Webquests were invented by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University in 1995. According to the original paper by Dodge, a WebQuest is "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet." The WebQuest is valued as a highly constructivist teaching method, during which students actively build their own understanding of a topic. "Authentic," or real-world questions or problems are often researched and students work cooperatively to find solutions. (From Wikipedia)Read the original article by Dodge, Some Thoughts About WebQuests, or see a clear definition of a WebQuest at Wikipedia.
As you can see, some attributes of WebQuests include:
- Authentic tasks (something students may need in the real world)
- High student interest
- Role-play (students may assume the roles of researchers, scientists, investigators, etc.)
- Interdependent group work (Students rely on each other to complete a larger task)
- Attention to higher thinking skills
- Attention to multiple intelligences
Also WebQuests usually contain these critical components:
- Introduction
- Task
- Process
- Resources
- Evaluation
- Conclusion
Now browse these two examples of WebQuests, one is for young learners and the other for advanced students, and notice how they both fit the criteria and display the attributes mentioned above:
After you have browsed these WebQuests, consider how they might rate using the BestWebQuest Assessment Matrix developed by Tom March, another guru of WebQuests.
Now, take some time to search for a WebQuest that might suit your own teaching environment using one of the following search engines:
- WebQuest.org
- Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators: Webquests in our Future
- Spartanburg County School District 3
- BestWebQuests.com
- Zunal.com
Now consider one last example of a WebQuest that was designed specifically for Mexican students of English. Could you use this in your class?
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