Webquests are a classroom-based online tool we can use with our students. What sets it apart from other tools is that students are given different resources preselected by the teacher which they use in order to get the information they need. It provides them with a more active role in their learning process and an excellent starting point for them to start filtering, judging and evaluating information on their own, something they will need to do in the future.
Any webquest should have the following six components:
1. Introduction
It sets the topic of our webquest. It should be ideally addressed to students, sparking their interest and previous knowledge. The roles the students will be taking and the scenario in which the task is set should also be included. A picture, a video, or a simple question could do the trick.
Here you'll find some examples of Introductions I liked:
What will our students produce at the end of the webquest? This is what our task should state. Videos, presentations, webpages are all different examples of finished products. It is a key element in our webquest, since it gives student something to aim at. It should be doable and interesting and, most importantly of all, it should involve higher level thinking skills.
In need of some inspiration?
3. Process
The process is a kind of map of the webquest, with pre-sought links that will guide them in their quest.
This step in the webquest has been slowly absorbed by the Process. It features a number of resources students will be given to carry out the quest. Resources need not be web based. You can provide your students with videos, books, maps or even storytellers if you are working with tales! The whole point of the webquest if for students to use the information rather that look for it.
5. Evaluation
A rubric which states the assessment criteria will provide us with a great tool for the fifth step in our webquest. A great site for creating rubrics is Rubistar.
Some sites for ideas:
And so we reach the final step in our webquest, a moment for students to reflect and even suggest new ideas. It also provides the teacher with great feedback for future editing.
You can do some research in Bernie Dodge's website (priceless!) where you will find some more examples. Once you feel like starting it, you can find templates here.
To round things off, I thought I could share with you this video with Bernie Dodge, the creator of webquests.
Hope this was useful! :)
Any webquest should have the following six components:
1. Introduction
It sets the topic of our webquest. It should be ideally addressed to students, sparking their interest and previous knowledge. The roles the students will be taking and the scenario in which the task is set should also be included. A picture, a video, or a simple question could do the trick.
Here you'll find some examples of Introductions I liked:
- http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/techtrac/plus/crooks/introduction1.htm
- https://sites.google.com/site/educ4632jallen/home/exploration-space---planeta...
What will our students produce at the end of the webquest? This is what our task should state. Videos, presentations, webpages are all different examples of finished products. It is a key element in our webquest, since it gives student something to aim at. It should be doable and interesting and, most importantly of all, it should involve higher level thinking skills.
In need of some inspiration?
- http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/techtrac/plus/crosetto/
- http://kathyschrock.net/webquests/LAMB/index.htm
3. Process
The process is a kind of map of the webquest, with pre-sought links that will guide them in their quest.
- http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/techtrac/plus/pattishall/process.htm
- http://www.bolivar.k12.mo.us/BIS/bishome/faculty/vnewcomb/olympic%20webquest/...
This step in the webquest has been slowly absorbed by the Process. It features a number of resources students will be given to carry out the quest. Resources need not be web based. You can provide your students with videos, books, maps or even storytellers if you are working with tales! The whole point of the webquest if for students to use the information rather that look for it.
5. Evaluation
A rubric which states the assessment criteria will provide us with a great tool for the fifth step in our webquest. A great site for creating rubrics is Rubistar.
Some sites for ideas:
- http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/webquest/wilson/
- http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/nixa.k12.mo.us/sullivan/tales/evaluation.htm
- http://courses.missouristate.edu/ShaeJohnson/batwebquest/batevaluation.html
And so we reach the final step in our webquest, a moment for students to reflect and even suggest new ideas. It also provides the teacher with great feedback for future editing.
- https://sites.google.com/site/theslavery/conclusion
- http://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/webquest/Spring_2009/jc/#Conclusion
You can do some research in Bernie Dodge's website (priceless!) where you will find some more examples. Once you feel like starting it, you can find templates here.
To round things off, I thought I could share with you this video with Bernie Dodge, the creator of webquests.
