A New Kind of Quest: CultureQuest Dr. Sheila Offman Gersh City College of New York Esther Feffer –...

A New Kind of Quest: CultureQuest

Dr. Sheila Offman GershCity College of New York

Esther Feffer – President S.T.C

sgersh@ccny.cuny.edu

http://www.culturequest.us

http://www.schoollink.org/twin

CultureQuest projects are:

inquiry-based investigations of other peoples and cultures that are rooted in student questions and based upon student interests

CultureQuest Projects may: Focus on foreign cultures Focus on your country’s culture and/or

subcultures Focus on the diverse cultural heritages

of the students Compare and contrast any of the

above.

Greek Holiday Foods

CultureQuest Goals To promote knowledge and appreciation of

other peoples and cultures. To foster understanding and appreciation of

one’s own culture and cultural heritage. To enhance enthusiasm, interest and

motivation for school.

CultureQuest Goals To promote authentic, creative and better

school work. To strengthen technology skills. To increase literacy, inquiry and research

skills. To provide a model for technology

integration.

literature art music history government

religion language everyday life customs & traditions Values, beliefs and

behavior

WHAT APECTS OF CULTURE ARE EXAMINED?

Music in Russia

CULTUREQUEST PROJECTS MAY RELATE TO OTHER DISCIPLINES Social Studies Music, Dance, Performing Arts Art Science Math Economics Geography

Environment Impact of Fishing in Spain

21ST Century Model of Education

L L E L L

E L L L

E L P L L

L L EL

Technology Skills

Access Internet resources for the study of culture. Promote communication with students and

experts in the target country (ePals). Internet Basics --searching, evaluating Web sites,

use of proper citation, appropriate and ethical use policies, etc.

Teaching with the Internet Creating Concept Maps (ex.

Inspiration—http://www.inspiration.com) Creation of an educational Web site.

Related CultureQuest Skills Academic

Reading

Technology

Internet Use

Learning Styles

Problem

Solving

Culture

Appreciation of Diversity and Multi-culturalism

Writing Computer Skills

Research

Skills

Acting as Cultural Informant

Music, Art, Literature

Web Site Design

Creativity Knowledge of Another Culture

History, geography

Presentation & Graphics

Collaboration Knowledge of American and own Culture

CultureQuest Pedagogy Student-Centered

Constructivist Project-Based Authentic

Ownership Interdisciplinary Inquiry-Based Collaborative

Teacher as Facilitator

Multicultural Standards-Based

Real Audiences for Work

Multiple Intelligences

Humanistic and Caring

Students as Workers

Product/Action

The CultureQuest Process Decide on target culture Brainstorm what students know about the

culture Brainstorm what students want to know

about the culture Cover the core areas with whole class

The CultureQuest Process (cont’d) Use ePals.com to find classrooms Students communicate with counterparts using e-mail on ePals.com

Divide students into small groups by interest area using e-mail on ePals.com Divide students into small groups by interest area

In Gathering Information about the Culture:

Use books and library resources Use Internet resources Explore resources in own city/community

Museums People (oral history) Visit neighborhoods (shops, restaurants, etc.) Cultural Centers

E-mail to students and/or adult experts

Final Products Class creates Web site with general

information and links to group projects Other multimedia products:

PowerPoint HyperStudio Digital stories with stills and videos

Countries Participating in CQ (besides the US)

Australia Chile India Israel Japan Spain Sweden

A Project about Tourism in Dominican Republic

Culturequest in Israel The first Israeli CultureQuest project will be done at the Bialik

School in Holon,. Holon city is known for her investments and achievement in education, With assistance from the Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel Aviv, teachers and students will receive the training and assistance to plan and carry out the project.

Three schools will do a CultureQuest, . Looking at the project from the perscpective of Arab students, Religious Jewish Students and Secular Jewish.

The schools include the assistance of 3 teachers colleges: El Kasimi- in Balka in El Garbis Kibbutzim College of Education in Tel Aviv Academic Talpiyot (Jerusalem)

Culturequest in Israel Acre (Acco) city 2 schools will do a CultureQuest project based on the theme “ I am

proud of my city, that ‘s why I like others cities. Looking at the Acco City from the perscpective of Arab students,

and Secular Jewish. The Arab school El Amal will do the CQ in Arabic

Gordon the Jwish school will do CQ in Hebrew at the end they will compare the CQ . They will have the assistance of :

El Kasimi- Arab college for teachers Academic Arabic College of Education in Haifa , Municipality , Ministry of Education – Dr Nimer Baaya Students in both cities will have a dialogue about their city and create

a project. In addition to the websites, students will also create huge posters of their town.

Culturequest in Israel Hod Hasharon – Two 5th grade Hebrew classes in Hod

Hasharon Reut school will do a CultureQuest project about “60 Years of Israel”, reflecting the history of Israel through posters, coins (have changed several times), people, etc. The end project will be websites in Hebrew and posters.

http://www.culturequest.us

QUESTIONS???