What is a Web Quest? Yvonne D Brannum

Web quest Web quest are activities, using internet resources which encourage students to use higher order thinking skills. Web quest are effectively higher order learning tools. Web quest is an inquiry-based oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners get comes from the internet optionally supplemented with a video conference.

Two levels of web quest Short Term web quest The instructional goal of a short term web quest is knowledge acquisition and intragregration described as Dimension 2 in Marzano’s(1992) Dimension of thinking model. A learner will come away with a significant amount of new information. At the end of a short term web quest is designed to be completed in one to three class periods.

Two levels of web quest (con’t) Longer term web quest The instructional goal of a longer term web quest is what Marzano’s Dimension of Thinking model calling for a deeper understanding. It is refining the knowledge. After completing a longer term web quest, a learner would have analyzed a body of knowledge. They will create something that others can respond to online or off. A longer term web quest will take between one week and a mouth in a classroom setting.

Purpose Students are provided with online resources and are asked to use this information constructively rather than just cutting and pasting material into an assignment or project. It eliminates the need to hunt for information. The student is given more time analyze, criticize and assess the information that they find.

Critical Attributes Web quest are deliberately designed to make the best use of the learner’s time. A web quest should contain the following parts: 1. Introduction, 2. Task, 3. Resources, 4. Process, 5. Evaluation, and 6. Conclusion http://www.webquestdirect.com.au/whatis_awq.asp

Description of Critical Attributes 1. Introduction An introduction that draws the learner’s attention to the topic and inspires them into action. Task A task that is drawn from the introduction and set out the goal. There is a focus question that defines the task.

Description of Critical Attributes (con’t) 3. Resources Resources are necessary for the task, most of which will be internet links. 4. Process A description of the process that learners should go through in accomplishing the task. It is broken up into steps and it designates dutiesnto nthe learners.

Description of Critical Attributes (con’t) 5. Evaluation An evaluation is the guidelines for how studets will be assessed. It is usually a rubric. 6. Conclusion A conclusion brings closure to the quest, it addresses the answering of the focus question, and possibly challenges the learner can act upon what they have achieved. http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquest.html