FolderSyllabus | Agenda | RWLD | Assignment Pages | Standards & Reflections | Resources | Contacts & General Info
 
WebQuest

WebQuest Screen CaptureWhile the Internet is an incredible resource for learning, sometimes it can seem too big!  Without a certain amount of goal-oriented guidance, students can get lost in a sea of information or stumble upon inappropriate content. WebQuests provide a structured activity for using the Internet to support learning. A WebQuest is a collaborative and inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners use comes from resources on the Internet.

Learn about WebQuests & prepare to plan your own

WebQuest Examples

Once you have familiarized yourself with examples of WebQuest activities, it is time to begin planning your own WebQuest. Using the WebQuest Organizer worksheet below, make some decisions about the WebQuest activity you will design for your thematic unit.

MS Word Icon Assignment for September 23: WebQuest Organizer (MS Word Doc - must be typed using this template - print and bring to lab)

Project Requirements
Using Google Sites, create a 5-page website describing your own WebQuest activity. Remember, a WebQuest is a collaborative and inquiry-oriented activity. Carefully adhere to the following project requirements.

Overall:

  • Pages maintain an effective and consistent visual design throughout
  • At least one image is displayed on each page
  • Navigation links connect all pages of the site
  • Your WebQuest is designed to support one of the stated objectives from your thematic unit description
  • Your WebQuest is aligned with INTASC Standards 1, 3, 6 and 11. Reflection follows the Reflection Guidelines.
  • Submit the URL of your WebQuest home page (Introduction) to the Assignments area of eLearning.

Introduction Page:
Explains the first three parts of your WebQuest (Introduction, Task, and Process).

  • Includes the introduction and describes the task and process for your WebQuest activity:
    Introduction The purpose of this section is to both prepare and interest the reader. The student is the intended audience. Write a short paragraph here to introduce the Webquest activity to the students in an interesting manner. Here is where you should set the stage, entice your learners, and relate the experience to the overall unit theme. This section should be constructed to motivate your learners to participate. It is also in this section that you'll communicate the Big Question (Essential Question, Guiding Question) that the whole WebQuest is centered around.
    Task The task focuses learners on what they are going to do - specifically, the culminating performance or product that drives all of the learning activities. This must be something tangible. Describe succinctly and clearly what the end result of the learners' activities will be. Do not list the steps that students will go through to get to the end point—that belongs in the Process section.
    Process This section outlines how the learners will accomplish the task. This section includes each step to be followed, student’s individual roles, and tools for organizing information. It identifies the steps the learners should complete to accomplish the task. Number your steps to make it easier for students to follow. In this section, you must also provide some guidance on how to organize the information gathered.
  • Headings identify each of the three sections
  • Page contains at least one image
  • Page includes navigation links to the Resources, Evaluation, Conclusion, and Teacher pages

Resources Page:
Provides access to many resources and explains how learners will use them to support the learning activity.

  • Lists and describes at least 4 different websites (with hyperlinks provided to each)
  • Embeds and describes at least 2 different "gadgets", including at least one with audio and video (note—two different YouTube videos would not meet the requirement, nor would simply linking to the YouTube website)
  • Lists and describes at least 2 computer-based non-Internet resources
    • Includes the media type, title, author/publisher, year of publication, and a short description
  • Lists and describes at least 2 traditional media.
    • Includes the media type, title, author/publisher, year of publication, and a short description
  • Each resource description clearly identifies:
    • what it provides in terms of information or function to learners
    • how it is to be used within the planned learning activities
  • Page contains at least one image
  • Page includes navigation links to the Introduction, Evaluation, Conclusion, and Teacher pages

Evaluation Page:
Describes criteria you will use to evaluate the learners.

  • Provides a system for evaluating the work completed by your learners. It does not have to be as complicated as the rubrics typically used by WebQuests, but it should be well thought-out and structured with a point system or other self-checking mechanism for students.
  • Page contains at least one image
  • Page includes navigation links to the Introduction, Resources, Conclusion, and Teacher pages

Conclusion Page:
Provides a summary of the activity and what students have learned as well as questions to encourage students to reflect upon their experience and extend their learning.

  • Provides closure by summarizing what the learners have accomplished or learned by completing this activity.
  • Includes at least two rhetorical questions that encourage students to reflect upon their experience and/or extend their learning (perhaps apply what they learned to another situation).
  • Page contains at least one image
  • Page includes navigation links to the Introduction, Resources, Evaluation, and Teacher pages.

Teacher Page (Notes for Teacher):
Includes your own reflections about the WebQuest activity. The content of this page must follow the Reflection Guidelines (align this project to one of your stated unit objectives and INTASC Standards 1, 3, 6 and 11).

  • Completes all four reflection prompts included in the Reflection Guidelines
  • Page contains at least one image
  • Page includes navigation links to the Introduction, Resources, Evaluation, and Conclusion pages.
Additional Resources

Color Selection:

Images, Graphics, and Reference:

Media Resources

Rubric Generators (might be helpful for the evaluation page)

More WebQuest Examples:

Points: 140

INTASC Standards 1, 3, 6 and 11

Point Structure:

Content

  • Age appropriate, accurate, and non-biased
  • Adequate amount of text and graphics to support the identified instructional outcome
  • Copyright-protected works are used lawfully and image sources are cited
  • Each page includes the required information as described above
85

Reflection (Teacher Page)

  • Content follows the Reflection Guidelines
    (this project should be aligned with Standards 1, 3, 6 and 11)
  • Reflection quality (aligned with at least one component of each standard)
15

Visual Design

  • Consistent visual design (CARP)
  • Images support the text content
  • Animation, if used, is used appropriately and effectively (it enhances content rather than detract from it)
  • At least one image on each page
  • All images display (not broken)
15

Navigation

  • Internal hyperlinks are included as required on each page
  • At least four external hyperlinks are included as resources for the WebQuest
  • All hyperlinks are labeled descriptively
  • All hyperlinks (internal and external) function as they indicate (not broken)
15
Spelling/Grammar
10

Special Notes:

  • Copy & paste the web address to your WebQuest home page (Introduction) and submit this to the Assignments area of eLearning. There are no files to attach to your submission.
  • If your instructor cannot access your site as a result of you submitting an incorrect URL, then 10 percent will be deducted from the points earned after you resubmit the correct URL.
  • Preview your website on more than one computer. Confirm that all images display and all hyperlinks function correctly in advance of the due date!
  • Copyright-protected works may only be used with explicit written permission of the copyright owner. You may not use any media under the terms of fair use, because fair use does not apply when publishing material on an open network such as the WWW. Creative commons images may be used in accordance with their license agreement.

Arrow Top
UNIPage updated: October 30, 2009
Ed Tech & Design Instructors, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Northern Iowa