All About Webquests

All About WebQuests! Staci Trekles Milligan Clinical Asst. Professor Purdue University Calumet

Objectives
By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:
Describe what a WebQuest is, including the format they follow and how they can play a role in enhancing instruction
Evaluate existing WebQuests found online for quality and usefulness in your own classroom
Create basic WebQuests using the online QuestGarden tool ( http://www.questgarden.com )
Create your own custom WebQuests using the Adobe Dreamweaver webpage editing software

What is a WebQuest, anyhow?
Inquiry-based lessons, often with teaching across disciplines
Students work systematically, individually or in teams
Task usually involves a problem that students must solve, and report on their solution/findings
Promotes information literacy, critical thinking, deeper learning
For more information, see:
http://webquest.org
http://www.webquest.futuro.usp.br/artigos/textos_outros-bernie1.html
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/necc06/questgarden/
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.html

Structure of a WebQuest
Introduction : Introduces students to the journey they are about to undertake
Task : Briefly defines the objectives (learning outcomes) for the WebQuest
Process : The procedures for completing the quest from start to finish
Evaluation : The evaluation rubric that will be used to assess student work or progress
Conclusion : Wrap-up designed to encourage students to reflect, seek further information

The Introduction
“ You are about to embark on a fabulous adventure…”
“ You are about to join a group of fellow explorers/scientists/detectives/doctors/scholars/writers/etc…”
Many of the best WebQuests start with a story, involving the student as the main character in the adventure he/she is about to undertake

The Task
The primary objective(s) that students will undertake; the Task is BRIEF, however
It is a general overview of what students will accomplish and learn over the course of the WebQuest
The actual procedures and how they will achieve their goals happen in the Process
The best WebQuests are inquiry-based and involve problem-solving and project creation

The Process
The Process is the heart of the WebQuest – without one, students won’t know how to accomplish their mission
Take great care to ensure that students are guided along the way step by step - there should be no mysteries about what you expect from your students during the WebQuest
This does not necessarily mean that we “spoon-feed” them; rather, the Process gives guidance so that students can independently and successfully work
Most WebQuests begin with research and end with a completed product of some kind – a presentation, a book, a paper, something to show what the student has learned

Designing Your Process: Choosing Resources
The Process also gives students resource links to help them with their research – hence, the “Web” part of the quest!
Rather than cast your students out in the wilds of the Internet, give them sufficient links within the Process that you have evaluated ahead of time to ensure that they don’t run into false information (or worse)
Sometimes searching for specific information online is not as easy as it sounds, as many of you already know
Try the Four NETS method: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/searching/fournets.htm

The Evaluation
As essential part of the WebQuest is to ensure that students understand success will be evaluated
Since most WebQuests are project-based, the work produced usually cannot be measured by a simple checklist
The best assessment for WebQuest activities comes in the form of an evaluation rubric, wherein you define the differences between unacceptable, competent, and exemplary work
My favorite rubric helper: RubiStar http://rubistar.4teachers.org

The Conclusion
When it’s all said and done, it helps to wrap up the quest in a fun way
Many WebQuests end with links with further information so students interested in a subject can explore in further depth
Others end with games, extra credit, reflection – whatever you can dream up to creatively end the lesson!

Finding Good Examples
Not all WebQuests are created equally: some that are available on the Web are of very poor quality
In fact, there are probably a lot more bad ones than good ones
Best place to search for available WebQuests: http://webquest.org/search/index.php
Let’s explore! Search for WebQuests that interest you
Use the rubric in your handout to help you determine whether a WebQuest you’ve found is quality and useful

Creating Your Own: QuestGarden
QuestGarden ( http://www.questgarden.com ) is a terrific and very inexpensive way to host your own created WebQuests over the Internet
Cost: $20/2 years; free 30-day trial is available
QuestGarden is maintained by the “Father of WebQuests” himself, Dr. Bernie Dodge
Let’s explore QuestGarden in more detail!
Use this Cohort Group Code : IN92H

Customizing the WebQuest Experience
When QuestGarden is not giving you the flexibility you need, you may wish to try creating your own Web pages with a program such as Adobe Dreamweaver
We will learn the very basics of Dreamweaver using a template I have created for you – you are, of course, free to edit the template as much as you want!
Your handouts have Dreamweaver tutorials that you can always refer to after the workshop is over
Publishing your work on the Web is not necessary – you can display the web pages locally from any computer
Your tech coordinator can always help you publish your work to the Web, too

Customizing the WebQuest Experience
Let’s visit Dreamweaver and access the templates: http://island.nwiesc.k12.in.us/WebQuest/starters.zip
This will download a ZIP archive containing a set of 5 HTML files that can be opened with Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft FrontPage, SharePoint Designer, or any other Web page creation tool
Need further help with Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage/SharePoint Designer? Try: http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/Tutorials

Resources
The WebQuest Design Process: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designsteps/index.html
Project, problem, and inquiry-based learning: http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic43.htm
WebQuests about WebQuests:
Elementary: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-es.html
Middle school: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-ms.html
High School English: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-hs-eng.html
High School Math/Science: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-hs-mathsci.html

Resources
Articles, podcasts, presentations and more about WebQuests: http://webquest.org/index-resources.php
Great place to search for existing WebQuests: http://webquest.org/search/index.php
Great Article: “The Learning Power of WebQuests”: http://tommarch.com/writings/wq_power.php
QuestGarden WebQuest builder: http://www.questgarden.com

Resources
WebQuests 101 video series on YouTube:
What is a WebQuest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4rel5qOPvU
Making a WebQuest (with QuestGarden): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyht-ehlAWY
Overview of QuestGarden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrljNfEnSk0
Designing your Process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHZOh-KoEF4

Resources
Searching tips and help:
Kid-Friendly search tool http://webquest.org/findlinks/
Google Operators: http://www.google.com/help/cheatsheet.html
Bare Bones Guide to Web Searches: http://www.sc.edu/beaufort/library/pages/bones/bones.shtml
Four NETS search method: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/searching/fournets.htm

Resources
Great places to find clipart, media, and more:
TeacherTube: http://www.teachertube.com
FlashKit: http://www.flashkit.com
Free Digital Photos: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Creative Commons: http://search.creativecommons.org/

Resources
Staci’s Website: http://education.calumet.purdue.edu/Faculty/trekles
Staci’s Blog: http://stacimilligan.edublogs.org
Staci’s email: [email_address]
Purdue University Calumet Graduate Studies and Teacher License renewal program: http://www.calumet.purdue.edu/education/grad

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All About Webquests

by Staci Trekles

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