WebQuests
The internet is full of new information and sources, but sometimes this variety can be very exhausting. Especially younger pupils do not know which sources are reliable and which information is useful. Nevertheless, they have to learn to use the internet as a source of information.
A didactic way to use the variety of the internet in the classroom are WebQuests - a guided, but still student centred reaearch activity. Students are given an interesting and challenging task or problem plus websites that help them to solve the problem. Afterwards, they work in groups and try to find a solution. At the end of the WebQuest there should be a final product to present the results, such as a blog or a poster.
Here is an interesting example: http://www.staceyb.com/absurd_webquest/index.htm
The important thing about WebQuests is, that it should be more than just a normal research activity: Students should learn to act problem-oriented and solve mind challenging tasks, they should learn to be cooperative and think about their learning process as well as to evaluate their results.
Is it possible to teach all this through an internet research activity? What is your opinion?
For further information on WebQuests go to: http://www.webquest.org/index.php
(Sengül)
2 comments:
When I learned about WebQuests I was fascinated straight away - I think it is a very good idea, supporting all your arguments! Unfortunately a fellow student (subjects Mathematik and Informatik) told me that WebQuests are already out of fashion. He explained it: they exist since more than a decade, but they are not really used. Hence there are only a few good once in the net and hardly any new once.
I searched for WEbQuests and his view was confirmed. I think it is a shame!
Barbara
Yes, it is a pity that WebQuests never caught on. One possibility was that the roles of students were very defined, and usually assigned by the teacher. So, in a way, it is a controlled web-search, very much like a library search. This does not quite appeal to teenagers, but is more suitable for younger learners.
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