A webquest is "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet." (Bernie Dodge). Many students can research and find facts about a topic, but can they take that information and apply it and synthesize the information? Webquests require students to do this.
So what does that mean? A WebQuest presents a problem. Students usually work in teams to do the research. Most of the research is done on the Internet, but other traditional sources (magazines, journals, books, etc) can also be used. The teacher provides the possible sources. But a WebQuest is not just a computer-based research project. The student must use the research to make a decision, solve a problem, etc. So the student doesn't just collect information and present it (orally or on paper), but must apply what they learn. They can be written for different age levels and subject areas.
The following web sites give basic information about WebQuests and how to create your own. Some of these sites have templates that make it VERY easy for you to create your own.
The following is a WebQuest about WebQuests - a great way to learn more about them. Try as you learn!
The following are pages with existing WebQuests or links to some. Sometimes
you will find a WebQuest that deals with a local theme that doesn't apply to
you, but it might inspire you to do something similar. You can always adapt
one of these to fit your needs. [Information about adapting existing WebQuests
can be found at: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/adapting/index.html
]
Another web site with similar intentions is Filamentality. It is a fill-in-the-blank interactive web site that guides you through picking a topic, searching the Web, gathering good Internet sites, and turning Web resources into activities appropriate for learners. http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/
CyberSurfari
CyberSurfari is an online treasure hunt that lets kids explore 100 websites
over a month. Or school teams can compete for cash and prizes by racing through
the web to solve 100 clues. This year's cybersurfari begins October 20 so hurry!
Educational Web Adventure
This site offers links to interactive online learning adventures. Topics include
art, science, nature, and social studies. "Inside Out" has you FALL
into a famous painting. To get back out, you have to use detective skills to
learn who the artist was, where the work was painted, and the genre of the work.
There are currently adventures for art, science and nature, and social studies,
but naturally they can all be used for language and perhaps math.
Federal Holidays WebQuest
A WebQuest that requires the students to research and then imagine a holiday
that best represents the spirit of the United States.
Museum Mania
I probably mentioned this site before, too, but it's a great "safe"
way for kids to explore the Internet. It's an online treasure hunt where you
have to follow their links to find the answers to their questions. They change
the treasure hunt on a regular basis and even provide links to some of their
archived treasure hunts so that you can try those.
Quest
This is NASA's K-12 Internet Initiative, and it's a primary source for getting
your classes involved in online intereactive projects. It also offers grant
information, ideas for using technology in the classroom, and a guide to NASA
online resources.
Stonehenge WebQuests
Students journey to Stonehenge (virtually) and then use what they learn to complete
activities.
Seasons
Research in-depth info about the reasons for the seasons. Guided student questions
make sure your class will get the most out of this WebQuest. (Please note that
a few links are inactive, but there are enough alternate resources supplied
to adequately furnish information.)
The TITANIC: What Can Numbers Tell Us About Her Fatal Voyage?
WebQuests
These webquests are from the San Bernandino, CA school system. Webquests are
a great way to integrate the integrate the Internet into the classroom and also
require students to use higher order thinking skills as they apply the information
they get from their research to specified situations. There are webquests here
for both elementary and secondary students.
WebQuests
This site has MANY WebQuests on all sorts of topics: butterflies, U.S. Flag,
Native Americans, places around the world, solar system, plants, etc. ). They
are group by grade levels.
There are lots more WebQuests online. If you're interested, go to Google and do an Advanced Search. Type WEBQUEST for the all-the-word search and the type you're looking for under exact phrase.
For example, I went to http://www.google.com and clicked Advanced Search (to
the right of the box). On the Advanced Search page, I typed WEBQUEST in the
first box and HARRY POTTER in the second box. I clicked the Google Search
box and got 1,690 results. Wow! That many existing WebQuests for Harry Potter?
I'm sure some are repeats and others don't work any more. And they may be different
grade levels. But that's still good. I got 585 results for a search for Tessellations
WebQuests; 479 about Manatees; 852 for the Iditarod; and 3,910 for Rainforest.
I even found 804 results for WebQuest and Deaf (This number included WebQuests
developed by teachers at schools for the deaf, but there were some good ones
about history, biographies, etc.)
So if you're planning to work on a unit, do an Advanced Search to find what's already out there. It might be easier to adapt one than to start from scratch.
http://www.teachnology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/computing/web_quests/
Last Modified
March 7, 2007
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