Integrating WebQuests in the Classroom for Interactive Learning

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Integrating WebQuests in the Classroom for
Interactive Learning
Beth Baker and Anupam Chugh
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What Is a WebQuest

• An inquiry-oriented activity in which most or
  all of the information used by learners is drawn
  from the Web. Bernie Dodge
• Focus on using information--analyzing,
  synthesizing, and evaluating--rather than
  searching for it
• Performance Task

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First WebQuest

• Developed in 1995 by Bernie Dodge with Tom March
  at San Diego State University
• Numerous Webquests have been developed and used
  in the classroom since then

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WebQuests Two Types

• Short term takes one to three class periods to
  complete
• Long term takes one week to one month

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Short Term WebQuest

• Instructional goal is knowledge acquisition and
  integration
• Learners deal with a significant amount of new
  information and make sense of it

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Long Term WebQuest

• Instructional goal is extending and refining
  knowledge
• Learners analyze a body of knowledge, transform
  it, and demonstrate understanding by creating a
  project

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Sample details can be found at
http//projects.edtech.sandi.net/ staffdev/tpss99/
tasksimap/
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Essential Components of a WebQuest

• Introduction
• - GLCE/Benhmark Guiding Question
• Task
• Resources
• Process
• Evaluation
• Conclusion

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Introduction

• Orient learners as to what is coming
• Guiding Question
• Raise some interest in learners through a variety
  of means

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Task (Performance Task)

• Describe what learners will have completed at the
  end of the exercise
• A product, presentation, or a verbal act

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Process

• Gives step by step instructions for learners to
  complete the task
• Includes strategies for breaking the task into
  subtasks
• Describes the roles to be played by each learner

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Resources

• List of pre-selected web sites
• Experts available via e-mail or real time
  conferencing
• Books or other documents in the learners setting
  
• Multimedia (video streaming, CD, DVD)

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Evaluation

• Authentic assessment
• Evaluation rubrics designed by teachers (include
  proper citation of resources)
• Evaluation also by students
• Many forms in evaluation rubrics

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Conclusion

• Bring closure to complete the quest
• Remind learners of what theyve learned
• Encourage them to extend the experiences into
  other domains

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Other Components of WebQuests

• Group activities and group projects
• Student collaboration
• Role-playing by learners
• Single discipline or interdisciplinary

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Features of WebQuests

• Web-based, inquiry-oriented learning activity
• Real world nature of learning tasks
• Teamwork and cooperative learning
• Higher order thinking skills
• Problem solving skills

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Benefits

• Clear and defined task in mind
• Use of timely and up-to-date resources
• Engages student in active learning
• Connects learning to real world problems
• Incorporates technology into learning
• Creates cooperative learning environments
• Students motivation, learning interest, and
  engagement at higher level
• Differentiated learning that can lead to
  increased student achievement

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What can you do if

• No computers
• One computer with Internet access
• One computer with no Internet connection
• Few computers

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WebQuestsA Sharing Community

• Collection of WebQuests by teachers, university
  students, and workshop attendees
• May submit a WebQuest to Bernie Dodges or Kathy
  Schrocks websites to share with other educators

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Creating WebQuests

• Become familiar with web resources in the content
  area
• Organize ones knowledge of whats available
  online
• Choose topics/themese that fit in with curriculum
  
• Write the draft of a WebQuest page
• Upload a WebQuest on the Internet

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WebQuests

• Your Tasks
• 1. Brainstorm some possible WebQuest topics or
  themes that you can integrate into your teaching
• 2. Plan a lesson using the template (outline)

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References

• http//webquest.sdsu.edu/
• http//www.ozline.com/webquests
• http//webquest.org/
• http//www.filamentality.com/wired/fil/index.html/
  
• http//streaming.resa.net
• http//teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_que
  st/