WebQuests+(Travis+and+Ryan)

WebQuests

“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” (Dodge, 1997) •
Why use a WebQuest? • Students like computers (and many need to learn to use them for something constructive) • Inquiry based by nature – effective for most students since the students are active • 21st century skills – Information and Media Literacy – Promotes Global Awareness – Often include Critical Thinking – Career skills for the Information Age • Administrators like technology

When should you use a WebQuest? • Only when you are teaching a subject that has internet resources… • In other words – for anything! – To introduce a unit or topic – To reinforce what you already taught another way – As a form of assessment (formative or summative!)

Are WebQuests effective? • Students like them (Abbit & Ophus, 2008; Lipscomb, 2003) • Differentiation – effective for disabled (Skylar, Higgins, & Boone, 2007) to gifted (Schweizer & Kossow, 2007) students <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Difficulties in comparing teaching methods (Abbit & Ophus, 2008; Strickland, 2005)

Examples of common WebQuests: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Scavenger hunt <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Watch videos/listen to podcasts/read text online and then answer questions/complete tables/etc. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Online games/activities <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Online quizzes or tests <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• A combination of all of the above

How do you create a WebQuest? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• “Borrow” one and then modify it OR <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Pick a place in your unit. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Decide on a level of structure and length (10 minutes to whole unit or even whole class). <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Plan your assessment.
 * 1) Find resources online that help you teach your subject.
 * 2) Create an activity around the resources.

Example: Machines Introduction To Machines WebQuest

Example Rubric For Machines WebQuest
 * **Section** || **Description** || **Teacher Feedback** || **Points Possible** || **Points Earned** ||
 * I || Reviewing Force ||  || 5 ||   ||
 * II || Simple Machine Song ||  || 15 ||   ||
 * III || Simple Machine Description ||  || 30 ||   ||
 * IV || Compound Machines ||  || 15 ||   ||
 * V || Japanese Machines ||  || 10 ||   ||
 * VI || Review ||  || 5 ||   ||
 * VII || Analyzing ||  || 20 ||   ||

Example Graded Rubric Student Response
 * **Section** || **Description** || **Teacher Feedback** || **Points Possible** || **Points Earned** ||
 * I || Reviewing Force || Good || 5 || 5 ||
 * II || Simple Machine Song ||  || 15 || 15 ||
 * III || Simple Machine Description || Didn’t answer all the questions. || 30 || 20 ||
 * IV || Compound Machines ||  || 15 || 15 ||
 * V || Japanese Machines ||  || 10 || 10 ||
 * VI || Review || Good, but put things in your own words. || 5 || 5 ||
 * VII || Analyzing || You forgot to label! || 20 || 18 ||

Additional Example WebQuests: • Biology: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vbCeibeRa_do9nfHu5gGmZ1xEIlWv_sGbB0xpLPPfYQ/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIaw4KMJ • Earth Science: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FoEy5bPDqYVooE2MmCd71yd4EFszgrVKYnpWxN7Marw/edit?hl=en&authkey=CNv2vLkC • Language Arts: @http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/storyteller/storyteller.htm • Math: @http://www.wfu.edu/~mccoy/NCTM00/amy.html • Science: @http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/groundup/ • History: @http://www.learnnc.org/lp/projects/history/ • @http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-twoworlds-lessons/1981 • Spanish: @http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=72984

Common mistakes (that Ryan made): 1. Forcing students to type long website names <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Ex. __http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS%20Cells/SAS%20cellphysiol/celltranspor.htm__ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• How many students would type this in wrong? • @http://bit.ly/ssoe-bio <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Use LINKS! 2. Assuming websites that work on your home computer will work on school computers <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• School internet filters <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Software <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">– Programs <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">– Plug-ins 3. Assuming all student computers have the same software <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• They don’t (especially plug-ins) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Animations usually require Adobe Flash and/or other plug-ins <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Students usually cannot install any software on their accounts 4. Making a WebQuest that can be answered too easily <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Be very careful with scavenger hunt WebQuests <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Why? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Ask.com, Answers.com, Google, etc. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Students typing questions into boxes and writing down the answers is not terribly effective learning. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Include higher-level questions and questions that can only be answered by going through an activity or website 5. Not having a back-up plan <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Technical difficulties <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">– School’s wireless internet down <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">– Computer use conflicts <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; tabstops: list 1.0in; tabstops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">– Computers extremely slow/long log-in (profile building) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Murphy’s Law – this **will** happen when you are being observed or the superintendent is visiting your classroom, etc. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• "Murphy was an optimist.“ (Unknown)

Summary of advice: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Use links. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Try the WebQuest yourself on as many student computers as possible. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Have a back-up plan. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Use higher level questions.

Links (note the WebQuest creator/templates for creating your own WebQuests on zunal.com, the other sites have WebQuests you can use in your classroom): <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Math WebQuests: • @http://www.wfu.edu/~mccoy/NCTM00/exampleshi.html (mostly High School) • @http://www.meridian.wednet.edu/~dshick/webquest.htm (mostly High School) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Social Studies WebQuests: • @http://www.ushistorysite.com/webquests.php (mostly High School) • @http://thwt.org/webqueststhinkquests.html (all grades) • @http://www.kathimitchell.com/quests.htm (Elementary and Middle School) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• Language Arts WebQuests: • @http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/projects/literature.html (all grades) • @http://bestwebquests.com/bwq/listcrosstab.asp?wqcatid=3&edid=4 (High School) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• All areas: • @http://www.webquest.org/search/index.php (all grades) • @http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/index.htm (all grades) • @http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/webquest/ (all grades) • @http://www.learnnc.org/lessons/ (WebQuests and other lessons, all grades) • @http://zunal.com/ (all areas, includes web-based WebQuest creator) • @http://questgarden.com/ (all grades, subscription but free trial) • @http://education.iupui.edu/webquests/home.htm (all grades)

Questions for everyone to think about: <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• What are some potential barriers to using WebQuests and web resources in the classroom? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• How will you prevent students from visiting inappropriate (for school) websites such as Facebook while on the web? (Note that proxy servers will bypass internet filters that your school may have in place.) <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• How important is it for students to learn to use computers without immediately going to Facebook before entering the workforce? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• How could you combine WebQuests with some of the other teaching strategies we have learned about thus far? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">• What topic in your subject area would WebQuests be particularly effective in teaching?

** References ** Abbit, J., & Ophus, J. (2008). What we know about the impacts of web-quests: a review of research. //AACE Journal//, //16//(4), 441-456. Dodge, B. (1997, May 5). //Some thoughts about webquests//. Retrieved from @http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.html Lipscomb, G. (2003). I guess it was pretty fun: using webquests in the middle school classroom. //The Clearing House//, //76//(3), 152-155. Schweizer, H., & Kossow, B. (2007). Webquests: tools for differentiation. //Gifted Child Today//, //30//(1), 29-35. Skylar, AA., Higgins, K., & Boone, R. (2007). Strategies for adapting webquests for students with learning disabilities. //Intervention in School and Clinic//, //43//(20), 20-28. Strickland, J. (2005). Using webquests to teach content: comparing instructional strategies. //Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education//, //5//(2), 138-148.