Teacher Page

Here is a lesson plan to be used with the Asperger's WebQuest. Teachers can use this to get an overview of the educational objectives and learner description for this project.

Purpose

The Asperger's WebQuest was designed to teach students to be more understanding of peers with Asperger's to reduce conflict and encourage real friendships between students with AS and NT students. Students with AS tend to have a self-directed view of the world and not notice other people's emotional reactions to the odd things they do. This causes NY students to view them as strange kids they do not want to hang out with. This webquest will teach students what it's like to have Asperger's and enable them to understand the Asperger's point of view.

Rationale

It is easy for a student with AS to offend another student without even realizing they've said anything inappropriate. It helps when fellow students know they are not purposely mean or spiteful but merely unaware of the effect their actions and words have on other people.

Learner Description

This webquest was designed for high school students in a general education classroom setting where they may have fellow students with High Functioning Autism or Asperger's Syndrome.

Prerequisites

In order to use this webquest students should already be familiar with navigating the Internet, watching Youtube videos, and using the Moodle course system.

Instructional Objectives

When students complete this webquest they should be able to:

  • List some things that tend to make students with AS overly anxious
  • Describe what characteristics typify a student with AS
  • Understand why students with AS have a hard time navigating social situations
  • Explain what NT students can do to improve interactions with their fellow students with AS

Standards Addressed

This webquest meets the standards set by the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) for Teachers 2008. These standards can be found on the ISTE website.

The specific standard met by this webquest is:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
  1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
  2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
  3. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
  4. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

Subject Matter Description

This webquest follows the WebQuest Model described on the WebQuest home page. It contains the following sections:

  • Introduction: This gives learners an overview of the topic.
  • Task: The task students will complete is outlined in this section. They will read articles on the topic and watch informational videos to learn more about what it's like to have Asperger's Syndrome. They will produce a diary or animation depicted typical social interactions that students with AS have.
  • Process: The process page describes the steps students will follow to complete the task. Students will integrate information gained through articles and videos on the topic and then spend two weeks discussing and analyzing what they learned. Students will then produce a series of diary entries or animations reflecting on what they learned.
  • Evaluation: A rubric is provided for self-evaluation so students can evaluate their work before sharing it with the class. This is the same rubric the teacher will use to evaluate and grade assignments.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion is where students will reflect on what they learned and how they can apply it to future interactions with AS peers.

Assessment

Students will write a diary or create an animation that will explore NT-AS social interactions. It will be assessed using the rubric outlined on the evaluation page of this webquest.