WebQuest Definition

Definition | Short Term | LongTerm

This definiton gives a name to instructional activities that are being created by many innovative teachers as they immerse their students into the new learning environment of the Internet.

Definitions

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet, optionally supplemented with videoconferencing. There are at least two levels of WebQuests that should be distinguished from one another.

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Short Term WebQuests

Goal

• knowledge acquisition and integration

Outcomes

• a learner will grapple with a significant amount of new information
• make sense of the new information
• complete it in one to three class periods

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Longer Term WebQuest

Goal

• knowledge acquisition and integration
• extending and refining knowledge

Outcomes

• a learner will analyze a body of knowledge deeply
• transform it in some way
• demonstrate an understanding of the material
• create something that others can respond to, on-line or off-line
• complete it in a week or a month in a classroom setting

(This workshop is based on concepts developed by Applications Design Team/Wired Learning for the Knowledge Network.)

Prepared by Carol Siwninski for Germantown Academy Staff Development Summer Workshop June23- June 24, 1997

Intro

Updated November, 2007

Send comments or questions to Carol Siwinski, Curricular Technology Specialist for Germantown Academy, at carol.siwinski@germantownacademy.org