Hours of research go into the creation of a WebQuest. Quest authors must locate and screen sources, organize information into roles, plan navigation, and create their pages. This lesson will assist you in preparing for the design process by focusing your ideas and energies on planning.
To complete this experience, you will need to be able to:
Now, let's begin! Travel to the selected readings below to read about getting started. Once you've read the organizational material, head to Interactive Sources to learn how to motivate your students with online participation. If you are already confident in your ability to select and apply interactive resources, then you may circumvent the readings and proceed to the application activities, #1 and #2.
Exceptional WebQuests contain forms of interactiveness where students provide input, communication, or they determine outcomes. Examples of this may include input boxes, e-mail correspondance around the world, online simulations, virtual field trips, web cams (cameras), audio recordings, and multi-media presentations. The more interactive your WebQuest, the more engaging it will be to your students. For a complete list of sources, go to .
In this activity, you will gather basic elements before heading to the WebQuest design lesson. Begin by asking the question, "What are my learner needs?" With your group or by yourself, gather whatever data you deem necessary to identify group weaknesses. You may wish to brainstorm if there are several. Select the need that would most likely be met through an online lesson and one in which there are a large number of online resources. Enter your specific topic in the provided text box.
Proposed Topic:
Next, locate your curriculum materials. If you do not have local frameworks available, proceed to to find your state or national academic standards. Select at least two standards that your WebQuest will address and that directly relate to your proposed topic. You may choose as many as apply. Reference those below.
Standards/Objectives: Lastly, cut and paste the text from your proposed topic and standards sections into a Word document and save. You will planning information to this file in the next section.
In this segment, you will participate in an interactive activity. You may select from one of the options below. When you are finished, review the options on the page. Then, select one or more interactive elements that you would like to incorporate in your WebQuest and write it in the text box below. When you are finished, add the text to the Word document with your other information.
Interactive Elements*: *A word of caution: Make sure your interactive elements are appropriate to the lesson and to your objectives.
If you are the Communicator in your group, you must summarize and present the interactive elements to your teammates. You may wish to select great sites from each of the Interactive Sources and demonstrate the power of the Internet. In addition, print out all materials contained on this page for your group members. If your group has questions that cannot be answered within the content of this Quest, you will be responsible for contacting the experts on the page.