Canadian History Internet Challenge

I. Briefly review the project proposal form. Discuss the project theme, outline and time line; review the project and curriculum objectives.

Project theme: Use the Internet to identify major characters or events in the twentieth century of significance to Canadian History.

Outline and Time Line: Students will work in teams of up to three members. All information must be verifiable on the Internet. That means that the information must be found on an Internet site. The Internet Address (URL) MUST be submitted with the entry. All information must be submitted electronically. Teams will compile a list in accordance with the Canadian History Internet Challenge question which will vary from year to year. Information must be submitted in the specified format. Information from non-Internet sources is not acceptable. However, information from these sources may be used by participants to find information on the Internet. Teams will have up to six (6) hours of class time to complete the Canadian History Internet Challenge.

Project and Curriculum Objectives The intended learning outcomes of CHIC include: The Internet is a valuable source of information about Canada's history. Effective Internet search strategies can be developed and improved. Team and group strategies can be developed using effective challenge tasks. Successful completion of research requires the use of a variety of resources from Internet and traditional sources. The Internet provides a vehicle by which information and ideas can be shared.

II. Show the audience the outcome of the project proposal.

Results and a tour of the project can be seen at: http://www.k12.nf.ca/hcsc/chic

III. Briefly comment on any successes or problems that were encountered throughout the life of the project.

Students needed more preliminary tasks to develop their Internet search skills and more time needed to be spent on developing group strategies so as to accomplish the task more efficiently.

IV. Comment on any aspects of the project that you would do differently.

I would devise several preliminary tasks that would nurture students' research skills - Internet and traditional - as well as their group/team skills. One example that I used after the CHIC was a Scavenger Hunt. It was designed to be completed in a one-hour period, but would have required students to find information on the Internet, in the library and in their textbook. Several of these types of exercises would have helped set the foundation for the CHIC. Also, it would be useful to have a period devoted to group strategies.

V. Comment on if and how the project can be expanded next year.

It would be great to have a number of schools participate in the Canadian History Internet Challenge. This would perhaps mean collaborating amongst the participating classes and coordinating the actual time for the Challenge. By choosing different topics each year, it is possible to create valuable history resources in the process.