WebQuests can be used in class in order to improve a sensible dealing with the internet and its contents. They are activities based on research and contain information provided mostly by web sources. WebQuests can be created by groups and may differ in length. What is more, they can refer to a single topic or to several topics.
In order to set up a well structured WebQuest, it should include an introduction consisting of some background information and the description of a problem that is to be solved, a comprehesible task and a list of information sources the students can access in order to solve the given problem. What is more, a description of the process the learners should go through is needed in order to guarantee a guided learning and working process. Furthermore, a guidance is required which helps the learners to organize the acquired information. At the end of the working process a critical review should take place in which the students, as well as the teacher, get the chance to evaluate the process of working on a WebQuest. In a final step, the WebQuests should be presented to the class. This might be implemented, for example, as a power point presentation or a word document.
Why is this any good?
This teaching method can be very useful, since it most probably will arouse the students’ interests and lead to a creative and student based working process which is guided by an outline, information and a structure that has been created by the teacher beforehand. This means for us as teachers that we need to be aware of what we want to achieve by using WebQuests and to search for appropriate material in terms of interenet resourses on the topics that are to cover which the students can use in order to gain good results. During the working process the students will then have the chance to work in groups on the given topics, use their creativity in producing the content of their weblog, and in the end will have a complete WebQuest as a result of their work.
The following page may serve as an inspiration for possible WebQuests:
WebQuests
What is more, published WebQuests can be used as well as self-created ones. There are already many WebQuests existing on a variety of topics. Instead of creating a new one, you may also choose one of those which, by the way, may save time. 
0 Responses to “WebQuests in Class”