Web Quest

Linda Vitulli

Lincoln High School

Yonkers, New York

Introduction

A student’s sense of self- esteem can directly impact his or her education in either a positive or negative way. Low self esteem can have a negative effect on one’s education, whereas high self esteem can have a positive effect on education. This Web Quest will focus on self esteem and the role it plays in a student’s life.

Task

You will be asked to identify your level of self esteem and reflect on the impact it has had in your educational career.

This Web Quest will provide information that will enhance your feelings of self-esteem and worth, while acquiring a better understanding of yourself and your impact on others.

You will be asked to define self esteem, investigate your own personal level of confidence, and then write an essay in which you discuss ways in which you can better your level of confidence, as well as others, in the school community. You are to describe events, specific situations and individuals who have contributed to and or detracted from your successes and or failures. Define specific steps you can take to improve your sense of self esteem and change the perception others have.

What is self esteem?

1. Does your self esteem change from situation to situation? For example, do you feel more confident in school than you do in social situations?

2. Have specific individuals and/or experiences played a role in your confidence level (identify)?

3. What can you do specifically to increase your sense of self-esteem?

Process

1. For the next month, you are to keep a journal in which you document when you are feeling confident and when you are not. Think about where you are? Who is with you? Consider as many situations as possible.

Consider the following situation:

How do you think this boy feels? Do you think his level of self worth and self esteem are high? Do you think he was confident in the lesson being taught in the classroom prior to reaching the principal’s office? Could his level of self esteem have been low to begin with? What factors could have contributed to the above situation?

Think About It!

2. Using the following site, identify and define the specific problem, gather evidence, identify the cause, evaluate existing public policies, and create a solution.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

1.     Define the problem

2.     Gather evidence of the problem

3.     Identify the causes of the problem

4.     Evaluate (look at) existing (current) public policies

5.     Develop new policies that could be used to solve the problem

6.     Select the best policy (solution) for the problem

3. As a class, we will brainstorm and complete the attached worksheets to find a feasible solution to our problem. Complete as a class - Worksheets numbers 1 – 5

4. Next, you are to complete the following worksheet in which statements dealing with specific feelings are described. You are to circle the appropriate response.

BELOW IS A LIST OF STATEMENTS DEALING WITH YOUR GENERAL FEELINGS ABOUT YOURSELF. IF YOU STRONGLY AGREE, CIRCLE SA. IF YOU AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT, CIRCLE A. IF YOU DISAGREE, CIRCLE D. IF YOU STRONGLY DISAGREE, CIRCLE SD.

		1. STRONGLY AGREE	2 AGREE	3. DISAGREE	4. STRONGLY DISAGREE
1.	I feel that I'm a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others.	SA	A	D	SD
2.	I feel that I have a number of good qualities.	SA	A	D	SD
3.	All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure.	SA	A	D	SD
4.	I am able to do things as well as most other people.	SA	A	D	SD
5.	I feel I do not have much to be proud of.	SA	A	D	SD
6.	I take a positive attitude toward myself.	SA	A	D	SD
7.	On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.	SA	A	D	SD
8.	I wish I could have more respect for myself.	SA	A	D	SD
9.	I certainly feel useless at times.	SA	A	D	SD
10.	At times I think I am no good at all.	SA	A	D	SD

_{After completing the worksheet and maintaining your journal, analyze and compare situations and events which have enhanced or detracted from your confidence level.}

_{4. For people with good basic self-esteem, normal “ups and downs” may lead to temporary fluctuations in how they feel about themselves, but only to a limited extent. In contrast, for people with poor basic self-esteem, these “ups and downs” may make all the difference in the world. What are your “ups and downs”? Think about it!}

_{5. Write an essay in which you discuss your confidence level and sense of self worth by describing specific events, situations, and social situations in which you and your level of self-esteem have been effected.}

Resources

1. www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/selfesteem/selfest.html

2. www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/grad/socpsy_rosenberg.html

3. www.uteas.edu/student/cmhc/clearinghouse/TI044.html

4. Rosenberg, Morris: Social Class and Self-Esteem among Children and Adults, AJS Volume 84,Number 1

Evaluation

Students should have a clearer understanding of their self worth. Also, students should define and identify specific situations in which they feel more or less confident. Strategies are identified and implemented to improve and enhance self esteem.

This is a summary of the evaluation criteria for both your essay.

RESEARCH:	quality of journal and draft	25 points
CONTENT	Use of at least one resource provided in your essay.	25 points
CLARITY	Essay is in paragraph form, grammar and spelling are correct, the ideas and information are easy to understand, work is neatly done	25 points
CREATIVITY	unique ideas , a visually pleasing presentation	25 points

Conclusion

In conclusion, this Web Quest should assist you in identifying, and most of all improving, your level of self esteem and confidence in any given situation. You will have identified specific situations in which your sense of self worth is low and those in which it is high. You have now identified ways in which you can be a problem solver and affect those around you in a positive way. Not only can you better yourself and your school, you can now help all those around you who need it!