WEBQUEST

=Using WebQuests Instructionally=

What are WebQuests?

 * A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which the learners use the Internet to obtain information about a topic. These WebQuests often occur in one of two levels: short term or long term WebQuest. A short term WebQuest is designed to allow the leaner aquire and integrate knowledge within a time period of one to three class periods. A long term WebQuest allows the learner to aquire significant information, analyze it, and demostrate understanding by creating a product that other learners can respond to. This usually takes between a week and a month.

WebQuests can be designed for individual use or collaborative use. In either case, the students are often presented with some type of problem solving activity wherein creative techniques are utilized in order to come to a solution or answer to the proposed dilemma. The nature of WebQuests makes the activity applicable in a variety of curricular areas. || ||

Learning Theories that Guide the Use of WebQuests in Instruction
Constructivism is the major learning theory that guides the use of WebQuests. The entire purpose of this activity is so that the learner can take the information that they have gathered and shape it in a way that makes sense to him or her. When the WebQuest is done in a collaborative manner, there is also an element of social negotiation wherein the students must learn to construct the information in a logical way and reach a consensus within the group.

**Designing WebQuests for Classroom Use**
A WebQuest can be designed for any age level and it can focus on any topic. There are many WebQuests already online that are available for use ([|WebQuest Search]). For those interested in creating a WebQuest, the [|WebQuest 101] website has a simple tutorial that explains how to do so.

The Benefits of Using WebQuests in Instruction
In a world that changes so quickly, people must be life long learners. In addition, they must be able to effectively take and analyze information before acting on it. WebQuests require many higher-order thinking skills that promote the necessary analysis and synthesis skills. When used collaboratively, WebQuests promote social negotiation among the students which is reflective of real world situations.

WebQuests can provide students with real-life problems, dilemmas, and information that inspire geniune curiosity within the students. Put in the appropriate context, WebQuests can help students connect to other people in ways that a textbook cannot.

By assigning students to complete WebQuests, teachers are helping to prepare these students for the future.



The Challenges of Using WebQuests in Instruction
One of the challenges of using a WebQuest in instruction is knowing when it would be beneficial. For example, WebQuests are not the best way to teach recall, simple procedures, or definitions. Unfortunately, a lot of the standards focus on this type of content therefore WebQuests are not beneficial for a large part of the curriculum.

Another challenge in using WebQuests in instruction is maintaining links that are active. Some of the links move to different locations or become obsolete. After designing a WebQuest, a teacher should check the links prior to classroom use in order to avoid confusion if a link is no longer active or valid.

To help understand how a WebQuest works, click on the following link - [|WebQuest about WebQuests] - to complete a practice exercise. Also, this [|guide] provides many helpful tips. ||  ||
 * ==Special Guidance for Using WebQuests in Instruction==
 * ==WebQuest Links== ||
 * ==WebQuest Links== ||

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 * http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.html
 * http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html
 * http://webquest.org/index-resources.php
 * http://webquest.org/index-create.php
 * http://webquest.org/search/index.php
 * http://www.iwebquest.com/
 * http://webquest.sdsu.edu/templates/lesson-template1.html
 * http://bestwebquests.com/what_webquests_are.asp
 * [|]
 * http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/webquest/quest-a.shtml