WebQuests

 

What are they and how can they be used?

 

What is a WebQuest?

The best place to begin is where WebQuests began in 1995. Bernie Dodge is the person at San Diego State University who started the whole concept of structured online group research projects called WebQuests. Students progress through a list of tasks, asking questions and finding their own answers. Most WebQuests have their own list of Resource Web Pages, so students will be able to get their feet wet, without getting frustrated.

WebQuests have several common elements.

  • Introduction
  • Task
  • Process
  • Evaluation
  • Conclusion
  • Teacher Page

Explore The WebQuest Page for San Diego State University http://webquest.sdsu.edu/

1.     Click on Training Materials. There are several pages to note here:

a.      Beyond Read and Recall: An Introduction to Web-Based Learning Using Webquests

b.     Some Thoughts About WebQuests (It all started here.)

c.     Building Blocks for WebQuests

d.     The Student WebQuest

e.      Encouraging the use of Technology in the Classroom: The WebQuest Connection

f.       WebQuests in our Future

g.     WebQuests in the Middle School Curriculum: Promoting Technological Literacy in the Classroom

2.     Explore a simple WebQuest first hand. Break up into groups by grade level and walk through the appropriate WebQuest.

a.      Elementary School Teachers http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-es.html

b.     Middle School Teachers http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-ms.html

c.     High School Teachers http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-hs.html

3.     Explore existing WebQuests on The WebQuest Page for SDSU.

a.      Go back to the main WebQuest Portal Page by clicking on Return to the WebQuest Page and clicking on Portal link or typing in http://webquest.org/ and pressing enter.

b.     Click on Search on the left hand side of the screen.

1.     It is also possible to click on Top, Middling, or New to see a categorized listing by grade levels.

c.     Type in a topic and click on the Search button or click on the Search button without a topic to list everything.

4.     Search for other WebQuests not included in the SDSU listing.

a.      Choose a favorite Search Engine or Directory and type in WebQuest (all as one word).

b.     Choose your WebQuest carefully. Not all WebQuests are created equal. Make sure to check all web links before presenting it to the class.

5.     Once you have explored the different kinds of WebQuests available for your students. Think about creating your own or having your students create one of their own.

a.      There are several resources on how to create a WebQuest on the SDSU web site (some are mentioned above).

b.     There are online classes available through many institutions.

6.     Don’t forget to have fun using the Internet with your students in a structured way.