What Is a Webquest?

WEBQUESTS

WHAT IS A WEBQUEST?

 A WebQuest is an inquiry-based lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.

 With inquiry-based activities, students don't just memorize facts and retell them to the teacher. They are expected to take the information that they collect and transform it to create new information that has meaning to them.

 WebQuests are also different from other Web-based lessons and experiences in that they focus on engaging and achievable tasks.

 The links students use, are pre-selected by the WebQuest writer. The focus is on using information rather than looking for it.

 The Internet resources are identified and evaluated by the WebQuest designer ahead of time.

WHY USE WEBQUESTS?

 WebQuests increase student motivation.

 Students use real, timely resources instead of dated textbooks and materials that are only presented from one point of view.

 WebQuests are often cooperative in nature, requiring students to take on roles where they are part of a team that must accomplish the task.

 They require higher order thinking skills such as creativity, analysis, synthesis, judgment and problem solving.

 They can be linked with a Marking Rubric and used for assessment.

1 Key Elements of a Webquest

WebQuests consist of five main components: the introduction, task, process, evaluation, and conclusion. Go to…….. and work through each of these together. http://www.thematzats.com/webquests/page3.html

Designing a Webquest

You will find method and many resources for designing your own Webquests at … http://www.thematzats.com/webquests/page5.html

Webquests You Can Use http://www.thematzats.com/webquests/collections.html

Use this rubric to evaluate the effectiveness of any Webquest. http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestrubric.html

Other Resources

 WebQuest.org, Bernie Dodge's WebQuest site.  Questgarden.com, QuestGarden, by Bernie Dodge  Best WebQuests.com, Tom March's WebQuest site.  www.Zunal.Com, Zunal Free WebQuest Application and Hosting, by Zafer Unal, Ph.D.  Webquest.es, Free WebQuest Application and Hosting with drupal, by Silvia Martinez.  [9], education search engine.  http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/webquest/webquest.html Discovery School website