Using Webquests in Schools
Dr. Harriet Herbst, University of Dresden, Germany
What is a webquest?
• A webquest is an enquiry oriented activity in which…
the internet is used as a source of information and knowledge
• A webquest requires an open-ended task
• A webquest requires higher level thinking (analysis, synthesis,
evaluation)
Attributes of a Webquest
• Introduction
• Task
• Information sources
• Description of process (worksheets, guides, instructions)
• Guidance on how to complete the task
• Evaluation- how you assess/ grade students
• Conclusion
Weblink:
Success?
According to Bernie Dodge success is when:
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•
•
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Students‘ results/ products are different from each other
There is richness in students‘ writing
Every assignment is unique
Range and depth of output is better than through traditional teaching
Pitfalls
• Choosing an inappropriate topic
• Choosing an inauthentic task
• Choosing a topic that is already well-covered by the text book
Using webquests in schools
• Explain design of webquest and how to use it (first time)
• Don‘t give too many resources
• Provide short, comprehensible questions/ tasks
• Encourage students to use the evaluation table
Webquests used in school placement
1. Look at how EU agricultural policy has changed since 2014
Here students could look up how much money farmers get from the EU, what it is used
for and how
EU money is used for rural development.
Problems: Task not precise enough and students unwilling to engage in discussion.
2. Research differences between organic and conventional farming to prepare for a
debate on the topic
Here students looked at various websites, including farm websites and were given
precise questions to help in their research.
Problems: students did not quite keep to the debating question, some arguments were
unsatisfactory.
Comments by students
Useful sites
http://webquest.org/
http://questgarden.com/