What is a WebQuest?
Before we can look at the Essential Components of a WebQuest, we need to understand the basics of a WebQuest!
Basics of a WebQuest:
“A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners‘ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation.” (Source: Bernie Dodge, Creator of the model of WebQuests)
While this definition has been bandied about, many teachers have interpreted this definition to mean Web-based activities from Scavenger Hunts (find the answers to questions from websites), to activities (and problems) that used to be (and still are) in textbooks that are now transferred to the Internet. In other words, teacher-centred activities! As a result there are a plethora of "Research Assignments", "Find and Tell" activities, "Scavenger Hunts", and even "Essay topics" all masquerading as WebQuests!
To see what I'm talking about, visit the following "Find and Tell" activity:
"Welcome to Korea" asks students to find out about the country of Korea, its climate and culture and then give a presentation! How boring!
WebQuests are a whole lot more than Web-based activities!
They should be about Problem Based Learning (PBL) (see Scot Aldred's site - a leading expert, at Central Queensland University)
and contain:
A. A messy real problem has to be presented to the students - one that needs to be solved! This can be in the form of a scenario and/or a Big Question or Focus Question.
B. Group work (collaboration) that involves roles or perspectives where the student represent different [sometimes antagonistic] viewpoints within the community and use their emotional intelligence to engage with the roles
C. Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) – activities that encourage HOTS; and, enough time for the students to do this deep thinking.
D. A Process where the students are given a lot of scaffolding [step-by-step instructions] so they can solve the messy authentic problem
E. Web resources, quirky if possible, that encourage thinking and provides students a diversity of thought by all sorts of people.
The best part is that WebQuests motivate students to solve problems while learning a range of skills and knowledge in the process.
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