ENGL300-1: Melanie Bloden for 5 pts. extra credit
ENGL300-2: Janesha Boyce-Ford for 5 pts. extra credit
The text for reading is HERE.
In this article Maureen Yoder explores the world of WebQuests. Yoder discusses exactly what a WebQuest is and explains the different aspects necessary to create a useful WebQuest. WebQuests were first introduced by Bernie Dodge and Tom March; the two created a lesson plan that gave students some sort of prompt or problem to research by following links provided on the WebQuest. Over the years teachers have started creating their own WebQuests, and WebQuests have gained a lot of popularity. According to Bernie Dodge there are certain things that make a well-thought out and effective WebQuest. A WebQuest should include an introduction, a task, a process, resources, an evaluation, and a conclusion. The introduction and task give a general background, and present the problem; often the “problem” is a scenario that can have many categories like, contemporary world issues, creating products, evaluating history, and basically anything worth teaching. Students are guided through the task by suggestions from the teacher or a step-by-step process provided. This really helps the students organize their project. Resources are included in the WebQuests from links found by the teacher, this is great because it gives the students credible sources and keeps them from aimlessly wondering cyber-space. The end product varies depending on the assignment, students may hand in paper reports, oral reports, performances, artwork, musical compositions, or anything else that teachers can think of. After the WebQuest is completed students can reflect back on their work and everything they learned.
WebQuests are an effect way to change up the normal routine of class work. WebQuests promote creativity and allow teachers to harness the, often overwhelming, internet. I am often overwhelmed by technology today and prefer to use paper and a pencil, but that is just another reason why I think WebQuests are so great. Teachers can take something, like the internet, and make it useful to students’ educations. In my opinion, WebQuests are an inventive way to make learning more interesting and hands-on for students.
-Melanie Bloden
WebQuests were developed by Bernie Dodge and Tom March. They were first utilized by 12 teachers and administrators who wanted to use the internet in a safe, productive way to teach their students. WebQuests allow student to utilize the web for problem solving and decision making skills. The most important function of WebQuests is, perhaps, its evaluation tool that allows the teachers to track their students’ performance. In all, WebQuests can be beneficial in classrooms because it allows students to utilize the internet without abusing it. It will help teachers and administrators keep students off social networking sites, helping students focus more and increasing their overall productivity in classrooms
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of WebQuests, but they sound like a great idea. Most of the middle school and high school students that I know really enjoy the internet and computers, so why not implement them in classroom? This semester I took Education 313, where I learned how to write a “formalized lesson plan”. The lesson plan has many of the same components that are listed of the WebQuest: attention getting device, and objective (or task), an introduction (or the process of how the task will be completed), guided practice (or resources), independent practice (or evaluation), and a conclusion. As a future teacher, I hope to use WebQuests someday in my classroom. I think it would be a great way to add instructional variety to the process of writing and composition, while keeping the students’ engagement.
ReplyDeleteWebQuests are a very unique and interesting learning experience. The advantage of using them is that the instructor controls what the students see on the internet. It also can be very organized and orderly in the way students receive and work through the material (you can include instructions so that students access information in a certain order). I think WebQuests can be very effective in classrooms; students will get to use the internet, but there will be limitations as to what they can look at, thus making them more productive and keeping them on task.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact the teachers have full control over what students can use on the internet is a good thing. It will keep the students mind on what they need to do, at the same time shows them how to properly use the internet properly. This will make younger kids in grade school have the satisfaction and excitement of using a computer, but at the same time teach them. It keeps everyone happy.
ReplyDeletewebquests is a good way to monitor what people are doing. Its a good way of making sure everyone is staying on task as well. Because a lot of people will get distracted by other sites such as twitter,facebook,etc. This will teach a lot of students different things as well. Teaching them to stay focus on the task at hand no matter what and not to give up.
ReplyDeleteWebQuest is a good way to control what your students do on the internet, which will benefit them in the long run. if a teacher has control over what a student does on the internet; it will teach the students the proper way to use the computer. The monitoring will also keep students on task and keep them from distractions. Students will learn how to get work done and that is something they will be able to use for the rest of their life.
ReplyDeleteWebQuest is a way to control what students are doing on the computer. This will help people from getting distracted. Siu has a system like this in the computer labs. The teacher can take control over the computer remotely, make their screen on everyone monitors, and make everyone screens black.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of WebQuests before this article. They sound like very useful tools to be used within the classroom because they contain appropriate information, encourage students to look beyond basic fact finding, and allow students to use the world wide web. Growing up, I went to the only technology magnet school in my city's district. We commonly had issues with students researching inappropriate sites. It would have helped greatly to have a program like WebQuests, which would not allow students to view anything they weren't supposed to.
