Working with WebQuests

Getting Started with WebQuests

WebQuests provide thoughtful scaffolding for educators just starting to tech with technology. WebQuests organize online lessons and homework for students and the best of them guide students through carefully constructured student-centered projects. This page includes several video tutorials for searching for, modifying, and creating your own WebQuests using the QuestGarden WebQuest creation tool at QuestGarden.com. Dig in!

QuestGarden.com

1. Searching for WebQuests

First a brief bit of errata. At the time of writing Best Ideas for Teaching with Technology, WebQuests.org had a 5-star ranking system for the WebQuests on it's search engine. That has been removed. But you can still search through thousands of WebQuests there, so check it out.

(Note: Click on the box on the bottom right for a full screen view):

WebQuests vary in quality. Many on the Web are made by pre-service teachers, many of the older ones have broken links, and many have resources that are not well-chosen or age-appropriate. And some are just brilliant. In the ideal world, you as the teacher should actually try to complete the exercise before you assign it to make sure that the instructions make sense, the sites are well-chosen, and the activity is doable in the time frame allotted.

You might also review Tom March's list of recommended WebQuests at http://bestwebquests.com/. March, a former colleague of WebQuest Creator Bernie Dodge, recommends WebQuests across grade levels and subject areas.

2. Modifying WebQuests for your Classroom

Many WebQuests are free to share and edit, so don't hesitate to modify a WebQuest to better meet your teaching goals. A broken link should not deter you from adopting a useful WebQuest. You can subsitute a link of your own, or simply discard it, as the following video demonstrates.

(click on the box on the bottom right for a full screen view):

3. Getting Started Creating WebQuests with QuestGarden.com

You can start creating WebQuests by registering for a free 30-day trial at http://www.questgarden.com/. Once registered, you’ll have access to an improved search engine, a listing of the most recent WebQuests, and a cool feature that lets you see where people from around the world are logged into QuestGarden. The most important feature is that you can create your own WebQuest and publish it online without needing to know any programming or HTML skills.

History Teacher?

We have some additional links to great WebQuests for history and social studies teachers here:

Teaching History with Technology WebQuest page