's username and password. NOTE: DO NOT EDIT or REMOVE any of the activities or class pages you find. Click on the "Class Tools" tab. Go to "Create a new class page." Click "Go." In Section 1: Page Name, enter your topic + initials from your group. (Ex: soccermkjbmh)
B. **Task** In Section 4 "Your Message," the group should write one paragraph introducing your topic. Then, each student should write a paragraph about him/herself. Have another student check your work for grammar/spelling mistakes. Ask your teacher to show you how to upload your group photo into this section of your class page.
C. **Task** In Section 6, "Your Quia Activities," make a link to each Quia activity/quiz your group created.
D. **Task** In Section 7, "Useful Links," use the "Favorites" you collected to help you make links to Web sites that give additional information on your topic. You may also include other links you think people would like (especially ESL students).
E. **Task** Complete the other sections for your class page. You may choose any colors and fonts you like. When you are finished, click on "Preview Changes." When you like the way your page looks, click on "Save Changes." You will see, "You can let others know about your page by e-mailing them." Click the link to email your URL to esl-382.
A. **Task** Activity Day! Visit each group's class page and try out their activities or take their quizzes. Don't forget to follow the Web links on each class page to learn more about their topic.
B. **Task** Help your teacher
evaluate Quia and this Quia Creations Project by creating a survey
that your classmates will complete. This will allow your teacher
to know the opinions of the class about Quia
and about this Quia Creations
Project. Follow these steps to make a survey in Quia:
1) Log on to Quia
using your teacher's username and password. NOTE: DO
NOT EDIT or REMOVE any of the activities or class pages you
find.
2) Click on the "Surveys" tab. You will see "Create a new survey."
Click the "Go" button.
3) You are now in the Survey Editor. You will see there are three
steps to create a survey. Go to Step 1 "Create Questions" and
click the "Edit" button.
4) You will see 7 questions types. The first is "Multiple
Selection." Your survey must include at least five types of
questions (so you will have a minimum of 5 questions in your
survey).
5) In your group, think of the questions and question types you
want to use. Type the information.
6) Complete Step 2 (Order questions) and Step 3 (Enter Settings).
The click Submit.
7) Proofread your survey and make any editing changes that are
needed
A. **Task** Each group has made a survey asking your opinion about Quia and about this Quia Creations Project. Complete every group's survey (including your own).
B. **Task** Complete the Quia Creations Evaluation Form and turn it in to your teacher.
Students used Quia to create home pages. Click the links below to check them out. On the home pages, you'll find links to Quia-created activities and a survey. By completing the activities, you'll learn about the students' home countries and interests. The links at the bottom of their class pages will help you answer the questions in their activities and to learn more about their topics. Feel free to complete their surveys too! Students not only used the Internet to create learning activities, but also worked on their English language skills in the process!
Teachers: Feel free to use the Quia Assignments if you'd like your students to create activities like these. Quia costs $49 per year, but with one account you can accommodate many students' materials as well as your own. You can also try out Quia free for 30 days. (No, I have no connection or financial interest in Quia.)
If you'd like other ideas for integrating the Internet into your
teaching, check
out these materials. Questions or comments? Contact me at
krauss@lclark.edu--
Enjoy!
Spring 2003
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to ESL 382 home page.
Return to Michael Krauss
home page.
Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 5/03/03