WebQuests

This was my group's topic-- this is from our powerpoint presentation:

WebQuests are web-based lessons. They are organized around a question, issue, case, or problem that requires students to use web resources to complete an inquiry or investigation involving higher-order thinking. It is composed of different activities for the student to complete, and the complexity of these activities can be left up to the student. It can either be created for short-term or long-term units, depending on the academic goals and objectives the teacher wants her students to meet.

The purpose of webquests are: to make learning more inquiry-based rather than being driven by the teacher;to differentiate instruction through technology; to enhance students' skills with using the Internet; to make learning more engaging by leaving the learning-process more in the hands of the students than the teacher's.

There are 7 Elements in a webquest:
Introduction- a statement that sets up the problem, putting it into context, and often includes an essential question
Task- a statement of what is to be done to complete the WebQuest
Process- a detailed step-by-step guide to completing the WebQuest
Evaluation- an explicit statement of how any products resulting from the WebQuest will be judged , often in the form of a rubric or rubrics
Credits- links to web-based resources and citations to print-based resources that will be used by the learners to complete the WebQuest
Conclusion- a statement that ties the WebQuest together, perhaps leading to additional questions or encouraging learners to continue to increase their understanding of the subject matter
Teaching Guide- information for teachers about the purposes and structure of the WebQuest, including the elements discussed throughout this book

Pros in the Eyes of Students:
Lessons and projects are interactive and thus more engaging.
Students are responsible for their own learning; they are allowed to work independently and at their own pace.
WebQuests can be accessed through any computer, whenever. They offer a comforting sense of privacy for shy, reticent learners, allowing especially these students to build confidence and interest in the subject matter.
Students use different skills such as reading, typing and navigating the world wide web by being able to access different website links; generally enhances research skills
Students can also enhance auditory and visual skills by watching and listening to educational videos

Pros in the Eyes of Teachers:
Student input and progress can be tracked by the teacher.
Teachers can differentiate instruction by including higher-order thinking work for advanced learners, to incorporate a deeper sense of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Teachers can better incorporate more of the multiple intelligences into lessons and projects.
There is less paperwork for teachers.
WebQuests allow for alternative assessment of students.

The Cons of Webquests:
Lack of student experience with technology, which can compound difficulties for English language learners
Can be very time-consuming for the teacher. Building the WebQuest takes time. Also if teachers need to show students who are not technology-savvy how to work on a computer and access information, this can take longer than conducting a regular classroom lesson.
Monitoring issues: Students may spend too much time online and lose focus. Students may not know how to work independently and may need direction and constant monitoring. Also, it can be difficult to answer all students’ questions timely.