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WebQuest Class

 

I have created a page on this website to help you with the course:: http://www.studyplans.com/webquest.htm. It has information about what a webquest is, how they came to be, how you can use them in the classroom, and many examples of webquests.

Lesson 1:
In this assignment you will find out information about WebQuests by searching for websites that provide tutorials/ information or are actual WebQuests that you can participate in. Please find a minimum of 3 sites.  
Discuss some of the following guidelines in your posting:
Is it a tutorial?
Is it an actual WebQuest?
Is it background information?
Other (explain)

Lesson 2:
In starting your webquest these are the areas to address:
Subject area to create webquest about.
Webquest Question.
What NYS Learning Standards: http://www.nysatl.nysed.gov/standards.html will be met and other expected outcomes for your students such as compare and contrast information, evaluate science data, etc.

Lesson 3:
Create the introduction for your WebQuest - it should be written to students: be engaging and include some of the information from the Lesson 2 assignment.

What are the goals for your students?
Focus in on the WebQuest question.
How will you be assessing your students?

Lesson 4:
Advanced Search Techniques
You will need to log on to the Internet and find at least 5 links or other resources to support your WebQuest. If you need some search tips, some handy sites are listed below
Advanced Internet Searching:
http://www.yellowstone.net/netsearch.htm
Advanced Internet Searching: http://iul.com/searchin/
A site that touches upon the logic of Boolean logic.
Search Engine Tutorial by Pandia: http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/
A short tutorial on methods of searching effectively.

Lesson 5:
I
t is now time to write the WebQuest. It is important to put the steps of the Quest in a clear order. You may want to imbed links within each task. Put your WebQuest into following format:
Task
Process
Resources
Evaluation
Conclusion

Lesson 6:
Please post your WebQuest.
Go on two other Quests that have been posted and write feedback to each creator. the rubric may help you. Feedback can include:
Ways to make the Quest clearer
What you found most interesting
How the Quest may be modified for other grades or topics

A Sample Rubric for Evaluating WebQuests
A WebQuest format can be applied to a variety of teaching situations.  If you take advantage of all the possibilities inherent in the format, your students will have a rich and powerful experience.   This rubric will help you pinpoint the ways in which your WebQuest is or isn't doing everything it could do.  It can also be used to evaluate rubrics you find in magazines or online.

Beginning Developing Accomplished Score
Overall Aesthetics (This refers to the WebQuest page itself, not the external resources linked to it.)
Overall visual appeal 0 points
Background is gray.  There are few or no graphic elements.  No variation in layout or typography OR Color is garish and/or typographic variations are overused and legibility suffers.
1 point
There are a few elements.  There is some variation in type size, color, and layout.

 

 

2 points
Appealing graphic elements are included appropriately.  Differences in type size and/or color are used well.
Introduction
Motivational effectiveness of Introduction 0 points
Introduction is purely factual, with no appeal to relevance or social importance.
1 point
Introduction relates somewhat to the learner's interests and/or describes a compelling question or problem.
2 points
The Introduction draws the reader into the lesson by relating to the learner's interests or goals and/or engagingly describing a compelling question or problem
Cognitive effectiveness or the Introduction Introduction doesn't prepare the reader for what is to come, or build on what the learner already knows.  1 point
Introduction makes some reference to learner's prior knowledge and previews to some extent what the lesson is about.
2 points
The Introduction builds on learner's prior knowledge by explicitly mentioning important concepts or principles, and effectively prepares the learner for the lesson by foreshadowing new concepts and principles.
Task (The task is the end result of student efforts...not the steps involved in getting there.)
Cognitive level of the task 0 points
Task requires simply comprehending web pages and answering questions
1 point
Task requires analysis of information and/or putting together information from several sources.
2 points
Task requires synthesis of multiple sources of information, and/or taking a position, and/or going beyond the data given and making a generalization or creative product.
Technical sophistication of task 0 points
Task requires simple verbal or written response.
1 point
Task requires use of word processing or simple presentation software.
2 points
Task requires use of multimedia software, video, or conferencing.
Process (The process is the step-by-step description of how students will accomplish the task.)
Clarity of Process 0 points
Process is not clearly stated.  Students would not know exactly what they were supposed to do just from reading this.
1 point
some directions are given, but there is missing information.  Students might be confused.
2 points
Every step is clearly stated.  Most students would know exactly where they were in the process and what to do next.
Richness of Process Few steps, no separate roles assigned. 3 points
Some separate tasks or roles assigned. More complex activities required.
6 points
Lots of variety in the activities performed.  Different roles and perspectives are taken.
Resources (Note: you should evaluate all resources linked to the page, even if they are in sections other than the Resources block.  Also note that books, video and other offline resources can and should be used where appropriate.)
Quantity of resources 0 points
Few online resources used
1 point
Moderate number of resources used.
2 points
Many resources provided, including off-line resources.
Quality of resources 0 points
Links are mundane. They lead to information that could be found in a classroom encyclopedia
2 points
Some links carry information not ordinarily found in a classroom. 
4 points
Links make excellent use of the Web's timeliness and colorfulness.
Evaluation
Clarity of Evaluation Criteria 0 points
Students have no idea on how they'll be judged. 
1 point
Criteria for success are at least partially described.
2 points
Criteria for gradations of success are clearly stated, perhaps in the form of a rubric for self-, peer-, or teacher use.

 

This site began in March 1998 and was created by Janet Luch. 
Email questions and comments to: studyplans@yahoo.com