Monday, September 24, 2012

How to Recognize a Great WebQuest

A WebQuest can be a fantastic way to spark learning through technology in any classroom.  It works especially well in a Social Studies classroom, however, because it gives students an opportunity to conduct online research. This would be a great lesson to learn in high school.  When I got into college my professors expected me to be able to write a well researched paper and I did not have the skills to be able to identify appropriate online sources.  Not only do students get to intensely study a certain aspect of a lesson and learn how to utilize online sources, they also learn how to express this through various media forms.  PowerPoint, pictures, and videos are all used in a really good WebQuest.

The best WebQuests should be efficient and easy to understand.  Also WebQuests should create a collaborative environment in which students must work together.  Critical thinking skills should also be promoted throughout this process.  A WebQuest that promotes group work, uses a wide variety of technology, and inspires higher order thinking should be welcomed by all social studies teachers as an invaluable resource in the classroom.


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