PART One: Technology-Supported Critical Thinking Activities – WebQuests
WebQuests are a teaching tool that uses web-based resources and other sources to support students as they work through an inquiry or problem-based activity. They are web-based lesson plans written for the students that support and scaffold student understanding of a set of curriculum standards. Generally, students are asked to work collaboratively to answer a question or solve a problem and then present the answer or solution in a technology-supported format.
You can find many examples of WebQuests at the WebQuest page maintained by Dr. Bernie Dodge from San Diego State University. Dr. Dodge is the creator of WebQuests and WebQuests have been around for over 10 years. We’ll spend some time looking at example WebQuests by clicking the “Find WebQuests” button on the left navigation bar on the WebQuest page.
Watch video: Part 1: What is a WebQuest? | Part 2: How to Make a WebQuest
More information to learn about WebQuest: here
PART Two: Creating Your Own WebQuest
For your TLAT #3 you will create a WebQuest that supports student critical thinking and problem solving. You’ll create an original WebQuest that includes all 7 required sections:
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Credit
Teacher Page
View the WebQuest Taxonomy of Tasks to help you with an idea for your WebQuest.
View the Building Blocks of a WebQuest page to know what do for each section.
View the Grading Rubric so you can be sure you’re meeting or exceeding expectations.
Here are more WebQuests examples for you.
PART Three: Logistics
You’ll create a new Google site specifically for your WebQuest. Within that new site you will create a page for each section of your WebQuest.
Go to sites.google.com, log in, and click the “Create New Site” button. This is an entirely new website – it’s not a new page on the site you’ve been working on all semester.
When you create a new site it will automatically create your first page called “Home” – you can rename this page “Introduction” by changing it directly on the page. Then, make another new page and call it “Task”.
Continue to create new pages, “Process”, “Evaluation”, “Conclusion”, “Teacher Page”
For Friday:
- Review examples of WebQuests at the WebQuest page.
- Review previous students’ examples (at least three).
- Complete building your WebQuest site (create all the pages that you need)
- Think about a subject/standard and your students’ grade level.
- You should have an idea for your WebQuest project by Friday.
