WebQuests And More

WebQuests And MoreStructured But Fun Web Lessons

Six Strategies For Web UseTopic HotlistMultimedia ScrapbookTreasure HuntSubject SamplerShort-term WebQuestLong-term WebQuest

Topic HotlistAn online list of linksAdds Web resources to an existing lessonGood for beginning Web integrationSpares learners hours of fruitless searching

Multimedia ScrapbookBasically, a Topic Hotlist with links to materialsStudents use teacher-provided sites to download multimedia for their own projects

Treasure HuntGather 10 15 sites with info on given topicPose one key question for each web site chosen

Subject SamplerLearners presented with small number (6) of intriguing Web sites organized around a main topic. Students are asked to respond to the Web-based activities from a personal perspective.Rather than uncovering hard knowledge (Treasure Hunt), students give their perspectives on topics

WebQuestAn inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internetStructured inquiry

Two LevelsShort term: designed to be completed in 1-3 class periods Long term:typically takes from 1-4 weeks in a classroom setting.

Short TermKnowledge acquisition and integration Learners make sense of a significant amount of new information

Long TermExtending and refining knowledgeLearneranalyzes a body of knowledge deeply,transforms it in some way, and demonstrates an understanding of the material by creating something that others can respond toOnline or Offline product

Why WebQuests?Questionable educational benefit to having learners surf the net without a clear task in mindMost schools must ration student connection time severely

WebQuests Are designed to make the best use of a learner's time,Should address large, complex or controversial topics, To achieve efficiency and clarity of purpose, should contain the following parts:

Critical Attribute: Introduction Sets the stageProvides some background information.

Critical Attribute: TaskWhat the student is expected to have completed at the end of the project (expectations)Should be doable and interesting.Product can be a presentation, web site, etc.

Critical Attribute: Info SourcesMost resources are embedded (Learner is not left to wander through Web space completely adrift.) May include web documents, experts available via e-mail or real-time conferencing, searchable databases on the net, and books

Critical Attribute: ProcessA description of what the learners should go through in accomplishing the task Should be broken out into clearly described steps that a student will go through to get to the end-point

Critical Attribute: GuidanceHow to organize the information acquired. Can take the form of guiding questions, or directions to complete organizational frameworks such as timelines,concept maps, or cause-and-effect diagrams

Critical Attribute: EvaluationDescribes the evaluation criteria needed to meet performance and content standards Often takes the form of an assessment rubricShould align with the culminating project or performanceGroup or individual grade?

Critical Attribute: ConclusionBrings closure to the questReminds the learners about what they've learnedIdeally, should encourage learners to extend the experience into other domains

Non-Critical AttributesMost are designed as group activitiesCan be enhanced by wrapping motivational elements around the basic structure Give the learners a role to play (e.g., scientist, detective, reporter), Provide a simulated personae to interact with via e-mail and/orProvide a scenario to work within (e.g., you've been asked by the Secretary General of the UN to brief him on what's happening in sub-Saharan Africa this week.) Can be designed within a single discipline or can be interdisciplinary

Why WebQuests?Bring together the most effective instructional practices into one integrated student activityMotivation & Authenticity Developing Thinking SkillsCooperative Learning

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/

WebQuests - Structured But Fun Web LessonsWebQuests - Structured But Fun Web LessonsMany resources are embedded in the WebQuest document itself as anchors pointing to information on the World Wide Web. May include web documents, experts available via e-mail or real-time conferencing, searchable databases on the net, and booksBecause pointers to resources are included, the learner is not left to wander through webspace completely adrift.