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

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

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

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

“ 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 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

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 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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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