WebQuests

Elaine Riordan

Outline

• Definition• Task 1 – View WebQuests• Task 2 – Complete a WebQuest• Creating a WebQuest• Advantages• Useful Websites

Definition

• ‘A webQuest is a fun, inquiry-orientated activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet ’

(Dodge, 1995)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4rel5qOPvU

Task 1

• Go to http://www.webquest.org/ o On the left hand side, click on ‘Find WebQuests’o Go to ‘Curriculum x Grade Level Matrix’o Select Subject ‘Foreign Language’o Select Grade

• View some webquests

Task 2

• Complete a WebQuest – see handout

Creating a WebQuesthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyht-ehlAWY

• Technologically, creating a WebQuest can be very simple. As long as you can create a document with hyperlinks, you can create a WebQuest. That means that a WebQuest can be created in Word, Powerpoint, and even Excel! If you're going to call it a WebQuest, though, be sure that it has all the critical attributes.

• A real WebQuest....o is wrapped around a doable and interesting task that is ideally a scaled down version of things

that adults do as citizens or workers.o requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing. This includes synthesis, analysis,

problem-solving, creativity and judgment. o makes good use of the web. A WebQuest that isn't based on real resources from the web is

probably just a traditional lesson in disguise. (Of course, books and other media can be used within a WebQuest, but if the web isn't at the heart of the lesson, it's not a WebQuest.)

o isn't a research report or a step-by-step science or math procedure. Having learners simply distilling web sites and making a presentation about them isn't enough.

o isn't just a series of web-based experiences. Having learners go look at this page, then go play this game, then go here and turn your name into hieroglyphs doesn't require higher level thinking skills and so, by definition, isn't a WebQuest.

(http://www.webquest.org/index-create.php, 2007 )

Creating a WebQuest

• Go to http://questgarden.com/ • Register for 30 day trial• Complete Registration• You arrive at the Quest Garden Member Home Page• Create a New Webquest• Follow Instructions

Advantages

• Powerful learning tool• Interesting/interactive/fun• Students use a variety of websources • Integratation of technology into classroom• Encourage development of intrinsic motivation for

learning i.e. learners own personal interest• Students become ‘involved learners’• Provide variety in the classroom routine• Help students improve researching and internet skills • Easy to use

Useful Websites• http://www.webquest.org/ • http://questgarden.com/ • http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat015.shtml • http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/computing/web_quest

s/language/

• http://www.polyglot.pitt.edu/workshops/techfall03/webquests.html • http://www.onestopenglish.com/section.asp?theme=mag&docid=145579 • http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/articles/webquests • http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/ge/Teacher_Resources/webquests.cfm#w

q

• http://www.xtec.cat/crle/05/wq.htm