Jennifer.Newman@lakotaonline.com

What is a Web Quest?

Web Quests allow for student led exploration and research with technology. They are inquiry based activities that encourage students to use information they obtain from the World Wide Web alone or in conjunction with other resources. The Web Quest can be either long term or short term and can be used for any concept to help students utilize all levels of thinking to create a finished project. They were developed in 1995 at San Diego State University by Bernie Dodge and Tom March.

Creating a Web Quest

It requires a lot of thought and preparation to develop the lessons that are tied to internet research. However, if you follow the steps of the model developed by Dodge and March, creating Web Quests will be much easier.

Step 1 – Choose a topic.

Step 2 – Establish your goals and identify resources.

Step 3 – Specify the task to reach the goals and design assessment.

Step 4 – Design the lesson to match the task and assessment.

Step 5 – Develop the pages.

Step 6 – Implement the Web Quest

Step 7 – Evaluate and revise.

One resource that is helpful in creating your Web Quest pre-write is located at (http://www.ozline.com/webquests/prewrite.html). The site will help you list your goals and websites that you will choose for the students to use.

Key Components

I. Introduction

This explains why your students are conducting the web search. Make sure it is a grabber that is realistic and has some relevance to the students. (Maybe they are astronauts or archeologists solving a problem or compiling information for and important task.)

II. The Task

The task explains what the students are going to be required to do. It is easier if it is broken into relevant categories. (permission requirements, research, brochure creation, presentation.)

III. The Process

This is the key component because it gives the student step by step directions for completing each requirement and the links to pages needed. These links may include but are not limited to, research pages, pre-writes, checklists, self-evaluation questionnaires and evaluation rubrics.

IV. Evaluation

This will include any evaluation component including checklists, self-evaluations and assessment rubric. Make sure that there is a link to each assessment piece in the process page when that step is required.

V. Conclusion

This is where you close the assignment and extend the students thinking beyond the Web Quest.

VI. Teacher Page

This page will list any important information in the steps of the assignment that you want to review or make available to other teachers who may have access to your Web Quest.

Getting Started

Web Quests will allow your students to take control of their learning on any concept while integrating technology. Even though they take some work to implement, they are an asset to the classroom.

If you are unsure about getting started take the easy way out. Follow another Web Quest (most are similar because they are designed around the model created by Bernie Dodge and Tom March) or use some other all ready created Web Quests. There are plenty of Web Quests that you can access on the World Wide Web. I have created a list of some web sites that can help you find some good Web Quests or you can do your own search.

Web Quest Resources

http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/fellows/CLOZE/WebQuest/jdcindexchoice.htm

http://mason.gmu.edu/~dspragu1/quests.html

www.bhsu.edu/education/edfaculty/lturner/WEB%20Quests.htm

http://bestwebquests.com

www.edu-cyberg.com/teachers/webquest.html

www.webquest.org

http://schools.sbe.sasktoon.sk.ca/Victo/projects/Grassroots/Planet%20WebQuest/WebQuest2.html