Creating WebQuests to Spark Student InquiryKathleen McKim, Head of Libraries, The International Academy-Amman

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Creating WebQuests to Spark Student Inquiry

• A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. Tens of thousands of teachers have embraced WebQuests as a way to make good use of the internet while engaging their students in the kinds of thinking that the 21st century requires. The model has spread around the world, with special enthusiasm in Brazil, Spain, China, Australia and Holland. And, now, in Jordan!

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Session Goals/Objectives

• Introduce the concept of WebQuests: inquiry process and objectives

• Design and create a WebQuest• Determine how WebQuests enhance student inquiry

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Focus: using information rather than looking for it

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Creating the WebQuest

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The Webquest Formula

• orients students• captures student interestIntroduction• describes the end productTask• explains strategies students should use to complete the taskProcess• Websites students will useResources• measures the results of the activityEvaluation• sums up activity• reflection on process and resultsConclusion

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The Design Process

1. Curriculum/Essential Questions/Enduring Understandings2. Topic3. Task

– RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic)• Process• Resources• Evaluation

Creating WebQuests to Spark Student Inquiry, QRTA 2015

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Benefits & Caviats

• Using technology as a hook/student engagement

• Authentic task• Covers background

knowledge• Re-cycles well

• Technology is slow or doesn’t work that day!

• Missing links• Inauthentic task• Same task• Copyrights• Creating them takes time!

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Resources

• Dodge, B. (2002). WebQuest Taskonomy: a taxonomy of tasks. 17 May 2002. Retrieved November 17, 2015 from http://webquest.org/sdsu/taskonomy.html.

• McTighe, J. & Wiggins, G. (2004). Understanding by design: Professional Development Workbook. Alexandria, VA:

ASCD. • Moreillon, J. (2007). Group information and synthesis product checklist. Collaborative Strategies for Teaching

Reading Comprehension. Chicago: ALA. Retrieved November 17, 2015 from https://goo.gl/v0jyx1. • Spinks, A. (2009). Citation Data Form. MLA Citation Guide. Retrieved November 17, 2015, from

http://andyspinks.com/mla/. • Star, L. (2000). Creating a WebQuest|It’s easier than you think. Education World. 26 March 2013. Retrieved

November 17, 2015, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech011.shtml.

Creating WebQuests to Spark Student Inquiry, QRTA 2015