What Makes a Webquest ?

2. Creating WebQuests is as simple as creating a document with hyperlinks! Webquests can be created in Word, Powerpoint, and even Excel! • The critical attributes of a Webquest: • It is wrapped around a doable and interesting task • It requires higher level thinking, not simply summarising – synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity, judgment. • It makes good use of the web and class time • It isn't a research report • It isn't just a series of web-based experiences • The Internet acts as a stimulus which generates analysis, critical thinking, discussion and writing.

3. A Webquest is “a scaffolded learning structure that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic task to motivate students' investigation of a central, open-ended question, development of individual expertise and participation in a final group process that attempts to transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding. The best WebQuests do this in a way that inspires students to see richer thematic relationships, facilitate a contribution to the real world of learning and reflect on their own metacognitive processes” (March, 2003, p.43).

4. Research shows that there is a growing interest in “language quests”- WebQuests for second language learning. • They are an easy way for teachers to begin to incorporate the Internet into the language classroom, on both a short-term and long-term basis. • No specialist technical knowledge is needed either to produce or use them. • They are generally group activities and as a result tend to lend themselves to communication. • Can be used simply as a linguistic tool, but can also be interdisciplinary. • Learners are not able to simply regurgitate information they find, but are guided towards a transformation of information in order to achieve a given task.

5. WebQuests can be both motivating and authentic tasks and encourage learners to view the activities they are doing as something 'real' or 'useful'. This inevitably leads to more effort, greater concentration and a real interest in task achievement.

6. What Makes a Webquest? • A webquestinvolves a series of connected webpages - an introduction, a task, a process, a set of resources, an evaluation mechanism, and a conclusion. • Introduction - motivates students by grabbing their attention. Use a good question, a puzzling picture, or a compelling video clip. • Task separates a webquestfrom a scavenger hunt. Tells students what they're going to be doing - task should be inquiry based.

7. What Makes a Webquest? • Processis a step by step outline of how task will be completed – specific instructions, easy to follow. These are instructions, a roadmap for students to follow. Make it specific, and make it easy to follow. • Resourcesseparate webquests from research tasks. A short list of resources - which web pages do you want your students to look at? Could be a mix of text, photo, audio, and video resources.

8. What Makes a Webquest? • Evaluationpage tells students how they will be assessed – How they earn an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence? A detailed rubric. • Conclusion – student reflection. • You can also use this rubric from Bernie Dodge to "score" a webquest and determine its effectiveness.

9. Useful websites: http://www.zunal.com/ http://webquest.org/ http://voices.yahoo.com/what-webquest-where-find-them-11957158.html http://www.austincc.edu/deslac/staff/WQ/WQ2/makingwebquests https://sites.google.com/site/maineworldlanguages/