Some Thoughts About WebQuests

Nancy Brown,Presenter

Sources Adapted from the articles

by Bernie Dodge, San Diego State University “Some Thoughts about WebQuests”

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec596/about_WebQuests.html

“Building Blocks of a WebQuest” http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/buildingblocks.html

Cathy Schrock, Educational Technology Consultant

What Is a WebQuest? An inquiry-oriented activity in which some or

all of the information that students interact with comes from resources on the Internet.

http://www.ozline.com/webquests/intro.html http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquest_collections.h

tm

Types of WebQuests Short Term -

Designed to be completed in one to three class periods.

Long Term Designed to take from one week to as long

as a month to complete.

Short Term Webquest The instructional goal is knowledge

acquisition and integration.

The learner deals with a significant amount of new information and creates an internal scheme to make sense of it.

Longer Term WebQuest Instructional goal is extending and

refining knowledge. Learner deeply analyzes a body of

information, synthesizes it, and then demonstrates understanding by presenting it in some way.

Longer Term WebQuest Thinking Skills

Comparing Classifying Deduction Analyzing Synthesizing Evaluation Constructing support Analyzing point-of-view

Attributes of WebQuest Introduction Task Process Information sources Evaluation Conclusion http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/e

ducation/projects/webquests.html http://oncampus.richmond.edu/education/

projects/webquests/quilts/

Other Characteristics Collaborative activities Role-playing Single or multi-disciplinary

Attribute #1 - Introduction Orients the learners as to what is

coming Raises the level of interest through a

variety of means http://oncampus.richmond.edu/educatio

n/projects/webquests/washington/

Attribute #2 - Task Description of what the learner will have

done at the end of the exercise Could be a product or verbal

presentation http://oncampus.richmond.edu/educatio

n/projects/webquests/washington/

Attribute #3 - Process Clearly described steps Describes exactly what is expected of

the learner Provides advice to the learner http://oncampus.richmond.edu/educatio

n/projects/webquests/washington/

Attribute #4 - Information Source List of web sites which the instructor

has located to help the learner accomplish the task

Includes other sources Not all sources need to be used

Attribute #5 - Evaluation Need to be able to measure results Rubrics designed by teacher are the most

authentic form assessment Evaluation rubrics take many forms http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestrubric.html http://oncampus.richmond.edu/education/proj

ects/webquests/washington/

Other Examples http://oncampus.richmond.edu/education/proj

ects/webquests/crucible/ http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/

a&s/education/projects/webquests/holocaust/ http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/

as/education/projects/webquests/machines/

Attribute #6 - Conclusion Brings closure to the quest Reminds the learner what they have

learned Encourages them to extend the

experience into other domains http://oncampus.richmond.edu/educatio

n/projects/webquests/washington/

Design Steps for Teachers Become familiar with online resources in your

content area Organize the resources into categories such

as databases, reference materials, etc. Identify topics that fit in with the curriculum

and for which there are online materials and resources

http://www.ozline.com/learning/machine.html http://www.ozline.com/templates/webquest.ht

ml

Writing the WebQuest Introduction – describe the webquest in your own words Task – the actual assignment – describe the scenario in

greater detail; gives the roles that students will play Process – step-by-step instructions the students will

follow Information Sources – useful links to info students need

to complete task Evaluation – links to online tests, rubrics, etc. Conclusion – wrap-up, gives closure, thanks students

for work and effort, describes “what happens as a result of work