My webquest

A few years ago I created a WebQuest with Zunal.com, a free web-based software. According to the man who created it Dr. Bernie Dodge, a WebQuest is “an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners’ time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners’ thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.”

Instead of letting students surf the vast ocean of information that the Web provides, the resources in a WebQuest are predetermined so as to narrow the search and thus, maximize the relevance. Students are introduced to a real life scenario linked to their interests, while scaffolding is provided by the teacher and the worksheets. Webquests embrace a constructivist approach to learning: students are required not only to gather and organise information but to attain a certain goal presented within a scenario which is stimulating to engage in. They analyze and synthesize the information and come up with their own creative solutions. It also promotes collaboration and caters for differentiated learning through the various roles students assume in their team. Finally, the self-evaluation rubric at the end of the project helps students assess their own level of participation, a stepping stone towards becoming more autonomous and responsible. There is also the teacher evaluation rubric so that they know how their contribution will be assessed.

I linked my WebQuest to the book of the 5th grade (Unit 2, Lesson 1 ‘Do you like computers’, where a Trip to Eurodisney is mentioned). It could work well, though, with 6th graders or older students. Trips, and especially a trip to France (and a visit to Eurodisney) is something I’m sure will engage our learners and help them (and us!) have fun while learning!

I presented my WebQuest in seminars for teachers in Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki in 2016 with the support of our (then) State School Advisor Chrysa Laskaridou. I haven’t used it for some years, but with the current situation it would be a nice trip of the mind for our students and us!

Feel free to use:

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=282742