WebQuests Unlocking Learning Gail Desler Area 3 Writing Project

What is a WebQuest*? An inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation * Term coined by Bernie Dodge http:// edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/overview.htm

An inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web

WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation

* Term coined by Bernie Dodge http:// edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/overview.htm

WebQuests should… Be standards-based Enhance an existing lesson or address a curriculum gap Provide links to well-chosen Internet sites Require a degree of understanding that goes beyond simple comprehension or retelling To view an extensive collection of webquest lessons, visit http://webquest.sdsu.edu/project-selection.html

Be standards-based

Enhance an existing lesson or address a curriculum gap

Provide links to well-chosen Internet sites

Require a degree of understanding that goes beyond simple comprehension or retelling

WebQuests = Constructivism Active involvement of students in the learning process Structured ways for students: to guide themselves through discovery of new material to apply new learning to past experiences to evaluate Internet information Collaboration with others

Active involvement of students in the learning process

Structured ways for students:

to guide themselves through discovery of new material

to apply new learning to past experiences

to evaluate Internet information

Collaboration with others

Components of WebQuests Introduction The Task The Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion Reflection Extension Notes to the Teacher

Introduction

The Task

The Process

Resources

Evaluation

Conclusion

Reflection

Extension

Notes to the Teacher

WebQuests include scaffolding Lessons build on one or two smaller activities to help guide students through process of completing a culminating activity Lessons provide helpful links along the way Lessons provide clear rubrics

Lessons build on one or two smaller activities to help guide students through process of completing a culminating activity

Lessons provide helpful links along the way

Lessons provide clear rubrics

Need a rationale for WebQuests? Students shift from information consumers to information producers Students shift from topical research to genuine inquiry Students shift to higher-level thinking: Analyzing Synthesizing Evaluating

Students shift from information consumers to information producers

Students shift from topical research to genuine inquiry

Students shift to higher-level thinking:

Analyzing

Synthesizing

Evaluating

Need help getting started? Visit Bernie Dodge’s WebQuests Page http://webquest.org/ Decide on your topic and tasks and start building your lesson http:// webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html http:// www.ozline.com/webquests/prewrite.html Collaborate! Open a QuestGarden! http:// webquest.org/questgarden/author /

Visit Bernie Dodge’s WebQuests Page

http://webquest.org/

Decide on your topic and tasks and start building your lesson

http:// webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html

http:// www.ozline.com/webquests/prewrite.html

Collaborate!

Open a QuestGarden!

http:// webquest.org/questgarden/author /