Webquests

Gino Lopez Romero

Mariano Santos mateos
Quinto año A
According to Webquest.org a
webquest is:
• wrapped around a doable and interesting task that is ideally a scaled
down version of things that adults do as citizens or workers.
• requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing. This includes
synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity and judgment.
• makes good use of the web. A WebQuest that isn't based on real
resources from the web is probably just a traditional lesson in disguise.
(Of course, books and other media can be used within a WebQuest, but
if the web isn't at the heart of the lesson, it's not a WebQuest.)
• isn't a research report or a step-by-step science or math procedure.
Having learners simply distilling web sites and making a presentation
about them isn't enough.
• isn't just a series of web-based experiences. Having learners go look at
this page, then go play this game, then go here and turn your name into
hieroglyphs doesn't require higher level thinking skills and so, by
definition, isn't a WebQuest.
Start by thinking about
your students

What do students
already know?
What are their
technical abilities?
 Identify what
equipment you have
available to you.

Will you have a computer for each student or will

students need to work in groups?
Are the resources available or are some blocked by
your students?
How much time can you spend in the lab?
 Ideas?
Look at the standards you teach.
What is something that you teach
now that you feel you could use
improvement?
Are there web based resources for
this topic?
Parts of a Webquest
Introduction
Topic
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion
Introduction
 This is the hook. You want to capture your students and get
them excited about the activity.
 This should be:
 Meaningful
 Relevant
 Written at grade level
Example:

 At the beginning of this year the junior class found out the

senior trip which had always been to Disney World was now
going to be to Washington D.C. The school board reasoned that
they wanted the trip to be an educational. Many of you were
furious with change and fought to have the trip changed back to
Disney World. The school board agreed to allow the class to
travel to Disney World however; you have been asked to put
the details and expenses of the trip into a proposal to be
presented to and approved by the school board. Your team has
been chosen to create the proposal which will include an
itinerary, budget, and description of the trip.

 http://questgarden.com/47/15/3/070224105812/
 Task
Describes what the students will be doing
and sets the stage for students to prepare
themselves.
The task can:
 Explain procedures
 Identify roles in a group
 Provide links to any worksheets or graphic
organizers that need to be completed
Example:

http://www.fccps.org/meh/teachers/misenheimer/egyptwebquest/e
gyptwebquest/atripdownthenile.htm#introduction
 Process
Explains how students should complete the
webquest. Remember that a webquest should
be designed for students to work
independently with the teacher working as a
facilitator.
The process should:
Written at for the grade level of the students
List the steps the students will go through.
Include any links need to accomplish the taks
Example:
**STEP 1** Get into groups of three. Once in your group, each
person must choose one of the following roles : Volcano Expert,
Eruption Alerter, Facts Boy/Girl (depending on your gender of
course)
**STEP 2** Once each person in the group has a role, each of you
will go to the computer lab and research the assigned questions
given to your particular role. In addition to researching the
information regarding your role, each student must find five pieces
of information (about volcanoes) that they think are important and
would be most helpful in teaching another person about volcanoes.
**STEP 3** After researching is complete, meet back together and
share each of your findings. After hearing each of the member's
five pieces of important information (about volcanoes), your group
will decide on the top ten pieces of information that they find to be
most valuable. Your group will, in addition, keep the research
information regarding the questions assigned to each role.
http://www.teacherweb.com/IN/PNC/Taylor/
 Resources
This is were you will list the resources for
your students.
In a webquest the main resources should
be internet based but you can supplement
with other resources.
You will want to make sure that the
resources are the appropriate grade level
and reading level.
Example:
 Desert USA contains all kinds of resources about the desert.
 Desert Life in the American Southwest has lots of
information about the Sonoran Desert.
 Sonoran Desert contains more information about the
Sonoran Desert.
 Desert Botanical Gardens is located in Phoenix, Arizona and
is a great resource for information on the desert.
 Boyce Thompson Arboretum is a Arizona State Park that has
resources about the plants and wildlife of Arizona.
 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located in Tucson, Arizona
and is another great resource about the Sonoran Desert.
 Tucson Botanical Gardens is, also, located in Tucson,
Arizona and it contains lots of information on the desert.
 Desert Photos has several pictures of the desert.
 The Desert Biome is a virtual tour of the desert. You can
learn all about deserts.
 
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/stennille/ST3/desertwq.htm
Evaluations
 Explains the expectations.
 Rubrics (http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php)
Example:

http://questgarden.com/45/56/4/070110213127/
 Conclusion
Ties everything together and has students
reflecting on their learning and the process
they went through.
Example:
Congratulations on a job well done! Ms. Ima Fake is eager to
look at all the playground designs and I’m sure all the
children at Notfo Real School are very grateful.
Why let the fun and learning stop here? Put your new found
knowledge of simple machines to use some more. Perhaps
you can design a new amusement park ride that makes use
of simple machines. Maybe you can think of a problem that
could be solved with a simple machine, such as an invention
that helps to get you out of bed in the morning. These would
also be great topics to incorporate into your writing during
Writers Workshop.
Just don’t let your discovery of simple machines end here.
Look all around you. I think you’ll be amazed to discover
how often you use simple machines.

http://iteach0509.angelfire.com/
Printable webquest generator
http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_quest/
Webquest hosting site
http://questgarden.com/
Webquest.org
http://www.webquest.org/index.php
 Your mission for next week:
Look at the content you teach and
either:
Create a webquest or
Find a webquest
That you can use in your classroom.

Come back next week and share

with everyone!
References
Blattner (2008). The Outsiders. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from
WebQuest.org Web Site:
http://web.epsteinatlanta.org/culture_quest/index.htm
Dodge, B. (2007). Webquest.org. Retrieved July 26, 2008, from Creating
Webquests Web site: http://webquest.org/index-create.php
Fowler, L. (2003). Dino show: A webquest for 2nd graders. Retrieved
August 3, 2008, from WebQuest.org Web Site:
http://www.lauriefowler.com/dinoshow.html
Gammill, R. (2006). Dream car project. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from
WebQuest.org Web Site:
http://www.rebeccagammill.com/CARPROJECT/webquest%20template/inde
Misenheimer, A.M. (2007). A trip down the Nile. Retrieved August 3,
2008 from WebQuest.org Web site:
http://www.fccps.org/meh/teachers/misenheimer/egyptwebquest/egyptwebqu
 References (Cont.):
Myers, J. (2007). Save the super bowl. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from
WebQuest.org Web Site: http://questgarden.com/45/56/4/070110213127/
Nevola, S. (2007). Simple Machines. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from
WebQuest.org Website: http://iteach0509.angelfire.com/
Stonjanovich, C. (2007). Proposal for your senior trip. Retrieved August 3, 2008
from WebQuest.org Web Site: http://questgarden.com/47/15/3/070224105812/
Taylor, A. (2005). Volcanoes. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from WebQuest.org
Web Site: http://www.teacherweb.com/IN/PNC/Taylor/
Tennille, S. (2003). Desert Quest. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from Webquest.org
Web Site: http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/stennille/ST3/desertwq.htm