Webquests+for+Discovery+and+Understanding

__A Good Teaching Technique: WebQuests__ by Erdogan Halat **__ Summary: __**

A WebQuest is a computer-based teaching and learning tool that is student-centered and interactive. WebQuests were created in 1998 by B. Dodge and T. March to help teachers use the internet in their lessons. There are two types of WebQuests: short-term and long-term. Short-term WebQuests are for the purpose of acquiring knowledge, usually gaining new information on a topic. Long-term WebQuests take new information and extend and apply it to a content based problem/situation.

The structure of a WebQuest includes an Introduction, Task, Process, Resources, Evaluation, and Conclusion. WebQuests are a great alternative assessment tool and allow the students to utilize technology in the Social Studies classroom. Students can enhance their higher order thinking skills by participating in long-term WebQuests, which is a goal for these 21st century students. One problem that can occur when teachers create a WebQuest is the availability of the computer lab(s), which varies in from school to school.

APA Citation: Halat, E. (2008) A Good Teaching Technique: WebQuests. //Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 81// (3), 109-112.


 * __Description/ Classroom Tools:__**
 * Integration of content knowledge
 * WebQuest format
 * Project based
 * Higher order thinking skills
 * Computers with internet access

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 * __Resources:__**
 * [|WebQuest.org]

__Learning to Design WebQuests: An Exploration in Preservice Social Studies Education__ by Alisa Bates

__**Summary:**__

WebQuests and Internet use should play a major part of any teacher training program. Potential teachers need to be comfortable using technology as a teaching tool in their classrooms. The National Council for the Social Studies has included technology in the standards for the preparation of teachers in social studies. All new educators should be able to infuse technology, especially internet use, into their lesson and unit plans. Internet use through the use of WebQuests will offer inquiry-based learning opportunities in social studies. When teachers are trained using new 21st century technology they will begin to use it on a regular basis in their classroom instruction.

APA Citation: Bates, A. (2008). Learning to Design WebQuests: an Exploration in Preservice Social Studies Education. //Journal of Social Studies Research, 32// (1), 10-21.


 * __Description/ Classroom Tools:__**
 * Teacher preparation
 * Foster critical thinking
 * WebQuest training for teachers
 * Computers with internet access

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + __Developing Higher-Order Thinking Skills through WebQuests__ by Drew Polly and Leigh Ausband
 * __Resources:__**
 * **__[|National Council for the Social Studies]__**


 * __Summary:__**

Even though many school budgets include the purchasing of various types of technology, teachers are not receiving the training they need to successfully integrate this technology into the classroom. Teachers need training in designing activities that use different types of media and technology. Teachers need to experience learning with the technology before they can use it with students. WebQuests are an excellent way for teachers to learn to incorporate media, especially internet use, into their lessons. The goal of teaching is for students to develop higher-order thinking skills and WebQuests are a great way to foster these 21st century technology skills.

APA Citation: Polly, D., & Ausbank, L. (2009). Developing Higher-Order Thinking Skills through WebQuests. //Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 26// (1), 29-34.


 * __Description/ Classroom Tools:__**
 * Higher Order Thinking Skills for Teachers and Students
 * Hands-on experience for teachers
 * Teach with WebQuests
 * Computer with internet access


 * __Resources:__**
 * [|International Society for Technology in Education]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ __ I Guess It Was Pretty Fun: Using WebQuests in the Middle School Classroom __ by George Lipscomb

__**Summary:**__

WebQuests help students manage the vast amount of on-line sources available to them. Before using any technology in the classroom, teachers are reminded to assess their students technology proficiency before attempting anything too difficult at first. Teachers are also reminded to schedule the computer lab or laptop cart way in advance to insure the availability of the technology. Assessment of the WebQuest should be clear and the teacher should share his/her excitement about the WebQuest with their students. Middle school students are often hard to reach, so using engaging technology may be the key to success for them and for you.

APA Citation: Lipscomb, G. (2003). "I Guess It Was Pretty Fun": Using WebQuests in the Middle School Classroom. //Clearing House, 76// (3), 152-155.

__**Description/ Classroom Tools:**__
 * WebQuests
 * Teacher tips
 * Computer with internet access

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 * __Resources:__**
 * [|The WebQuest Page]

__Using Technology to Enhance Intranational Studies__ by Lisa E. Johnson

__**Summary:**__

Our Social Studies classrooms need to give American students the resources and information to explore many of the multicultural groups in our country. WebQuests can engage students and help them reach their own conclusions on proposed issues and challenges facing many of our cultural communities. "The idea of international globalization involves examining the lives of such groups as Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and European and Asian Americans." The National Council for the Social Studies includes standards for students to understand norms, values and cultural issues. Ms. Johnson believes that guided WebQuests are an excellent way to teach students a cultural understanding of Native American History. She has seen WebQuests used in the teaching of Native American culture and students gained a better understanding of this diverse culture. Through her research, she believes that WebQuests offer learners engaging activities that foster higher-level thinking skills.

APA Citation: Johnson, L. (2005). Using Technology to enhance Intranational Studies. //International Journal of Social Education, 19// (2), 32-38.

__**Description/ Classroom Tools:**__
 * WebQuests
 * Higher Order Thinking Skills
 * Diversity
 * Computer with internet access

__**Resources:**__
 * [|NCSS]
 * __[|Census]__

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__Transforming Classroom Instruction with Personal and Technological Literacies: The WebQuest Connection__ by Chinwe H. Ikpeze


 * __Summary:__**

Today, students lives revolve around computers, cell phones, video games and the internet. It seems students use more technology outside of school than inside of school. This article focuses on Mr. Hade, a fifth grade teacher who made it his mission to bring more technology into his classroom. He was able to obtain 11 computers with internet access for his class. He began to incorporate WebQuests into his unit plans. The technology allowed students to connect more with the content and make meaningful connections to the subject material. Mr. Hade is trying to incorporate 21st century technology and skills in his classroom to increase student success both inside and outside the classroom.

APA Citation: Ikpeze, C. (2009). Transforming Classroom Instruction with Personal and Technological Literacies: The WebQuest Connection. //The New England Reading Association Journal,// //44// (2), 31-40.


 * __Description/ Classroom Tools:__**
 * Computers in the classroom
 * WebQuests
 * Making connections
 * Computer with internet access


 * __Resources:__**
 * __[|Middle School WebQuests]__
 * [|WebQuests]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ __Lessons in Learning: Do Closed-Search WebQuests Help or Hinder Student Learning?__ by Gordon Eldridge


 * __Summary:__**

The internet brings a wealth of information to students. Sometimes the amount of information available on a topic can be overwhelming. 229 students in a sixth grade elementary school participated in two types of WebQuests requiring them to make a travel brochure about Ancient Rome. One group of students were given 25 websites to help them with the project, another group of students was told to use Google to find information. The study found that boys did better with the closed search using the 25 websites, than boys that used Google. The girls on the other hand were about equal in progress using both WebQuest methods. It seems as if boys tend to browse less than girls. Which ever method a teacher uses, WebQuests are a more active method of instruction than traditional textbooks.

APA Citation: Eldridge, G. (2010). Do Closed-Search WebQuests Help or Hinder Student Learning? //International Educator, 24// (3), 13.


 * __Description/ Classroom Tools:__**
 * Closed-search WebQuests
 * Open-search WebQuests
 * Computer with internet access

__**Resources:**__
 * [|Best WebQuests]
 * [|Tech Trekers]
 * __**[|More topics]**__