The Wonders of WebQuest

This past week seemed slightly overwhelming as our class has shifted focus from one web 2.0 tool a week to learning about multiple tools at a time. The primary focus of last week, however, was yet another tool I had never heard of: WebQuest. WebQuest works much like an online project, where students are encouraged to collaborate and problem-solve as a unit. This type of learning is very hands-on and engaging for the students. I should take a brief second to tweak what I have been saying. What I have been describing is the ideal WebQuest- the type that a teacher should integrate in the classroom. However, as we learned through our WebQuest about WebQuests evaluation, there are both good and bad WebQuests out there and careful attention needs to be paid by the teacher before accidentally using a poor one.

When completing and discussing the WebQuest about WebQuests Worksheet, my group learned a lot about this unique tool. It was very beneficial to be assigned individual tasks, then come together to discuss our findings. The collective ranking of the sample WebQuests allowed us to determine what is most important in finding a good Webquest and what aspect of evaluating can be given less attention. We decided that a good WebQuest forces students to make decisions through teamwork and collaboration. The task is clearly stated, and the goal can be reasonably executed. While efficiency is important, a longer project with better long-term benefits is acceptable over a shorter project in which the goals are overly simplistic and could be accomplished through other means.

After completing the WebQuest as a group, we were sent to find our own WebQuest for classroom use. The one I found is called Earth Buddies. This WebQuest is designed for a second grade class and is designed to educate students about the reality of our environmental predicament (too many landfills and too much waste) and allow them to educate others about their newly-acquired knowledge through artistic expression. I evaluated this site using the same general roles from the group work, with an emphasis on collaboration, creativity, and problem solving. This WebQuest ranked highly in these aspects, and the overall appearance of the WebQuest was professionally executed and seemingly suitable for the young learner.

While I eventually found this great WebQuest, searching for a strong one proved time-consuming. A word of advise to future WebQuest users: plan ahead to allow time to find the perfect one! You have to examine multiple sites before you find a wonderfully executed one such as Earth Buddies. I can totally see myself using this WebQuest in my future classroom. The environment is such an important topic right now, and allowing students to brainstorm on possible solutions to landfills will encourage more healthy habits such as recycling and reusing.

I think this web 2.0 tool is great way to supplement material. When chosen correctly, the WebQuest will be stimulating and in many ways, fun for the students. Isn't that, after all, what group work and projects should be?

Earth Buddies WebQuest