Finding a College that Fits your Budget

A WebQuest for 11th and 12th Grade (Math)

Designed by Eric Kruger, Student Teacher, Gaston High School
Gaston, Oregon

E-Mail your questions here
Back to Student Page

Introduction

This lesson was brought about by a collaboration between the Math Department and our Life After High School/Home Economics Department.  

This lesson is meant to give graduating seniors and advanced juniors a taste of what the process of going to a post secondary school is all about.  We have designed a lesson that will challenge students to look in depth at what factors should be considered when choosing a college.  I have put together a lesson that has them research a number of aspects of life that go along with college that also focusses on proper use of an Excel spreadsheet for maintaining a budget.


Learners

This lesson if for juniors and seniors in my Math Technologies class.  Other students from the LAHS class will be joining us for the week for cross-class credit.

The students will have to have a background in creating and using Excel spreadsheets as we have worked on in my class.  They will also need basic internet skills, which were taught in previous technology courses.


Curriculum Standards

Along with solidifying their Excel skills, students will also gain perspective into the amount of thought they will need to give in order to choose where they will go to college.

Technology Standards Addressed NETSS Standards

  • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
  • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.

Process

In order to accomplish this task, the following steps should be used as a guide in you journey to finding a college or university that fits your needs and your budget.  Remember that you cannot under any circumstances exceed the amount of money, GPA requirement, or SAT score requirement that you are given.

  1. You will be assigned to a team of 3 students
  2. Each group will then draw a piece of paper out of a hat that describes their financial and educational background.  There will be no redrawing.  
  3. From here, it is up to your group to find and decide on a college that fits "your" needs.  The following list of sources will serve as a beginning point for each group to complete the task at hand.  Groups are encouraged to use their own sources as well, documenting each that will contribute to the final decision.

Resources Needed

  • Computer lab with internet access
  • Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software
The following list of sources should be used as a guide for students, yet stress that they are not limited to only these web sites.

    Sources for Finding a School
     
     GoCollege
     CollegeNET
     College Search

     Sources for Finding a Place to Live

     Rent.com
     Rentwave
     Yahoo! Apartments

     Sources for Finding a Place to Work

     Career Builder
     FlipDog
     Monster

This lesson requires only one teacher to work effectively, but of course any help from aides or other sources would be helpful.  Groups should be chosen in a way that makes sure every one of them has a student who is computer savvy.


Evaluation

Beginning

1

Developing

3

Accomplished

7

Exemplary

10

Score

 

Portfolio
Organization

 

 Lack of printed sources and required printouts; Portfolio messy and unorganized;   Some required printouts included; Portfolio somewhat messy;   Most or all required printouts included; Portfolio mostly organized but lacking expected neatness All required aspects of portfolio given; Portfolio neat and organized in appearance, easy to navigate

 

Portfolio Information

 

 Given information lacks pertinence; insufficient information given; Inaccurate information
 Some information is relevant to assignment; most required info given; some of info given is accurate Most information is relevant to assignment; required info is given; most info is accurate All included info is relevant to school chosen; all info given is accurate

 

Spreadsheet

 

 Spreadsheet lacks required elements of project; no formulas used; Spreadsheet has some of required elements; some formulas or incorrect formulas used; standard spreadsheet format ignored Spreadsheet has most required elements; most formulas are correct and working; standard spreadsheet format used Spreadsheet includes all required elements; all formulas are correct and operational;

 

Presentation  		Nothing is prepared to present;  Group has some info to present; presentation lacks organization and doesn't encompass entire project Group has most of info ready to present;  Group does so with some organization Group has all info ready to present; presentation is organized and thorough

 

Participation 

 Group member did not participate in any aspect of the assignment; Group member did some of what was expected of him by his partners Group member did most of what was expected of him by his partners Group member did all expected of him during the duration of the assignment

Credits & References

Picture on top of page courtesy of Pacific University

 The WebQuest Page and the Design Patterns page include the latest versions of the WebQuest template.

"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL."
Last updated on October 20, 2002. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page