WebQuests

Objective: The student will be able to locate and identify quality and subject specific webquests.

The student will be able to collect and annotate those sites they found useful.

Introduction: Webquests are quickly becoming a popular way for teachers to facilitate online learning. By having all or most of the necessary links to the information needing to be completed, they provide an inquiry based approach to teaching with a way to keep the focus on the subject at hand while on-line. Apart from their practical uses, they also serve as a creative outlet for many people looking to take their students on an interactive journey of sorts.

Reading: Take a look at some of the resources below that define and provide examples of the content that webquests contain.

The Webquest Page- This site defines webquests and discusses the major features and components found within them. http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.html

Creating a Webquest- This flow chart describes the major components within the activity.

http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests.HTM

Activity: View the sample sites provided below to get a feel for the type of information you will be finding in webquests. These are some of the highly rated teacher sites and will hopefully demonstrate the necessary criteria.

Rainforest Vacation- A middle school science journey into ecotourism.

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/motion/

Designing A Park- An elementary level look at society.

http://www.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~teisenberg2/mapquest/

Remembering the Holocaust- This site uses the Diary of Anne Frank as a starting point for this English curriculum webquest. http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/ath/library/teachers/excell/holocaust.html

Using your knowledge of what makes a good webquest, come up with some search terms to use in your favorite search engines. Try and locate webquests appropriate to the grade and subject level in which you teach.

Assignment: You are to create an annotated bibliography of 5 webquests that you feel reflect the coursework and age level that you teach. Make the annotation brief, 1-2 sentences in length. Remember to include the site URL underneath.

Submission: Submit this assignment to me via e-mail. Include the course number, your last name, and the assignment name in the subject line of the e-mail. Submit the assignment as an html file and provide me with a direct link to the URL.

Rubric:

	Unacceptable	Acceptable	Outstanding
Webquest Annotation	User cites less than 5 sites. The description is superficial or does not exist. Content may not be appropriate.	User cites 5 sources. Evaluations are brief and do not go into detail. Curriculum content is evident, but not developed.	User cited 5 or more sources. Descriptions adequately define content and specific curriculum and age requirements are evident.

ISTE Standards:

II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
AND EXPERIENCES

Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology.

D. plan for the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.