WebQuests-An overview
The concept of WebQuest was developed by Bernie Dodge and Tom March in 1995 and it was defined as “a scaffolded learning structure that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic task to motivate students’ investigation of an open-ended question"
WebQuests have a fixed structure
They can be created with different tools ranging from simple Microsoft Word or OpenOffice files to more advanced web development software, like Dreamweaver and FrontPage.
A good WebQuest topic requires understanding, fits curriculum standards and has appropriate online sources available.
There are several ways of finding existing WebQuests on a chosen topic.
You can also use Google Advanced Search
There are several ways of finding existing WebQuests on a chosen topic.
You can also use Google Advanced Search
The task is the formal description of what the students will produce in the WebQuest. It is organized taking into account a dominant thinking verb such as design, decide, create, analyze and predict which represent the highest levels of Bloom's taxonomy.
Therefore, WebQuests are inquiry-oriented lessons that emphasize the development of higher-order thinking skills instead of the gathering or acquiring information. They help students evaluate web content and develop digital literacy.
Therefore, WebQuests are inquiry-oriented lessons that emphasize the development of higher-order thinking skills instead of the gathering or acquiring information. They help students evaluate web content and develop digital literacy.
WebQuests are usually evaluated using rubrics, rating the different dimensions of the task and providing detailed feedback on students’ performance.
If you want to create your own rubric see WebQuest.org and Brilliant or Insane articles on rubrics.
Online tools
No registration
http://www.learner.org/workshops/hswriting/interactives/rubric/
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/general/
Free registration
http://www.rcampus.com/indexrubric.cfm
https://www.forallrubrics.com/
There is also a WebQuest rubric you may use to evaluate your draft: http://webquest.org/sdsu/webquestrubric.html
WebQuests have a focused set of resources which constitute the raw material for the task while developing digital literacy skills at the same time. The sources are selected by the creator of the WebQuest.
WebQuests are usually published as a webpage but a word or PDF file can also do the trick.
Online tools
No registration
Fill in the sections, click on the generate webquest button and then save your work as a webpage.
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_quest/
http://www.aula21.net/Wqfacil/webquest.htm (Spanish users)
With free registration
http://createwebquest.com/
http://zunal.com/
30-day-free trial
http://questgarden.com/author/info/free-trial.php
Online tools
No registration
Fill in the sections, click on the generate webquest button and then save your work as a webpage.
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_quest/
http://www.aula21.net/Wqfacil/webquest.htm (Spanish users)
With free registration
http://createwebquest.com/
http://zunal.com/
30-day-free trial
http://questgarden.com/author/info/free-trial.php
I hope that this short overview has helped you realize the enormous potential of WebQuests. Whether you create a WebQuest for your students or you ask them to create a WebQuest drop us a line and tell us about it through the comments section of our blog or our social networks.