WebQuests &Web Guidelines

WebQuest Building Blocks

1. Introduction

2. Task

3. Process

4. Evaluation

5. Conclusion

6. Teacher Page

From: Bernie Dodge, San Diego State Universityhttp://webquest.sdsu.edu/

1. Introduction

Prepare and hook the readerShort paragraph to introduce the

activitySet the stageCommunicate the ‘Big Question’

Relevant, Attractive, Urgent, Fun

The Ocean is in Trouble! (Science 4-6)

Introduction

Orient learners to what is comingPeek interest of the learnerProvide the ‘Big Picture’

Relevant - to learner’s past and futureAttractive - visually interestingUrgent - for a timely solutionFun - playing a role/completing a task

In Search of Stellaluna's Family

Stellaluna became lost from her mother when she was a baby. She did not get a chance to learn about who she was. Stellaluna feels very sad because she is not like her bird friends. Let's help Stellaluna learn more about being a bat. Stellaluna is a very unique mammal with special gifts. It will be your quest to learn the facts about bats. You can help teach Stellaluna and others about the special qualities of being a bat.

Planetary Postcard

You are an astronaut on a mission to another planet in our solar system. You will join a crew to gather information about your destination. When you become experts, you will voyage to this planet. After exploring it, you will contact Mission Control on Earth by cyber postcard to communicate your impressions and data.

Online Postcard URL: www.windows.ucar.edu

Animals of the RainforestWelcome to the Rainforest. You are now being hired as a Rainforest Animal Expert. There are many people who want to get rid of the beautiful rainforest to make money from the land. Over half of all plant and animal species live in the rainforest. Save the Rainforest Project needs your help to tell these companies about so many of these wonderful creatures and why the rainforest is important to these animals. Your job over the next month will be to research and develop a written report, visual project, and be prepared for an oral presentation about an animal that lives in the rainforest. You will need to explain why your animal needs the rainforest to survive.

2. Task

Focuses the learnersCulminating performance/product

that drives all learning activitiesBriefly and clearly describe what

the end result will be (Don’t list steps!)

Snapshot in Time (L.A./Hist./Soc. Sci.- 8)

Task

Describes what the learner will have done at the end of the WebQuest

Hurricane 2000 CNN has just hired you to

create a 60 minute news special  report on Hurricane Floyd. This news special will be aired by all major networks in August to help viewers prepare for the current hurricane season. To complete this task, you will each assume one of the following roles: a CNN news reporter, a family with a pet, a member of the National Weather Service, a Red Cross volunteer, and a government official. You will work together to create a presentation in which you will share your knowledge of hurricanes and help viewers be prepared.

3. ProcessOutlines how learners will

accomplish taskClear steps, resources and tools for

organizing the activityWhat steps should the learners go

through?Provide guidance on how to organize

information

The Titanic (Math - 6-8)

ProcessSuggest the steps the learners should go through to

complete the taskShort and clear

Strategies for dividing the task into subtasksDescriptions of rolesProvide advice

Example: Ocean Pollution/Solution

Resources

List of the resources that the learner can use to complete the task (focuses on task rather than surfing)Web sitesBooks & related print materialVideotapesAudiotapesCDs

Circle of LifeOut of this World

4. Evaluation

Describes the evaluation criteriaDescribe how the learner’s

performance will be evaluated

Biotech, Inc. (Biology 9-10)

EvaluationEvaluate the success of your students

in accomplishing the taskEvaluation tools - checklists, rubrics, etc.

Nutrition Out of this World Scientists

ConclusionSummarize experienceBrings closureEncourages reflection about the experience

Summarize what learner accomplishedInclude rhetorical questions or additional links to

extend thinking into other content

Extend and generalize what was learnedEncourage continued learning

6. Teacher Page

Information to help other teachersTarget learnersStandardsNotesStudent examples

Help Save the Moogahs (K)

Feedback

Is a WebQuest an educationally sound use of the Internet?

Why or why not?

Web Page Development Guidelines

Create a storyboard to visualize siteIncluding links

Establish a consistent “look & feel”Core group of colors

Design a user-friendly navigation system Include contact information

Contact personDate last updated

Web Page Development Guidelines (cont.)Name files properly

No caps, no special charactersFirst page (home.htm or index.htm)

Use graphics carefullySave file (Don’t copy and paste)Save file as .jpg or .gifWatch size (500 pixels maximum)

Follow copyrightAssume materials on Web sites are copyrighted

Check district’s AUP