WebQuest

      Are you ready to bring your classroom and teaching to a new level? Well then this post will interest you. Webquest's are a new fad in teaching and allow students to become engaged through an inquiry-oriented activity where all information used is from the internet. WebQuest's were designed to use children's time well. In a WebQuest the focus is how to use information rather than have students look for it. Throughout a WebQuest children complete a doable task using the resources and guidance of the WebQuest for assistance.
      The design of a WebQuest is critical to its effectiveness as an instructional resource and consists of the following critical attributes:

• Introduction: The purpose of the introduction is to prepare and hook the reader. In the introduction you should build on the reader's prior knowledge.
• Task: The purpose of the task is to focus learners on what they will be doing. In the task you should include synthesis of multiple sources of information, and/or taking a position, and/or going beyond the data given and making a generalization or product.
• Process: The purpose of the process is to outline how the learners will accomplish the task. The steps the readers must follow to complete the project need to be clearly outlined. Also, the activities the students will perform should have a lot of variety.
• Resources: Make sure your links to web resources are pertinent to the task, make good use of the Web, and are working.
• Evaluation: The purpose of this section is to describe the evaluation criteria needed to meet performance and content standards. In this attribute, make sure you give explicit directions that tell how the reader will demonstrate their growth in knowledge. For evaluation you can use a rubric or open-ended forms of assessment.

Visit Quest Garden for more information on WebQuests and to register for a free 30 day trial that will assist you in creating your first WebQuest!