WebQuests - Discovery and Project-based Learning

 

After doing this activity you will be able to describe the features of discovery learning using WebQuests as an example list some of the main reasons for using a discovery learning approach like WebQuest in teaching languages. analyse and evaluate a WebQuest create your own WebQuest in GOOGLE SITES

 

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CONTENTS

 

Here are the contents of this session.  You can click to visit the different activites, or simply scroll down.

 

WebQuests - Discovery and Project-based Learning What's all the fuss about discovery learning and WebQuests? (40 minutes) Task 1:  What would make you interested in using WebQuests? (5 minutes) Task 2:  What would students think about using WebQuests? (15 minutes) Task 3: Here is short video created by students about their perspective on WebQuests in learning. (10 minutes) Task 4: How do you think you could use a WebQuest in teaching English?  (10 minutes) Creating a WebQuest (110 minutes) More about WebQuests (25 minutes) Analyzing a WebQuest (20 minutes) A WebQuest in GOOGLE sites (15 minutes) Creating a GOOGLE site for a WebQuest (40 minutes) Your group project (10 minutes) Follow up:  Over to you How could you use WebQuests in teaching? REFERENCES Want to learn more about WebQuests?

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What's all the fuss about discovery learning and WebQuests? (40 minutes)

 

Task 1:  What would make you interested in using WebQuests? (5 minutes)

 

Before we look at WebQuests in detail, let's see what there is about WebQuests that make them attractive to you as a teacher.

1. Here is a poll with a list of some of the reasons teachers give for using a WebQuest. 
2. Tick the three reasons that would most attract you to learn more about WebQuests.
3. Review the results of the poll--are there any common reasons within our group? What are the top three reasons according to the entire group?

 

 

Task 2:  What would students think about using WebQuests? (15 minutes)

 

Watch this introductory video about WebQuests to get a better idea of what they have to offer students.  Make a few notes as you watch.

 

 

1. After you finish watching, compare your notes with a partner.
2. With your partner, brainstorm a list of reasons why students would like or dislike using a WebQuest.
3. Check the WALLWISHER wall below and add any of your reasons that aren't already posted.

 

 

 

Task 3: Here is short video created by students about their perspective on WebQuests in learning. (10 minutes)

1. Watch the video below.  How many of the reasons your brainstormed are mentioned by the students?
2. Did they mention other reasons that surprise you?

 

 

 

Task 4: How do you think you could use a WebQuest in teaching English?  (10 minutes)

• Jot down your ideas as you make your way through these activities and later you can post them as a comment to your blog at the end of this activity.

 

 

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Creating a WebQuest (110 minutes)

 

In this section, we'll learn more about how to create a WebQuest.

 

More about WebQuests (25 minutes)

 

Step 1: Watch this video about creating WebQuests

 

 

Step 2: Fill in the gaps in the exercise below to review what you know about WebQuests in general

 

 

Step 3: Fill in the gaps in the exercise below to review what you know about the reasons for using WebQuests

 

 

 

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Analyzing a WebQuest (20 minutes)

 

Visit this example webquest: http://questgarden.com/92/00/7/091125221744/index.htm.  Work with your partner and look first at the WebQuest.  Then look at the TEACHER PAGE.  Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. How would you be able to use this particular WebQuest in an EFL context?
1. What level would it be for?
2. Could you adapt it for different levels?
3. What language use could you target?
2. How is this different to a similar activity in a course book?
3. Besides language learning, what other skills do you think it would promote in your students?

 

 

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A WebQuest in GOOGLE sites (15 minutes)

 

Visit this example webquest: http://sites.google.com/site/etdwebquestdemo/.  Work with your partner and look first at the WebQuest.  Then look at the TEACHER PAGE. 

1. Compare this WebQuest in terms of format, content and structure with the previous WebQuest about Short Stories.
2. What are the similarities and differences?

 

 

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Creating a GOOGLE site for a WebQuest (40 minutes)

 

This will in fact be the group project for this course.

1. Details of the group project will be posted in the COURSE WORK link.  For this session, each person should create their own WebQuest.
2. Follow the GOOGLE SITES WebQuest instructions to create a 'shell' for your first WebQuest.

 

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Your group project (10 minutes)

 

  Details for the group project can be found in our MOODLE at http://polaris.ncc.metu.edu.tr/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=1476 

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Follow up:  Over to you

 

How could you use WebQuests in teaching?

 

1. Create a new blog post in your blog
• Consider what you've learned about WebQuests and discovery learning in this actvitiy.
• Write down a few ways you could use WebQuests in teaching.   Tag this with "teaching ideas"
2. Visit some of your colleagues' blogs and find their blog post about using WebQuest.
• Use TWITTER to build a personal learning network of other EFL teachers interested in using WebQuests in teaching.

 

 

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REFERENCES

 

Want to learn more about WebQuests?

 

 

1. WebQuest home - has everything you would ever really need to know about WebQuests, and links to examples of Webquests
1. WebQuests require authentic assessment.  Here is a great site to help you develop authentic assessment rubrics:  http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ 
2. TESL-EJ article about WebQuests
3. TESL-EJ article about recent research into WebQuests and writing skills in EFL