Writing WebQuests

 

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. - Confuscius

Confuscius would have loved WebQuests!

"A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than on looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation." Bernie Dodge, the originator of the WebQuest concept.

Why WebQuests?  They

  • Bring effective instructional practices into one integrated activity

  • Are student centered with the teacher as facilitator

  • Require students to use creative thinking and problem solving to find solutions to problems or questions.

  • Enable students to work cooperatively

  • Utilize modern technology

  • The Introduction orients students and captures their interest

  • The Task describes the activity’s end product

  • The Process explains strategies students should use to complete the task.

  • The Resources are the Web sites students will use to complete the task.

  • The Evaluation measures the results of the activity

  • The Conclusion sums up the activity and encourages students to reflect on its process and results.

Let’s Examine some WebQuests:

Cardiac – a simple WebQuest I wrote to teach the human circulatory system.

Ecomania: A magazine devoted to the environment

Excretion

Biodiversity Web Quest 

Poop and the Digestive System

Food Web Quest  

Evolutionary Times – a WebQuest that is used by students to construct a magazine. Toby Weber (my English partner) and I used as a follow-up to the study of evolution, eugenics and the reading of Inherit the Wind. This was an interdisciplinary project that was part of my Bio/English Partnership.

Disease Book - Writing children's' books about disease 

Snot and Boogers is a webquest used to teach the respiratory system.

 www.bestwebquests.com is a great site for WebQuests on all subjects.

www.ozline.com/learning/index.htm is filled with valuable information about WebQuests and includes several examples.

 

How do I create a Hyperlink?

A hyperlink is a phrase, word or graphic which, when clicked with the mouse, will take the reader to another destination. In a WebQuest, that will usually be an Internet site. To create a hyperlink, underline the word(s) or click on the graphic that will provide the link and press the hyperlink key and insert the web address of the site you want your students to use. Your WebQuest can be written in Word.  You might find this site helpful for templates.

Your Task/Assignment:

Pick a topic (for starters it doesn’t matter what it is) and follow the six steps outlined above. After you have selected your topic, think of a way to "grab" student interest. Use a search engine, such as Google, to explore the resources available on the Web. Be creative and have fun. Put your WebQuest on a disc so you can share it with us at the end of the summer.

 

 

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