WebQuests

Web Quest Sites

Info:

WebQuests challenge students to explore the web for informaion. WebQuests have an introduction, a process, a task, a list of resources, a conclusion, and an evaluation. A well designed Web Quest emphasizes a synthesis of basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities.

WebQuests are a very popular method for integrating curriculum with technology. WebQuests tend to require higher order thinking skills.

Webquests are much more focused than normal internet search research assignments -- more teacher setup is required, but it provides a much more efective use of classroom time. There are some advantages of open-ended research, but if you want more depth and specific info webquests are better. Web Quests help the teacher manage where the students go, keeps them on task, and allows them to get results without wondering around the net or wading through thousands of hits from a search engine.

http://www.web-and-flow.com this site gives you step -by-step support as you build your quest (or other online learning activity) Then at the end, you just click 'post' and it is all there for you, up on the web!

Webquest 101 (http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/webquest/quest-b.shtml) TeachersFirst's own tutorial shows you how to create a webquest that works.

Spartanburg district (http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests.html) - web resources - webQuests

WebQuests (http://www.minot.k12.nd.us/quests.html)

Web Quests by Bernie Dodge (the originator of Web Quests) (http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html)

WebQuests Designed by Education majors at UMD

Group 1 (http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Colleges/EDUC/Depts/EDCI/edci385/webquests1/webquests101.html)
Group 2 (http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Colleges/EDUC/Depts/EDCI/edci385/webquests3/webquests301.html)

WebQuests designed by Education Majors at Lousiana State University (http://asterix.ednet.lsu.edu/~edtech/webquest/)

Collection of WebQuests by Dorie Sebold and Jim Andres (http://www.siue.edu/~jandris/north/quest97.html)

Sullivan Schools Science WebQuest collection (http://home.sullivan.k12.il.us/teachers/brunner/webquest.htm)

WebQuests (http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webquest.htm)

WebQuest for teachers (http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/webquest/quest-a.shtml)

WebQuest Training site from DuPage Professional Dev. Center (http://www.biopoint.com/WebQuests/)

Learning to use Netscape Composer:

http://wally2.rit.edu/instruction/web/composer/index.html
http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/cep/ligon/wpd/toolbox.htm

More Information on WebQuests

A webquest is an interactive learning activity but it has three key elements that make it different from just searching for knowledge.

1. There is a problem to be solved.

2. Information about the problem is gathered from the web by a group, all of whom have different roles based on those who would have different vested interests in the solution - eg a land planning issue might have the developer, the local council, the residents' organisation and the environmentalist as roles.

3. The solution to the problem is reached through negotiation and agreement of all the parties.

WebQuests: A strategy for scaffolding higher level learning

Definition

inquiry oriented, based on a do-able, engaging task, uses pre-defined resources from the Web (and others) can be short or long term

Parts of a WebQuest

Introduction

Task

Process

Resources

Evaluation

Conclusion

Integrating the Internet