Using the Internet to Make Real World Connections

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Using the Internet to MakeReal World Connections

• Web Quests
• What they are and how to
• create them easily

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WebQuest Background

• In 1995, Bernie Dodge, professor of educational
  technology at San Diego State University,
  developed the approach to using the Internet as
  an integral part of teaching any subject at any
  grade level.
• Some Thoughts About WebQuests Bernie Dodge, San
  Diego State University http//edweb.sdsu.edu/cours
  es/edtec596/about_webquests.html

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Why Use WebQuests?
Think of WebQuests as a new kind of Web-centered
classroom Internet project.
WebQuests can focus either on a single topic, or
can be multidisciplinary.
Uses real data to make real world connections
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More Good Reasons!
Deliberately designed to make the best use of a
learner's time.
Can be designed as a single student or
cooperative group activity
Highly motivational elements wrapped around a
basic structure that gives the learners a role to
play
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Student Benefits

• Create something new within the contraints
  of a problem definition
• Define a stance and defend it
• Synthesize conflicting opinions
• Put multiple sources of data together to discover
  the non-obvious
• Inquiry-oriented

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Types of WebQuests to Suit Curricular Goals
There are two types of WebQuests short-term and
long-term

• Short Term WebQuests
• Short-term WebQuest, the instructional goal is
  simply knowledge acquisition and integration.
• Short term WebQuests are designed to be completed
  in one to three class periods.

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• Long Term WebQuests
• Long-term WebQuest, the instructional goal
  increases one level, challenging students to
  extend and refine the knowledge they find online
  and in the real world.
• Long-term WebQuests can take between one week and
  one month to complete.

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Simple Steps to Creating a WebQuest
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Steps to Creating a WebQuest
Design Step 1
Review Other Webquests

• The first step in creating a WebQuest of your own
  should be to review a few examples of successful
  ones http//edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html

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Steps to Creating a WebQuest
Design Step 2
Familiarize and Organize

• Become familiar with the resources available
  on-line in your content area
• Organize your knowledge of what's out there and
  then identify topics that fit in with your
  curriculum and for which there are appropriate
  materials on-line.

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Steps to Creating a WebQuest
Develop activity to meet desired objectives
Design Step 3

• Modify an existing lesson to create an activity
  with an Internet based research focus.
• Include an active learning based student product
  or performance evaluation and an evaluation rubric

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Steps to Creating a WebQuest
Design Step 4
Find On-line Resources

• Scour the Net for online resources that fit into
  your WebQuest idea(s). Use the Classroom Connect
  Searching Page as your starting point.

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Steps to Creating a WebQuest
Design Step 5
Publish and Post

• Using simple web authoring software, create your
  webquest and post on-line.
• You can modify this step by typing out your
  instructions and using handouts instead of
  on-line publishing.

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Putting the WebQuest Together

• Basic Structure
• A clear introductory paragraph which sets the
  stage for the activity and provides some
  background information.
• A central task that is concrete and interesting.
• A set of information sources needed to complete
  the task.

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The 6 Basic WebQuest Components

• Introduction
• Task
• Process

• Resources
• Evaluation
• Conclusion

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Introduction
Write with the student in mind. A short
paragraph to introduce the activity or lesson.
Motivational introductions or short advance
organizer overviews can be used. Purpose
Prepare and hook the learner
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The Task
Describe clearly and precisely the end result of
the learners activities. The task could be a
problem or mystery to be solved, position
formulated and defended, summary to be created,
personal insight to be articulated, a creative
work, etc. Purpose Require the learner to
process and transform the information they have
gathered.
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Resources
Point out places on the Internet or elsewhere
that will be available for students to get the
information to accomplish the task. Include a
description of each resource so that students
know in advance what type of information they
will be accessing. Purpose Provide starting
points for research with appropriate gateways for
the learner.
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The Process
This is the specific steps the learners must go
through to accomplish the task. Number the steps
and provide guidance on how to organize the
information gathered by including advice in the
form of checklists, suggestions, questions to
answer, or things to notice and think about.
Purpose Provide guidance in the development of
cognitive skills.
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Evaluation
This section describes to the learners how their
performance will be evaluated. A link to a
rubric or a summary of your criteria is
essential. The evaluation must evaluate the
accomplishment of your objectives in the
lesson. Purpose Provide feedback and
confirmation that objectives for learners have
been achieved.
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Conclusion
A conclusion brings closure to the WebQuest
and summarizes what was accomplished or learned
by completing the activity or lesson. Purpose
Remind learners what they have learned and
encourage them to extend the experience into
other domains.
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Useful Links to Get You Started

• A Matrix of Examples Sample WebQuests from
  different content areas and grade levels
  http//edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/matrix.html
• Building Blocks of a WebQuest http//edweb.sdsu.ed
  u/people/bdodge/webquest/buildingblocks.html

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• The WebQuest Page. This site is designed to serve
  as a resource to those who are using the WebQuest
  model to teach with the web. http//edweb.sdsu.edu
  /webquest/webquest.html
• WebQuest Design Process http//edweb.sdsu.edu/webq
  uest/Process/WebQuestDesignProcess.html
• Blue Webn selects, filters, and reviews the best
  Web sites for teachers and lifelong learners by
  subject or content. http//www.kn.pacbell.com/wire
  d/bluewebn/

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• A Rubric for Evaluating WebQuests How do you
  know when your WebQuest is a good one? Score it
  with this rubric to see where you could make
  improvements http//edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webque
  strubric.html

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Presentation prepared by A. McMahan Ridge View
High School Instructional Technology Specialist

• [phone] ext. 454

amcmahan_at_usit.net
amcmahan_at_rvh.richland2.org