ReplyDeleteWebQuests were developed by Bernie Dodge and Tom March. The advantage of using them is that the instructor controls what the students see on the internet. It also can be very organized and orderly in the way students receive and work through the material. Since the teacher has control over what a student does on the internet; it will teach the students how to properly use the computer. The monitoring will also keep students on task and keep them from distractions.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of WebQuests before reading this article. It sounds like they could be extremely useful tools inside the classroom. Any tool that contains appropriate information, and encourages students to dive deeper into fact finding throughout the world wide web gets my approval. Personally, the reason I never heard of WebQuests is because my teachers in High School were extremely thorough when teaching us how to research properly. I am grateful to my teachers for allowing me to research correctly for papers, and research papers are my favorite type of papers to write, because them come so easily to me.
ReplyDeleteWebquests was an unfamiliar term to me before I read this article. I believe it would be a good idea for teachers to use these in their classrooms considering the amount of work that is used on the internet these days. I know growing up in high school, I had issues learning how to do research because our teachers never worked with us one on one to look up certain things that we would need for an assignment. This would be extremely beneficial for students to have in their classrooms, especially starting out at an early age.
ReplyDeleteI have never participated in a WebQuest or even heard of it for that matter. After reading this article, I believe it is a good idea, definitely for students who are just learning to research. I liked the fact that the teachers control what sources the students go to. This can encourage focus; put a stop to any outside wondering of items not related to the project, and not considering invalid sources that should not be used. I would have enjoyed participating in a WebQuest when I was younger; I believe it would have helped with my researching process. I also like that there are multiple components which make it organized which makes to more successful for the students.
ReplyDeletePrior to this article I did not know what a WebQuest was. As a child, I would have loved to use WebQuests because they would have taught me valuable information about the internet. It would also have prepared me for researching and writing papers. I think the fact that teachers are able to monitor their students is a good thing because it will help keep them on task and focused. As a future teacher, using WebQuests would be a useful tool for me to use in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first year in college being overwhelmed by trying to find educational article sources to contribute to my papers. It was challenging because its hard to find educational sources that fit your topic since there is so much in the internet. I think WebQuest is a great way for students to learn how to research using the internet.
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ReplyDeleteWebQuest seems like an interesting and great idea. I haven't had any experience with webquest but I think its a good idea for student in k-12. I think it can help prepare students for a higher level education because the computer is is so useful for todays education. Overall I think WebQuest is a great learning experience for lower level students and gives them a great advantage. I wish I had the opportunity to use a program like this when I was younger to help me prepare for my college education.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of a "webquest" before I read this article. I believe they sound interesting. It would be a fun and interesting way to break up the routine of a normal day. If they use it the right way and the students are learning something out of it I am all for it. I would be interested in trying one of these so i could really get the jift of it.
ReplyDeleteIn this article Maureen Yoder explains the importance and detail of WebQuests. WebQuests are a series of links the send students on a kind on online scavenger hunt. The teacher has complete control of the websites the students use for research. I think this is a great idea because it help students who are just get started understand how to conduct proper research. I remember when I was younger spending hours scrolling through pages to find anything small detail that could relate to my topic. The internet can seem overwhelming to someone who can't find their way around it.
ReplyDeleteWebquests were foreign territory to me before reading this article. It sounds like they could be very productive in fact-finding on the internet, especially considering there are so many distorted facts and wrongful information on the internet. As far as the teachers controlling what the students have on their computers, I can imagine where they would complain that their teachers have unfair control. However, I know many students are often distracted by other things on the computer than what they are suppose to be doing so it would be very effective.
ReplyDeleteI have never hear of the form Webquest, but it strikes my interest. This can be a very helpful tool to studenst who are new to researching materials. The fact that the teacher and monitor what type of research the student can use is great. It gives the student more time to find information quicker and work harder it. I sort o wish we had Webquest when the research paper was taking place.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very interesting. I ne er realized what Webquests were before. After reading this I also realized that they could come in very handy. They seem to give a lot of information to help students progress in a course. I enjoy how the teacher can control what is happening on the student's screens. I believe this would help tremendously. I agree that it may have been helpful during our research time.
ReplyDeleteThis article talks about education web quests. Maureen Yoder explains what they are and how they function. In web quests, you are given an introducation, a task, process, resources, evaluation, and conclusion. I believe that web quests are very educational because they change up the regular routines in classrooms and because they help students solve problems in scenarios.
ReplyDeleteI think that anything utilizing the internet as a teaching tool is effective and smart by any teacher. Students spend the majority of their time on the internet and are constantly connected through their phones and Wifi. Monopolizing on this to teach lessons and submit homework is one of the best things a teacher can do. Students respond well to technology and it should be used.
ReplyDeleteDuring my Junior year of HIgh school my history teacher used Webquests throughout the year. I thought these were helpful to implement a lesson and allow students to use the Internet. However, when these were used to solely teach a lesson they were not as effective in my opinion. Webquests are a great idea in theory, and I have had experience with teachers who know how to use them correctly, but I have also seen teachers that do not properly integrate them into a lesson.
ReplyDeleteWebquests are wonderful things. Students are so connected to the internet that they do not spend much time doing anything else. It is important to use these resources in order to provide for students' needs and interests. Also, the internet provides a variety of different resources. It is important for these resources to be utilized. A Webquest gives students the access to these great educational resources and it allows for students to work on the internet.
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