Here are some videos that I think you will find useful in understanding but also the ramifications of being aware of SEL within the classroom.

Attending to SEL within the classroom also means that projects like WebQuests can be worked on effectively and so Higher Order Thinking and Learning can occur.

Both videos are developed by Edutopia

Here are some resources on SEL that I recently gave to my University student teachers that you also might find useful:

Queensland DET - Social and Emotional Learning  
  

Kids Matter: SEL

SEL: What is it?     

Using WebQuests involves tapping into students' Social and Emotional Intelligence especially when students take on Perspectives or Roles within a WebQuest!

This can be a very powerful thing! Students taking on a different perspective to solve the problems or issues presented in a WebQuest can get them to look at the problem in a way they have never considered before.

For example, I was team teaching in a NSW country school - a Year 6 (or Stage 3) class. We were getting the students to work with a WebQuest on Rainforests. I asked a particular boy (a rather big boy) to be a Logger as a perspective. He didn't want to take on this perspective as he pointed out to me that his family were "Greenies" (in a very strong Australian accent). I persuaded him to take on this role. After the lesson, he came up to me and said "I'm going to tell my Dad about you and this work!".

I was pretty taken back (and concerned about the size of the father!) but bravely said "What will you tell him?" And he replied, and blew my mind away... "Loggers they need jobs too!" He had emotionally connected with the perspective he was given and this had a great influence on his ideas and thoughts!

Remember the image of IQ and EQ:

When you are creating or using a WebQuest, be sure to take your student's EQ into account when allocating perspectives or roles!

Here is another excellent video on Howard Gardner - he especially looks at testing in school (SAT). Produced by CNBC.

Worth thinking about especially in the light of the Australian My Schools website which is based around testing at a national level.

Here are some videos (as requested by various people coming to my blog - for more videos!) on Multiple Intelligences.

The first one is What is multiple intelligence theory?

This video shows Prof. Howard Gardner (the creator of the idea of MI) - it is very small and is also an advertisement for MS Law!

The second one shows the Original 7 MI - just as a series of images to explain each one!

To create an excellent WebQuest for your students you also need to consider the Learning Theory on Multiple Intelligences (MI).

I was terribly excited years ago now when Prof. Howard Gardner was going to address us about his Theory on MI. I had implemented his theory into my teaching practice especially when teaching senior Chemistry. It was so successful that ex-students still come up to me in the streets and shopping malls saying ... "Do you remember when you got us to....?" They still remember these lessons because I implemented this theory into practice.

However, at this conference I attended, Prof. Gardner was such a disappointment - he simply READ from his notes (and these were on the big screen anyway!).

All I can say is that MI is great when it is applied!!!

Here are some resources you might find useful:

MI - this site gives the theory behind the eight Intelligences (although there is a belief that more Intelligences exist): 

• Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
• Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart") 
• Spatial intelligence ("picture smart") 
• Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart") 
• Musical intelligence ("music smart") 
• Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart") 
• Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart") 
• Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")
   

Birmingham Grid for Learning: MI Test -

this test is great fun for yourself and your students! It also gives you as the teacher some food for thought as to how you are presenting material in class!

Concept to Classroom: Tapping into MI - this contains numerous articles and links about this subject

Here is another videos on Cooperative Learning by Dr. Larry Richards.

Introduction to Cooperative Learning by Dr. Larry Richards Experiences with Cooperative Learning (2008)

I have come across (via Jane Hart's wonderful Pick of the Day), a great tool allowing you as a teacher or if your students are presenting in PowerPoint, a way of allowing the audience to interact with the presentation.

"The twitter tools allow presenters to see and react to tweets in real-time, embedded directly within their presentations, either as a ticker or refreshable comment page.

There are currently eight tools – you can easily cut and paste them into your own PowerPoint decks:

• PowerPoint Twitter feedback slides
• PowerPoint AutoTweet
• PowerPoint Twitter voting — bar charts and pie chart
• PowerPoint Twitter ticker bar
• PowerPoint Mood meter
• PowerPoint Crowd meter
• PowerPoint Zoom text
• PowerPoint Twitter update bar" (Source: Free PPT Twitter Tools)

The use of these tools will allow your WebQuest or your students' PPTs to become interactive in real time. Much learning can happen from these additions especially when your students are giving their presentations. You will need to have agreed protocols for this feedback but as the students are involved this challenge can be easily overcome.

Here are some videos about Cooperative Learning - another Pedagogy behind WebQuests!

Cooperative Learning - this video gives you a simple overview about Cooperative Learning in the Classroom

Tips for Implementing Cooperative Learning Activities by Dr. Richards

Even though he is just reading out these tips - they are well worth listening to!

Another pedagogy behind WebQuests is Cooperative Learning!

Here are some resources I gave my student teachers the other day on Cooperative Learning

• Why use Cooperative Learning?
• Elements of Cooperative Learning
• Class Activities that use Cooperative Learning

New Horizons for Learning: Cooperative Learning - This small site covers Articles, Recommended Reading, and Related Links.   

Teach-nology: Cooperative Learning - this is a large collection of websites that you can browse through to learn more about Cooperative Learning Theory.