WebQuests

By Phil Brabbs

If it’s so amazing, why aren’t we all using the

Internet in class?

Shortage of computers

Technical problems Having access to the Internet is not the same as knowing how to use it to teach English

PROJECT WORK

Standard tool for English teachers

Students need to collect information

THE INTERNET AND PROJECT WORK

ADVANTAGES

Fantastic source of information

English is one of the main languages of the Internet

PROBLEM

Like looking for a needle in a haystack

Students should spend time using information, not looking

for it

WHAT IS A WEBQUEST?

A project which uses the Internet as its main

source of information

EXAMPLE OF A WEBQUEST

Written by Cynthia Matzat

http://www.thematzats.com/propaganda/

And Now a Word from Our Sponsor

A WebQuest on Propaganda

IMPORTANT FEATURES (1)

Introduction - captures students’ interest

Task - describes end product Process (including resources) -

describes what students should do and provides websites

Evaluation - explains how the work will be evaluated

Conclusion - sums up the activity

Standard building blocks:

IMPORTANT FEATURES (2)

Motivating task - creativity, individual choice, interpretation

Teacher supplies websites - students don’t waste time searching

Higher level thinking skills - analysing, synthesizing, evaluating

Cooperative work Scaffolding - guidance

EXAMPLES OF WEBQUESTSChoose ONE of the following: Our Vacation to France! by Lee

Go to the WebQuest matrix page. Chooose a number and then a WebQuest (“And now a word from our sponsors” is in English Language/Arts 6-8)

See also Australian WebQuests, etc

WEBQUESTS- AVANTAGES

Opens up the possible range of projects

Information on Internet includes text, pictures, audio and video

Lots of example WebQuests available Lots of help on the Web

TemplatesDifferent task typesAdvice on search engines

Motivating for many students

PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES

Access to the Internet Computer literacy (student and

teacher) US bias of WebQuest materials Technical problems – broadband

and plugins

Could you use webquests in your context? Why/why not?

?

Questions

?

THANK YOU!

© Phil Brabbs, Norwich NILE 2002

Finished!