WHAT IS A WEBQUEST?A WebQuest to guide your quest through the web.

INTRODUCTION

In our effort to share experiences and resources that could be used effectively in a TEALE classroom, we chose to expose you to the inquiry-based vehicle for learning called “WebQuest”.

This WebQuest is simply an introduction. You will not be given enough time to experience the complete process, however, if you are interested in learning more, CII does offer workshops and 1-on-1 training for this topic.

THE TASK

To determine whether WebQuests are a potential solution for your teaching needs and worthy of further exploration, you will learn about WebQuests through participating in one.

In the next few minutes, you will: Understand what is a WebQuest Experience how a WebQuest can work in a TEALE

environment Explore a few examples of WebQuests, which will

offer you ideas of how you could apply this concept to your course of study

SO WHAT IS A WEBQUEST?

A WebQuest is an inquiry-based, project-based learning experience. Groups of students are given a task to complete. Each participant has a specific role so that everyone is responsible for the success of the project, and no one can hide behind the other members of their team. The instructor provides the resources and tools needed to complete the project effectively.

SO WHAT IS A WEBQUEST?

Review one of the following resources to learn more about WebQuests:

YouTube Video: WebQuest 101 Part 1 – What is a WebQuest? and Part 2 – How to make a WebQuest.

Web Research: Read Why WebQuests? and The WebQuest Formula on the Education World website.

THE PROCESS Each participant should find one WebQuest to explore on

Questgarden.com or Slideshare.net. For Slideshare and put the words “WebQuest” and your course of

study in the search bar to bring up relevant WebQuests. Choose one to explore.

Analyze the chosen WebQuest through the lens of your specific role: Efficiency Expert (seated left of the TV), Affiliator (farthest from TV on left), Altitudinist (right of TV right), and Technophile (farthest on right). Roles are described in the upcoming slides.

Since we will be limited on time, one participant should share his or her chosen WebQuest with the group, summarizing the activity and sharing his or her role-specific analysis.

The rest of the participants should then share their analyses of the WebQuest through the lens of their specific roles.

Together, do a complete assessment of the WebQuest and decide on whether it is something you would recommend adopting for a course.

YOUR ROLES: EACH PARTICIPANT SHOULD FULFILL ONE ROLE. HAPPY QUESTING!

The Efficiency Expert: You value time a great deal. You believe that too much time is wasted in today's classrooms on unfocused activity and learners not knowing what they should be doing at a given moment. To you, a good WebQuest is one that delivers the most learning bang for the buck. If it's a short, unambitious activity that teaches a small thing well, then you like it. If it's a longterm activity, it had better deliver a deep understanding of the topic it covers, in your view. This is the participant seated to the left of the TV. The roles described are taken directly from a resource

developed by Bernie Dodge, the originator of the WebQuest concept. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquestwebquest-hs.html

YOUR ROLES: EACH PARTICIPANT SHOULD FULFILL ONE ROLE. HAPPY QUESTING!

The Affiliator: To you, the best learning activities are those in which students learn to work together. WebQuests that force collaboration and create a need for discussion and consensus are the best in your view. If a WebQuest could be done by a student working alone, it leaves you cold. This is the participant seated farthest away to the left

of the TV. The roles described are taken directly from a resource

developed by Bernie Dodge, the originator of the WebQuest concept. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquestwebquest-hs.html

YOUR ROLES: EACH PARTICIPANT SHOULD FULFILL ONE ROLE. HAPPY QUESTING!

The Altitudinist: Higher level thinking is everything to you. There's too much emphasis on factual recall in schools today. The only justification for bringing technology into schools is if it opens up the possibility that students will have to analyze information, synthesize multiple perspectives, and take a stance on the merits of something. You also value sites that allow for some creative expression on the part of the learner. This is the participant seated to the right of the TV. The roles described are taken directly from a resource

developed by Bernie Dodge, the originator of the WebQuest concept. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquestwebquest-hs.html

YOUR ROLES: EACH PARTICIPANT SHOULD FULFILL ONE ROLE. HAPPY QUESTING!

The Technophile: You love this internet thang. To you, the best WebQuest is one that makes the best use of the technology of the Web. If a WebQuest has attractive colors, animated gifs, and lots of links to interesting sites, you love it. If it makes minimal use of the Web, you'd rather use a worksheet. This is the participant seated farthest away to the right

of the TV. The roles described are taken directly from a resource

developed by Bernie Dodge, the originator of the WebQuest concept. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquestwebquest-hs.html