Once you have figured
out the instructional objectives for your webquest, what elements should
that quest have to be effective? A well-designed webquest will include
at least the following three elements:
- A "road map."
This is the list of web sites or locations which you want your
students to visit. This section should include an introduction which
explains the purpose of the webquest and the object of the search,
hunt, or other "hook" that you’ve built into your
quest. Design your map carefully! Clarity
here will help your students understand the quest and stay on task.
- A task sheet. Depending
on the structure of your quest, this sheet could be a scoring mechanism,
answer sheet, or even a list of clues. Regardless of the precise
structure, however, this sheet is used to record the results of
the quest. There may be one sheet per student or one per group,
depending on how you want students to complete the assignment.
- A summary presentation.
Good webquests require students to show what they have learned.
Age, ability, time, and circumstances will all govern how much latitude
you give your students in presenting their findings. Remember, though,
that the web is a multimedia tool, and if you can allow students
a wide range of flexibility in presenting their findings, you will
carry this approach back into the classroom long after the computers
are turned off.
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Webquest 101 – Putting Discovery into the Curriculum