Webquests

Teacher Networking Center Presentation

According to Webquest.org a webquest is:

• wrapped around a doable and interesting task that is ideally a scaled down version of things that adults do as citizens or workers.

• requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing. This includes synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity and judgment.

• 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.)

• 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.

• 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.

Start by thinking about your students

What do students already know?

What are their technical abilities?

Identify what equipment you have available to you.

• Will you have a computer for each student or will students need to work in groups?

• Are the resources available or are some blocked by your students?

• How much time can you spend in the lab?

Ideas?• Look at the standards you teach.

• What is something that you teach now that you feel you could use improvement?

• Are there web based resources for this topic?

Parts of a Webquest

• Introduction

• Topic

• Task

• Process

• Resources

• Evaluation

• Conclusion

Introduction• This is the hook. You want to capture your students and get them

excited about the activity.

• This should be: Meaningful Relevant Written at grade level

Example:

• At the beginning of this year the junior class found out the

senior trip which had always been to Disney World was now

going to be to Washington D.C. The school board reasoned

that they wanted the trip to be an educational. Many of you

were furious with change and fought to have the trip changed

back to Disney World.  The school board agreed to allow the

class to travel to Disney World however; you have been asked

to put the details and expenses of the trip into a proposal to be

presented to and approved by the school board. Your team has

been chosen to create the proposal which will include an

itinerary, budget, and description of the trip.

• http://questgarden.com/47/15/3/070224105812/

Task

• Describes what the students will be doing and sets the stage for students to prepare themselves.

• The task can: Explain procedures Identify roles in a group Provide links to any worksheets or graphic

organizers that need to be completed

http://www.fccps.org/meh/teachers/misenheimer/egyptwebquest/egyptwebquest/atripdownthenile.htm#introduction

Example:

Process

• Explains how students should complete the webquest. Remember that a webquest should be designed for students to work independently with the teacher working as a facilitator.

• The process should:

• Written at for the grade level of the students

• List the steps the students will go through.

• Include any links need to accomplish the taks

Example:

**STEP 1** Get into groups of three. Once in your group, each person must choose one of the following roles : Volcano Expert, Eruption Alerter, Facts Boy/Girl (depending on your gender of course)

**STEP 2** Once each person in the group has a role, each of you will go to the computer lab and research the assigned questions given to your particular role. In addition to researching the information regarding your role, each student must find five pieces of information (about volcanoes) that they think are important and would be most helpful in teaching another person about volcanoes.

**STEP 3** After researching is complete, meet back together and share each of your findings. After hearing each of the member's five pieces of important information (about volcanoes), your group will decide on the top ten pieces of information that they find to be most valuable. Your group will, in addition, keep the research information regarding the questions assigned to each role.

•http://www.teacherweb.com/IN/PNC/Taylor/

Resources

• This is were you will list the resources for your students.

• In a webquest the main resources should be internet based but you can supplement with other resources.

• You will want to make sure that the resources are the appropriate grade level and reading level.

Example:

• Desert USA contains all kinds of resources about the desert.

• Desert Life in the American Southwest has lots of information about the Sonoran Desert.

• Sonoran Desert contains more information about the Sonoran Desert.

• Desert Botanical Gardens is located in Phoenix, Arizona and is a great resource for information on the desert.

• Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a Arizona State Park that has resources about the plants and wildlife of Arizona.

• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located in Tucson, Arizona and is another great resource about the Sonoran Desert.

• Tucson Botanical Gardens is, also, located in Tucson, Arizona and it contains lots of information on the desert.

• Desert Photos has several pictures of the desert.

• The Desert Biome is a virtual tour of the desert. You can learn all about deserts.

 http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/stennille/ST3/desertwq.htm

Evaluations

• Explains the expectations.

• Rubrics (http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php)

Example:

http://questgarden.com/45/56/4/070110213127/

Conclusion

• Ties everything together and has students reflecting on their learning and the process they went through.

Example:

Congratulations on a job well done! Ms. Ima Fake is eager to look at all the playground designs and I’m sure all the children at Notfo Real School are very grateful.

Why let the fun and learning stop here? Put your new found knowledge of simple machines to use some more. Perhaps you can design a new amusement park ride that makes use of simple machines. Maybe you can think of a problem that could be solved with a simple machine, such as an invention that helps to get you out of bed in the morning. These would also be great topics to incorporate into your writing during Writers Workshop.

Just don’t let your discovery of simple machines end here. Look all around you. I think you’ll be amazed to discover how often you use simple machines.

http://iteach0509.angelfire.com/

Printable webquest generatorhttp://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_quest/

Webquest hosting sitehttp://questgarden.com/

Webquest.orghttp://www.webquest.org/index.php

Your mission for next week:

Look at the content you teach and either:

Create a webquest or

Find a webquest

That you can use in your classroom.

Come back next week and share with everyone!

References

Blattner (2008). The Outsiders. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://web.epsteinatlanta.org/culture_quest/index.htm

Dodge, B. (2007). Webquest.org. Retrieved July 26, 2008, from Creating Webquests Web site: http://webquest.org/index-create.php

Fowler, L. (2003). Dino show: A webquest for 2nd graders. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://www.lauriefowler.com/dinoshow.html

Gammill, R. (2006). Dream car project. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://www.rebeccagammill.com/CARPROJECT/webquest%20template/index.htm

Misenheimer, A.M. (2007). A trip down the Nile. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Web site: http://www.fccps.org/meh/teachers/misenheimer/egyptwebquest/egyptwebquest/atripdownthenile.htm

References (Cont.):

Myers, J. (2007). Save the super bowl. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://questgarden.com/45/56/4/070110213127/

Nevola, S. (2007). Simple Machines. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Website: http://iteach0509.angelfire.com/

Stonjanovich, C. (2007). Proposal for your senior trip. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://questgarden.com/47/15/3/070224105812/

Taylor, A. (2005). Volcanoes. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://www.teacherweb.com/IN/PNC/Taylor/

Tennille, S. (2003). Desert Quest. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from Webquest.org Web Site: http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/stennille/ST3/desertwq.htm