WebQuests: Where Technology   Meets Educational Best Practice

An Introduction!

What is a Webquest?  WebQuests are efforts to have students use technology as a tool to answer "essential questions". But going beyond "answering a question", they are intended to require research, synthesis and evaluation leading to deep levels of understanding AND to having students demonstrate deep understanding in meaningful, measurable ways.  A typical WebQuest includes an introduction, a task description, links to resources, a rubric for task assessment, a conclusion, and may also include a teacher-resource page.  The design, though is primarily student-focused:  it is an organizer to guide students though completion of a learning project.

Bernie Dodge and Tom March have adopted the terminology of Grant Wiggins regarding student understanding. In Understanding By Design (Wiggins & McTighe, 1998), six facets of understanding are described: explanation, interpretation, application, perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge. Dodge and March suggest that a well-designed WebQuest will push students to demonstrate deeper levels of understanding…with careful planning. And that brings us to the beginning of our study of WebQuests.

Essential Elements:  Bernie Dodge and Tom March identified the critical attributes that all WebQuests should have.  They are-

• An introduction to the WebQuest content, purpose, etc.
• The task to be performed by the students.
• Sources of information - pre-organize links to research.
• Process description that gives more detailed steps for students in performing their task.
• Organizational helps to perform the research and work through the process.
• Conclusion that ties the elements of the learning experience together for the learners.

One additional part that is highly recommended is a teacher resources center giving links to additional background and suggestions for implementation of the project with students.  For discussion of each part, see http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/overview.htm or to simply look at an example of the parts in a WebQuest, take a look at Leaving Stilwell Alone.

Types of WebQuests:  The WebQuest Page includes an overview of tasks that might be used to create a WebQuest.  Check them out at http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/taskonomy.html

• Select a topic – essential question, adequate resources
• Formulate the assessment – final product/outcome & rubric
• Research the topic
• Research the topic
• Construct the essential parts
• Pilot the WebQuest
• Adjust as needed

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WebQuest Workshop - Copyright 2000 - Dr. Blake West