May 2002
Keith McPherson, University of British Columbia,
keith.mcpherson@ubc.ca
 

WebQuests follow a similar structure to lesson plans that teachers already create.   Most WebQuests contain: an Introduction, a Task(s), a Process, an Evaluation, and a Conclusion.   To learn more about what is contained in each of these sections, visit http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/staffdev/buildingblocks/p-index.htm. Many online WebQuests also contain a Teacher Page, although some don’t as they are being used by students and the teacher probably feels the Teacher Page is not necessary.   Of course the best way to see what a WebQuest looks like is to view some currently mounted on the web.   For example:

1.  Elementary:

A WebQuest about WebQuests.  http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquestwebquest-es.html.    Made by Bernie Dodge for introducing elementary teachers to the design and features of WebQuests

Big Cats: http://www.lled.educ.ubc.ca/Courses/481/Webwork/Webquest/Barb/cats.htm.  An Elementary Teacher’s first attempt at creating a WebQuests for her Grade threes

2. Middle School:

X-Life: http://www.resa.net/nasa/webquest.htm.  This middle school WebQuest explores interplanetary human colonization.   Although this WebQuest’s structure looks different, only the section titles have been changed.

World Hunger: http://www.manteno.k12.il.us/drussert/WebQuests/HallOvandoRobinson/start.html.   A middle school WebQuest that encourages students to analyze and synthesize information in an attempt to promote awareness about global hunger and the solutions that can be accomplished at a local level.

I. Students:

• Similar structure across WebQuests -  Ease of use.
• Encourages readers to interact with information-based Internet resources
• Motivating (stimulates learner’s imagination)
• Students can create their own WebQuests (An engage with classmates’ Quests)
• WebQuests can be worked on at home/library

II. Teachers:

• Similar structure in all WebQuests – Easy to create.
• Emphasis on teaching skills required to read WebQuests
• Encourages effective & structured use of Internet time (inquiry based lessons/units are designed so as to guide students meaningfully)
• Accommodates learners' diverse learning needs (individual and group work)

I. Students:

• Most WebQuests are not designed to meet your specific state/provincial educational curriculum
• Access (slow web connectivity and inadequate number of computers)
• Resource links readability often too high
• Creating own WebQuest requires time upgrading technical skills an information literacy skills
• Inflexible structure

II. Teachers:

• Similar structure in all WebQuests – Easy to create.
• Emphasis on teaching skills required to read WebQuests
• Encourages effective & structured use of Internet time (inquiry basedlessons/units are designed so as to guide students through educational/ meaningful learning experiences)
• Accommodates learners' diverse learning needs (individual and group work)

III. Teachers and Students:
Broken Links (WebQuests are taken off the internet)
Creating your own WebQuest takes time (especially on your first few)
Content often focused on Web resources, ignoring other library resources

Bernie Dodge’s Matrix of WebQuests (San Diego State University, Updated Oct 2001) http://webquest.sdsu.edu/matrix.html

Choose a search engine (http://searchenginewatch.com/links/major.html, or http://www.twics.com/~takakuwa/search/search.html).   For this example I use Google (http://www.google.com) key in the words “WebQuest”, “[topic]”, and “grade”.   For example a simple search for grade 5 WebQuests on Weather would look like this:

In a hunt for the “perfect WebQuest”, it has been my experience that the most successful ‘tools’ teachers use are other educators.  They turn to fellow school and/or district Teacher-Librarians, Technology teachers, and teachers for help identifying the perfect WebQuest.   Do not underestimate the power of word of mouth as I have personally found some of the best WebQuests from other educators’ recommendations.   As well, these inquiries can often lead to collaboratively developed WebQuest if you both can’t find the ‘perfect WebQuest’.

There are many online resources geared to assisting you in the creation of WebQuests.  Be advised that unless you have a great deal of technology skills and experience, especially with web site creation, creating WebQuests can take a great deal of time.  On the other hand, the amount of time you commit to you first few WebQuests will determine how easy constructing future WebQuests will become.   Here are a few recommended online resources that can assist you in creating your own WebQuest:

1. Filamentality: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/ .  A fill in the blanks site for people wishing to create and mount their own WebQuest or WebProject

2. WebQuest Templates:

a) http://webquest.sdsu.edu/LessonTemplate.html

b) http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/staffdev/tpss99/mywebquest/index.htm

c) http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/staffdev/tpss99/upgrades/

d) http://emints.more.net/info/area2/webquest.zip

3. WebQuest about Building a WebQuest

http://www.otterbein.edu/dept/educ/sciquests/worksheet.html

1. ‘Teacher Tools’, WebQuest Tutorial

http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/webquest/quest-a.shtml

2.  A WebQuest about WebQuests (School Staff Training Site) http://www.biopoint.com/WebQuests/webquest2.html

3. WebQuest Training Materials (an extensive list of materials to help you find, create, assess, and fine tune WebQuests)

   There are many way sin which you can make WebQuests more powerful.   I recommend visiting the following to refine your WebQuest:

1. http://webquest.sdsu.edu/necc98.htm, (Taxonomy of WebQuests)

1.  Ensure access to online resources

2.  Ensure students know how to use equipment

3.  Teach Internet skills and content area reading

4.  Go beyond fact finding

5.  Get technical help

6.  Thoroughly evaluate your online resources

   Many teachers have remarked that the WebQuest structure does not meet their approach or current planning structures.  Their curriculum/lessons plans do not fit the WebQuest format.   There are other types of ‘WebQuests’ online, the most notable being the WebProject.   If you find you’re struggling with WebQuests, try looking at the next wave of online lessons at these links:

http://www.webproject.org/,

http://www.gsn.org/,

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/,

http://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/busyt/proj.html,

http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/,

http://oswego.org/staff/cchamber/webdesign/internetprojects.htm